Jason

My friend Ondra.

Yesterday I passed the Kebab shop where you took me on my first trip to Leuven. I pass it often now that I have Spanish class in the building right next to it.

I am glad to have reminders of your kindness! I was really hungry that day:)

Ola Wach

LOVE NOW

Let us love people now they leave us so fast
The shoes remain empty and the phone rings on
What's unimportant drags on like a cow
The meaningful sudden takes us by surprise
The silence that follows so normal it's hideous
The chastity born most simply from despair
When we think of someone who's been taken from us

Don't be sure you have time for there's no assurance
As all good fortune security deadens the senses
It comes simultaneously like pathos and humor
Like two passions not as strong as one
They leave fast grow silent like a thrush in July
Like a sound somewhat clumsy or a polite bow
To truly see they close their eyes
Though to be born is more of a risk than to die
We love still too little and always too late

Don't write of it too often but write once and for all
And you'll become like dolphins both gentle and strong

Let us love people now they leave us so fast
And the ones who don't leave won't always return
And you never know while speaking of love
If the first one is last or the last one first.

/Jan Twardowski/

Jason

Dear Friends, you can find some words from Ondra's girlfriend Eva at her blog, http://evicka.nomadlife.org/

Drop by and read her post. She makes some very good, very touching conslusions at the end. I believe we can all learn a lot from her.

-Jason

Isabel_Pinho

Love this one!!! :o)

The happily messy barbecues....

Isabel_Pinho

Reading what Maria has written was almost like having my feelings translated by someone else's words. This is actually the third time I start noting this message down… on the first trials the latent feeling of denial and impotence facing loss ended up making all sound too sour. And sour doesn’t match Ondra.

You wouldn’t have to spend more than a couple of minutes by his side to agree with me on that. I will dare to be somewhat repetitive here but Ondra’s smile and laughter were really his trademarks. Those were two things he insisted on generously distributing. Sometimes cheeky – such as when after some insistence he shared with us the recipe of the famous garlic sauce he used to prepare for the cool barbecues on his terrace –, sometimes amusedly surprised by the profanities pronounced by a couple of nonsense Brazilian trainees, or sometimes just a small, relaxed grin – usually accompanied by a glass of good beer.

“Isabel, Isabel, jump into the river, we need to save it! Can’t miss another one like that… OH MAN!” – I remember him saying while we watched the fourth can of beer in a row to drown into the water, after being thrown towards our kayak from another small boat full of loud Dutch men, while we rowed in the Ardennes.

Just like this one moment, there were many more Ondra made more fun and worth it. His physical presence will be greatly missed but I am sure that like myself, many more will carry a little bit of him wherever we go.

Next year the plan is doing the samba with some cariocas in Rio…
I am sure we will have a blast! :o)

Isabel

Maria

More than 2 weeks have now passed since this tragedy and there isnt one hour that passes without thinking about Ondra and his family and close ones that are definitely going through an unimaginable tough phase!

Ondra did impact soooooo many people with his positive energy, love for life, his family and friends, passion for Sales and "External Relations" in AIESEC, love for football, his travelling,.... and just living life to the full!

I was one of the lucky ones to get to know Ondra when I was on the Czech MC 3 years ago. I remember this tall, blonde, young guy coming into the MC office with a big smile and with an even bigger heart and laugh :):) We all remember his loud warm laugh and how he used to fill the room with positive energy!

I still cannot believe that he is not in our World anymore, but I am certain that his energy, his sense of humour, his values, intelligence, passion for life is still living in all of the people he met throughout the course of his life. Infact, I honestly am finding it very hard to speak about him in the past and also took me quite a while to try and sit down and write about him, as he is still ever so present..in the present and will definitely remain with all of us in the future.....

Whenever I approached Ondra with a problem, or something that was bothering me, he always tried to find the positive in the situation and to genuinely help me... and that is what I will always cherish and try to actually be like him when other people approach me!

Ondra thank you for impacting my life and the life of others.... we all have an angel in heaven... watching out for us! Not a day goes by without learning something more from you, from all the memories of the time spent together.....

Guy

Ondra was undoubtedly a bright light, a star amongst his peers. His warmth, kindness, consideration and sense of fun will be sadly missed by many. I for one will retain fond memories of Ondra's love of strange beer bottles and drinking Czeck spirits that frankly might have had better use as rocket fuel or paint stripper.............. I suspect wherever Ondra is now he will be enjoying a small drink or two and brightening up the time of whoever he is with trying to convince them to have a sip...........

So to Ondra, best wishes my friend may you rest in peace........

Jason

I will always remember Ondra for his smile and his positive outlook on life. I think we can all agree that he was a really special person.

Whenever I think about him, I can still hear his funny voice in my head, "Hey guys!" or "OH man..."

I think the best way to honor Ondra is to live life as he did, to fullest; every moment of every day should be appreciated for what it is: a precious, precious resource.