Oysters or Beer?

One week down. Three to go before I’m a certified TEFL teacher. I’m already exhausted, and it’s only going to get more exhausting.

I’ll find the energy somewhere. I have to. This is the choice I’ve made.

Anyway, I’ll start this edition with a common question that many of us take for granted. Whether it’s in a job interview, at school, or just whenever, it comes up, clear as day and ready to stimulate thought.

Where do you see yourself a year from now? Five years from now? Ten years from now?

Forget all of that. Heck, I don’t even know where I see myself a month from now. There are just so many options. Staying right here in Prague is a strong possibility. I love this city, and the fact that I’m getting to experience it firsthand still feels like a dream. After all, I never owned a passport until four months ago. There are certainly more than enough TEFL jobs here. I am getting used to the city, and who would have thought that a boy from upstate New York would be able to navigate the trams and the metros of this bustling metropolis? There is comfort here. There is support here.

Seems like a done deal, right? Stay right where I am, teach English, drink beer, and immerse myself into the Czech culture. Too good to be true, perhaps?

Well, no. But here’s the problem: I have so many options. The world literally is my oyster. I suppose that it’s a good problem, but nonetheless, a very important chapter of my life lies ahead.

I could move to Brno or Ostrava or Liberec and experience the Czech Republic from a slightly different point of view. It would be far less expensive to live in one of those spots. Sure, they don’t speak as much English, but that’s okay with me. That would give me a chance to learn more about the culture. Plus, as an English teacher, I can feel more needed. Are any of these cities Prague? No. But there is an opportunity for me to build a living and have the experience of a lifetime.

My next best option after that would be to go elsewhere in Europe. Italy has long been a bucket list item. I would be fascinated to see where my ancestors came from. Oh, and endless Italian food. Endless Italian food. What about Germany? It’s big, it’s close, and it has a very strong TEFL market. Spain is terrific as well. I know some Spanish, and the weather is awesome. These would all be wonderful places to tell my family and friends back home about.

But I don’t have any Euros. I don’t know any German or Italian, while I do know at least a tiny bit of Czech. I have never set foot in any of those other countries. Now, I know those are all things I could easily change, but maybe the Czech Republic is my most convenient and smartest option. It’s practical. Then again, life isn’t always about taking the easy way out. You have to go off the beaten path a time or two.

Decisions, decisions.

By now, some of you TEFL enthusiasts are probably screaming, “Mike, what about the Middle East?” They pay more. The weather is warm. The economy is growing.

Meh, I don’t know. A little too close to some dangerous places and people for me.

Asia? What about Asia? I’m not going to lie, Asia is not calling my name right now. You see, I’m American, and my country does not necessarily get along well with China at the moment. South Korea has some amazing opportunities (and I have done tae kwon do before), but things seem very strict and particular over there as far as getting a job/visa goes. Thailand and Vietnam both have their nice spots, but I don’t know a lot about them, and access to technology and modern amenities can be sketchy.

Perhaps I should pull a Toto and bless the rains down in Africa? Thinking about it, there is some really noble work that can be done there, but it’s probably more prudent as a second or third opportunity. It could be too much of a culture shock too soon. Plus, there is more violence than I would know what to do with.

This has been a lot of good thinking out loud. But we haven’t even gotten to my dark horse yet.

Latin America. Mexico is a bit too violent for me right now with drug cartels and gangs running around everywhere. But in Central or South America, the sky could be the limit. Like I said, Spanish is my second-best language, and Latin American people generally like baseball and soccer, which gives them bonus points. It would also be slightly closer to home. Argentina is one country that I’ve always wanted to visit. Is the TEFL market in this part of the world as good as it is in Europe? Based on the research I’ve done, probably not. Europe and parts of Asia have been ahead of Latin America on my bucket list. But I won’t dismiss it by any means.

Lastly, we hop a bit to the north. It would be really easy for me to get my TEFL certification and fly back home to New York or find a job elsewhere in the U.S. Even though English is the main language, America still needs TEFL teachers. At times, I have been a bit homesick. It would be amazing to drive a car, eat Taco Bell, dry my clothes after I wash them, and actually be treated with respect by restaurant employees. I don’t have to deal with a visa, bureaucracy, or a language barrier. But there is one big hurdle here…

IT IS THE EASIEST OF EASY WAYS OUT!

I signed up for the adventure of a lifetime. As great as my life in the United States was, I know that it is my comfort zone. It won’t challenge me. Don’t get me wrong, I could certainly go back there in a pinch or if the you know what hits the fan, but I feel like I’m called for something different.

I have plenty to digest. If you look at my BMI, you probably would think that’s not too much of a problem for me.

But you can’t eat a life-changing decision. This is something that I have to get right. I can’t live somewhere and be miserable. Likewise, I can’t allow a tremendous opportunity to slip through my fingers.

Is it time for me to stay here and drink the Czech beer, or do I open up even wider and make the world my oyster?

Decisions, decisions.