Czeching Out the World of TEFL

First, a brief life update. I’ve started my new job and have spent the past week and a half with the students. It feels amazing to be back in a school and having face-to-face lessons again. However, I forgot how exhausting it was. I definitely need to find ways to boost my energy. Overall, while it’s always rewarding to work with children, I am feeling quite overwhelmed and stressed at the moment. There is a big learning curve, and the typical craziness that comes with a new school year isn’t helping. I’d like to apologize to those close to me if I’ve been MIA or just haven’t been myself recently. I’m working to establish a routine, find a balance, and set healthy boundaries for myself. It will take time. But my hope and expectation is that I will eventually succeed in this job. I have no choice.

I think about the things I’m going through today and recognize that my issues are nothing compared to what happened in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. Nearly 3,000 people left home and never came back.

But the numbers don’t tell the whole story. It’s the empty seats at dinner tables. It’s the “I love yous” that were said for the last time (you can never say that too much to the people you care about). It’s the little kids who would never get to see their parents again, juxtaposed with the parents who would never get to see their children get married and begin lives of their own.

Flight bags that would never be unpacked. Bedtime stories that would never be told. Joyous celebrations and reunions that would never happen.

It’s gutwrenching.

Even now as an adult, I still can’t comprehend that day. Imagine how 12-year-old me must have felt.

Let’s take a look back.

I actually remember that time in my life pretty well. I had an amazing summer full of swimming in my family’s pool, playing baseball in my backyard, and eating my grandmother’s absolutely delectable cooking. I was slowly moving out of the Pokemon cards phase and into the rebellious phase, and by that I mean rooting for different sports teams than my family did. Speaking of sports, I remember that my 12-year-old self loved NASCAR. A lot. Much to my mother’s chagrin, I would race matchbox cars on her coffee table. I was traumatized by the death of Dale Earnhardt earlier that year and thought that was the worst thing that could possibly happen. With all due respect to #3, little did I know what was coming…

I had just started 7th grade at Cohoes Catholic School. It was a very small school; I only had 12 kids in my class. The following year, I would be part of the school’s penultimate graduating class before dwindling enrollment shut its doors for good. I was a good student but admittedly kind of a dork.

It was first period and I was in the front row of Teddi Bullock’s history class. Mrs. Bullock, God rest her soul, was definitely a memorable teacher. She liked plays, movies, and songs. She did not like side conversations during her lessons or students stressing the wrong syllable in her last name. I remember the principal coming in and telling us that a plane had flown into a building. I tried to visualize it in my head and remember imagining “how could that happen?” My naive self thought that the pilot must have fallen asleep or something.

I think the school tried to shelter us from the information as much as possible so that we wouldn’t panic. We were not sent home early, but I know of others who were. When he picked me up that afternoon, my dad told me that Osama bin Laden did this and that it was the most serious attack in American history.

Even then, I was still like, “yeah, that’s sad, but whatever.” Don’t get me wrong, I knew it was a terrible day for America, but my prepubescent self still could not fully comprehend the world around me. My major concerns were whether I’d still be able to go to my dentist appointment after school and if my family and I would be able to complete our move a few weeks later. The answers to both of those questions were yes (fun fact: I had X-rays done on my teeth that day).

It didn’t fully hit me until later that day. The first thing that tipped me was the seemingly incomprehensible news that all of the sports were cancelled.

Whoa. That could never happen, could it? These attacks were officially a big deal.

But in all seriousness, I saw the images on TV and just sat there numb. Once I saw those, even 12-year-old me could tell that we were living through the darkest day in American history. New York City, where I had been three weeks earlier to watch the Yankees lose to the Seattle Mariners, was on fire. The mighty Twin Towers had been reduced to rubble. First responders literally giving their lives to help others. George Bush, whose election I had advocated for less than a year earlier (yes, I was a wannabe politician at one time, hence the dork reference earlier), taking out the megaphone and promising that the people who did this would be heard from all of us very soon. Rudy Giuliani (before he turned into a complete imbecile) delivering heroic leadership and becoming the face of America. Shortly after came the beginning of a 20-year struggle in Afghanistan. There was no doubt in my mind that the world had changed forever. Even a 12-year-old could see that.

I even became a little scared for a time. After all, Cohoes was only three hours away from New York. Not that I’ve ever been a great sleeper (anxiety will do that to you), but I had difficulty sleeping for weeks following the attacks. I honestly questioned whether or not I was safe.

Luckily, I did turn out to be safe but know that far too many others unfortunately did not. But I will always be proud of the way America came together in the wake of the attacks. For those of you non-Americans who might be reading this, I don’t know if I can fully put into words the unity and resiliency that my country showed in the days and weeks that followed. Patriotism was at all-time high. And today, on the 20th anniversary, people will once again come together, honor the innocent lives which were taken that day, reflect, reminisce, and tell their stories.

While America may not be my home right now, I will always be an American and will always, even in the craziness of my career, take time to honor and thank the troops who have always kept me, my loved ones, and my fellow Americans safe.

The number one lesson I learned from 9/11 is to never take life for granted. You truly never know what can happen. First responders, office workers, entrepreneurs, and so many others left home on that beautiful Tuesday morning anticipating that they would see their loved ones again in a matter of hours. But unbeknownst to them, it would turn into their last ever “I love yous” and goodbye kisses.

This is a big reason I always say “I love you” to my family members and close friends. I say it so much that some might get tired of hearing it. But I know that I will never get tired of hearing it or saying it. Never miss an opportunity to express your appreciation to the people who mean the most to you.

Hug your family a little tighter today. I wish I had the chance to (one of the things that sucks about living abroad), but I’ll send virtual hugs.

And pray for the victims and their families. This isn’t an easy day for anyone in America, but it’s particularly heartbreaking for those who lost a loved one on that fateful day. Even 10, 20, and 50 years from now, it will never get easier for them. The best thing we can do is support them and stand united with each other.

United We Stand.

• 

Over the weekend, I went to a going-away party for one of my friends who is moving back to the States. Not to get into too many details, but I made a mistake and did something I shouldn’t have done. While it had been an enjoyable evening, what I did put a sour taste in some mouths. If you guys (you know who you are) are reading this, please understand how sorry I am.

As badly as I feel, I’m not writing this post to beg for forgiveness. Mistakes are a part of life. It’s how you react to the mistakes and what you learn from the mistakes that counts. About two decades ago, my father made a mistake that makes my blunder look very trivial. But recently, he realized what he had done and the effects it had on all of us. The way he’s reacted to his mistake should be an example for all of us, even if it has been better late than never. Not that I ever stopped loving my father, but even from thousands of miles away, I can tell how he has changed. He’s become more loving, more family-oriented, and more humble. Just in the past few weeks, he’s done some really selfless things that have made all of us feel good. Yes, he screwed up in his past life. However, he’s learned from that mistake and refused to let it define him. Hopefully, I can do the some thing. As he always tells me, we don’t know how many more turns we have around the Sun, so we owe it to ourselves to make the most of life.

My mistake was not a criminal act and I certainly hope it’s not something that will matter one year or five years from now. I was the worst version of myself and it was unacceptable. Admitting when you’re wrong is part of being a man. My dad did it. So will I.

So now, the million dollar question: How do I respond and what can I learn? And perhaps just as important, how do I keep it from happening again?

After some careful pondering in between my fantasy football drafts, I think I’ve found the answer.

I need to stop caring so much about myself. It’s time to be less selfish.

Am I a selfish person per se? No. But I was selfish in front of my friends, and I think it’s easy to become too self-centered when you’re so caught up in the hustle and bustle of your life. It can happen without you even thinking about it. While there’s no excuse for the way I acted the other night, it occurred because an array of emotions came over me. I’m dealing with an extraordinary amount of stress in my life at the moment, mainly because of the plethora of major changes that are happening. In addition to the family changes I mentioned above, I’m also starting a new job and am watching many good people leave Prague for the States or other locales. Enough hustle and bustle for at least a year. I don’t handle stress well and it sometimes makes me do or say things I don’t mean. Thinking before I act has never been a strength of mine and it’s sometimes led to me being the worst version of myself. It’s definitely something I need to work on, but even when things are peachy and stable, anxiety and depression make that difficult. They are bitches. They’re like injuries that happen before fantasy football season even starts (RIP Cam Akers, Travis Etienne, and J.K. Dobbins).

So how do I become less selfish, even in the face of anxiety, depression, and stress? First off, I can give my time and talents to others, whether it’s through volunteering or just donating some spare change to someone on the street. I can also reach out to my friends and see if they need help, even though I might be busy as a result of the new gig. I can take time out of my day to pray for others. I can practice empathy and listen. I can ask people how they are before merely blurting out everything about my day. I can give real and genuine complements, hold doors for others, and let someone go in front of me in line at the store.

Wait, I don’t like any of those sentences. Not because they aren’t great things to do, but because they all start with one simple, but symbolic word.

I.

Yep, they’re what we call “I statements.” Before I can dream of any of the things listed above, I need to quit it with the first-person pronoun. I statements make you self-centered. If you’re going to become better and have the transformation my dad has had, you need to put others first.

That being said, I’m giving myself a little challenge for the rest of this blog. I’m going to talk about being the best version of yourself, but I’m not allowing myself to use the word “I.” The word is now hereby banned for the rest of this post. Sounds like a King’s Cup rule, but we’ll go with it. At least 500 words must be written from here on out, otherwise the challenge is a failure.

Get it? Got it? Good.

Let’s begin.

• 

Being the best version of ourselves is essential if we want to make meaningful contributions to society. Society expects us to be noble human beings so that we can leave things better than how we found them for future generations. When people give their time and talents to society, the world becomes a better place and people can learn from the example that is being set. Not being the best version of ourselves does a disservice to all the people who are counting on us. Most importantly, it does a disservice to ourselves. If we can’t be the best version of ourselves, how can we possibly ask others to do the same thing?

Where does the obsession with this topic come from? An administrator at a previous school would always say it and it encouraged a different school of thought about life and the many challenges that come with it. We’d always tell our students that while being good students was crucial, it was always more important to become empowered global citizens. Even on the other side of the Atlantic, that’s still a great thing to preach.

How do we become the best versions of ourselves? We set goals. We cut out the negativity. We put others before ourselves. We have a growth mindset and deal with setbacks effectively. Be honest with yourself and never sell yourself short. You have to take responsibility for your actions and hold yourself accountable when needed. Holding others accountable is also essential. After all, it isn’t just about you (note to self). It’s also about building others up, not bringing them down as a certain blog author mistakenly did to his good friends the other night. And finally, learn, learn, learn. Learn from the errors of your ways. Learn from other people and put yourself in their shoes.

You can learn from reading. Look at quotes that interest you and allow one to inspire you each day. We can also learn by doing. Appreciate what the most selfless professions–such as soldiers and doctors–do. Give thanks to those who allow you to do the things that you do. Always be humble. Always recognize the work you had to put in to get to where you are today.

In addition to the soldiers and doctors mentioned above, who are some examples of people who are always the best versions of themselves? First and foremost, my parents. They always go the extra mile to ensure that their children and grandchildren are happy. They’ve sacrificed so much and provided reassurance to all of us on a regular basis. Another couple that comes to mind is the Obamas. They continue to represent the United States with dignity and class and are easy role models for so many. And of course, you have to think about those like Buddha, Confucius, and the Dalai Lama. All three of them have so many great quotes about self-improvement that there could be a whole post written about them. If they have that many powerful things to say about it, then they must be pretty good.

And here it is, the 500-word wait is over! Sorry for the horse racing reference, but the Travers was this weekend, so something had to be thrown in there.

(Permission granted to say “I” again…just not too much.)

Not bad. Not one “I.” Only one “my,” and let’s be honest, it was kind of necessary. I can’t just refer to any random person’s parents. A dozen mentions of “we” and 10 “yous.”

This is a good start on my path to being less selfish. But actions speak louder than words and there’s a lot of good, selfless actions for me to do.

And I can’t wait to get started.

• 

This is a difficult time of year.

I’m feeling a lot of things right now and feel like the emotions are winning.

First off, I’m about to add another year to an already too-high age total. Yes, I’m turning…a number that shall remain nameless. Honestly, I don’t even look forward to my birthday anymore. Spending most of my August at summer camp, hanging out with leaders two-thirds my age, is just another reminder. Hopefully, they don’t think the old guy is lame.

Whatever. Nothing I can do about that. So let’s move on.

Coincidentally, August 25 also marks the start of another new chapter in my life–the first day of my new job. It’s always seemed so far away. But as it looms closer by the minute, it’s starting to hit me. I feel scared to death. I feel overwhelmed. Merely reading the rather innocuous initial emails has made me nervous. I just want to go in there and do a good job. That’s very possible…and it’s my intention. However, this position is so much different than the world of teaching adults that I’ve navigated for the past two years. There is going to be a learning curve. Not to mention, there will be all the things that always come with a change of employment–the need to learn new company policies, co-workers’ names, establish a new routine, etc. For someone who has been working from home for the past year and a half, that won’t be easy. I will give it my all, but I hope my new employer will be patient with me.

Of course, my concerns are not only age-related or work-related. The coronavirus is not going away. I fear that the Czech Republic is headed down the same path as last year, ultimately culminating with another lockdown. I sincerely hope that does not happen. It truly would not be fair for vaccinated people like myself to be penalized for the actions and decisions of an entire society. The recent numbers have actually not been so bad here, but this weekend was a step in the wrong direction that may not turn around without additional restrictions. Again, hope I’m wrong. Either way, I do expect restrictions at some point, but maybe the fact that over five million people are vaccinated can save us from the nightmare that is lockdown. There’s also the issue of neighboring countries. Will we have another (and I say “another” because I’ve lost count of what number it is) wave? I want to travel and haven’t traveled nearly enough. I’m newly fully vaccinated, so it seems as if I should have my opportunity. But restrictions and rising numbers could put an end to that before it even starts. Ugh.

Not only am I struggling, a number of my friends are struggling as well. Out of respect for them, I’m not going to get into details about their problems, but they are dealing with a lot. They’re turning to me, of all people, for advice. Of course I want to help. I just fear that I’m not good at it. I’m not used to being the listener and haven’t endured the types of life experiences that they are going through right now. Maybe the advice I’m giving them is perfectly fine and the feelings that I’m experiencing are thanks to the Self-Doubt Machine. When you have anxiety, the Self-Doubt Machine never takes a day off. It forces you to question every decision, every interaction, and every text message. It makes you think you’re never doing a good job (side note: I questioned myself about that A LOT this past week at camp). It makes you see things that aren’t there. Even when things are fine, it creates the perception that the bottom is about to fall out. I find that the Self-Doubt Machine often appears magically, out of nowhere…perhaps we can call it the Magic Struggle Bus? Yeah, that’s a catchy name. Let’s go with it. Ms. Frizzle, take me on a field trip.

I close by attempting to remind myself of the number one goal of each and every day–being the best version of myself. Maybe I take life too seriously. I’ve always been told that I’m an excessive worrier. But I generally only worry about being the best version of myself and things that go into that equation. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with worrying about being the best teacher or best friend you can be, but when you worry about even the finite details like I do, the Magic Struggle Bus speeds up and goes off the road, hurting you and your psyche and preventing you from being the best version of yourself.

Despite all the struggles and self-doubt, I’m showing up every day. Whether it’s to camp, to work, or to the store, I’m still making an effort to be present. I’m proud of that, and if you’re doing the same, you should be, too.

And showing up is half the battle.

Last Tuesday, I decided to take a day trip to Brno, the Czech Republic’s second city. Amidst my boredom on the three-hour bus trip, I played around on my phone and started looking at coronavirus travel rules for various countries in Europe. Just for the hell of it. Exploring new places was a major reason for me moving abroad, and I had been waiting for far too long to spread my travel wings again. With all due respect to Brno, which is a very nice city, it just wasn’t going to do it for me. I needed to touch foreign soil and breathe non-Czech air.

As I went from website to website, burning through my mobile data due to the unfortunate unreliability of RegioJet’s in-bus WiFi connection, I was expecting to see the standard regulations…two weeks past the second dose (I was six days at the time), a negative test within 48 or 72 hours, recovery within the past six months. Yada, yada, yada.

Until I stumbled upon Slovenia.

Slovenia’s government website distinctly stated, “at least SEVEN days have elapsed since the second dose of the Comirnaty vaccine produced by Pfizer/BioNTech.” In their eyes, I was fully vaccinated (or I would be just a couple of days following my Brno trip). No need for a test. For someone like me who has an irrational fear of COVID tests, this was clutch. Money in the bank.

I was going to Slovenia.

Now, I could have just waited until my full 14 days were up and done a trip somewhere else around the 28th or 29th. Knowing that I’m scheduled to return to summer camp on the 31st, that wasn’t going to work. I would’ve had to wait until my week at camp had concluded, and with the Delta variant on the rise in Europe, I feared that would be too late and that restrictions would make it very difficult by that point. Besides, I had been extremely impatient. I had an itch that needed to be scratched. I was tired of looking at everyone else’s Instagram posts from much more glamorous places around the world. It was my turn.

Admittedly, Slovenia had not been on my radar before I stumbled upon its COVID rules. I had heard some nice things, but I had been picturing my first post-COVID trip being to somewhere like Italy, Ireland, or Greece, places I’ve dreamed about visiting for many years.

Where could I go in Slovenia? The capital, Ljubljana, is nice but not somewhere that comes to mind when you think vacation. More on that later. The Adriatic resort town of Piran was another possibility. I love beach vacations, but Piran was, sadly, quite difficult to get to.

Enter Lake Bled.

I had known that it was a major tourist attraction. The pictures made it look beautiful and scenic. It seemed like a place you could spend three or four days and get some really nice pictures. Better yet, there was an overnight Flixbus that left Prague at 10 p.m. on Saturday night. I’ve always had this weird passion for overnight traveling. Most people just sleep through it; I don’t. It would be an 8.5-hour journey.

I needed to get away. Bled was a very peaceful place and an appropriate setting to clear my head. I had fallen into a terrible rut in which I simply wasn’t being the best version of myself. I feared that I had been falling short as a teacher, person, and friend. I’d been feeling extremely lonely and like I was neglecting my physical and mental health. My off time, which I thought I would appreciate, was turning into boredom and feeling like a loser because I wasn’t contributing anything to society, albeit for a short time. A part of me just wasn’t feeling enthusiastic about being in Prague and in Europe anymore. Maybe a few days to myself and out of the city would reverse that.

So, without further adieu, the trip log…

Day 1: Lake Bled

I got on the bus in Prague, and to my surprise, the driver only checked my ticket and passport. Did not care about the COVID vaccination certificate. I was somewhat grateful because I’d been concerned about that going in (I’d heard horror stories about people being turned away), but then again, just going on the honor system like that is risky and disconcerting. But I never noticed anything out of the ordinary from myself or others. The bus arrived in Lake Bled about twenty minutes early. Being that it was 6 a.m., the place was quiet and peaceful. I spent three hours simply walking around the lake in awe. It was even more beautiful in person. But knowing me, I had to take lots and lots of photos. There were a great deal of runners and cyclists around. Mostly, though, it was pure peace and serenity.

I had a delicious lunch of a cheeseburger (with Slovenian beef) and french fries. Nine euros. A solid deal. Then, I checked into my hostel. Once again, none of my COVID-related paperwork was checked, and they told me that I didn’t need a mask inside the check-in area. Now, Slovenia’s COVID numbers were not bad, comparatively speaking (less than 100 new cases a day on average), but to see things be so lax startled me a bit. Anyway, I was going to the hostel to sleep, not to drink, party or sing karaoke. And given that the surface issue is not really a big deal anymore with the spread of COVID, it was fine. I took care to maintain six-feet distance whenever I interacted with someone else. From what I could tell, no one had any symptoms or talked about being exposed. Onward.

After a refreshing two-hour nap (like I said, I don’t sleep on those buses), I decided to hike to Mala Osojnica. This was a place just outside the city center with three different viewpoints of the lake. The hike took me over an hour and was extremely physically demanding. I had to push myself outside of my comfort zone in climbing the mountain. I believe the highest point I reached was about 2,000 feet above sea level. But I refused to quit until I reached the top and was extremely proud of myself. During my rut, I kind of lost interest in doing most things and was meandering dangerously close to my comfort zone again. It also showed me that my body, despite being covered in sweat and almost falling several times on the tricky terrain, was capable of more than I thought it was.

After the arduous journey, I decided it was time for a reward. I went to a traditional Slovenian restaurant and had a veal roast. It was yummy and well worth the 15 euros. Then, it was back to my hostel to wrap up the day.

Day 2: Bled Castle, Vintgar Gorge, and the St. Catherine’s Church

I began the day with another hilly walk up to the top of Bled Castle. This was nothing compared to the hike from the day before, as it only took me 20 minutes to get to the top. I looked at the castle and didn’t pay the price to go in; I’m not much of a museum guy and really just wanted to see it from the outside. It was okay; just another castle, really, but the views of the lake from the top were breathtaking.

Following the castle, I took an hour-long pilgrimage to Vintgar Gorge, which had been recommended by the hostel staff and one of my “hostelmates.” Is that a word? Anyway, to continue…I recognized that getting into the gorge would cost me 10 euros, and being that I was in budget mode, I almost didn’t go in. But you know what? I would only be in Slovenia once. I took the plunge.

And boy, was I glad I did.

The gorge, 1.6 kilometers long, is legitimately one of the most beautiful, memorable, and unique things I’ve ever seen. I had to be extremely careful not to drop my phone or bag in the water, as the paths and bridges were extremely narrow and creaky. But it was so cool! I would absolutely recommend Vintgar as part of any trip to Bled.

I hiked back and came across St. Catherine’s Church. While you could only see the outside and couldn’t get in, it was worth the trip. The church is over 600 years old and contains fortified walls. In fact, a treasure (from a French general with ties to Napoleon) was once found there. The best part of this, however, was the viewpoint, offering another tremendous view of the town of Bled.

I went to lunch at a pizzeria. This was the first time on the trip that I was asked if I was recovered, vaccinated, or tested (the RVT rule as they call it). Though the host did not ask for proof, it felt so good to tell him that yes, I was fully vaccinated. I had a big tropical pizza with chicken, and yes, believe it or not, pineapple. It was amazing, and I was able to save some money by having the leftovers for dinner. The rest of my day was relatively quiet from there, but I did decide that I needed to stay another night because I was having so much fun and still had a lot of places I wanted to see. Leaving on Tuesday night just wasn’t going to cut it, so I arranged another night at the hostel and changed my bus trip, with only a small cancellation fee, for the ride home. I also had a conversation with a English girl who was living in, drumroll please…Brno. Small world. Well, not that small as she could have said Prague, but still, it’s nice to meet people with things in common.

Day 3: Ljubljana

Honestly, I went into this trip without much of an itinerary. Spontaneity is the spice of life. I knew that Ljubljana and Lake Bohinj were two key sights I wanted to see, but I didn’t know which day to do which. I could have saved Ljubljana for Wednesday and just left from there, but I already booked my bus ride home (again). Plus, Tuesday’s weather was iffy, so I figured Ljubljana might be easier to do in the rain, and I had more time on Tuesday and thought the capital might need more time.

Before my hour and 15-minute excursion to the capital, I had breakfast at a cafe in Bled. I had a wonderful ham and cheese omelette, a yummy croissant, and the best orange juice I’ve ever had. The Olympics were playing on the TV and terrible covers of classic songs played on the sound system. But the place was very nice.

I went to Ljubljana (would that be a great spelling bee word or what?) on an Arriva bus. 6.30 euros for the way there and the same price to head back to Bled. The Arriva drivers, along with their Flixbus counterparts, were the real MVPs of my trip.

As soon as I arrived, the heavens opened up. And for the first two hours, the rain just stopped and started. It was very frustrating, as these were not merely showers or drizzle. It felt like I had to run for cover every two minutes. Finally, the weather did make up its mind to stay sunny and I got to see a number of the city’s attractions, such as Preseren Square, the Ljubljana Cathedral, the Triple and Dragon Bridges, Tivoli Park, and the Church of St. Cyril and Methodius (the Czechs reading this will know all about them). The one thing I didn’t really see was the castle. It’s perched high on a hill and my legs were jello from the last two days. That and the mud from the repeated rounds of rain would have made the hill quite difficult to climb. Given that I only gave myself about five hours, though, I was happy. It’s a nice city with a chill vibe and some good charm, but it could easily be done in a day or two.

Dinner was McDonald’s. Budget mode, friends. Although no time is a bad time for Chicken McNuggets.

Day 4: Lake Bohinj and the Julian Alps

My finale, or bonus day, if you will, began at the same cafe with the great orange juice and repulsive cover music. I had a chicken burger for lunch. Yes, I started the day with lunch…again. What can I say? I’m a late riser in the summer time and don’t regularly eat breakfast. I know it’s terrible, but that’s another topic for another time. The burger was fine and appropriately priced at nine euros.

The main item on Wednesday’s agenda was Lake Bohinj, the largest permanent lake in Slovenia. Before my trip, I had no idea what it was, but one of the hostel staff mentioned it to me. After Googling it, I decided it was a must-see. After taking another Arriva bus there (3.60 euros one-way, 7.20 round-trip), I got to the lake. It was MOBBED. Full of people and cars. Compared to Bohinj, Bled was basically a Florida Panthers game. Frustratingly, the abundance of tourists made it difficult to get good pictures, but the lake itself did not disappoint. Both Bohinj and Bled are unique lakes because of their bluish-green waters, and they look even more gorgeous in person. The town also contains the Church of St. John the Baptist situated beside the old stone bridge. The church is believed to be over 1,000 years old.

Bohinj was awesome. My only regret is that I didn’t bring a towel and go swimming. There were people boating and paddle boarding, but those aren’t for me. Still, it was nice to look out at the lake and just think about life.

The very best part of the day, however, was the Julian Alps. On the edge of Triglav National Park, there were some top-notch and up-close views of the mountains, and they were exhilarating. I could have stayed there and looked at them all day. But the mountains reminded me of something far more important. I’ve had to climb an awful lot of mountains to get to where I am today. My TEFL course, the visa process, multiple job hunts, and COVID. All this coupled with the constant battles with my mental health. So yes, while the views were some of the best I’ve ever seen and put the Czech Republic’s mountains to shame, that special symbolism was what really did it for me.

Back to Bled for one final dinner. I chose a restaurant called Spica. I asked if I could sit inside and the waiter told me that was only for RVT people. Luckily, I was a V (although they again did not ask for proof), so I sat inside, six feet apart from anyone else. Being that it was my last night, I wanted to splurge a bit. I had deboned chicken drumsticks which were to die for. Only 13 euros, too. And I simply couldn’t leave Bled without having its trademark Bled cream cake. It, too, was delicious, but if you try it, you may need a few minutes to figure out how to eat it.

As I said before, I have a thing for overnight traveling. Because I wanted to maximize my time in Bled, and because the departures from Bled to Prague are not exactly plentiful, I was scheduled to take the midnight bus out of town. It was risky, because if the bus didn’t show up or I was turned away for some reason, I’d be stuck in Bled with no place to stay. Since it had been 14 hours since checking out of the hostel, my phone was almost dead, and I needed the phone to show the driver my ticket. This could have ended really badly…

But it didn’t. The bus showed up, 15 minutes early at that. My phone made it with about 20 percent to spare. Phew. Out of the woods.

Or were we?

About a half hour into the trip, the bus stopped at the Slovenia-Austria border. We were informed that we needed to get out of the bus for passport control. I remember this being odd because there had been nothing of the sort on the trip there. I later Googled it and saw that Austria has indeed instituted border controls on its side of the Slovenian border.

So for the first time in my life, I had an interaction with a border guard. He scanned my passport, asked me where I was going, and let me go. Yes, he spoke English. No questions about COVID status. I don’t think anyone was actually detained, but it was still nerve-wracking, especially at 12:30 in the morning, when normal people on the bus (not me) were sleeping.

Final thoughts

I loved every minute of this trip and would highly recommend Slovenia. The country is environmentally-friendly, its scenery is awe-inspiring, the people are very friendly, it’s very safe, and the cuisine is good and reasonably priced. I was so pleased the trip went off without a hitch after all the concerns I’d had coming in. It provided me with some much-needed relaxation and soul-searching time. Coming back to the reality of Prague was painful, even though many people certainly have worse realities.

Which part was my favorite? Honestly, as cliche as this is, I’d say my favorite part was the entire thing. There wasn’t a moment when I was bored. I was just so happy to be on foreign soil again for the first time in 17 months, so it wouldn’t have taken that much to amuse me. But Slovenia was well worth it, and I’m so happy it could be my first post-COVID trip.

So if you feel safe doing it, get out there and travel! Life’s too short not to embrace new experiences and even step outside of your comfort zone a time or two!

The world is waiting for you.

For a while, I thought it would never happen.

As we slogged through the dead of winter amidst another lockdown, I would look at the extraordinarily bleak picture the numbers painted each morning. Throughout February and March, we routinely had 10,000-15,000 new cases a day. Our healthcare system was more overmatched than Notre Dame in a College Football Playoff semifinal. The vaccination rate was incredibly low: only about 10,000 a day on weekdays and less than that on weekends. Yes, we had as many daily cases as we did vaccinations. The vaccine rollout was painfully slow, marked by delays in importing vaccines and frequent technical difficulties with the central registration site.

Simply put, I appeared to be as far away from vaccination as the Buffalo Sabres are from winning a Stanley Cup. And that’s a LONG way off.

It was so deflating to my mental and emotional health. A part of me truly thought that lockdown was going to last forever and that my number for vaccination would never be called. Seriously. However, slowly (and I stress VERY slowly) but surely, things improved. Vaccination registration opened up to the 70 year olds. Then the 60s. And the 50s. And so on. Finally, at the end of May, it was my turn. And of course, just like everything else during this pandemic, it did not come easy. At first, all of the open time slots seemed to conflict with lessons or other commitments. Then, I remember finding a slot and being so happy, only for the system to reject me because someone else had beaten me to it by a matter of seconds.

Was I doing something wrong? Was I not meant to get vaccinated after all?

At last, I was able to book an appointment for June 2. It would be the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. I honestly did not care which vaccine it was; I just wanted it in my arm. Believe it or not, I did not get vaccinated at a doctor’s office or a pharmacy. Instead, I went to O2 Arena, where the government had opened up the largest vaccination site in the country. I knew that this would be the place which would get me in the quickest. After hearing all the horror stories on Facebook and other places about how people would have to wait several weeks before being able to sign up, I knew time was of the essence. While I would be locked into six weeks between vaccines, which was not ideal, I couldn’t afford to be picky as I understood how important it was to at least get that first dose into my body.

The second of June came and I went to the arena. It all looked extremely intimidating at first, as members of the Czech military were out in front, checking people’s registration details. A few people were taken out of line, and while I’m not sure of the exact reason for this, I believe it was because they were too early for their appointment. After I showed the guard my QR code and told him (in English) when my appointment was, I proceeded to the main entrance, where I scanned my code again. After walking through a corridor and sanitizing my hands, I arrived at the registration desk. Both times I went, I had minor problems here. The first time, I had to be sent to a different line because I only had my QR code on my phone, not a printed-out version. The second time, the woman at the desk was concerned that I might have issues with my vaccination certificate because my registration did not have my middle name listed, but my certificate did, so we just had to get that fixed at a different counter before moving on.

Then, it was time to go to the vaccination hall, where I was greeted by a medical professional. After I informed them that I spoke very little Czech, they basically read me the riot act in English. Are you feeling well? Yes. Any other shots in the past 14 days? No. Okay, good. Please do not drink alcohol or exercise for two days after the shot. Little did they know that neither of those things would be a problem for me…

With that said, it was time to face the music. Like most others, I’ve never been fond of needles, but I sucked it up and did it. It was over in a matter of seconds. It was actually pretty painless. Following the shot, I was required to sit in a waiting area for 15 minutes in the event of an adverse reaction, which I luckily did not have. In fact, other than a slightly sore arm, I had absolutely no side effects from either dose.

And that was it. When I returned for my second dose six weeks later (this past Wednesday), I had more or less the same experience, so I won’t bore you with the details again. It just felt good to get it done. I felt such a wonderful sense of relief and accomplishment, believing that the aforementioned long days in February and March with seemingly no light at the end of the tunnel were worth it. I was elated to have stuck it out for as long as I did.

I was super impressed with O2 Arena. Everything was extremely well-organized and efficient. Where to go, where to stand, registration and QR codes…you name it. The people had no problems with me and my lack of Czech. The army guys were actually not as intimidating as they looked (and spoke English!), and the medical personnel were friendly, informative, and professional. I was in, out, and vaccinated in less than 30 minutes. For those of you in the Czech Republic who haven’t been vaccinated yet (what are you waiting for?), I highly recommend O2.

A week and a half from now, I will officially be considered fully vaccinated. The number one reason I did this was for my health. There’s a reason we’ve been through hell and back with lockdowns and restrictions over the past year and a half. This is a dangerous and deadly disease. We wouldn’t constantly be shutting things down if it wasn’t. While I am 31 and reasonably healthy (thank God), coronavirus does not care about who you are. I’ve heard stories of people my age (or younger) becoming extremely sick and dying. As I prepare to begin a new job that will (hopefully) be in person, it’s more essential than ever for me to stay healthy. Many people are counting on me, and I don’t want to let them down.

I’m also well aware of the doors that this will open up for me. I hope to be able to reunite with family and friends again. I’ll be able to travel again (I’m currently making plans for my first foray out of the country in 18 months). And if things ever get to a point where unvaccinated people are banned from using restaurants or services, as it has in some countries, I won’t have to worry.

With how safe, cheap (my vaccine was completely covered by insurance), and effective the vaccine is, it really was a no-brainer for me. This is not a place for political debates and I don’t want to turn it into one, but if you still are not vaccinated or are thinking about not getting vaccinated at all, please reconsider. Everyone, including young people, is vulnerable. Especially with the recent emergence of the delta variant, you need that added protection. If we get enough people vaccinated, the sooner we can get back to normal…and STAY back to normal. I’ve been hearing rumblings that the Czech Republic could be facing another lockdown come autumn, as the numbers are unfortunately rising again. I don’t know about you, but I desperately want to avoid that, and the best way is to get the shot in your arm.

This pandemic is not something that the media is glorifying or making out to be worse than it actually is. I can tell you that firsthand. I’ve seen friends of mine (younger than me) get sick. I’ve seen others test positive and have to shut their lives down for two weeks. I’ve seen good people lose income or even have to move back to the States because of the closures.

Guys, take this seriously. Get vaccinated. And don’t just do it because Joe Biden and Dr. Fauci told you to.

Do it to protect yourself…and others.

• 

Summer vacation. As much as they might love being in the classroom, teachers look forward to it all year long. Any teacher who tells you they don’t is lying. It’s a chance to relax, travel, and get away from children.

Notice how I mentioned three main things there. Let’s go over them and see if I do any during my summer vacation.

Relax? Sure, but not nearly enough.

Travel? Again, I’d love to, but my bank account and COVID restrictions may have other ideas.

Get away from children? Nope.

That’s right–I’m a camp leader (or counselor, as some Americans might say)…and I’m proud of it.

If you look at my camping experience as a child, it doesn’t exactly scream “outdoorsy.” I went to one Boy Scout camp as a kid. I was eight years old. I ran into a wooden pole and injured my chest. Thank God my scout leader just so happened to be a doctor by day. Never again.

I couldn’t handle the camp environment as a kid with no responsibilities, so what possessed me to think I could handle it as a leader who would have responsibilities like, you know, other people’s children?

It started when I graduated from The Language House in July 2019. Since most permanent job possibilities did not start until September, I would be looking at some downtime with no income. One of the trainers at TLH is the lead recruiter for an agency that operates multiple summer camps in South Bohemia, a two-hour drive from Prague. She spoke to me about possibly being an English leader and I jumped at the chance. I saw it as a great opportunity to further step outside my comfort zone, experience nature, work with children, and make some money along the way.

The agency has multiple different types of camps. I have done two of them–English4You, the teaching camp at which the children have daily English lessons, and Eurocamp–the sports and games camp where English is the primary language and there are daily competitions as part of an all-camp game. At both camps, each English leader is paired with a Czech leader, and the two leaders oversee a group of approximately 20 children. English4You is seven days, while the latter is 10. Each camp normally has five to six consecutive terms throughout the summer.

• 

My very first camp was English4You in 2019. It was an out-of-body experience that took some getting used to. I definitely made some mistakes along the way. My students were aged 14 to 16 and most were relatively eager to learn. I would say I had one of the stronger and more engaged groups at the camp. Overall, I’d call it a success.

Immediately following English4You came my first Eurocamp. Perhaps the driving rainstorm we had on the first day of this camp should have been an indicator of things to come. Not only did I not know what I was doing, I had a group of kids that just didn’t want to be there. They weren’t disrespectful or mean, they just felt that they had better things to do. They weren’t buying what I was selling. We finished tied for last in the all-camp competition. And no, we did not get the reward of the #1 draft pick for next season.

• 

In spite of my not-so-great experience and the newfound world of COVID restrictions, I came back to both camps in 2020. The pandemic changed a lot–groups could no longer mix, a lot of games and events had to be cancelled or modified, we had to bring our own bed linens, etc. There were definitely challenges. But both of my camps in 2020 were unforgettable experiences. I had an awesome group at English4You–they took it seriously, came up with terrific projects, and were fun to talk to. One of my campers from that group has actually become a close friend to me and she trusts me to talk about anything. She’s told me that she wishes I could be her parent.

Eurocamp in 2020 started off on a very different foot. I’m not going to sit here and bore you with the story, but I wound up with Group 1, aka the youngest group of kids. Basically, there was an opening there and no one else wanted it, so I took one for the team and volunteered (otherwise, we would have drawn names out of a hat, so I still probably would have gotten this group anyway). Besides, I thought it would be a fun new challenge to have. And that it was. We had six native speakers in the group (their parents came from or had connections to English-speaking countries), but the remaining children spoke very little English. We did not fare well in the all-camp competition (Group 1 usually doesn’t), but I enjoyed the experience. Of course, we had to deal with things like homesickness and constant complaints like “I’m hungry” and “I have to pee,” but I think I came away a more patient and empathetic person because of it.

What I will remember most about Eurocamp in 2020, however, is the bonds I formed with my fellow leaders. I like to think that I’m a person who can get along with just about anyone. But this group of leaders was different. During those 10 days, I met many of my very best friends. It opened the door to shared experiences I never thought I’d have out here. I’m also proud to say that I formed close relationships with both the Americans and the Czechs. I think my selfless act of taking Group 1 was the first thing that showed those guys that I might be a decent person. This leader group also accepted me despite my abstinence to alcohol, smoking, and drugs. With all due respect to the other leader groups I’ve worked with, if had not been for some of the people I met at this Eurocamp, I might very well be somewhere else right now.

My Eurocamp experience in 2020 was so much fun that I just couldn’t wait to get back for 2021. So much, in fact, that I accepted a leader position on the very first term of the summer. You could say that was a risk on my part because there would naturally be some trial-and-error involved. The COVID restrictions changed mid-camp, and yes, I actually had to get the very first COVID test of my life. Like most of the other camps I’ve done, there were clear and present challenges.

But thankfully, my kids were not one of them. I was blessed to have an amazing group of teenagers. They wanted to be there and had a great experience. They took the all-camp competition very seriously and won the whole thing! In the spirit of Saratoga starting later this week, we went wire-to-wire. It was my third time at Eurocamp and first time experiencing the reward of ice cream on the last night (the top 3 groups in the all-camp game get the honors). And after reading through all the notes and Instagram posts, there was no need to ask if I had made an impact on them. I truly had some unforgettable young men and women in this group and I enjoyed every second I had with them. When it was announced they had won, I beamed like a proud papa because I saw all the work they had put in. And we pulled this off despite having 28 adolescents in our group, so it was by far the largest group I’ve ever had!

The other big thing I’ll remember about this camp is the diversity of the leader group. The agency opened its doors to more non-native speakers this year. As a result, only two of the seven English leaders were Americans. We had leaders from Singapore, Poland, Ghana, Italy, and South Africa. As always, we had the Czech leaders as well. As I’ve said many times in this space before, there are few things better than getting to experience new cultures. I almost felt like this camp, even though I had seen the surroundings before, was a completely new culture for me. Believe me, having the ability to work as part of a multinational team will never not be an important skill to put on your CV or to hammer home when applying for jobs. Sure, working with the Czech leaders has always been fun (I’ve never had a Czech co-leader who I haven’t gotten along great with), and in the past, I’ve encountered the Brits and the Australians and the Canadians. Great people. But I was truly fortunate to have had the chance to meet so many people from places I really wasn’t familiar with. The more you know, the better world citizen you are.

Yes, camp does have its drawbacks. The food is not that of a Michelin-quality restaurant, to say the least. There are bugs. There is a rafting trip, which I actually abstained from this year due to my fear of water and drowning. The nights can sometimes be very long, as we can only have our nightly staff meeting after all the campers have gone to bed at 10 p.m. At Eurocamp, each leader is required to have night watch duty a few times over the course of the camp. Sometimes, this can involve a shift from 3 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. Not fun!

But you know what? These “negatives”are so minor and nothing we can’t handle. In addition to having an open mind, camp has taught me to be patient and to not take life so seriously. It’s given me invaluable communication skills and has shown me how to be more flexible and adaptable. Most importantly, the environment is dynamic and the campers and leaders are FUN. That’s why I keep coming back. So what if I have to have porridge (or oatmeal for you Americans out there) for dinner?

• 

My camp career is not over. I do have another term at English4You coming up in a few weeks. But because my Eurocamp experience was so wonderful, I just couldn’t wait to share it with you all. I think the next camp, being a teaching camp, will be good experience for my new job. The past two years when I’ve done camp, I’ve had to do the adults-to-children-back to adults cycle, sometimes more than once. But now that I’ve left my job teaching adults and am taking the rest of the summer off, I can stay going down the same path.

And hopefully impact some more young lives along the way.

July 1.

It’s the day I began my TEFL course two years ago. It’s my sister and brother-in-law’s wedding anniversary (Happy Anniversary, love you both!). It’s the traditional start of summer vacation here in the Czech Republic. It’s Canada Day. Ordinarily, NHL general managers celebrate the occasion by throwing preposterous contracts at free agents, but this year, we have the Stanley Cup Final (which will be a four-game snoozefest ending in another Cup for the Lightning) instead. Thanks, COVID.

Wedding anniversaries and boring hockey aside, the most symbolic meaning of July 1 is that it marks the halfway point of the year. Six months down, six months to go. The New Year’s resolutions of many people are long gone by this point. I’ll admit that I’m part of that majority. Six months ago, I sat in an Airbnb in Ceske Budejovice (a very nice city, by the way) and made some resolutions. I proceeded to follow none of them. Believe me, it’s a HUUUUUUUGE regret (RIP Billy Fuccillo).

Living with regret is no way to live, so what can we do about this? I have an idea so innovative that it puts 3D printing to shame.

Drumroll, please…my idea is:

Make new ones.

Yes, six months is not a year, but it’s still more than enough time to concentrate on self-improvement. It’s not too late to make 2021 a year of meaningful personal growth.

What qualities can I bring to the table for the final six months of the year? What things can I do to ensure that I’m being the best version of myself?

As a game show aficionado, I say we make this fun and play a little game of Wheel of Fortune. The category is person. There are four letters in the puzzle. Let’s spin the wheel.

Okay, Pat, is there an M, please?

Yes! One M.

If we were just putting the M up there and spinning the wheel again, there would be no point to writing this post. We’re digging deeper. Let’s pick a second-half goal that starts with M. Actually, I’m going to cheat here and pick two words, but the terms are fairly intertwined, so I’m OK with it.

Meditation and mindfulness.

• 

I started meditating several months ago and got on a pretty good roll with it for a while. However, as life got busy and I had to navigate constant changes, I slacked off. Not anymore. I need to start the day with a clear and fresh mind, especially as I begin a new job where patience will be required, not only with the students, but with myself. Don’t be alarmed, but I’ve also been dealing with chest pains lately. No, I’m not having a heart attack. It’s honestly nothing major, just my anxiety…and a lack of mediation. Breathe in, breathe out. Feel the energy.

Time to use that energy to spin the wheel. Wait, no…I’d like to buy a vowel, Pat.

Is there an I? Yes! One I.

Which words start with I? My first thought was inspirational because I want to do a better job of motivating others to do their best in everything they do. But I’ve used that one before, so let’s try…

Imaginative.

• 

This new job and my old job both involve teaching. That’s about where the similarities end. I far well know that what worked with adults is not going to work with children. You can’t push a round peg into a square hole. I’m going to need to come up with new lessons that are even more fun and engaging than those I’ve grown used to teaching. I may even have to try some new teaching methods. Most of all, these young men and women need to learn in creative and memorable ways. If I use my imagination, it will inspire them to use theirs. So see, we can still be inspirational after all…

Time to spin again. The wheel lands on a big money square!

Pat, I’d like a K.

Yes! One K.

This goal is an easy one.

Kindness.

• 

I need to be kinder to others. In addition to being the best teacher I can be, I need to be the best son, brother, uncle, and friend that anyone can ask for. That starts with kindness (and empathy). I have to be there for my family and friends in both good times and bad. Ensuring that I always say and do the right things will go a long way as well. I also have to be kinder to myself and practice self-care. In addition to the aforementioned meditation, I need to get back to exercising regularly. I’m also toying with the idea of treating myself to a beach vacation this summer, but the Delta variant and my bank account may have something to say about that. Lastly, I want to do a better job with random acts of kindness, whether that’s checking in on a friend (it’s CRITICALLY IMPORTANT to check in your loved ones during these times which test everyone’s mental health), holding the door open for a stranger, or dropping a few crowns into the hat of a homeless person. Random acts of kindness truly make the world a better place.

Okay, Pat, I’d like to buy another vowel. An E, please.

Yes, there is one E in the puzzle. Vanna, turn it over.

Instead of using empathetic for the eight millionth time (although being empathetic will never not be important), I’m going to go a bit outside the box for this one…

Eco-friendly

• 

The hiring process for my new job required me to teach a demo lesson. Since it was the end of April at the time, the theme was Earth Day. As I was preparing the lesson, I realized that I really don’t do a good job of taking care of my planet. I take long showers and baths. I’m inconsistent with my recycling habits. I hardly ever reuse plastic bottles or plastic bags. I leave lights on when they don’t need to be on or have my computer on the charger when it’s fully charged.

This is unacceptable. We only get one planet, and it would be quite a big problem if we lost it. I really need to quit doing the things I mentioned above and just need to stop and think before I throw away something. It’s time to be more earth-conscious because it will extend the life of our planet and many of the things we love about it.

Pat, I’d like to solve the puzzle.

Go ahead!

MIKE.

Pat needs me to be a little more specific.

Meditation and mindfulness, imagination, kindness, and a commitment to being eco-friendly.

That’s right!

What do I win? No, it’s not a vacation to Tahiti. It’s something even more important–a chance to change my own life and the lives of others for the better.

To anyone who is reading this, please hold me accountable. Now that it’s in writing, I can’t get away from it. I’m also very open to any suggestions anyone has!

The first half of 2021 was up and down. But we came away with a slight lead and have a critical second half ahead of us. I can either be a success story, like the Chicago White Sox, or a disappointment, like the New York Yankees.

I don’t like the Yankees. So that leaves only one option:

Be a success story.

When I first departed Clifton Park, New York on the humid, cloudy morning that was June 25, 2019, I told my family that I might be back in a month. At the very most, I’d be gone a year.

Fast forward to 2021. I didn’t come back after a month. I didn’t come back after a year, either. Yes, I remain a Praguer.

And I’m okay with that.

When I think of everything that has happened in the last 730 days, my head starts to spin. So I wanted to present my two-year reflection in an organized way and in a way that only a teacher could. That being said, here’s my own personal report card for the end of Year 2.

Before we start, just a few disclaimers. First, I decided to grade myself in three broad areas: Personal, professional, and social. Additionally, as many of you know, I’m the biggest perfectionist on the planet. I will grade myself harshly.

Now that we have that out of the way, here we go…

Personal: A-

I’m thrilled with my personal growth. Just taking the step of going outside my comfort zone and moving to a foreign country deserves a good grade. I’ve shown everyone—and most importantly, myself—that I can do just fine on my own without having family nearby. I’ve successfully navigated the world of visas, bureaucracy, and the Ceska Posta, whose employees speak about as much English as the chair that I’m sitting on. I found a place to live, twice (and possibly a third time before long). I’ve applied for and accepted multiple jobs. I still can’t cook, but I’ve managed to eat well and not disintegrate into nothing. I found a doctor and got the first dose of my COVID vaccine. I’ve done research on, watched videos about, and read books focusing on self-improvement. It’s all about becoming the best version of yourself. Again, if you’re not doing that, what are you doing?

The only ding, and the reason for the minus, is that I have not consistently worked out or taken great care of my body. I’ve worked out here and there and have been to the gym once, but I’ve lacked a routine. This is one of my main areas of improvement for Year 3. It needs to be. After all, I’m not getting any younger.

Professional: B+

Overall, I’m happy on the professional side as well. For much of my time here, I’ve taught adults through two leading language schools here in Prague. It’s allowed me to meet some great people and do them a service. While COVID has made it hard at times, I think I’ve done well at maintaining income and getting myself a full-time schedule. As time has gone on, I’ve become a more confident, polished, professional, and better teacher. I’ve learned from my mistakes (there have been a lot). I’ve learned from my fellow teachers. I’ve learned from my students. As I prepare to transition into a role working with children, I can apply these lessons to succeed in a new challenge. Additionally, I’m also grateful for the time I’ve spent at summer camps, which I’ll be doing again this summer. I’ve had a lot of fun and made tremendous connections with wonderful people. That, too, was one of the better decisions I’ve made during my time here. When I do leave Prague, I’ll have experience with both adults and children, which will make my resume (or CV, as they call it on this side of the pond) more marketable.

There are two blemishes, hence the reason for the B+. First, the beginning of my time with the language schools wasn’t the smoothest. I had to learn some difficult lessons and make some critical adjustments along the way, but eventually, I settled in. Second, at the start of the pandemic, I tried to delve into the world of online teaching. Unfortunately, that didn’t pan out, as I just couldn’t get classes. If I could go back and do it over again, I’d try harder on that front. I can always try again in the future. Never say never.

Social: B

On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the coolest person with all the friends in the world and 1 being a complete loner who never speaks to anyone), I’m at about a 6 or a 7. I have met some really great people from so many walks of life. I’ve met Czechs, Americans, Brits, Germans, Italians, Aussies, you name it. I don’t have a huge number of friends, but the quality of the friendships is perhaps better than it’s been in my entire life. When you have friends that you can open up to anything about and end conversations with “I love you,” you’re lucky. I do have a handful of those friends, so I can’t really complain. These are not friends who I hang out with just to have a drink once a month or six. These are people I can trust with literally anything. There are definitely people that I will remain in touch with when their or my Prague experience comes to an end. I’ve had friendships lead to job leads, exciting travel opportunities, fun holiday gatherings, learning new skills (like snowboarding, for example), and having new foods for the first time. For the record, my food skills are way different than they were two years ago, when I didn’t drink coffee and had no idea what bibimbap was. And oh by the way, there was the step I took to stop drinking, which was partially inspired by my friends. My good friends have supported this, held me accountable for it, and not held it against me.

On the negative side, we have the combination of social anxiety, COVID, and people leaving for the United States or other locales. My social anxiety makes it difficult to find and maintain friendships. Personally, I’ve found the maintain part to be much tougher. Sometimes, I feel like I’ve said, done, or posted the wrong thing and it’s sent the wrong message to people. Again, that’s all in a day’s work for someone who deals with anxiety and depression. I also have a tough time reaching out for the phone because I get nervous about how the other person will react. What if they don’t want to hang out with me? What if they don’t respond? This is why I’ve sometimes gone days or weeks without speaking to even my best friends. Over-personalizing and catastrophizing are tendencies I need to quit. COVID restrictions have made it hard to hang out with people as much as we might like, so naturally, some of my relationships have been weakened because of that, although the really good ones have been able to overcome it. It doesn’t deny the fact that pandemic isolation is real, folks. Finally, I’ve recently had a number of important people in my life leave Prague, and I know more are to come in the future. I know that I can stay in touch with these folks through technology, but it’s not the same. On the whole, however, I think I’ve been a pretty good friend to people (even though anxiety and depression sometimes try to convince me otherwise). I’ve tried my very best.

Overall grade: B+

I’m happy and blessed. But did you really think I was going to give myself an A? I hardly ever give my students A’s!

I’m excited for the adventures and new experiences that await in Year 3. There have been a tremendous number of changes recently, some good, some bad, and some scary. As the year progresses, there will be days I want to pack it up and go home. My ability to adapt is going to be tested. So is my mental fortitude. But I’m going to go out there and try my best. My goal is, once again, to be the best version of myself and to make my family and friends proud. If I do that, great! If not, I took this step, and no one will ever be able to take that away from me.

June is here.

It’s a good time of year.

The weather is warm. The school year is ending and it’s almost time for summer vacation. Baseball season is in full swing. Coronavirus restrictions are (mostly) gone.

As we prepare to enter the second half of the year, I’ve come to the realization that I’m not happy with where I am as a person. Even though I’m a perfectionist and could be looking at this through rose-colored glasses, those who know me would also probably admit that there is a lot of room for improvement in my life. Over the past few months, I’ve been addicted to some habits that I’m not proud of and need to break. Cardinal sins for self-improvement, if you will.

So let’s go through those five habits, starting with #5 and counting down to #1…

5. Procrastination

I’m usually pretty focused and get my work done. However, I’ve recently noticed that I’ve been putting a lot of things off until the last minute. Whether it’s been planning a lesson, grading a test, or simpler things like cleaning my flat, I haven’t always acted when I should. Eventually, I do get it done, but not before minutes or even hours of being sidetracked by YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, ESPN, etc. I think it’s happening largely due to mental burnout. For those non-teachers out there, you have to realize that June is the final month of a 10-month marathon. How do you think a runner feels when they hit mile 26 at the Boston Marathon? Or a baseball team around game 156? Even in this non-traditional school year, teacher burnout remains very real. For me, burnout leads to lost focus and just wanting to rest, even when I know there are important things I have to get done.

4. Lack of self-care

I think a big reason why burnout is hitting me so hard is because I haven’t done a good enough job of taking care of myself. I go out of my way to care for others, whether it is checking in to see how they are doing, wishing them a happy birthday, or expressing my best wishes for them as they take an important test for their professional development. People pleasers do this. Because people pleasers do this, they neglect self-care. There have been mornings I’ve skipped meditation. There have been evenings I’ve wanted to take a nice, hot bath and just haven’t mustered up the strength or seen myself as deserving of it. For weeks now, I’ve wanted to get back to working out, but that has yet to happen. I’ve often been told that I should give myself the love I give others, but anxiety tries to convince me that I’m not important enough. You see, I’ve always dealt with low self-esteem and have never had the highest opinion of myself. This is largely because I let the opinions of others have too much influence on the picture I paint of myself. After all, if I’m so concerned about being the best version of myself in front of others, I have to be that version of myself in my own eyes first. I can achieve a balance of caring for myself and being there for others. But that’s definitely a work in progress.

3. Being negative

Anxiety makes you see the world a different way. It sometimes distorts your view of the world so much that you can’t see even the slightest positives in anything. One thing I’ve done too frequently of late is be negative. My social media posts have been negative (more on that in a moment). I’ve gotten extremely irritated over small inconveniences. I’ve immediately feared the worst when I get an email from one of my schools. I get annoyed when a person who frequently cancels their lessons actually shows up. I need to stop this. When I ask someone to hang out and they say no, I jump to conclusions and immediately fear that they are upset with me or that I did something wrong. I believe in being real and honest and definitely wear my heart on my sleeve, but it can go too far if you are not careful. I know my social media followers are tired of hearing my “woe is me” stories (which is not what they are intended to be). I will lose friends and followers this way (again, not that we’re counting, but it’s still not a great feeling). Instead, I need to recognize what my bad days and bad weeks are trying to teach me and how I can emerge stronger from it. Most importantly, I will grow by doing that, but it will also help others to respect me more.

2. Oversharing

Building on my previous point, I’ve been posting too often on social media of late. And as I said before, the majority of it has been negative or even self-centered. No one likes a Negative Nancy. So why do I post this stuff? First, I do believe in being real. Second, I often feel like I have no one to talk to, so I put it out there in front of everyone to see if someone will message me and ask me if I’m okay. In some situations, that does happen, but more often than not, it doesn’t. For example, people will often subconsciously scroll through Instagram stories without even thinking about them or their potential ramifications. They’re not concerned about me or my mental health. They’re concerned about clearing out their feed. When they see my name show up in their stories list, they probably expect (and want) to see something happy, like nature, sports, or an inspirational photo or quote. They don’t want to see me feeling sorry for myself.

My social media posts are not designed to be cries for attention. I apologize if they come across that way. If anything, they are designed to be cries for help. When you’re alone in a foreign country, you need all the help you can get. But complaining isn’t going to get you very far. There are people around the world who would kill to have the life I have. I need to shut up, suck it up, and move on. Have a bad day? Journal about it. Go for a walk. Meditate or exercise. While mental health awareness is paramount, I can still accomplish that goal by toning it down or posting less frequently. Even better, I can tell people about face to face rather than just sharing it on social media. Admittedly, oversharing will probably be the toughest habit for me to break. It’s going to take a while. But I can do it.

1. Nagging people

Going through my old text messages (yes, thanks to anxiety, I sit back and analyze countless conversations long after the other person has completely forgotten about it) has made me realize what a nag I can be. What do I mean by this? For example, a number of my recent WhatsApp/Facebook/Instagram conversations have ended with me saying something like “let’s hang out soon” or “hope to see you soon.” Also, if someone says that they will text me (this happens both in my personal and professional life) and it’s one minute past the time they said they would do it, I immediately go to my phone and reach out to them, fearing that the reason they haven’t messaged me is personal. I need to stop this. Yesterday. If the person wants to do something with me, they’ll put in the effort, contact me, and we will work together to make the arrangements. They will see me when they are ready to see me. If they have something to say, they will say it. People have a lot on their plates–work and/or school, family and home issues, business and legal obligations, etc. They have lives. They get busy. The last thing they need to hear is Mike getting on their ass about getting together or having an English lesson. Has anyone told me that I need to stop this? Not in so many words. But overall, the amount and quality of my relationships has weakened of late, and though there are other reasons that are more difficult for me to control, I think it’s largely happening because I haven’t been the best version of myself. Again, it’s always possible that this is just anxiety lying to me again, but this is something I can control. Why do I nag people? I believe it’s because I have a fear of being forgotten about. Let’s face it–I’m 31 years old and don’t have the best body, the most money, or the fastest car. As much as I strive to be a special person who makes the world a better place, I have some things which I cannot control. Is this fear, grounded in my lifetime history of low self-esteem, rational? I don’t know. I do know, however, what the solution is:

Be memorable.

In a positive way, of course. All I can do is be the most impactful teacher and a person who spreads happiness and joy wherever I go. On some days, this is hard, but this is a goal I strive for each and every day. A happy and joyous person naturally attracts people and makes those around them better. No one will ever forget about me and the attitude I bring. If I simply do these things, my phone will be the phone blowing up.

And that’s a good thing.