Author: mikebev25

Happy Birthday, COVID

by mikebev25

First of all, I’d like to apologize if I haven’t been the very best version of myself lately. Today’s chosen topic, the coronavirus pandemic, and the restrictions that come with it are mentally exhausting. With more of them being added this past week and no foreseeable light at the end of the tunnel, it’s quite a stressful time. The fact that I’ve had a lot of other things on my mind hasn’t helped, either. I feel like those of you who have gotten to see or talk to me lately have not seen the true Mike, which I feel very badly about. I haven’t been as chipper or as patient as usual and the things I’ve said to people have not been as well thought out as they should. But as many good people have told me, the restrictions and having to be stuck at home more than we might like also allow us more time for self-care and self-improvement, so that’s going to be a point of emphasis for me over these next few weeks. Time to leave the past in the past and hope for a better future.

Now, on with the survey…I mean, with the blog.

This past week saw the one-year anniversary of the first coronavirus cases in the Czech Republic. On March 1, 2020, three confirmed cases were found. Little did we know at that point that our lives were about to be turned upside down.

Even after the first three confirmed cases, life carried on as normal. But it didn’t take long for me to realize that things were about to change in a big way. Just two days later, on March 3, I received an email informing me that one of my clients, a hotel, was immediately terminating its lessons due to the threat of coronavirus. This was when you could still count the number of cases on one hand.

In the days that followed, a plethora of similar emails greeted my inbox. And more cases came. By the middle of the month, life as we knew it was over, and it wasn’t going to come back for a while.

On March 16, the Czech Republic was placed into mandatory quarantine. The borders (and mostly everything else) closed. Face masks became compulsory in public. The country’s 11 million residents were not allowed to go out for non-essential reasons.

I remember that month extremely well. Constantly emailing back-and-forth with my schools to see which lessons would be able to move online. Sending out applications to online teaching platforms like missiles. Buying toilet paper and face masks in bulk.

My income was cut in half. Several friends made the decision to leave the country and I couldn’t see the ones who were still here. No possibility of traveling and seeing the rest of Europe, which was one of the main reasons I came over here. My hair grew longer and longer and my clothes grew rattier and rattier. Overall, it was a real pain in the ass, but I understood and respected the measures.

In April, the situation improved and the government created a four-step plan to gradually ease restrictions. The borders reopened. By May, the state of emergency ended and life was more or less back to normal, although caution was still urged. Throughout the end of spring and first part of summer, we typically saw fewer than 100 new cases per day. It’s depressing to think that we are now able to throw a couple of zeros onto that figure. More on that later.

The Czech Republic was lauded as a success story around the world. I felt safe and proud to live here. Then, June 30 happened.

Charles Bridge. No, this picture is not from June 30.

A 500-meter-long dinner table was placed on Charles Bridge as thousands of people gathered for a special pot luck to celebrate the end of COVID restrictions and the country’s victory over the virus.

In my opinion, this was the turning point…not to mention the epitome of complacency.

We hadn’t won anything yet, and that would be a message that the weeks and months that were ahead would send loudly and clearly.

In July and August, the numbers gradually got worse again, but the government didn’t act until it was too late. By the beginning of September, we began to see numbers that we had never seen before.

The second wave was here. And compared to what this one had in store, the first wave was like the Teletubbies.

I remember being at summer camp during the last days of August, when things were really beginning to accelerate. The reopening of schools was imminent, but several leaders at camp believed that schools wouldn’t even make it a month until they had to be closed again.

And they were right.

In early-October, the state of emergency and many of the restrictions returned. The Czech Republic quickly became the most affected country in Europe, as daily case numbers went from 3,000 to 5,000 to 10,000 in an eyelash. Come the end of October, we were back in lockdown and a night curfew was imposed.

Remind me again why the dinner was a good idea?

We went from one of the best to one of the worst. We were the Tampa Bay Lightning and became the Buffalo Sabres just like that.

The main reason why this happened was due to an inept and ineffective government. In late-September, Health Minister Adam Vojtech resigned. He was replaced by epidemiologist Roman Prymula. Mr. Prymula is kind of like me: book smart but not street smart. He has a brilliant mind and I really don’t think we would’ve gotten into quite as much of a mess had he stayed on.

But notice how I used “stayed on” in the past tense. As I said, his street smarts are not there. Just five weeks into his tenure, he was caught having dinner at a restaurant in Prague, actually not too far from where I live. This was at a time when the restaurants were closed or could only operate on a take-away basis. Yes, you read that right. He couldn’t even follow his own restrictions. He resigned a few days later.

I really think this was another turning point for the situation here. Once many people saw that, they said, “well, if he doesn’t have to follow the rules, then why should I?”

Prymula was replaced by Jan Blatny, the architect of the infamous PES system. “Pes” is Czech for “dog.” Why dogs had to become involved with this, I don’t know. The system had five alert levels based on the numbers in the country. Each alert level corresponded with a various set of restrictions. Basically, the government stood by it for a month or two and then effectively threw it out.

When Blatny first took over, the statistics ticked down for a bit. In December, the numbers got to the point in which a number of shops were allowed to reopen and the night curfew was lifted.

Things briefly returned to normal (kind of) around Christmas.

However, this lasted all of two weeks before the cases skyrocketed again. The government let people enjoy Christmas and New Year’s, but then, it was back inside again.

The record case numbers returned in January. Hospitalizations grew to be a grave concern as most facilities did not have enough beds left. It was clear that Blatny, a terrible communicator, and the rest of the government had no answer. He’s clearly in over his head and there have been calls to remove him. Meanwhile, his boss, Prime Minister Andrej Babis, was already unpopular even before coronavirus, and I believe the reason why we’ve never had a stricter lockdown (i.e. like Israel or France) is because he is up for re-election later this year and doesn’t want to annoy people to the point he loses too many votes. As I’ve said in this place before, Babis is terrible, and I hope my Czech friends do all of us a favor and vote him out.

Then, you have Deputy Prime Minister Jan Hamacek, who is a bit of a drama queen if you ask me. Hamacek, who is also the interior minister, wanted the entire country to be locked in its houses since the beginning. Last month, he made a remark that there would be coolers full of corpses if a lockdown was not imposed. I get it: the situation is extremely serious. But comments like that scare people and really don’t improve anything, especially morale.

Speaking of morale, it’s not very high right now. And for good reason. We’re still seeing over 10,000 new cases per day on weekdays. About 200 people died each day this week. Hospitalizations are at a record high and more than double the government’s target level. In fact, the situation is so bad in hospitals that we are actually being forced to send some patients to Germany and Poland, who have thankfully agreed to help us out. There are over 160,000 active cases.

Many of Prague’s streets are pretty empty nowadays.

As for the restrictions, they are more stringent than ever. It is not possible to leave your district unless it’s for work or health reasons. Trips to Brno or Olomouc or Liberec? Not an option. Most shops are closed except for the essential ones. The majority of schools are shut, too. Respirators, not surgical masks or cloth drapes, are required in shops and on public transport. This is due to the more contagious British mutation, which we’ve been hit particularly hard by.

These are certainly less than ideal, but if they help us get back to normal sooner, so be it. The most disconcerting thing by far is the inexcusably slow speed of vaccinations. As of this writing, fewer than one million people have been vaccinated here. There have been some weekend days when only two or three thousand people have been vaccinated per day. That’s not going to cut it.

The rate is increasing slightly but is still nowhere near good enough. Blatny hopes to be vaccinating 35,000 people a day in the month of March. Guess what? Even at that rate, it would take two years to vaccinate everyone. I don’t know about you, but I know that can’t do this for two years. He said that the goal for April is 100,000 people a day. That’s more like it. We’ll see what happens. A few days ago, it was revealed that the Czech Republic is getting one million vaccine doses in March and two million in April. That’s all fine and good–now, get them in arms ASAP.

A fairly empty Ceske Budejovice, back in the days when it was actually possible (albeit not recommended) to leave Prague.

The situation is a mess and I can’t believe we got to this point. We’re doing so much worse than the U.S. that it’s not even funny.

So if things are that much better in the U.S., then why I am still here–in literally one of the worst COVID places in the world?

I guess it’s just will power and the fact that I refuse to quit. I signed contracts with language schools until at least June and am a man of my word. I know that there are students counting on me (and financial penalties waiting for me if I break the contract). Plus, COVID or not, an unfinished academic year would not look good on my CV, which I came over here to improve, not compromise. I recently took on new classes and have my income almost back to what it was pre-COVID. I feel like I’m established enough over here to the point where going back to my old life in New York (and trying to get a job there) would be difficult. I’d have to undo all these months of personal growth, move back in with family, and potentially have a less-than-ideal job. Besides, the processes and paperwork to close accounts, de-register myself from the systems, etc. would be quite extensive and the coronavirus closures do not make it easy. On a less important note, the central location of Prague makes it so convenient to travel to the rest of Europe, and I have a huge travel bucket list that I’d still like to embark on.

Oh, by the way, if you think Babis and friends are bad, just do some research on Andrew Cuomo. If you Google him, you’ll find a lot of information on sexual harassment allegations and nursing home deaths. The tyranny of Cuomo (or, potentially, Kathy Hochul) is not what I need in my life right now.

Some people think I’m resilient. Personally, I feel stubborn is the better word for it. But no matter how you slice it, I’m still here. Believe me, there have been many days when I have strongly entertained the idea of jumping on a plane, flying 5,000 miles, and seeing my family again. This isn’t an easy time for anyone and I totally respect anyone who decides to go back to the states. You certainly have a valid reason–COVID has ruined a lot of plans.

One of the reasons I keep going is because there is a little voice in my mind which tells me the situation is going to get better in the next month or two. Hopefully, vaccinations will speed up in the fashion that Blatny says they will, and the new restrictions, as annoying as they are, will better the situation. For what it’s worth, there were some small encouraging signs in this week’s numbers, albeit we still have a long way to go. The government knows that it can’t keep everything closed forever. The economy has already suffered enough damage. Experts have said that the pandemic could end and we could have some semblance of normalcy at least by fall, if not sooner.

That part sounds promising. But if I’ve learned one thing about the coronavirus, it’s never to count it (and its mutations) out. Even in a best-case scenario, I don’t think things will be 110 percent normal again for quite some time. We still have follow the restrictions, whether we like them or not. Just because experts say things MIGHT get better doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to happen.

But we can hope. And personally, I hope that I’ll be writing a much different post one year from now.

(Note: the top photo is a picture of a desolate Old Town Square last April.)

How the Czechs Do Sport (and a Message to English Language Learners)

by mikebev25

As those of you who have known me for a long time well know, I’m one of the biggest sports fans you will ever meet. For a while, I thought that I would never be able to live without sports, but the two- or three-month period last year when the pandemic shut down all major American sports proved otherwise. You can live without sports. You cannot live without food, water, and good health. But sports is a huge passion of mine, so last spring was brutal.

Now that sports are back, still without spectators in many cases, but at least being played, I thought I’d take a look at the sports scene in Prague. What are the Czechs’ favorite sports and athletes? Do Czechs follow any American sports? What is the meaning of life? All those questions answered here! (Okay, maybe not that last one, but I can try if you really want me to.)

Here in Prague, the most popular sports are ice hockey and soccer. In hockey, the Czech team won the gold medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, and according to my students, this is something that the people here are very proud of, as they should be. A key member of that team, Jaromir Jagr (and his mullet), is beloved here. With nearly 2,000 career NHL points to his name, the 49-year-old was one of the greatest players in the history of hockey.

Wait…he was one of the greatest players? My friends, there’s an error in that sentence. I’ll give you a second to think about it.

Okay, time’s up. The sentence should read “he is one of the greatest players…” Yep, that’s right, Jagr still laces up the skates today, playing for HC Kladno here in the Czech Extraliga. In fact, he owns the team. The rare player-owner.

In soccer, or football as they call it over here, three teams call Prague home. Slavia Prague and Sparta Prague have an intense rivalry. Twice a year, the teams play in the Prague Derby. Fun fact: Sparta has won 133 of their all-time matchups, Slavia has taken 92, and 72 have ended in a draw (also known as a tie for you Americans out there). Prague’s third team, Bohemians, calls the Vrsovice district (on the southeast side of the city) home. The name comes from Bohemia, which, along with Moravia and Silesia, is one of the three major historical regions of the Czech Republic.

As of the publication time of this post, Slavia and Sparta are first and second, respectively, in the Czech league. Bohemians are languishing in 12th place out of 18 teams, a rank that only the Buffalo Sabres could envy.

On the national level, the Czech team qualified for Euro 2020, which will actually be played this year following its postponement due to the COVID pandemic. The team was drawn into group D with Croatia, Scotland, and England, who defeated it 5-0 in a 2019 game. Oh, and the Czechs are 42nd in the current FIFA world rankings. The English are 4th and the Croats are 11th. Good luck.

Other popular sports in the country include basketball, handball, badminton, and floorball, which is similar to floor hockey. American sports like baseball are not popular here, but I did find a baseball diamond in the city.

A baseball diamond in Prague.

You probably have figured out by now that football (as in soccer) is a big deal here. But what about American football? While football is popular among the many expats here, Czechs generally don’t watch American football, although I did discuss the Super Bowl with one of my students. He said that he was going to watch the game, so I directed him to root for the team that would be wearing white (the Tampa Bay Buccaneers). I did that because I would be rooting for the Buccaneers. I have nothing against Patrick Mahomes and company. It’s just that, you know, the Bucs are my team.

Football at an American-owned bar in Prague.

Believe it or not, I’m a proud Bucs fan and have been one since childhood. How does a kid from upstate New York land on the Buccaneers when options like the Giants, Jets, and Bills are available? It’s like a soccer fan from Prague randomly deciding to be a fan of Ostrava. But when I was young, I wanted to be different from my family. They were Democrats, I was a Republican (although I’m rethinking that now). They were Yankees fans, I was a White Sox fan. They called me Alex P. Keaton. I was okay with that. As Jodie Foster once said, “normal is not something to aspire to, it’s something to get away from,” so joining my family and cheering for Big Blue wasn’t an option.

The Buccaneers had cool uniforms, a great name, and some players that I loved watching. Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, John Lynch, etc. I loved the “defense wins championships” mantra that the Bucs and many others had during the 90s. My uncle was a Bucs fan, so I decided to check them out. I was immediately hooked. It didn’t hurt that they were good in the late 90s and early 2000s, winning the Super Bowl in 2002.

So yes, I was a Bucs fan long before Tom Brady came along. I don’t want to hear “fair-weather fan” or “bandwagoner.” Thank you.

Before #12 traded in the snow and ice of Boston for the sun and warmth of the Florida Gulf Coast, the Bucs were going through a difficult time. They hadn’t won a playoff game since the previously acknowledged Super Bowl in San Diego when I was in 8th grade. Brady’s predecessor, Jameis Winston, was exceptional at throwing touchdowns….to the other team. He threw 30 interceptions in 2019. THIRTY. Do I really need to mention that his first ever NFL pass was a pick-six in 2014. I had seen enough. Luckily, the Bucs had also seen enough, so they went out and signed Brady.

I never liked Brady before he wound up on my team (I was adamant that he had deflated footballs and thought he was just too damn good) and was in denial when he first signed. However, I knew that he’d make the Bucs better, and you root for the team before you root for the players. The Bucs went 11-5 and defeated Washington, the Saints, Packers, and Chiefs on their way to another Lombardi Trophy. The final in the Super Bowl was 31-9. Yes, the Bucs defense held Mahomes and the guys to NINE points. Defense wins championships indeed.

I was pumped to see one of my teams win a title. You would be, too. I couldn’t wait to share it with the fellow members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers community here in Prague.

Oh, wait…there aren’t any fellow members.

I have yet to find another Buccaneers fan in this city. That, coupled with the time difference (the Super Bowl began at 12:30 a.m. and ended at 4 a.m. here) and the coronavirus restrictions (closed bars and restaurants) made it impossible to find anyone to watch the game with. But it was a critical moment in my team’s history. My blood pressure was going to go up, down, and all around. I needed company.

Enter Franklin.

Who is Franklin, you might ask? He’s a stuffed frog I bought at the beginning of the pandemic. At the time, I had anticipated that I would try to get my foot in the door in the online teaching market and needed props. Unfortunately, the online teaching never came to pass. Oversaturated. But Franklin stayed. As preposterous as this sounds, Franklin has actually been a big help for my anxiety. It’s amazing what stuffed animals can do when you’re having an attack.

Franklin, aka Frankalicious and Frank the Tank.

What does Franklin have to do with the Buccaneers? During the Bucs’ first playoff game vs. Washington, I grabbed him and sat him down beside me. I’m honestly not even sure why, but it was the middle of the night and I was groggy. You make strange decisions when you’re groggy, trust me. Anyway, he and I watched the game and the Bucs won, so I decided he was good luck. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. From that moment on, Franklin was always close by during all the Bucs’ playoff games. He was my, and the Bucs, good luck charm.

It’s amazing to see what the power of a stuffed animal can do.

During our next lesson, the student told me that he had watched the game and rooted for the Bucs, just like he said he would. Obviously, you always want to tell your students the right things, not just in English, but in life as well. Had the Bucs lost, our conversation–and our class–wouldn’t have been as happy. I hope that this young man and others in Prague will grow to love American football the same way they love European football.

Sports can heal. Sports can unite. Sports can be a valuable distraction. Even when the fans aren’t present, the athletes can feel their power. On that day and in that class, sports didn’t exactly do any of those things, but they did ignite a conversation and led to valuable speaking practice. To borrow a famous saying from sports, “practice makes perfect.” The more you practice, the better you get. Reading articles about sports is a terrific way to learn English. Watching sports matches in English is also a great way to take in the language.

So to those of you English language learners who might be reading this, consider sports as an opportunity not only for pleasure, but as a chance to open your eyes to the language of the world. You never know which doors it will open for you someday.

Likes Aren’t Everything: My Two-Week Social Media Detox Experiment

by mikebev25
The church I stumbled upon during my social media siesta.

During this time of restrictions and bitterly cold weather, we’ve all had a bit of extra time on our hands. It’s how you spend that extra time that matters. You can spend it by being proactive and finding ways to improve your life, or you can spend it doom scrolling, looking at memes, and watching grown men and women fight while sitting behind computer screens.

Unfortunately, I came to the realization that I had been falling into the second category. Far too much time on social media and not nearly enough time on self-improvement and reflection.

Not ideal. It was time for a bold choice.

Social media: OUT. Other priorities, like the ones mentioned above: IN.

Yes, for two whole weeks (or a fortnight, as they like to say on this side of the Atlantic), I would detox from social media. For the first 10 days of my “experiment,” I did not log in to Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat. I don’t use Twitter, and I exempted Messenger and WhatsApp so people still had some way to get a hold of me. After those ten days were complete, I’d spend the final four days easing myself back in, checking it maybe two or three times a day (as opposed to the several hours I’d normally spend on it).

Okay, self-care, reflection, etc…good, good. Way to take care of yourself, Mike? But why do all this in February, of all months? Why not do it in June or September or over the holidays?

Simply put, it just made sense.

First and foremost, one of the reasons I’ve grown somewhat sour on social media is because it tends to make me compare myself to others, which is something I’m trying to get away from. At a time of year when Valentine’s Day and the Lunar New Year are causes for celebration, I would have been bound to see someone post about one or both of those things, which would risk giving me the impression that their life is better than mine. Second, it’s winter, and it’s cold. You really think I need people posting pictures of snow to remind me of that? I’m from New York. I know all about winter and am perfectly content with spending it inside. If I want to see or feel cold, all I have to do is step outside or open a window. Not to mention my Facebook friends who are bathing in Florida or other tropical locales. It is just about spring break, after all. Third, the coronavirus numbers here in the Czech Republic are not improving and likely won’t for some time. I noticed that I was far too often checking the COVID numbers before anything else when I woke up in the morning. Not a good habit. We should aim to start our days with positivity, not deaths or hospitalizations or the R number. Lastly, it’s the new semester at school, and to enhance my experience and income, I’ve taken on several new classes of late. I wanted to make sure that I start on the right foot with all of my new students, so I needed as few distractions as possible.

The rationale sounded legit. But could I actually do it?

I admit the first couple of days were difficult. It was weird. I felt lost. I felt disconnected. It was like a part of me was missing. My routine had to change dramatically, and for my personality type, a lack of structure leads to a lack of patience which leads to, well, chaos. But somehow, I was able to resist the temptation (I uninstalled Instagram and Snapchat from my phone entirely). I knew it was for the best and that I had to keep going. After all, I had made an announcement on Facebook, and part of the reason I did that was so that I could be held accountable.

I confess that I did cheat for about five minutes when my beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl, but hey, it’s not every day that your sports team wins a championship, right? I simply made my Facebook post (at 4:15 a.m.) and went to bed. No scrolling, no viewing other people’s stories, no liking or commenting on anything. I needed to hold true to at least that part of the deal.

But I certainly couldn’t spend my entire newfound time just watching football. So what else did I do? As I mentioned before, I did a lot of self-care with workouts, meditation, and positive affirmations. I reaffirmed my commitment to making myself attainable weekly goals, which I’ve tried to get some friends to do as well. So much so, in fact, it’s gotten to the point where I actually annoy them. Oh, well, I’m going to keep doing it (whether you guys like it or not, and you know it’s all out of love…and self-improvement), and the social media break gave me the time to think about new and improved goals for the weeks and months ahead. The main goal right now is eating healthier, and with the extra time, I tried some new foods and dishes I don’t eat very often. Bibimbap, anyone?

Moving along on the self-care/self-improvement front, I did a lot of journaling. Pages and pages of it. Putting your thoughts on paper is such a great way to clear the head. I’m also proud to say that I prayed a lot. Before the detox, I had had a great deal on my mind, but opening up to God really helped. Strength, judgment, guidance, and wisdom…all terrific things to pray for. I even found a church near Old Town Square. Full disclosure: During my break, I went to that church twice and prayed while sitting on the steps. In both cases, some good things happened afterwards, so that’s a tradition that I think I’ll continue. On the professional side, I was extremely productive and had a much better attention span. I researched new teaching methods and found some excellent materials for future lessons. Speaking of research, I also spent some time looking into potential future teaching destinations. While I was perusing the globe, I took a glimpse at important international issues. Joe Biden is doing a good job so far! The government here in Prague…not so much.

Overall, it was time well spent. But did it actually teach me any lessons?

Why, yes it did!

Ladies and gentlemen, likes aren’t everything.

In case your eyes might be fluttering in disbelief, let me say that again.

Likes. Aren’t. Everything.

The whole world cannot and should not revolve around posts, stories, memories, and comments. As much as I love socializing and meeting new people, me time is important. I had been feeling kind of run down physically and mentally, so it was a nice opportunity to recharge the batteries as the second half of the school year loomed. It allowed me to think about my future without being negatively influenced by social media posts that might not paint a complete reality. These days, everyone is so glued to technology that they forget about the little things in life. They forget about nature. They forget about small victories. Human interest stories aren’t a thing anymore. You see, social media often makes us focus too much on ourselves, as our posts often draw attention to ourselves. Instead of posting about how amazing your own life is, jump off of social media for a bit and go out into the community to help others. Rather than using Facebook to complain about the world’s problems, take the time to research them or write your senator. You can improve yourself until the cows come home, but what good is it if you don’t have a good and safe community to live in?

Talking of freedom, boy, did I feel a ton of it. To be honest, social media had been stressing me out and wasn’t all that fun anymore. As I said before, I’d fallen into the trap of comparing myself to others. Furthermore, what if I saw a friend or group of friends doing something that they could have invited me to, but left me out of it? Yes, with COVID restrictions, I realize that there isn’t much that can be done right now, but try telling that to someone with anxiety. Was it an irrational fear? Probably. But it still was a fear. There’s also the constant fear, but possibility, of noticing that someone unfriended, unfollowed, or muted you, making you think:

a) What did I do wrong, when it may well have been nothing? and/or:

b) Oh, great, now my friend has an even bigger lead than me in the race for followers.

When I detoxed, I didn’t have to worry about either one of these trivial things. The monkey was off my back. It felt like a vacation.

I’m not saying social media isn’t important and that you should never use it, but there are so many more positive and impactful things you can do with your life. You only get one try, so why not make the most of it? While I am back on social media now, you won’t see me as much as you used to. I enjoyed the time away and found it to be therapeutic. It helped me to step back and look at the world from a different perspective, and I think that with the recent reflection time, this experience will make me a better person. At the end of the day, if we’re not always the best versions of ourselves, who are we and what are we doing here?

How Soon Is Now?

by mikebev25

In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past year, there’s this teeny, tiny thing called COVID that’s caused just a wee bit of disruption to daily life.

In all seriousness, the virus and the restrictions that have come with it have left most of us with a lot of alone time. An opportunity to sit back and think about life, if you will.

For me, this quiet time has led to a lot of reflection about the past year and a half-plus. I’ve also spent much of this solitude listening to music, not just as a stress reliever, but really taking a moment to try and understand the lyrics.

There has been one song that has resonated with me more than the others. But it’s not the song you think.

When I was sitting in Newark Airport on the afternoon of June 25, 2019, I took some time during my layover to turn on my portable radio and see what kinds of stations New Jersey had to offer. In case your eyes are fluttering in disbelief, I did say “portable radio.” Yes, I’m weird. Get over it. Anyway, I flipped channels for a bit and stopped on one that was playing “How Soon Is Now?” by The Smiths. I’m not sure exactly why, but I distinctly remember this song in that moment. As I watched the hustle and bustle of the Garden State’s biggest airport, I listened to the tune for what I believe was the first time in my life. I thought it was a good song and it made my day better, but I was more or less prepared to move on with my wait.

Fast forward to several hours later. I could not sleep (would you be able to sleep if you were moving your life across the Atlantic?). I decided to play around with the in-flight entertainment and pop in my headphones. I went to the alternative rock station. Honestly, I’m not even sure why that was the first thing I turned to. I don’t even like alternative rock. But when your adrenaline is racing the way it was at that moment, everything kind of blends together. I didn’t know what day it was or what time it was or what planet I was even on. Cut me some slack.

I go back into a daze as a few of the alternative rock songs play. I think the main thing I was looking for was background noise, something to distract me. I didn’t recognize most of the songs and couldn’t tell you about a single one of them.

Except for one.

Just a few songs into my alt rock foray, it comes on.

Welcome back to my ears, Morrissey and friends. It was like you never left.

How was it possible that a song I had never heard in my life was now gracing my ears for the second time in less than 12 hours? For me, it was more than deja vu. The music gods sent me this song for a reason. Clearly, someone wanted me to hear this song and hear it at that moment in time. It was going to be the theme song to my Prague experience, the first of many new things I was going to encounter in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

It wasn’t until recently, however, that I really delved into the lyrics. All it took was one close look at them to recognize that this song was me.

The song’s main theme is social anxiety. I know what you’re thinking…”ugh, Mike, not another anxiety tangent!” Well, I’m going there, so if you don’t like it, stop reading here. As my loyal readers know, I have severe anxiety, and that’s why I’m constantly trying to raise awareness of mental health issues. Often, my anxiety has manifested itself in its social form. Simply put, I lack confidence in social situations and frequently struggle to make friends and maintain friendships. I get nervous before every social interaction, even if it’s with someone I know well. When it’s over, I go back and overanalyze every single word I said in an interaction in fear that I said something that upset the other person, even though I know deep down it did not. It gets to the point where I refrain from sending text messages to people, even though I have something to say, because I’m nervous about how they will respond or if they will respond at all. Will they get upset with me if I reach out to them too often? Yes, texting isn’t the same as face-to-face interaction, but to me, it’s still a social component because you’re communicating with another person.

I know none of this is rational. But if it were rational, anxiety wouldn’t be a “disorder,” would it?

And it doesn’t end there. Unlike many people I know and love, I have trouble walking up to a stranger and starting a conversation. Being embarrassed in public is something I have always worried about and been self-conscious of. In the past, I had a tendency to avoid social outings, although that’s gotten better in recent years. (side note: COVID has really made me long for social outings, even the most basic ones.)

I feel like this song was made for people like me.

“I am the son and the heir…of a shyness that is criminally vulgar.” Right from the first line, I see The Smiths talking to me. Anxiety–more specifically, social anxiety–runs in my family. I was the one who “inherited” it. I would’ve rather inherited something more profitable, but it is what it is. When I hear the “shyness” part, I think about being in my shell for many years. One of the big reasons I moved abroad was to come out of my shell and eliminate the shyness. Personally, I think “criminally vulgar” is a strong phrase, but there are so many other people who aren’t accepting of people with anxiety to the point it just becomes taboo. Telling us to get over it and saying that we’re acting out for attention does not help one iota. No, we’re not acting out for attention, we’re looking for help. Understanding that and being supportive is enormously critical. Too many people just don’t get that.

“You shut your mouth…How can you say I go about things the wrong way?” I really dislike “my way or the highway” type people. I reiterate: until you have lived with anxiety, you have no business telling any of us what to do. For years, I cared too much about the opinions of other people and was a people pleaser. To an extent, I still am. But being in Prague and living on my own has allowed me to see that I need to make decisions for myself. I need to make the best decisions for Mike, not for anybody else. If others don’t like it, that’s too bad. You can call me selfish. It’s okay. I’ve been called worse. I call it being strong enough to know what you want AND what you deserve. Settling for less just because that is what others want you to do is not okay. There have been too many times in my life in which I have done that. I’m not doing it anymore.

The song continues, “I am human and I need to be loved…just like everyone else does.” For my entire life, I’ve beat myself up over mistakes, but the reality is, as The Smiths tell us, that we are all human. It’s a subtle, but necessary reminder. That’s not the critical idea here, however. In the words of the Black-Eyed Peas, “where is the love?” When dealing with a person with social anxiety, it happens too frequently that people look at the illness and not at the person. A person with social anxiety is exactly that. Not a “socially anxious” person. Person-first language. If you don’t know what it is, Google it. A person with social anxiety is a person with feelings, emotions, and thoughts. They need support. That’s why, throughout this experience, I’ve been blessed to have the unwavering support of my family. During this journey, I’ve made some mistakes and had some bad days. But my family, even from thousands of miles away, has shown me the love that all of us deserve. Next time you encounter a person with social anxiety, recognize that they have good intentions in most cases. Even with a shy exterior, they can still have a heart of gold on the interior and be someone who is really worth getting to know. Don’t judge the book by its cover and don’t let a little social awkwardness obscure your perception of someone.

“There’s a club if you’d like to go…you could meet somebody who really loves you.” Anecdote time: the first week I was in Prague, a number of my fellow TEFL trainees and me went to a club in downtown. I’ve never been much of a club person, but I enthusiastically went with them. While I unfortunately did not meet somebody who really loved me that night, it was an immediate sign that I was coming out of my long-standing shell and ready to embrace new perspectives. I think the big reason was that I wanted to bond with my new friends, but, looking back at it now, I wanted to show that shy Mike was left in the States and that “International Mike,” as I was called during my TEFL course, had arrived. The club experience was the first of many new experiences I was about to have. Meanwhile, a couple of seconds later, The Smiths proceed to say, “so you go and you stand on your own, and you leave on your own, and you go home and you cry, and you want to die.” That night (I mean, morning), I went home and actually felt good. Shy Mike would have gone home, cried, and wanted to die. It was a major step in the transformation outside my comfort zone. International Mike was born.

“When you say it’s gonna happen now…when exactly do you mean? See I’ve already waited too long. And all my hope is gone.” You see, before I moved to Prague, I felt that a lot of my hope was gone. I was working at the US Postal Service and still living at home. I didn’t have a lot of close friends, so the aforementioned shyness was only getting worse. The bottom line is that I was waiting for something to happen. But after a while, I realized that it wasn’t going to come to me. I had to go out and get it. So that’s what I did. At 29 years of age, I wasn’t getting any younger. Now was not soon enough for me.

So there you have it. It’s not a traditional theme song for anybody, but it’s unique and memorable for me. I feel like it was the song tailored specifically for this experience. While I still struggle with social anxiety, I am definitely working on it, and I’ve made strides since I’ve been overseas. I hope this blog taught you something about social anxiety, and if you or someone you love has it, there is a way to make it work. You can get over it and do some great things.

How soon is now? As soon as you want it to be.

As long as COVID says it’s safe, of course.

January 25

by mikebev25

January 25.

You look at the calendar and see that it’s not a particularly exciting day. It’s winter. There are sometimes important football games. It’s about the midway point of the academic year for most schools.

But to me, it’s an very symbolic day. It gives me an eerie feeling (I used that word in a lesson last week and the students loved it, so why not?).

And no, it’s not because it’s my five-twelfths birthday.

January 25, 2019 started out as just another day. I was driving home from my overnight job at the United States Postal Service. Yes, believe it or not, before I began my teaching abroad adventure, I worked for the federal government.

It was about 6:30 a.m. and my Ford Escape (I miss that car) and I were cruising up Interstate 87 in upstate New York. We had just passed the Twin Bridges (also known as the Thaddeus Kosciusko Bridge for you non-upstate New Yorkers) when, all of a sudden, a plank of wood flew off the back of the truck that was in the lane next to me (I was in the middle lane; the truck was in the right). The truck was one, maybe one and a half car lengths in front of me.

This was no ordinary piece of wood. We weren’t talking about a little piece that youngsters break at tae kwon do (I also miss that). This was a full-length plank, and a fairly thick one at that. Picture a balance beam at the Olympics. A better comparison escapes (pardon the pun) me at the moment.

Unfortunately, there was no time for me to make a move. The wood slammed into my right front fender. At first, I thought I had just run over the wood, and immediately after it happened, I heard an alert on my dashboard. I was expecting it to say “low tire pressure.” Instead, it said “washer fluid level low.” I had just refilled the washer fluid not too long before the accident, so that didn’t make sense to me.

Those who know me well are aware of the fact that emergency situations and I do not get along. While most people would have pulled over, I made the somewhat questionable decision to keep driving, in large part because I was in shock and didn’t really know what else to do. Looking back at it now, the car was drivable and it was a dark, cold highway, so I felt that going off to the side would have put me in real danger.

Only when I arrived home did I see the extent of the damage. The tire on my right passenger side was fine. However, that was about the only thing that was. The fender was eviscerated. The fog light was destroyed. The washer fluid reservoir was punctured, hence the dashboard warning. I would go on to be without my car for two weeks as the thousands of dollars in damage were repaired.

It had all just seemed like a stroke of bad luck until I had a conversation with my mom some time after the accident. We came to the conclusion that I had been very lucky. I had gotten away with one, as they say in the sports world. Thankfully, the slab of wood hit my car where it did.

What if it had come through the windshield?

When she first said it to me, I kind of just brushed it off. As much as I love my mother, she worries and catastrophizes (do you guys see where I get it from now?). But the reality is that she was right. I came much closer to death or serious injury than I had first imagined. If the wood had hit maybe a foot higher and a few inches further to the left, I might not be here to tell you this story.

The story has countless other what-ifs, all of which could have easily ended with me six feet under. For instance, it was winter, so matters could have been made even worse by slippery roads, but thankfully, they weren’t. To top that off, what if I had swerved to try and avoid it and wound up flipping my car or landing in a ditch? Then, there was always the possibility of me slamming on the brakes (I would have never had enough time to stop) and having someone rear end me.

All of the “what could have beens” give me chills.

So why should you care about a car accident in which no one was injured, no airbags went off, and no authorities were called?

It taught me that you can never take life for granted and that you never know when your last moment might be. I was actually pretty shaken up when I sat down and thought about everything that wasn’t far off from happening that day. Cars and fenders and washing fluid reservoirs can be replaced, but people can’t.

And then, friends, is the moral of this story.

I’m not going to call this a near-death experience, because it wasn’t that. Instead, it was more of a wake-up call. It was this accident that sent me the message that life is too short to live an ordinary life and that you need to live each day to the fullest. Shortly after that morning on the Northway (as I-87 is called by upstate New Yorkers), I made the decision that I was going to embark on my journey to the Czech Republic.

It was my time to take a risk. A different set of “what could have beens” needed to become reality. Let’s face it–your life can change (or end) in an instant, so don’t wait (if COVID hasn’t taught you this, you’re not paying close enough attention). And after all, I was 29 years old at the time, so I wasn’t getting any younger, either. If, heaven forbid, I had passed that day, I would have lived my whole life without ever going abroad and really never taking any risks at all. That’s no fun.

So I did move abroad, where I don’t have to worry about pieces of wood flying off of trucks because I don’t drive.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Math Is Hard. Being an American Today Is Harder.

by mikebev25

January: The first month of the year. A time for a clean slate. A time to get going on those New Year’s resolutions. The stress of the holidays is gone. 

Sounds great, right?

For some people, it might be. But not for everyone. And certainly not for those who have anxiety and/or depression.

I once saw a meme that I think says it best. January: a cold, gray bucket of suck.

Spot on.

Full disclosure: I’ve suffered from seasonal depression for years. There are two times of year it gets really bad. September/October…and, you guessed it, this exact time of year. It stays with me until about the end of February, and then, it goes away.

Why do I get this way? For one, there’s nothing to look forward to. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s are over. And with all due respect to Abraham Lincoln and George Washington (boy, could America use either of them about now), their birthdays just don’t do it for me. Second, it’s cold. Really cold. You can’t really go outside. Then again, I didn’t move from New York to Prague for the weather, so I’d be feeling the exact same way if I were in the U.S. Third, the days are short. Really short. The sun comes up at 8 a.m. and goes down at 4 p.m. I know people whose workdays are longer than that. Fourth, the next school break is a long, long way away. I enjoy teaching, but it’s a grind, so it’s important to get mental and physical rest. Unfortunately, the next time I can get an extended rest isn’t until a four-day break in early April. Woohoo.

There are some minor things which go into it as well. Football season is coming to an end and baseball season is nowhere in sight. The onset of January also means that tax season, one of the most stressful things I do all year, is right around the corner. Ugh.

As it is, it’s already not great. But now, let’s add in COVID restrictions. Need a nonessential item like new clothes or a webcam for your computer? Too bad. Want to go to a nice, peaceful cafe and work on your lesson plans? Forget it. How about a weekend trip to Germany or Poland? Dream on. Want to go out after 9 p.m.? Nope. Why not get a group of friends together and have a few drinks? Ne, ne, ne, ne, ne…. (that’s Czech for “no,” in case you didn’t know).

And oh yeah, COVID anxiety is always there, and personally, it’s never been worse for me. When will the cases go down? Will they ever go down? When can I get vaccinated? Will the vaccine even work? What happens if, God forbid, I get it? Will my family in the States be okay? Will not being able to see my friends affect my relationships with them? Will I lose my mind just because of sheer boredom? Imagine all of these questions spinning through your head on a daily basis, even when it’s not January.

Oh, but we’re not done adding fuel to this fire. Not by a long shot. As much as I try to keep this blog positive and free of politics, I’d be remiss if I wrote a blog today and didn’t comment on yesterday’s events. Not only that, but the recent state of America has been triggering my anxiety for a while now. But it’s never been worse than yesterday, when a group of domestic terrorists broke into the U.S. Capitol in one of the darkest and most embarrassing moments in the history of democracy. I’m not proud to be an American today. I’m pissed off today, and if you’re an American, you should be, too. This should never, ever, EVER happen in our country.

There is one man responsible for this, and you know exactly who it is. Trump needs to go NOW. Not later today. Not tomorrow. Not next week. I don’t care that there are only two weeks left in his term. His immediate departure is the only thing that can help America begin to restore its many, many wounds. I’m sure Joe Biden is quite alright with being number 47 instead of number 46. Speaking of the president-elect, I don’t envy him one bit. He’s walking into a complete and utter mess. He deserves better. I wish him well.

In addition to feeling intense anger, the person with anxiety will, as usual, develop extreme and potentially even irrational concern. What if a civil war breaks out in my country? Again, is my family safe? Will I ever be able to move back to America? What will all of this mean for the COVID response and the stimulus checks? Will Biden be able to get anything done and really make the country better? There’s no worse feeling than seeing your country in shambles, but being so far away that you feel you can’t do a thing about it.

Not to mention the constant questions I get from students. Do you think I like explaining to them how the worst president in American history has incited nothing but hatred, divisiveness, and racism? Do I enjoy telling them about how America’s reputation has completely gone in the tank? No, I don’t. You wouldn’t, either. Thinking about this only makes my anxiety worse.

Let’s get baby Donald to his crib (and by that, I mean his jail cell) and move on.

Okay, the anxiety fire’s finally out. Right? But wait a minute…aren’t you forgetting something, Mike? Why, you sure are! How about my normal, everyday concerns that anxiety brings about? Anxiety doesn’t ever take a vacation. It’s here, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It’s the one thing COVID can’t close down. Seasonal depression and anxiety don’t get along. Nor will they ever.

Did I do a good job teaching that lesson? Are my students really getting better? Which clients are going to have to take a mid-year test? How much income am I on track to make this month? What is my plan for after this school year ends?

And that’s just on the professional side.

When we look at the personal side, it doesn’t get any better.

Am I a good person? Was I truly the best version of myself today? Was I nice enough to this person the last time I saw them? Should I have said this or not said that? What are my personal goals going to be this week? My friend didn’t text me back–did I do something to upset them?

Speaking of which, just to step on my soapbox for a minute–Family and friends, I love y’all dearly, but some of you are HORRENDOUS when it comes to returning texts. You’re as bad as the Jacksonville Jaguars (and not even Trevor Lawrence would be enough to save you). Seriously. I know you’re busy. I’m busy, too. I don’t expect your world to revolve around me. If it did, that would be weird. But there is something called common courtesy. It doesn’t take very long to at least acknowledge the fact that I took time out of my own busy day to say something to you. You may think it’s silly that I’m complaining about this, and it may not seem like a big deal to you, but you have no idea about the thoughts that someone with anxiety gets when you go hours without answering me. Do better. Capeesh? Okay, rant over….down from soapbox.

Now that I’ve made an effort to put all the thoughts from my jumbled mind onto a piece of paper, let’s just do a quick recap for you math majors out there…

Seasonal depression + COVID + idiots at the U.S. Capitol and the bigger idiot that has resided at the White House for the past four years + regular anxiety =a cold, gray bucket of suck. 

Math is hard.

So what can one possibly do to get out of this rut? Well, some days it’s not easy. It’s life…it’s never easy. But I’m still here, so what are the things I’ve done to make me still be here?

Listening to music is a great stress reliever. So is working out, and a big goal I have for this year is to lose 20 pounds, if not more. Meditation works well, and I’ve also been thinking about taking up yoga. There is also this new, addicting puzzle game I’ve installed on my phone in order to train my brain. Another thing I really like is listening to TED Talks because a number of them are so relatable. Just Google “TED Talks” or search it on Youtube, and hours of fun will be at your fingertips. When I’m not playing that game or watching TED Talks, however, I’m trying to cut back on my screen time and social media time because there are better and happier things you can do with your life (and I get sick of the overly political posts after a while, especially now) Personally, I’ve just been starting out with one or two simple goals each week and doing everything I can to achieve those.

You’re also probably asking: What can I do to support a family member or friend who has anxiety and/or depression? Let’s start with what not to do. I know I don’t want anyone’s pity, and I believe most others don’t, either. I’ll be fine. No one needs to feel sorry for me. I’ve gotten this far, haven’t I? I have faith that, after a long healing process, America will be fine, too.

The best thing that anyone can do is listen. Be supportive, not judgmental, of them, no matter how they are feeling or what they are going through. Show empathy. Encourage them to accomplish their goals and follow their dreams. Do some research on mental health so you can know more about the hidden battles they fight each and every day. That way, you can see the person, not the illness. Remember, we are people with a mental illness, not a “mentally ill person.” I absolutely loathe that phrase. The person always has to come first. Person-first language, ladies and gentlemen. Person. First. Language.

Finally, I’d like conclude with this quote from To Kill a Mockingbird,one of my all-time favorite books. “You never rally understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb around in his skin and walk around in it.”

Now that you know more about what I and millions of others are going through every day, especially at this difficult time of year and even more difficult time in American history, would you be able to walk a mile in our skin?

I Don’t Have 2020 Vision, But I Can Tell You 2021 Will Be a Better Year

by mikebev25

We made it.

2020 has come to a close. It was truly a year unlike any of my previous 31 years on this planet. 365 days ago, the Coronavirus was merely confined to China, no one was wearing masks, social distancing wasn’t a thing, and Dr. Fauci wasn’t a household name outside of the medical field.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was still alive. So was John Lewis. And Kobe Bryant. And Alex Trebek. Chadwick Boseman. Regis Philbin. Sean Connery. Little Richard. Kirk Douglas. Diego Maradona. Eddie Van Halen. Unfortunately, I could write a whole blog about the wonderful and influential celebrities we lost this year.

Many great people. But those aren’t all. The Coronavirus has killed nearly two million around the world, and sadly, that number will continue to rise in 2021. Think about the empty seats at dinner tables and family gatherings.

All caused by a virus that we can’t even see.

You can say what you want about governmental responses around the world. Some countries did well. Some didn’t. Actually, many didn’t. But sitting here and arguing about it isn’t going to bring the daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, grandmothers, or grandfathers back.

We need to look forward to 2021 with hope for the future. No, COVID isn’t going away any time soon. But we can all do our part to reduce its impact on our future. People and governments can learn from past mistakes and turn them into miracles. As author C.S. Lewis once said, “you can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” The vaccine is here, and so far, it’s working. Science saves lives. It’s proven. Hopefully, with the vaccine and with what we now know about the virus, things can go back to somewhat normal before long.

The upcoming presidency of Joe Biden also gives me hope. It gives me hope for the Coronavirus situation to improve. It gives me hope for the economy. It gives me hope for the millions of unemployed Americans to receive the stimulus money that an imbecile from Kentucky has been keeping from them. It gives me hope for America’s reputation around the world and that people will look to the US as a global leader once again.

On a personal level, I had a good year. I renewed my contract with my main language school and signed on with another so that I could get more classes. I had a blast at summer camp and met kids who changed my life, as well as an extraordinary group of leaders who I am now proud to call friends. I stopped drinking alcohol and made an effort to start exercising. Despite the pandemic, I was able to make things work and continue living in this special city that I call home. I know some really good people who had to cut their dream short and move back to the states.

I did not get COVID in 2020. I know that I am one of the lucky ones, and I thank God every day for that. But I am by no means letting my guard down. I have a few friends and acquaintances who did catch the virus, and their experience was something I would never wish upon anybody. If either of my parents got it, God forbid, they would be in trouble due to their advanced ages. Believe me, not a day has gone by when I haven’t thought of that. Again, this is why we all need to do our best to put this virus to bed. Wear a mask. Socially distance. Listen to what your government tells you to do. It won’t happen overnight, but unlike a few months ago, I do see a faint light at the end of the tunnel.

Alright, enough about COVID. Like our friend C.S. said so eloquently, we need to look to the future. 2021 can’t possibly be worse than 2020, can it? Time for a few New Year’s resolutions…

  1. Be a nicer person, not just to others, but to myself as well. In 2020, I didn’t do a good enough job with self care. While I think it’s good and noble to put others first, I think that I did that to an extreme level at times and failed to stand my own ground. Doing things for myself will help me to recharge physically, mentally, and emotionally and better prepare me for the day when I can (hopefully) add a few more lessons to my schedule. As for being nicer to others, I believe this is something I generally already do well, but I can always be better. At least that’s what anxiety wants me to think…
  2. Going off of that, I want to exercise three times a week, eat better, and take vitamins. I made some good progress with this toward the end of the year, but I was sometimes inconsistent and got a little complacent over the holidays. Once the weather gets nicer, I plan to walk a lot and maybe even do some running down the road. I need to lay off the fatty foods and eat more fruits and vegetables…maybe I could eat one fruit or vegetable a day to start? Sorry, thinking out loud. Like I’ve said many times in this space, I’m not getting any younger. There are a lot of people counting on me, and I need to be able to be there for them.
  3. Look into meditation and yoga. I’ve briefly tried mediation in the past, but it gave me headaches so I stopped. When I did do it, I basically went willy nilly and just went off of what I already knew. However, now, I resolve to research it and make sure I get the most out of it. I want to do the same with yoga. I’m going to do it and do it right.
  4. Maintaining a positivity journal. I have a journal now, but I seldom use it. When I do write in it, it’s mainly to vent. Not anymore. As we move into 2021, I plan to write at least one journal entry per week, all with at least one positive affirmation. People have told me many a time that I inspire them. Now, it’s my responsibility to inspire myself.
  5. Reducing my social media time. I love social media, and it’s a great way to keep in touch with family and friends. When the majority of your Facebook friends are on the other side of the Atlantic, it’s a plus. However, I sometimes get myself addicted to it. While social media is an essential tool, there’s no need to be on it 24/7 when time can be spent doing the aforementioned journaling, taking up new hobbies, finding a great new TV show to watch on Netflix, or learning Czech (which I need to do a better job of). Social media can also be very stressful, especially with the pandemic going on. I know this one will be a difficult one for me, but I’ll do everything I can to pull it off.

So there you have it. Five things to get us going on the right foot in 2021. Of course, I’ll be continuing this blog and updating you all on my progress. At the end of the day, all of these resolutions come back to one main, overarching goal–to be the best person, son, brother, uncle, friend, and TEFL teacher that I can possibly be.

Happy 2021, everyone. We made it.

Why I Don’t Drink or Smoke

by mikebev25

A big thing over here in Prague, especially around the holidays, is hot wine, or “svarak” to the locals. Over the past several weeks, I’ve seen countless hot wine booths set up across the country and attended a gathering where my friends made some. Despite coronavirus restrictions, hot wine is still all the rage this year.

But not for me. Why?

Full disclosure: I’ve had hot wine in the past and have found it quite tasty. After all, Christmas is a time of year when you’re supposed to let yourself go and try to forget the troubles of the past 365 days. 2020 has felt more like 365 years, so you would think I–and others–would want to consume even more alcohol this year, right?

Nope. At the end of the day, I have nothing against hot wine, except that it is, well…alcohol. For those of you who don’t know, I stopped drinking alcohol about six months ago. I did so because of a not-so-great blood test result from my doctor. You see, I needed the test to get a health clearance for summer camp. In order to get the clearance, my doctor’s office needed a blood sample. When the results came back from the lab, my doctor and I noticed several concerning things. She asked me to do something about them.

So I did.

Most notably, I made a promise to myself to eat healthier, which, admittedly, has been increasingly more difficult over the last few weeks amid the traditional yearly chaos of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Part of that promise was giving up alcohol. My choices were simply to scale back or cut it out entirely. While I’ve never been a huge drinker to begin with, I did decide that the latter was the correct call. Alcohol would no longer enter my body. Period. Not even an occasional drink or a sip of someone else’s.

I know that some religions forbid its members from drinking alcohol. Unlike many, that was not my reason for doing it. I am Catholic, and Catholics technically are permitted to have as much alcohol as they see fit. Once again, this was a decision strictly for my health.

The temptations have been there. I’ve had more than a handful of bad days when all I’ve wanted to do was open up a beer and drown my sorrows. Gatherings with friends have sometimes been awkward. Having to play drinking games with water has certainly been strange. Some people have excluded me from social events because of it. However, the people who truly matter have supported me and accepted my decision, and for this I am deeply grateful.

I’m proud of myself for the resolve and determination I’ve shown. I really don’t plan on going back to drinking any time soon. Honestly, I don’t even think I’ll have champagne on New Year’s Eve. Not having to worry about drinking has also made my life easier because I haven’t had to stand around in the claustrophobia-inducing confines of the potraviny (the Czech mini-markets/convenience stores) for 20 minutes as I decide which beer I’m in the mood for.

I think it was a good decision and one I don’t regret. So while we’re on the topic of good decisions…that leads me to another one I made even a longer time ago. This one has to do with smoking. While I have drunk in my life before, I NEVER have smoked or done drugs.

And I don’t plan on it. No blood test result in the world will ever change that.

No cigarettes, no cigars, no joints. Even in college, I refused the traditional cigars during a late-night gathering of orientation leaders. As much as I enjoyed the occasion and the company of those around me, this seemingly innocuous one-time deal was not appealing to me.

So why won’t you ever find me with a lighter or rolling papers? The first reason is, well, it could kill me. Not to get overly personal, but I suffer from asthma and have for many years. My lungs are already not up to par, and I’m scared to imagine the damage that continuous cigarette smoke would cause. Another reason it could hurt me worse than others? My family history. Both of my paternal grandparents died at relatively young ages, in large part due to years of smoking. On my mother’s side of the family, my grandmother was one of six children and lived to be 93. She was the only one of the six who didn’t smoke. The others? Very nice people who I wish lived longer, but none of them made it to 93. My grandmother, the oldest, was the last one standing. The reason? You guessed it–it was because she didn’t smoke.

None of my immediate family members smoke, either, and I think many of them have largely the same reasons. I know that I want be around to see my nieces and nephews get married and start successful lives of their own. I want to see what kind of parents they become. Side note: If they do have kids, what would I be–is it “great-uncle or granduncle?” Anyway, I know my entire family would echo those sentiments. As I’ve said in previous blogs, I’d like to think that, at 31, I’m about a third of the way through my life, as opposed to halfway through. Heck, if I ever was to have kids, I’d want to be there for them for as long as possible.

Finally, I think it’s important to clarify that I do not in any way judge or think lesser of those who do drink and smoke. This is one of the first things I tell new friends as soon as I’ve developed a comfort level with them. I am perfectly fine with my friends making their own choices. They’re adults and it’s a free country. They can do what they want and celebrate certain occasions as they see fit.

At the end of the day, it’s a personal choice for me, and it wasn’t an easy choice to make.

But it was the right one.

Cringeworthy Writing and a Letter to My High School Self

by mikebev25
Tracfones, Bob Barker, and the first-place Buffalo Sabres…2007 was not a bad time to be alive. All images courtesy of Bing images.

I’ve always loved writing.

Apparently, I haven’t always loved to write well.

For some reason, I was poking around my email’s sent folder recently, and of course, the newest ones were on top. But there was an option to put the oldest emails on top, so I figured I’d get in my time machine and see what was there.

It goes back to 2007. Yes, that 2007. I was almost 14 years younger and many pounds skinnier. Both of my grandmothers were still alive (God rest their souls). Bob Barker was still the host of The Price is Right. My beloved Buffalo Sabres were actually good (more on that later). I did not have Facebook. I did have a Tracfone (because, obviously, I was the coolest kid in my 80-person strong graduating class).

At the time, I was a senior in high school and one of the editors of the school newspaper (and the lone male on the staff). I wrote about everything: school news, sports, politics, culture, the whole nine yards. “Nine yards,” in this context, is not hyphenated, but “nine-yard reception” (which is pretty much as far as my fantasy football receivers ever want to go with their catches) is. As you’ll see later, I wasn’t aware of that at the time.

For those who don’t know, my original career path was journalism. Well, technically, it was meteorology, then journalism, then education, but who’s counting? I wrote articles for the newspaper as practice for the real world. My sent folder is so old that it actually still has these, uh, pieces of journalism that originated during George W. Bush’s second term.

One bachelor’s degree, one master’s degree, and nearly four years of teaching experience later, I look back and them and cringe. Thank God they were just “practice.” Seriously.

Just to give you a little disclaimer…these have not been doctored or edited in any way; they are exactly as they are when I wrote them (before my nephews were even born).

Anyway, without further adieu… (fun fact: Jacques Chirac was the President of France when I wrote these.)

Article #1: Super Bowl XLI Recap

            The Indianapolis Colts defeated the Chicago Bears, 29-17, to win Super Bowl XLI on February 4. The game, held at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, was seriously affected by turnovers because the rain noticeably made simple tasks such as gripping and holding the ball difficult. 

            The Bears wasted no time jumping out in front. Devin Hester, Chicago’s kick return specialist, returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. The Colts responded midway through the first quarter, as quarterback Peyton Manning found Reggie Wayne for a 53-yard touchdown pass. However, the weather haunted the Colts on the extra point attempt that followed. Punter Hunter Smith, who was holding for kicker Adam Vinatieri, fumbled the snap. The Colts could not kick the point after, so the Bears stayed in the lead, 7-6. However, the Bears extended their lead when quarterback Rex Grossman found Muhsin Muhammad for a four yard touchdown pass. This made the score 14-6, which was the count at the end of the first quarter. The Colts came alive in the second quarter. After a 29 yard field goal by Vinatieri made it 14-9, Colts running back Dominic Rhodes ran it into the end zone from a yard away. This gave the Colts their slim 16-14 halftime lead.

            The Colts dominated the second half. Vinatieri kicked a pair of field goals to extend the Colts lead to eight, 22-14. After Robbie Gould kicked a field goal for the Bears, Bears quarterback Rex Grossman threw one of two interceptions. Colts defensive back Kelvin Hayden was able to run the return back for a touchdown, sealing the deal for the Colts. This made the score 29-17 in favor of the Colts, which turned out to be the final score.

            The Colts won their second title in franchise history, and their first since leaving Baltimore in 1984. Peyton Manning, who was always called out for not being able to win the “big one,” finally did so and was named Super Bowl MVP. In the first Super Bowl ever which featured two African-American head coaches, Tony Dungy of the Colts defeated Lovie Smith of the Bears to become the first black head coach to ever win a Super Bowl. 

            Next year’s Super Bowl will be played in Glendale, Arizona, outside Phoenix. 

Peyton Manning’s only ring. And of course, like the hopelessly amateur journalist I was at the time, I called him Peyton Manning again on second reference (I think even the most casual football fan could tell you that I could’ve just left it at Manning, as Eli never suited up for the Colts). Apparently, I wasn’t too fond of hyphenating when I talked about yardage. The Bears “wasted no time jumping out in front?” Such a cliche. My writing had a lot of those back then. My organization wasn’t very good, either. I probably should have put the bit about the African-American head coaches earlier in the piece. Oh, and that “next year’s Super Bowl” was only the triumphant takedown of an 18-0 Patriots team. Lastly, if you ever feel like you’re bad at your job, just remember that Rex Grossman (who I was told I looked like in high school) made it to a Super Bowl. He threw one of HIS two interceptions to Kelvin Hayden and the game went to Indy. In addition to Sexy Rexy, we had the likes of Dominic Rhodes, Muhsin Muhammad, and Hunter Smith (who went to Notre Dame) mentioned in the article. It’s like the Random NFL Players Hall of Fame.

Article #2: John McCain’s Presidential Campaign

            Senator John McCain, a Republican from Arizona, has emerged as one of the strong contenders in the early stages of the 2008 Presidential campaign. McCain has been in the Senate since 1987, and had an unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 2000. 

            John McCain was born on August 29, 1936. He was born near a submarine base in the Panama Canal Zone. His father, John McCain, Jr., was a submarine commander in the U.S. Navy and fought in the Vietnam War, among other conflicts. Senator McCain attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis from 1954-1958. McCain married his first wife, Carol Shepp, in 1965, and was sent to Vietnam. In 1967, McCain escaped a devastating aircraft fire. Later that year, he broke both arms and a leg in a plane crash, and was taken prisoner at the Hoa Lo Prison. He was mentally and physically beaten daily. He was not released until 1973, and went back to the Navy until 1981. 

            McCain divorced Shepp in 1980 and married his current wife, Cindy Hensley, the following year. In 1982, McCain won a congressional seat in Arizona, and was elected to the U.S. Senate four years later. McCain has been re-elected to his seat several times since, but he lost to George W. Bush in the 2000 Republican Presidential primary. He has dealt with health problems such as melanoma, a skin disease for which he has had two surgeries. He has also written many books, including Faith of My Fathers, a story which tells of McCain’s traumatizing experiences in Vietnam. 

McCain has publicly taken many strong stances on certain issues. He supported the invasion of Iraq, but has warned the Bush administration that certain changes need to be made for Iraq to prosper. McCain is against same-sex marriage, but doesn’t think a Constitutional amendment is necessary, and that the individual states should decide their own gay marriage policies. McCain supports stem cell research. He is concerned over global warming, opposes drilling in the Arctic, and opposes ethanol subsidies. He wants millions of illegal aliens to be given citizenship as soon as possible. Also, in the Middle East conflict, he is clearly pro-Israel. He appreciates tax cuts, but says gradually getting rid of the deficit is also important. He has sponsored many pieces of legislation regarding campaign finance reform, including the McCain-Feingold Bill. Like many republicans, McCain supports the death penalty. He is also an advocate for strengthening and maintaining national parks. He worries about homeland security, saying that the children of America need a strong nation to grow up in.

            McCain lives in Phoenix and has seven children and four grandchildren. He has formed a Presidential exploratory committee and is currently looking to raise money for his campaign. 

This is actually difficult to read, not just because one of the finest Americans in the history of our country is no longer with us, but because he deserves a much better rundown of his life. This sounds like a Wikipedia blurb. And a boring one at that. Actually, it might just have been that. It would be another two years before I took a journalistic ethics course; I had no idea what “attribution of sources” was. The comma after 1987 in the first paragraph is disgraceful. I did something similar in the second paragraph. And the third. And the fourth. You get the point. Bonus points to anyone who finds them. Needless to say, I didn’t know my comma rules. Maybe I should use these with my students as example errors. Maybe the worst of all (not a comma mistake, but still facepalm worthy) is this beauty: “McCain has publicly taken many strong stances on certain issues.” What are painfully bland topic sentences for $600, Alex? (I’m always going to say “Alex” at the end of that.) I also failed to capitalize the word “Republicans.” Embarrassing.

Article #3: NBA and NHL Updates

            The NBA and NHL are two of the most prominent sports leagues in the winter. Both circuits are having interesting seasons, full of surprises, disappointments, and great games with clutch performances.

            The best team in the NBA right now is the Phoenix Suns. As of January 28, the Suns are 35-8 with an astonishing winning streak of 16 games and counting. However, they continue to be tracked by the defending Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs, led by Dirk Nowitzki, have a record of 36-9, second best in the league behind Phoenix. Other good teams out west include the usual suspects such as the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers, and teams which have been surprising such as the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets. The Eastern Conference is much weaker than the west. The Atlantic Division is the worst division in basketball. As I am writing this article, every team in the division is below .500. The best record in the East belongs to Gilbert Arenas and the Washington Wizards. The Wizards currently are at 25-17. The Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Chicago Bulls are battling for first in the central division, with the Indiana Pacers right there as well. The defending NBA champion Miami Heat have been a disappointment. The Heat have endured injuries to Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal, and are 19-25, only good enough for third place in the Southeast division. 

            The NHL continues to roll on in its second season following a lockout which cancelled the entire 2004-2005 season. The league recently had its first All-Star Game since 2004. The game, held in Dallas, was won by the Western Conference by a score of 12-9, with Buffalo’s Daniel Briere winning MVP. Briere and the Sabres have been sitting atop the east for most of the season. The team had three starters in the All-Star Game and began the season with a 10-game winning streak. However, the Sabres’ main competition in the east appears to be the New Jersey Devils. The Devils have a lot of scoring talent, and goalie Martin Brodeur is as good as ever. Other good teams in the east include the Atlanta Thrashers, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, and defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes. The east also has the embarrassment of the league in the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers have lost their last ten home games and have won just 11 games overall. Coach Ken Hitchcock was fired early in the season and the Flyers, who sit 15thand last in the east, are 21 standings points behind the next worst team in the conference. The Western Conference also looks very competitive. The Nashville Predators have the best record in the league, but are tracked by teams such as the Anaheim Ducks. The Northwest Division is probably the most competitive division in hockey. As of January 28, the five teams in this division are separated by just five standings points. Other teams to watch in the west are the San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, and Dallas Stars. 

The NBA and NHL will decide their championships in June. The next few months should be very interesting in both leagues. 

Okay, for this one I have to say that the hardest sentence for me to swallow has nothing to do with the quality of the writing. It’s this one–“Briere and the Sabres have been sitting atop the east for most of the season.” My Buffalo Sabres were actually good. Believe it or not, it has happened before. It may or may not happen again in my lifetime. Moving on, can any of today’s aspiring journalists think of a more BORING introductory paragraph? I doubt it. I didn’t actually learn to write good intros until college and it shows. “Teams which have been surprising?” Holy wordiness, Batman. I find it amusing that the Phoenix Suns, not dissimilar to my blue and gold-clad boys on the rink, were actually relevant. Speaking of my NHL paragraph, how tremendously redundant are the first few sentences of it? Good lord.

Article #4: Afraid of Driving in the Dark? 

            Many people simply don’t like to travel in the middle of the night. However, I find it very enjoyable. Traveling in the early morning hours gives you some alone time with the road and the night. I have become accustomed to traveling in the dark so much that regular getting around during the day feels weird after a while.

            My fascination with traveling in the dark began at a very young age. When I was six, my parents and I had to take my sister to Notre Dame for the first time. This was about a 14 hour drive. I remember that we borrowed my aunt’s Nissan Quest for the trip, and we left our house at around 2 a.m. I wasn’t tired, and I enjoyed seeing the road signs in the dark more than anything. I realized that I brought a pillow and blanket I didn’t even need. This was the first of many experiences I have had traveling in the dark. 

            For each of the last four years, my mom and I take a vacation to Cape Cod. We have to leave sometime, and my mom knows I like to leave in the middle of the night, so we have a ritual every year at the start of our vacation. We leave our house at about 3 AM, keeping in mind we must be very quiet not to disturb our sleeping neighbors. We drive to Cohoes to get on the highway, stopping at the Dunkin’ Donuts at the bottom of the hill. It is really nice traveling at this time and having something to look forward to like a vacation. You might think that traveling the same route at the same time of the day every year is really boring, but it isn’t at all. 

            Obviously, when traveling during the early morning hours, some factors have to be considered. You must worry about drunk drivers, because they are still out at those hours and we all know not everyone is responsible enough to find a designated driver. Weather is another key factor. You would like it to be clear, but I have dealt with rain before in the dark. The rain isn’t a big problem since there are fewer cars on the road, but it can be a pain. The road signs can become obscured, so you really have to rely on your vision and your lights.             

Why do I like to travel in the middle of the night? There are obvious reasons such as the fact that fewer cars are on the road, but it goes deeper than that. I have always been an early riser, and I am not afraid of the dark. My mom said that my grandfather always loved traveling in the dark when he was alive. I feel that you have a greater sense of peace with your surroundings and can become one with the road easier. I actually like seeing businesses closed up and things like that, because I don’t think these places are ghost towns, but interesting fixtures of my trip. My advice is to travel in the middle of the night as much as you can, especially on a long trip. It is a different way of traveling. Make sure you pack your car the night before, so you can quietly get up and go and not disturb anybody. You can get through traveling in the middle of the night with few problems, and whatever problems you have you can easily get through. For example, last summer when I went on my vacation, we left our house in a pouring rain and when we went through Cohoes, part of the city had no power. That was a memory to me, and you can make memories traveling when no one else is around.  I believe it is unfortunate that I only get to practice my love of “Midnight Traveling,” as I call it, only two or three times a year at the most. 

Ah, to be young, in love, and an early riser again! Wait…those last two parts aren’t actually true. It’s interesting that 17-year-old me knew what accustomed meant, but made a terrible grammatical error in this gem: “For each of the last four years, my mom and I take a vacation to Cape Cod.” Had the present perfect tense not been invented yet? If any of my students see this, I want them to know that yes, even I used to make mistakes at one time. Okay, let’s be honest, I still do, because nobody’s perfect. As for more mistakes, why did I feel the need to write “a.m.” correctly in the second paragraph and then proceed to get it horribly wrong in the third? And we went out “in a pouring rain?” Yikes.

But this article (and my poor use of articles) did bring back some fun memories, like my aunt’s Nissan Quest and Dunkin’ Donuts trips at 3 a.m. Ultimately, it was my love of midnight traveling which fueled my love of traveling as a whole. Without my love of traveling, I would have never made it to Prague. Maybe this article, unbeknownst to the dork who wrote it nearly a decade and a half ago, was the start of something special.

It makes me think about what I would say if I wrote a letter to my 17-year-old self, and what the high school version of me would say about me living in Prague. Personally, I believe that the younger me’s jaw would hit the floor. He’d have a boatload of questions, that’s for sure. Seriously: I don’t think I even knew what the Czech Republic was in 2007. But then, I think Mike Jr. (which we’ll call him from here on out) would be super proud of his older brother (not exactly, but let’s go with it) for taking a leap. In 2007, my major debate was if I would stay home for college or go two or three hours away. It’s quite fascinating that in nearly 14 years, two or three hours away has evolved into an entire ocean away.

Yeah, I think Mike Jr. would be very happy about what his older brother has gone on to do. He’d finish putting on his acne medicine, turn the Tracfone off, and smile with immense pride.

Happy Thanksgiving!

by mikebev25
The delicious meal I had at my Friendsgiving gathering last week. The only thing on this plate I was responsible for is the cranberry sauce. I don’t cook!

Happy Thanksgiving! For the non-Americans who might be reading this, Thanksgiving is a day when families gather together to enjoy a special dinner consisting of things like turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce (my favorite), pumpkin pie, and other delicious items. It is also a tradition to have three American football games on national TV, although this year, there will only be two (thanks, COVID). With the postponement of the Ravens-Steelers game, the NFL can now merely offer the extremely unappetizing slate of Texans vs. Lions and the Washington Football Team vs. Cowboys. (Side note: What do fans of Washington actually chant? Let’s go, Washington? Let’s go, Team? Let’s go, Football Team?)

Food and football aside, Thanksgiving is a time to think about what we are grateful for. Everyone has something that they are happy to have in their life. On my second Turkey Day in Prague, I thought I’d give a brief rundown of all the things I’m thankful for. I’m not going to list silly material things like tacos (even though I’m very thankful for them) or, as thankful as I am that Biden beat Trump, get into anything political. I want to keep it festive and positive.

Here we go…

  1. My family–Even though they are 5,000 miles away, I would not be where I am today without my family. They have been tremendously supportive of my career and adventure in Prague. I know that they wish I could be there at the table (as long as I had Andrew Cuomo’s permission first), but I’m there in spirit. They are in my heart and I think about them every day.
  2. My friends–One of my main reasons for moving to Prague was to meet new people. The Language House, the TEFL school I graduated from, has a very wide community of graduates and makes it easy to network. They really pride themselves on building a community here. But I’m happy to say that my group of friends goes beyond The Language House. In fact, many of the best friends I have here did not come through the The Language House. Last weekend, me and my closest friends had a very nice Friendsgiving celebration. We all had a great time and had a chance to bond even further.
  3. My career and work–I’m so grateful that I turned this dream into reality. I’m thankful for the language schools who saw something in me and entrusted me with their clients. I’m thankful for my students. The experience I have gained has done far more than just pay the bills, it has given me invaluable experience that I will treasure forever. I feel like teaching is my niche and is something I will be doing for a very long time. I look forward to continuing my current work and possibly even pursuing some new opportunities down the road.
  4. The basics–A roof over my head. Clothes on my back. Food on my table. These are things which we sometimes don’t think about. In this crazy world called life, we are so engrained in our daily responsibilities that we forget there are people out there who don’t have these things. Ponder that when you go to bed tonight.
  5. My health–During this time of Coronavirus, I’ve managed to stay relatively healthy. God willing, it will continue that way, and I hope my family, friends, and roommates stay healthy as well. This has been the case despite the fact that the Czech Republic bungled its response. But we are the lucky ones. This Thanksgiving, there will be hundreds of thousands of Americans with an empty chair at the dinner table for the first time. Think about how they feel.
  6. Doctors, nurses, first responders, and other health personnel–These people are the real heroes. They are putting themselves in danger and working excruciating 24-hour shifts. Imagine how worse this crisis would be without them. Thank you and God bless you all.
  7. My setbacks–My life so far has been an interesting road. There have been a plethora of good things that have happened to me. But it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows. I’ve had my bad days. I’ve gone through the roadblocks and endured the things that didn’t go according to plan. You know what? I’m still here and I’m a better man for it. As I learned from my sports psychology class in college, every day is a new opportunity for success, and my failures have motivated me to work even harder to achieve success.

Keep working hard. Keep fighting. Keep dreaming of the better times that are to come. As much as it might seem like it, the Coronavirus pandemic isn’t going to last forever, and hopefully, we will all be able to have normal family gatherings come Thanksgiving 2021. But for now, just enjoy the things you do have and make the most of this special holiday.