Might need a cup of tea and a comfy chair for this one...

So, it’s been quite a while. I had been doing a pretty good job of giving semi-regular updates, but, as is typical of me, life happens, and writing took a back seat. But, now that it’s Thursday night, and the official beginning of my weekend, i finally have some time to catch the rest of the world (or at least as much of the world that cares), up on what’s been going on in my life.

It is the end of my second full week of teaching. Quite honestly, it’s been a rough two weeks. Teaching is not all it’s cracked up to be. It’s a very tough job, and, at least in TEFL, you only get paid for about half of the work that you actually do. The relatively easy part is the time spent with students. The incredibly difficult part is planning what the heck you’re going to do with these people for one to two hours. And planning it to a point where at least you feel comfortable, and the students are at least somewhat content that they’re getting what they’ve paid for.

I’ve been told by many people that it gets better, easier, as you go. You can reuse lessons, get more efficient at spending time planning for lessons, and feel less overwhelmed the more you do it. I’m giving it the chance to do just that, but i’m not totally convinced yet that that’s the way it is. I’ve reached my 20 hours a week minimum for scheduling, so as of now, i’m not taking any more classes until i figure out what the heck i’m doing, and at least feel comfortable teaching the load i have. I think even if i do take on more classes, it’s gonna be hopefully on a private lesson basis, as that’s where the money is. I could easily make two-and-a-half times the rate i make at the school, teaching private lessons. And it’s cheaper for the student, too. So, we’ll see what happens.

But there’ve been lots of good stories to tell of things that happened over the last two weeks. First, two weekends ago, we went to Plzen, where the ever famous Pilsner Urquell is brewed. The best beer in the world, after Guiness. Definitely the best pilsner in the world. After taking the tour, we got an opportunity only given to those who go to Plzen to see the brewery: we got to taste unfiltered, wooden-barrel-aged, Pilsner Urquell. It was even better than the stuff you get in the pub. Don’t know how, don’t know why (i’m not too good with that technical stuff, and my brain’s shutting down right now anyways), but all i can say is that it was just really damn good. It was the only beer we got to sample, but we got to sample a good amount.

Plzen is also home to the tallest church tower in the Czech Repubic, at 102 meters. We took the 306 (or something like that) step journey to the balcony, which was something like 63 meters high, and looked out over the city. Very nice view. Also saw the synagogue from the outside. Apparently it is the third largest in the world (the first being in Jerusalem, and the second in Budapest). All i’ve gotta do is go to Jerusalem, and i’ve seen the outside of the three largest synagogues in the world. Yep, that’s all i gotta do… : )

The week that followed Plzen was my first full week of teaching. It was probably the most hectic week i’ve known for some time, and quite honestly, i don’t remember a whole lot from it, save for the fact that Friday night we met with our friendly neighbors below (the guy who really likes vodka, and sharing copious amounts of it with people who come visit), and had a pizza party. It was a Greg-inspired evening, which meant we were all likely a bit unsure how it would work - or if it would even happen at all - but all our fears were quickly put to rest as it turned out to be a really fun evening. Greg and Fitzy went to the store and bought all sorts of toppings for pizzas, some already made dough to put it on top of, and some tomato sauce, and there was a whole lot of pizza making going on. Every small pizza that came out of the oven got cut up and shared amongst about 8 or so people, and they all tasted great. Mine were of course layered with meat, and others’ had a good mix of everything else. It was a blast. Of course, there was a good amount of vodka consumed, though i managed to control myself a bit better this time and avoid the hangover the next morning.

Last weekend was more relaxed, but felt busy. Don’t exactly know why. Sunday we played some Frisbee in the park, which was cool, but it was a bit windy to have a good game. The unpredictability of where the Frisbee would go got old rather quickly, but apart from that, the weather was great and it was a good chance to run around.

This week has been crazy as well. I’m getting more accustomed to my students, and finding out what they want. I have a class on Tuesday evenings from 7pm to 9pm with three guys who work for a software company. They’re great guys, really good at English, and, i found out, not too keen on bookwork. Apparently, the way they used to study was at the pub with their teacher, just talking. So, i think my Tuesday evenings will be fun and relaxed, as i try to create some interesting lessons that at least cover something from the book in a conversational way, all at the pub. Whether or not i teach them anything is yet to be seen, but it will at least be a good time.

Had another interesting experience just today, involving alcohol. There’s nothing like being drunk at 10 am on a Thursday, especially when you’re doing it at work. My student this morning was telling me a story about how he had a friend over to his house over Christmas and they went through a half of a bottle of some Czech spirit. He was talking about it, and then asked if i wanted to try some. I naturally said of course, and he poured us each a half a shot. Good stuff, actually. Distilled plum alcohol, 110 proof (they would say 55 voltage). One half of a shot turned into another half of a shot, and we eventually finished off what was left, about one-third to one-half of a liter, between the two of us. Needless to say, it was an entertaining lesson. We talked about a variety of topics, and, given the fact that he wants simply conversation and has no book, it really wasn’t much of a problem. I had something prepared on nuclear power, but we didn’t get to it at all. So basically, i got drunk, saved myself some prep time next week, and had a really good time. All by 10am. What have you done today? : )

That’s about all i got. Congratulations to anyone who made it to the end of this. I hope it wasn’t too unbearable. The pictures take so much work which i’m feeling too lazy to do right now, so instead of making another unfulfilled promise about them, i’ll just say that i’ll put some up when i really have time, and can resize them, and have a steady internet connection. Which translates to it may be a while. Fitz and Greg have some, though. They must have a lot of spare time.

Hope all is well with all of you. Sorry to the many of you i owe e-mails to. Someday i’ll get to them…

‘til next time!

JC