Before a group of eight curious travelers from Plant City’s First Baptist Church boarded a plane July 18, for the Czech Republic, they got one last Cuban sandwich at the Colombia Restaurant in Tampa International Airport. Only after that were they ready to say good-bye to the United States and start a new adventure.
The group was part of a trip organized by the church to help youth learn and further develop their English. Or, as mother-son team Martha Sue and Ken Skinner like to call it, “Southern Conversational American.” It was the first trip of its kind for the church.
The Skinners taught an adult class after it had grown from just a couple to more.
“We found the Czech people to be humble and gracious,” Ken said. “They really impressed us with their kindness and graciousness.”
They used a combination of teaching tactics that included bringing menus from some Plant City restaurants, such as Chili’s, and having them order off of them.
“It was hard for them,” Martha Sue said. “But it was hard enough for us, too, when we had to order at restaurants.”
To learn more about her new students, Martha Sue told them a story about her family’s homestead in Plant City. The property had been in the family since 1845 and faced conflicts between American Indians and early settlers. She said her great-great-grandfather had hidden in a big trunk when he was 4 years old to escape one of these conflicts. If he hadn’t, he could have been killed or taken. When she asked if any others had a story about their families that involved hardship or survival, they opened up.
A woman named Camilla shared that her great-grandfather was mayor of a German town during World War II. Instead of going to town hall for a meeting one night, he went home to check on his family first. Everyone who went to the meeting was killed by Nazi troops.
Another woman, named Jitka, said her great-grandfather was in London the time his siblings were placed on trains to concentration camps.
“Who knew that on the first night we’d connect like that?” Martha Sue said. I think it helped in them carrying on. That to me is a God thing.”
During the 12-day trip, the group grew closer. Martha Sue was nicknamed the “American Sister.”
They also took sightseeing trips around Uherské Hradišt and Prague.
“It was breath-taking,” Ken said. “Everyone should go to Prague.”
Ken shot thousands of pictures on his professional grade camera. Sparkling castle illuminated river reflections. Exotic food stacked up high on plates. Grand Catholic churches bordered 12th-century squares.
“It was a fairytale story,” Martha Sue said. “You thought that’s where you were. Only it was real.”
And although the sights were an enticing part of the trip, it was the class and people she met along the way that interested her.
When they drove away, Jitka’s young son, who had commandeered Ken’s camera during the last day to take his own pictures, chased their van down the street until it disappeared.
“Out of all the pretty things — the castles, the food — it was the people that touched my heart,” Martha Sue said. “That was my lasting impression.”
CULTURE SHOCK
There are some notable difference between the U.S. and the Czech Republic, among them are clothes and food.
On clothing
“They have no sense of style. They’ll wear plaid swimming trunks with another type of plaid shirt and black socks.” — Ken Skinner
“You take your shoes off in homes. Not just your own. There’s a pile by the door.” — Martha Sue Skinner
On food
“They had Czech pizza but it’s not like American pizza. It’s like a thin flatbread. Like pizza toppings on bread.” — Ken Skinner
“The McDonalds had 100% beef hamburgers, beautiful fresh salads, cheesecake, fudge, pies. It’s not like the ones here.” — Ken Skinner
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
