Prague – Czeching Out the World of TEFL

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

December 31, 2020March 6, 2021 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…

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…
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.
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.
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.
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.

The Minimalist Approach

October 17, 2020 by mikebev25

This week, I looked at what seemed to be the perfect apartment.

The location was ideal. Everything in it was brand new. I would have a TV in my room for the first time in 16 months.

The best part? No roommates. I certainly don’t have anything personal against any of my roommates, but studio apartments are highly appealing to introverts like me. And did I mention how helpful they can be in the time of coronavirus? I have four roommates now. If, heaven forbid, one of them gets COVID, I have to quarantine for 10 days through absolutely no fault of my own. Let’s be honest, with four chances at it happening, my constant worrier personality feels even more uneasy than usual, if that’s even possible.

Getting back to the possible switcheroo…the viewing was done and I was ready to sign on the dotted line. The apartment, or “flat,” as they call it over here, was quite pricey (it would have been approximately 200 USD more than what I pay now), but at the time, I thought that it was worth it.

That was, however, until I did some reflection.

Why exactly do I need everything to be brand new? Can’t older or used things work just fine? So what if there’s a TV? I’ve survived without one for the first 16 months I’ve been here. I can continue to carry on.

What about the lack of roommates? Shouldn’t that alone have been enough to get me to pull the trigger? Don’t get me wrong, as amazing as it would have been to not have to worry about roommates anymore, the reality is that it’s not a necessity. Not even close. There’s a stark difference between needs and wants.

I firmly believe that money can’t buy happiness. It’s just fine to live the minimalist lifestyle. For example, when I go to teach, I use an old, white backpack, while a number of my colleagues use briefcases or more professional-looking bags. I know that my students don’t care about the kind of bag I carry around–they care about the quality of my teaching and getting better at the language that will open up countless doors for them. A 2012 Ford Focus and a brand-new Aston Martin are far different in terms of the features and amenities that they give you, but at the end of the day, they both carry out the same essential purpose–to get you from point A to point B.

Speaking of cars, I think about the story of NFL running back Alfred Morris. Here’s a guy making millions of dollars playing football. He could drive any car he wants. So what does he drive? A 1991 Mazda that he bought for $2. He’s perfectly okay with that. It still gets him where he needs to go.

Even outside of sports, there are minimalist personalities. Morris’ lifetime NFL earnings of $8 million pale in comparison to the rich sums that Apple founder Steve Jobs made during his lifetime. But Jobs lived in an empty house with no furniture, strongly preferring a life of simplicity over the posh lifestyles that most others in his tax bracket would have preferred.

I’m not saying that it’s wrong to splurge or treat yourself every once in a while, but I just didn’t feel right making this kind of investment. And oh, yeah…I have these things called student loans, and unfortunately, escaping the country doesn’t mean escaping those pesky creditors. They don’t care about the coronavirus. Actually, they don’t really care about people at all. I think an essential qualification for that job is to not have a soul. Honestly.

Long story short, I decided not to take the apartment. It broke my heart at first, but after a while, I came to be at peace with my decision.

I recognized that there are countless ways I can use the extra money that I did not spend on that apartment. I can use it to buy materials to enhance my lessons for my students. I can donate to charity and help those people who have been less fortunate. I can go on a trip and explore a new part of the world.

Would I have really been happy in that apartment? Maybe, maybe not. But if I had taken it, a part of me would have felt like I was doing an awfully self-centered thing. That would have wrecked my conscience. As much as we possibly can, we need to put others first, especially during this awful pandemic in which so many good people have seen their lives be turned upside down.

COVID has also taught me to enjoy the things I do have. You never know when someone or something you love can be taken away from you in the blink of an eye. Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. This is especially true here, where we have new restrictions being put into effect seemingly every day.

So after this humbling and eye-opening experience, I know that it’s okay to live the minimalist life. If you haven’t done it, try it out.

Dekuji, Babis

October 13, 2020 by mikebev25

I have anxiety.

I’ve had it my whole life. I’m not afraid to admit it. I think it’s essential for people to be as open as possible about their mental health and advocate for those who deal with mental health problems. Our mental health is just as important as our physical health. It should never go unnoticed.

How does a person with anxiety cope during the time of coronavirus?

Good question. I wish I knew the answer.

In fact, for me it’s more questions than answers. These questions are not fun. For example, we’re not asking if a hot dog is a sandwich or if Die Hard is a Christmas movie. No offense to Joey Chestnut or Bruce Willis, but it’s time to be serious.

I basically like to divide my questions/concerns into three areas: personal short-term questions, personal long-term questions, and wide-ranging/societal concerns.

A topic with so many questions that it needs to be divvied up into three categories? Sheesh. Thanks, Trump….or, shall I say, dekuji, Babis?

First, the short-term personal questions: What if I get the coronavirus? What if someone in my circle (family, friends, roommates, students) gets it? What do I do? Well, quarantining for 10 days is no fun. Even though I can’t really do much anyway because of the restrictions here, I consider myself to be an independent person. I like structure. I like routines. I know what I want when I want it. And yeah, going out for walks is fun, too.

Here come more questions. I’m healthy now, and, God willing, it will remain that way. But what if, heaven forbid, the small grain of sand finds its way into my (or someone else’s) nose or mouth?

Who teaches my in-person classes? What if we have to cancel them and my schools and I are forced to take a financial hit, or, more importantly, a hit to our reputation? For online classes, what if I have to teach at less than 100 percent? Who buys my groceries and items from DM (no, not the kind of DM you slide into)?

Oh, yeah, there’s just one more teeny tiny, semi-important question:

Will I survive?

I’m 31 years old and relatively healthy, all things considered, so yes, I more than likely would.

But the coronavirus doesn’t care about how old you are. It’s not unprecedented for people my age to die or become very sick. It’s a terrifying thought. What if I wind up in the hospital, alone, in a foreign country, with Czech-speaking medical professionals giving me treatment that I can’t afford?

Yikes. Lots of questions. Questions leading to questions leading to more questions. NOW can you understand why this keeps me up at night?

I wish the questions ended there. But no, there’s a long way to go. Time now for the personal long-term questions. How will this affect my Prague experience going forward? Will I have to head back to the states earlier than I had hoped? Side note: I know some really good people who had to cut short their teaching abroad experiences due to COVID.

Will I have the financial resources to stick it out for months despite not having a full teaching schedule? Will I have the resiliency to keep going, even after rounds and rounds and rounds of restrictions? Seriously, it’s getting to the point where Babis, Prymula, and friends will ban breathing before long.

Would I be better off trying another country? Yes, it’s not an ideal time to uproot, but let’s face it, when it comes to Europe, literally everyone is doing better than the Czech Republic at the moment.

How long will it go on this way? Will my friendships be compromised if I have to go months without seeing people? What about my job? If employers continue to lose money in the months ahead, heads may start to roll. Will students and companies still be able to afford lessons if they lose business? When it comes to budgets, English lessons are a fairly easy thing to cut, unfortunately.

Businesses everywhere, even the ones I don’t deal with, are and will continue to be devastated. There are people out of jobs. Countless folks have it much worse than I do. At least I can still work, even if it’s not as much as I might like. All this talk about businesses leads me to our final category of interrogative statements: the wide-ranging/societal concerns.

What will the long-term ramifications be? Will things like masks and social distancing become the new normal? Is a third wave eventually going to come and cripple society again? When will the pandemic end? When will we have a vaccine? Will the numbers ever go down?

What if we go into another lockdown? Yes, I realize that the Czech Republic is essentially already in a lockdown, but it’s not a “full lockdown,” according to our leaders. Will the Czech government ever give a round of restrictions more than two days before throwing their hands up in the air, saying they didn’t work, and feeling the need to add more? Patience, guys. Patience.

How many businesses will have to close for good? How long will it be before Americans can visit Europe again? Will Prague ever have the same number of tourists it had before? Will this country lose so much money that it has to turn to a financial institution to be bailed out? Why did this country decide to be the Atlanta Falcons and get out to a big lead, celebrate too early, blow the lead, fall to last place, and fire the coach? Okay, so we haven’t fired our coach, just the health minister, but you get the point.

Speaking of coaches who need to be fired…in my home country, there’s a pretty important election going on in a few weeks. Will Trump be voted out because of his handling of the pandemic? I’m not going to get overly political, but yes, I believe he should be. What will a President Biden bring? How will he handle the pandemic and its long-term effects on America? Will he actually listen to Dr. Fauci?

What if Biden himself gets COVID? Ugh, I don’t even want to think about it.

No more questions, your honor. Finally, I got through them all. Whew.

You know, I usually hate dealing in hypotheticals. I like living in the present and crossing bridges when you come to them. However, this pandemic forces us all to have a different view of the world.

There are just so many questions without answers. And it may be a while before we get a number of those answers.

So what is there to do?

Personally, I’m going to make every effort to hang on and ride this thing out here in Prague. At the moment, my anxiety is at a record-high level, as evidenced by all the questions above. However, deep down, I’m hopeful that things will get better. Yes, I realize that it’s not likely to be any time soon. But one day, the restrictions will go away and the life experiences will continue. New lands will be visited. New friends will be made. New experiences will be had. I worked too hard to make this experience a reality. I’m not going to let coronavirus define it. I’m not going to let coronavirus be the end of my story here in Prague.

So there’s only one thing to do…sorry, Major League fans, it’s not win the whole (expletive) thing.

It’s vigilance.

Be vigilant of the rules and follow them, whether you like them or not. Make the most of your time here while still staying safe and keeping the virus from spreading. And yes, WEAR A MASK! You know who the real covidiots are? The people who wear a mask that does not cover their nose. You people are part of the problem. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

Stay safe, everyone. Prague friends, it will be a long road ahead, but we can get through it together. I’m only a call away if anyone ever needs anything. Seriously.

As for the folks in the states, I can tell you from experience: Don’t let your guard down.

Godspeed to all, and to all a good night!

(Photo: A picture I recently took during a trip to Cesky Krumlov. We sure could use a lot of divine intervention right now).

Making Lemonade From Lemons

October 9, 2020February 22, 2021 by mikebev25

Let’s rewind for a minute.

The date is June 30. Charles Bridge–one of Prague’s most historic landmarks–is full of partygoers, as a pot luck dinner on a 500-meter long table celebrates the end of Coronavirus restrictions and the country’s “triumph” over the illness. The Czech Republic crushed it. Thanks to the quick, but draconian, government measures, the country was seen as a model for the rest of the world. Coronavirus was gone.

Or so everyone thought…

Now, let’s hit the live button and go back to the present day. Coronavirus is not gone. Not even close. As far as Coronavirus numbers go, this country has gone from being one of the best in Europe to one of the worst. No, literally, the worst. The numbers and the new health minister say so. We went from the penthouse to the outhouse. We went from the 1997 Florida Marlins to the 1998 Florida Marlins. We’re seeing more infections on a single day than we were during entire months earlier in the pandemic. I remember, for example, when 300 cases was a bad day. Now, we’re throwing a whole zero on to that number. And it’s only getting worse.

I’m not going to get into how or why it’s happening because, frankly, I’m not sure I know. That’s for people who make more money than I do. Unfortunately, the restrictions are tightening (again). Significantly. Most schools have transitioned to distance learning. Bars and restaurants must be closed by 8 p.m. Gyms are closed entirely. Museums and cultural institutions are shut down for at least two weeks. Most sporting events have been cancelled, and the ones that do happen cannot allow spectators. The list goes on and on.

It’s not a lockdown, but it’s damn near close. Maybe the lockdown will come. If we keep going at the rate we are right now, it will. I’m hoping it doesn’t. However, one way or another, I–and most of the people who live in this great country–will have to stay at home more frequently than usual in the days and weeks ahead.

I could sit here and mope about it. I could make plans to go home to New York, which, after a very unfortunate start, has become a success story in the Coronavirus outbreak. I could openly blame this politician or that politician or whoever I feel like blaming.

But I’m not going to do that. My mom did not raise a quitter. Furthermore, blaming people isn’t going to solve anything (I really wish some prominent septuagenarians in the United States would recognize this right now). As hard as it might be some days, we need to be united (to whatever extent we can be given the anti-COVID measures) and optimistic. Whether we like it or not, we need to make it work with the hand we’ve been dealt.

So that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’ve set a list of goals for the last quarter of 2020. It’s time to create a recipe to make lemonade out of lemons.

Goal #1: Get healthy. For years, I’ve been unhappy with my appearance. I took a big step when I stopped drinking alcohol this past summer. But I still need to do more. Before the current wave of restrictions hit, I was strongly considering joining a gym, and I would still like to once they open again (they are currently closed over here for a minimum of two weeks). However, since I can’t do that at the moment, I’m going to embark on a series of indoor-friendly workouts and outdoor exercises. I’m also going to eat right. No more McDonald’s. No more soda. If Taco Bell were here, I wouldn’t eat that, either. Unimaginable. But in all seriousness, committing to my health is something that needs to be done. Here in Prague, I’m fortunate to have supportive friends who are willing to take time out of their schedules to help me accomplish this goal. Let’s face it, at 31 years old, I’m not getting any younger. Let’s do this!

Goal #2: Learn some Czech. Picture it: You’re at the tram stop waiting for the 7 or the 18 or the 24 and someone comes up to you speaking a mile a minute. Great! The only problem? They’re not speaking English! It’s all Czech. All I can do–and I’ve literally done this before–is shrug my shoulders and say one of the few Czech words I do know–“ne.” That means “no.” Creative, right? I’ve been here too long to still not know any Czech. As Clark Griswold said during National Lampoon’s European Vacation, “if you speak the language, they’re gonna be very nice. Just try.”

So I’m going to try. I’ve signed up for Duolingo. Hopefully when the pandemic is over, I can take some Czech lessons. I’m also planning on buying a notebook to write down all Czech words and phrases I know. My own Czech-English dictionary of sorts. You’re never too old to start learning something new.

Goal #3: Create a journal. This pandemic has wrought havoc on those of us (like me) who suffer from anxiety and depression. On the mental health front, I’m not afraid to state that I recently have not been doing as well as I would like. The recent situation in this country and in the world has not made things any easier. It’s so easy to feel isolated. Sometimes, I feel like I have no one to talk to or that the people I do have just don’t understand everything going on in my constantly overthinking mind. I’ve always loved writing, and a journal allows me to get my thoughts on paper in a somewhat organized way. I’ve done it in the past, and it’s a real stress reliever, too.

Goal #4: Update this blog more often. Like I said, I do love writing, but a journal is mostly for those more private thoughts. A blog is for that fun writing–the memories, experiences, and feelings that I want everyone to share with me. Admittedly, I haven’t kept up with this blog as much as I might like, and I feel very badly about that. However, I’ve been very busy, and with everything going on in the world, sometimes the right words just don’t come. But now is a time when they need to come. After all, I’m not over here just to teach students. If I can teach you all a thing or two as well, I’m doing a good job.

Goal #5: Develop a following on Instagram. I recently started using Instagram, and I have to say, I love it. I started using it because I wanted to have another way to connect with people. It’s a great opportunity for those from afar to share in my Prague experience. There are already plenty of pictures of Prague on my Instagram. Those will certainly continue. But I also want to focus more on the little things in life, the simple details that sometimes get overlooked. For example, the other day I posted a picture of a hand sanitizing station at one of the metro steps. It’s small things like that which sometimes put out the most powerful messages.

Five very reasonable goals. When I achieve them, I’m not going to have a party at Charles Bridge or do anything crazy like that. However, I will feel a sense of accomplishment. By putting these goals out there in public for you all to see, it will make me want to complete them. It’s up to you all to hold me to it!

Now that I’ve put it out in the open, I can’t let you guys down. Most importantly, I can’t let myself down! Here’s to crushing these four goals and continuing to be the best version of myself each and every day!

Cheers, everyone. Stay safe out there. And wear a mask (ONE THAT COVERS YOUR NOSE AND YOUR MOUTH).

(The picture: I took this picture of a closed food court at the Prague Palladium on March 13. For at least the next two weeks, this is how it will look after 8 p.m., as Coronavirus restrictions have forced our restaurants and bars to close by that time.)