The Amazing Jicin Adventure!

So, I'm not the world's most social butterfly.  *waits for people who know me to stop laughing*  But in a foreign country (especially with not enough to do right now) I actually hit people up to see what they're doing.  And like, initiate activities.  I facebook friend them after meeting sooner than I ever have.  I've always had this weird trait that I don't like people who like me right off.  But if somebody kind of ignores me then I think they're cool, and I must have them.  In 3 to 8 months we will have exchanged a few casual words, shared some interests, and eventually be friends. 

That's not the formula here.  I met some people at a Christmas party, the next day we got dinner, and the next we took an overnight trip to a smaller Czech Republic town called Jicin.  Then we had many adventures (and misadventures).  And now we're probably friends fo life.  Hopefully at least, Australians are awesome.  I've already learned that the key to being a happy expat is making connections.  It's a big tough city and a lot of locals still don't like foreigners here.  Everyone who's been here a while has said the same thing.  It's an interesting crowd.  A lot of people are like me; want to live abroad, want teaching and living experience, bragging rights back home, etc.  A surprising amount are running from bad or dead-end situations.  And a lot more are just directionless idiots doing teaching as an excuse to party in Europe.  They are my greatest motivation to make it out here.

ANYway, adventures in the nature!  The Aussie is an atypical expat in that he's not an English teacher.  He's an accountant and has access to a company car.  It was really fun riding in a car after a month and a half.  It was also great to just see really really far without buildings or trams or people in the way.  The Czech countryside was really pretty all covered with snow and I'd love to see it in spring or summer.  We had a good drive and listened to good music. 

We got to Jicin, (eechin) and settled in at D's flat.  It's his hometown and he's a student in Prague.  His friend K came along as well, she's Czech but goes to school in Scotland.  We got some Czech food for lunch, I had svickova.  It's meat and dumplings in this creamy sauce with a garnish of cranberry sauce and whip cream.  Then we went to the big attraction in the area, Prachov Rocks.  It's in an area with tons of pine trees, all covered in snow right now of course.  You walk up a wide path and get closer and closer to these huge rocks jutting up out of the ground.  Then we did a slippery and narrow and treacherous hike up and up to where you can view the rocks and whole area from above.  Very cool! The way down was longer but safer.

Since it was Monday night in Jicin we had an early night in with some games and music.  The next morning we headed to the town's castle gate type thing.  D has connections and a cool lady came to open it up for us.  I don't know how she's involved or has keys exactly, but it was nice getting the VIP treatment.  We went up and up more steep steps to the top.  It was a beautiful, clear day so we could look down on the whole town and see for miles. 

Then SOMEBODY had a great idea to go up to this mountain and look at some waterfalls that would be frozen this time of year.  Which would've been cool if we'd made it.  Driving around the busy ski-mountain looking for a parking spot we drove into what definitely wasn't a road and got stuck.  And since it's the Czech Republic, nobody who could have helped us would.  (The Texan and Aussie were appalled.)  Some very nice Germans tried to get us unstuck and got stuck themselves.  Then some stupid Russians though it was a parking area and got themselves stuck as well.  Things were bleak.  And cold.  And kind of hilarious but not.  K and I were about to hop a bus when some blessed being with a tractor and chains got everybody out.  There were actually some kind Czechs who tried to push and help, but most called us stupid and told us it wasn't their problem.  Tractor man wins at life though. 

The plan had been to eat in Jicin and head home, but we made a beeline back to Prague.  Misadventures aside, it was lots of fun.  And just what I needed I think. 

....

I watched a man beat a carp to death on the street, and all my misgivings about being here floated away. 

"Jake, you get wise. You get to church."

It doesn't matter where you go.  Church people will feed you.  They will ask you about your life and they will touch your shoulder or hand.  And then they will invite you back.  Many times.   

Bratska Jednota Baptistu just happens to be on a street I now know very well and live two blocks away from.  What the hell, right?  I'm not crazy about church.  I kind of think people should keep religion to themselves and just do/believe what feels right to them.  But anyway, I was actually really excited to go once I made plans to last night.  It's been a crazy time of uncertainty and the feeding me and asking about my life and even touching my shoulder or hand was cool.  It's a really diverse group with lots of students and expats and English speaking locals.  The weirdest part was meeting a family from Texas.  They have a niece that goes to HSU and he knows Dr. McGraw from seminary. What....I mean, what?! 

After the blessed goodbyes I went to hang out with my athiest friend.  I took a long-cut through one of my favorite places in the city (so far), Riegrove Sady.  It's a park on a hill full of benches and paths and old people and people with dogs and kids on sleds these days.  There's an awesome view of the city, even awesomer at night.  There's also a beer garden there that I can't wait to drink at once it's warm enough.  Anyway, I love wandering around this park.  Saying "Dobre den" to old people, and petting happy dogs, and watching kids bust off of their sleds. 

Doing so today I kind of took a mental step back and really looked at this thing that I'm doing.  I've had one or two "what-am-I-doing-here-I-wanna-go-home" moments this past week.  Not many, but they've hit hard.  A year seems like such a long time to commit to a teaching job, but I know once I get going it'll fly by.  If I manage this I can manage anything and I'll be so proud of myself afterwords.  I just need to get through the holidays and the job-hunt.  I've met a lot of cool people here but maybe a weekly community thing would be a good support system here. 

ANYway, why am I getting introspective, this isn't the Livejournal.

For a minute there...

Haven't been too posty lately for fear of being a bummer.  It's crazy and confusing days, but I'm sticking with things.  I've never really gotten lonely or homesick but a culmunation of things has been making me so lately. 

A big change has been going from being incredibly busy with school all day to suddenly not.  I don't have to spend mornings learning methodology and then plan a lesson I'll be teaching that night.  On one hand it's really nice, but on the other I don't really know what to do with myself.  Well, yes I do, job hunt.  Which is frustrating enough when you speak the same language as people. 

It's also weird  being off from the other TEFL-ers.  We've hung out a bit but I often wonder how they're adjusting to the city and if they're on the same level as I am with the job-hunt.  I know one or two already have job offers.  I've had one intereview but haven't heard back from them yet, *fingers crossed!*. 

The main thing I need to do is to hang out with people and get out into the city.  I've met several other expats who are really cool. We've hung out, either out and about or at their places.  It's nice to just talk about stupid stuff or watch movies or whatever.  I also think in all the stress and being busy I lost sight of how cool this place is and how much there is to do in it.  I'm in PRAGUE.  It might be cold and snowy/slushy/snirty right now but it's still one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  I need to look at the cool colorful buildings now and then and forget about all the teacher-red-tape. 

I think if I stick through the transitional part of this whole thing (and find a J.O.B.) things will be great.  I really am excited to take what I learned in school into a classroom.  We had practice students but we didn't really get to know them or watch them grow or anything.  And everyone I've talked to says it is the hardest and most stressful part.  I'm just not used to this whole "difficult" thing.  It's like I'm "trying", or something.

A German, a Russian, and a Texan move in together....

...and it's not a joke, it's my life.  Like running through Wenceslas Square in the snow to catch a tram.  That kind of European thing that makes me do a mental double take.  There's also the routine grocery shopping and slipping in snow/dirt/sludge seventeen times a day and job-hunting which is No Fun At All.  It's not all a fairy tale here in Praha. 

So yeah, I'm living in a "flat share".  Which means I have my own nice big room set on a hallway with a bathroom on each end and a kitchen in the middle.  Well....a "kitchen".  One sufficient for my style of cooking eggs, pasta, and sandwiches.  It's also in a neighborhood I already know and 5 minutes from a main metro. 

Cross digs off the to-do list. 

GOT IT.

I'm TEFL certified!  I've got a fancy diploma with a seal and signatures in a snazzy blue folder and everything.  Two of our teachers took us all out for a celebratory dinner last night.

 Now I just need to get a job.  I've got a couple of leads with some schools I've heard good things about.  And some school I've heard not-so-good things about.  But I've been told not to be picky at first and to work your way up after getting some experience under your belt.  If it's a terrible situation you can leave. 

More important is finding a place to live.  I can stay in the current housing for a while but it'll be a little more expensive. I'm looking at a place today and another on Monday.  Fingers crossed!

Baby, it's cold outside.

Week 3 is over!  It was a tough one but I made it out alive.  I have three more observed-teaching sessions left as well as two one-on-one sessions I need to schedule.  It's taking a lot less time to lesson plan which is good.  The big grammar test is on Wednesday.  And Friday, granted we all pass, we're having a big party.  Looking forward to it.  Pivo!

After class yesterday I completely stopped thinking about TEFL, (it's okay our teacher told us to for a bit).  Hung out and watched The Social Network, which was very very good.  I felt like I hadn't sat down and watched a movie in years. 

I'm going to look at three different flat-shares tomorrow.  Two are in the neighborhood I'm in now, which I really like.  One is east of here and farther from the center of the city, but the price is good and the girls seem nice.  I've been told to figure out my housing situation before jobs, even though I'm going to start sending CV's out this weekend too.   Lots to do, but exciting times!

I think it's stopped snowing for a while, but there's still snow everywhere.  Apparently there are places where the snow doesn't melt off after a day.  Why?  Because it's 11 degrees outside!  Last night it got down to 3.  3 degrees Fahrenheit.  It's really not so bad, even for this Texas girl. There's no wind to cut through your clothes, it's just cold.  So with long-johns, jeans, a couple of shirts, a fleece pullover, a peacoat, scarf, hat, and gloves, I'm golden. 

Week 3.

Did I really say that the Old Town Christmas tree lighting would be fun?  Did I actually type that out, let alone think the words?  Not fun.  I thought I was going to die.  Or be wedged wall-to-wall against drunk Czech people all night since there was no escape.  And of course, there's all of these idiot parents with children and strollers.  Lord knows how many times my shins got clipped or head got kicked.  Worst meet up idea ever.

But anyway, I finally met up with a friend long after they lit up the tree (I could see the very top of it from behind a sausage stand).  Did a second Thanksgiving dinner with a couple of Americans, a guy from Liverpool, a girl from Prague, and a Macedonian.  Macedonians are hilarious, by the way.

Week three of TEFL!  We're all going crazy, and every day feels different from the day before, but I can make it.  Five more days of teaching (I think/hope), and the grammar test is next Wednesday.  I'm going to start up with the job-applying once I get someone to look over my CV and cover letter.  Also looking at flatshares around town.  I've been told to figure out housing before jobs, so I'm hoping to find something soon.  I think I'll feel a lot more legit once I'm out from under the wings of the school.

Deep and crisp and even.

Not very deep'n'crisp'n'even, actually.  But it did snow last night!  Snow in Prague!  And it was very pretty wandering around Wenceslas Square in it.  There's giant Christmas trees all over town and little markets selling cocoa, hot wine, sausages, hats and scarves, christmas decorations, etc.  A very nice end to Week Two of class.

Thursday night our class went out to a place that does American food.  They did a whole Thanksgiving dinner of pumpkin soup, bread, turkey, stuffing, potatoes, green beens, beer/wine, and dessert.  We were all kind of tired but still had a lot of fun. 

I've passed all of my lessons so far.  We can fail two before having to start making them up, but hopefully I don't fail any.  I'll be switching from Intermediates to Pre-Intermediates on Monday.  I'm interested to see how thick or thin the margin is between them. 

Been working on a lesson plan for Monday but tonight I'm going to the Christmas tree lighting in Old Town.  Should be fun.

Those who can't teach....teach gym.

For a while now I've made fun of education majors.  (One of them once informed me that she didn't know Canada had its own currency.  Ironic, yes?)   I think I'll need to stop doing that now though. 

We started teaching this week and it's hard.  Standing up in front of people and teaching non-English speakers isn't, it's the lesson planning that's getting me.  I desperately wish that we could teach from manufactured, known-to-be-effective printouts.  But that's not how TLH rolls.  I'm sure in the long run I'll be happier for it but this first week has been brutal for the whole class.  I've had flashbacks to college days where I would start papers by typing my name, the date, the teacher's name, the class number, a title I won't wind up using, and then PROCRASTINATOR!  in huge letters.  It's kind of like that.  Of course, I do a mediocre job the night before and then think of something really awesome 15 minutes before class.  I think it'll get better though. 

So Monday-Thursday we teach a class in the afternoon.  We'll do that for three weeks and switch levels as we go.  I got the Intermediates this week.  They're a fun group, but it's kind of a good and bad thing that they know as much English as they do.  It'll be interesting to see which level I'll like the most since I really have no idea.

The week has been busy, and the weather cold and cloudy, but there is a streak of awesome to be had.  I have found Sci-fi fans.  And they watch Firefly every Monday.  Not only that but they know Orson Scott Card, Doctor Who, Neil Gaiman, and more.  I joined the watch this week and feel like everything is going to be okay.  But really, there seems to be a tight group of expats here anyway.  I've met a lot of Americans (several Texans!), Brits, and an Aussie. 

To be honest, I'll probably still make fun of education majors.  I make fun of everybody, why should they get special treatment?  Lets just say I have a new-found respect for those who can't do.

Saturday Mine!

This was the first day that was really mine to hit the city.  I'd already seen a lot in groups but I was excited to wander around (alone!) and do the things I really wanted to do. So I set out with my metro pass, my map of Prague, and some good shoes. 

I got on the metro by my apartment and rode it up by Wensceslas Square to do the Mucha museum.  It's hard not to love Art Nouveau.  It's easy to hate loving Art Nouveau. It's just so pretty, but at the same time compositionally badass and foward thinking.  He's just so good, and it was really cool.  Not very big but I spent a good 30 min. in there.  There were a few unfinished prints where the registration had come out a little off, and those were cool to see. 

Then I took the metro across (under) the river.  I had brought a banana and some bread and cookies and made my lunch on a bench overlooking the Vltava and Charles bridge.  It was one of those moments I really realized where I was and how exciting this is.  It's easy to forget with the routine of going to class and living somewhere and getting groceries and whatnot. 

Then I did the Kafka museum.  I'm not the worlds biggest Kafka fan, but I like what I've read.  And besides, I have Benedict Cumberbatch reading "Metamorphesis" on my iPod.  What are ya gonna do?  The museum was cool and more than a little creepy.  I like learning about the people behind things.  Biographies are just about the only non-fiction I can sit down and read, and I always love a good bio-pic.  This was in Mala Strana district which I really really enjoyed.  It was very low-key. There were still tourists like me around but not in big crowds. 
Also in Mala Strana, the Lennon wall.  Tribute to the man, and famous symbol for freedom of speech.  Prague has some oppressive history and this came about in a time when that wasn't something allowed.  Obviously the wall has stuck around.  (Really though, the last minute and eighteen seconds of "All You Need Is Love" is one of my favorite things in the entire world.) 

It was cloudy but not too cold.  Of course the sun came out right as I started to get close to home.  I wandered around the park near my place to watch people and soak up some sunshine.  And now I'm at the apartment putting off homework.

Send you back to schoolin'.

A week of TEFL class has felt about like a month.  In the mornings we have methodology (how to teach) lessons with Chris.  He teaches us how to teach in the way we'll be teaching.  ....Or maybe how we'll be teaching is in the same way he teaches us?  Anyway.  He does teaching lessons in the style we'll be doing English lessons.  No pointing at students!, for one.  Also to keep teacher talking time down and student talking time up.  How to get them talking in the first place, breaking the ice, etc.

In the afternoons somebody else comes in (different instructor every day) and we've gone over how to make lesson plans, how to make a good resume (CV) for over here, and some Czech lessons!  We aren't going to get just a ton out of the lessons, even though anything is good.  It's mostly to know what it's like to be a foreign language student so we have empathy for the people we'll be teaching. 

Monday night they took us out to eat, (twas very good food) and sprung an assignment on us for the next day.  Yay!  We had to do a 15 minute instructional presentation to our class.  Anything about how to do something.  (I'm pretty sure they really just wanted to see if we could stand up and say words in front of people.)  I used some brochures I'd picked up around town to talk about advertising and design.  Elements of good compositions, use of logos, design tips everyday people can know to make their garage sale stand out, etc.  It went well, we all did about the same.  Like I said, no grade just having to get up and talk. 

Thursday we had to do an "ice-breaker" in front of an actual English class of Czech speakers. Yeah, fourth day of class.  I wound up with the Intermediate class.  It was nice since they already know a lot of English already. I had to go 15 minutes (went about 9 actually), and then observed the real teacher do the lesson.  He was also my observer and gave me feedback afterwords. 

I'm pretty excited about the class material so far.  I knew you could go to some countries and teach English without any training or experience but I also knew that wasn't for me.  I can't imagine just jumping into this.  There is much more to learn though.  We only just started getting into grammar today and my brain hurts.  Monday we have to do an actual 45 minute lesson dealing with lexis/vocabulary.  :P  But it's Friday and I'm not going to think about that this second. 

Busy week!  But I've been planning my own personal day in Prague since Wednesday and tomorrow, this city is mine.

It's a dangerous business, going out your door.

First of all, Tom Hardy was on my plane to London!  "Inception" being one of the in-flight-movies counts, right?  No. 

The traveling over was nice and uneventful.  (I'm in the future!)  Abilene to DFW to London to Prague.  It's very very sad being so close to London and not getting to do anything in it.  Jaromir, the founder of the school I'm attending, picked me up from the airport.  He was really fun to talk to and we spoke of many things.  For all his traveling and living in other countries he's never been to the States.  He asked if I smoked, I said no but I didn't mind if he did.  He rolled his own cigarette whilst driving.  Europeans are awesome.  He also yelled "Oh, sweet!" when we drove past what was basically a chopped VW bug.  (I don't know how old he is but he said something about not being a young 64 year old anymore.)  I didn't time it but it probably took about an hour to get to the apartment.  There was a lot to see along the way though.  People out walking, trams, churches, museums, all styles of architecture in all kinds of colors.  We drove over the Vtlava river.

The apartment is about a 15 minute walk from the school, but a tram runs near both.  It's insanely nice. I was the first one there, and rather than being relaxing there was some mild anxiety about getting hooked up to the internet and letting the family know I was alive, etc.  Then not being able to go to sleep, but everything's worked out. 

Friday I was still getting over the jet-lag and getting things like phones and deposits sorted.  Getting used to but not really enjoying Prague at that point.  I hadn't seen any of the things I was excited to see.  Jetlag is kind of a buzzkill.

On Saturday I got roommates, yay!  One is from Chicago and had been here for a week with her dad.  The other is a fellow Texan.  Chicago's dad took us out to both lunch and dinner and we wandered around Old Town Square by night a bit.  We saw the Astrological clock change.  Actually kind of anticlimatic, but fun in the traditional sense.  It's mostly amazing to me that something that old is still in working order.  Prague is pretty amazing in that almost nothing was destroyed in WWI and WWII.  But anyway, it was fun finally having people to pal around with. 

Sunday we found a mall right down from our apartment and explored it a bit.  Then we did Wenceslas square and The National Museum.  I like museums anyway, but the interior of this one is awesome.  Some of it is actually in the James Bond, Casino Royale.  Then we met up with the rest of the students and two of the Language House people at the school.  We just went over more stuff and visited. 

Today was the first day of class!  More on that later though (and pictures once I get them uploaded), we already have homework to get started on.

Leaving on a jet-plane.

The title isn't my fault.  But if anyone has a better idea for what to call this thing I'd love to hear it. 

Here I’ll be sharing stories, information, and hopefully pictures.  I’m terrible at taking pictures.  It distracts me from looking at anything. 

The plan is to attend this school, get TEFL certified, land a job, and live in another country from 6 months to a year.  There’s been lots of planning and lots of saving money, (I skipped out on Kansas tickets people), and everyone’s support and jealousy has meant the world to me.  I hope to give a little back by keeping you informed.  And jealous.  Feel free to laugh if I suck at life and run back to Texas after a month.