If it weren’t for a small town in Czechia, I wouldn’t be here.
Vladimir is a distant relative on my paternal grandmother’s side. Back in the 1800s, a South Bohemian family of Koupals & Kostels married and immigrated to the United States. Some established roots are in Tabor (Tay-ber), South Dakota, where my grandmother Connie Koupal married my grandfather Marvin Zavadil and had my father. While I didn’t learn a lot about the surname Zavadil, I did find a town in Czechia, Tabor (TAH-bor), Czechia.
A small town in Czechia
With the help of a family member, I was able to meet the former mayor of a small town outside of Ceske Budejovice, Czechia, who happens to be part of my bloodline.
I made sure to take a picture of the street named Zavadilska (find me another person who has ever taken a picture of this street, we are probably related!).
Thanks to my great uncle Melvin, I linked up with the Koupals in Czechia during my journey. The granddaughter of Vladimir was kind enough to find me on social media and translate the entire weekend. I met her in Cesky Budejovice, where she lives, and had a good afternoon exploring with her and meeting her brother, his wife, their new baby, and her mother.
We then headed to the small town where she grew up, where I was greeted by Vladimir and Helena. Vladimir showed me around the town and the most important part, The Way of The Cross, set up all along the edge of town. Czech citizens come from all over during Holy Week to walk to The Way of The Cross, a symbol of pride in this Czech town.
I had a Czech meal prepared by Helena that consisted of traditional Czech schnitzel and homemade wine.
Vladimir pulled out a large folder with a typed chart of our lineage dating back to the 1500s!
He didn’t have anything from earlier because it was burned in a fire. In the later 1800s, the Koupal/Kostels clan headed to the Americas, and here I am! I stayed the night and woke up to a breakfast spread and to-go dishes thanks to Helena. She made sure to pack me a lunch and extra kolaches. We said our goodbyes, and I said I would be back soon, but with my family. (*The hope is another reunion in 2024/2025).
I left with a feeling of ‘this is why I travel’. It was such a special weekend, one I will cherish forever.
On another special note, Vladimir’s granddaughter, Eva, who is a journalist, interviewed me for the Prague paper, Mlada Fronta DNES. The article focuses on different types of accommodation in Czechia and my experience with Workaway .
click here for the article translation!
