Dudette

We were introduced to a great outdoor pool by our friend, Shanna. It's a surprisingly pleasant, communist-built oasis in the middle of the city. We made our first trek of the summer on Tuesday. What fun!

After liberally applying Lydia's sunscreen and setting her free to the call of the water, I realized that I had broken one of the strongest cultural codes in the Czech Republic: Children are NOT to appear outside in the sunshine without a hat! Czech grandmothers have been known to give stern looks and reprimand unsuspecting, naive foreign mothers for this code violation!

I recalled that I had a hat in the car but was dreading the task of explaining to the gate attendant that "I need to get a hat from my car; I will be right back; Please don't make me pay for re-entry". Graciously, another friend offered me a spare bandana for Lydia to use. I admit I was a little apprehensive about the thought of my little girl in a "do-rag", but given the alternative, I accepted her offer.

As soon as Lydia's head was swaddled, her true personality came out! She looked so cool and cute! And not to mention, she blended in just perfectly with her Czech swimming mates... PINK swimsuit with a RED bandana... why NOT? After all, color coordination is optional in this land, but appropriate summer headwear is NOT!