Sometimes, Things Don’t Go as Planned

Perhaps one of the most important things about taking adventures is being flexible and knowing when it is time to make a change. Last weekend, i came to a point where i needed to make a decision that would have a major impact on the rest of my time in the Czech Republic.

It’s time for me to go home. Yes, it’s early. Much earlier than i had both planned and hoped. But right now, i think it’s the correct decision, and on Feb. 13^th, i’m flying back to the states.

Probably the biggest reason for my early departure is money. It seems to be an almost universal fact that there isn’t much money in teaching. What little savings i did have got sucked dry by essentially four months rent before my first paycheck. My first paycheck, which i didn't even get until today, is certainly nothing to write home about. I have had to borrow money from my roommate for a couple of things this month, one of them being next months rent, and after doing the math last weekend, i discovered it would be March before i’m out of the red, and actually saving money. However, the amount i could save would be miniscule, and traveling in the summer would almost be impossible. I told myself before i left that if i ran out of money, it meant it was time to go home. I have reached that point, and therefore, it’s time to go home.

However, the travel bug hasn’t left me. The whole purpose for this trip was to travel, and that is still the goal. Working was simply something that we tried to add on, and only one of us has been able to find a job in Europe that covers the time period until summer. Fitz had to head off to New Zealand, and i have to go home. But the three of us are certainly still planning to travel in the summer.

And so, my ticket home is round trip, meaning i’m coming back, in July, to bicycle around southeastern Europe with my boys. After that, i’m planning to see a few other things that i really want to see, before i return home. While it is of course a possibility, teaching English after our travels is likely not in my future. I honestly have no idea what i’ll do after i travel, and that’s okay. I’ll deal with that when i need to.

So, yeah, i want to thank everyone for all of the support while i’ve been over here. The e-mails, letters, and packages have all been great, and i apologize to the many of you i haven’t gotten back to. While i am sad to leave this beautiful city and wonderful country filled with the best and cheapest beer and some of the prettiest girls in the world, i am really looking forward to coming back home.

Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. And that’s okay.

JC

February? Already? And the Bears are in the Superbowl??

Well, i was doing well posting on this thing. Then i realized i only updated this twice in the month of January. As the Czechs would say... "pity."

There is lots to tell. Lots to tell indeed. For the sake of time and length, i will start with some stuff that has already happened, and get to some more recent news in a later post.

First, i must say that the weekend following my previous post was highlighted exceptionally by the Bears' entrance into the Super Bowl. Twenty-one years in the making, and i'm out of the country. Fortunately, there are sports bars that will be showing the game. Unfortunately, i have to wait until midnight for it to begin. Good thing i didn't take a monday morning class!!

Speaking of classes, i must say that the teaching thing actually has gotten better. Much better, in fact. My students are all great people to work with, and i'm having a good bit of fun. Haven't had any plum liquor for a while, but that's bound to change, i'm sure. I have another class that seems to perpetually involve drinking, which is with a couple of computer guys. It's a night class, 7pm to 9pm, and the last thing they want to do is sit in a room and read through a book, or do much of anything that requires a lot of thought (they've put in a rough 10 hour day, you know?). So, last week, to my enjoyment, they declared that it was going to be a "special class," and they took me to a nearby pub where we had a few drinks and spoke for two hours. i'm not sure if it's what my employers have in mind for a class, but it's what the students want, so i'm not going to argue. This week was also a "special class," and i'm sure next week will be as well.

Fitzy left this week, and as a good-bye, we took a weekend trip to a town three hours outside of Prague called Olomouc (pronounced Oh-la-moats). College town. Cool place, not too large, but not tiny (they use the word 'villages; quite a bit here, but not in reference to a place like Olomouc). Found a pretty nice hostel, and also met some good local folks. On the train, we shared a cabin with a young man who was from Olomouc. We spoke with him, and he pointed us in the right direction of good pubs and places to see. We ended up meeting with him later that night at one of the pubs. On our way out, Fitzy asked him where we might find some good food. He mentioned this place that he said was really good, and that he enjoyed a lot, that had some burgers, fries, and other good stuff. In asking more about it, we finally realized he was sending us to McDonald's, though he pronounced it "Mac-Doh-nads." "McDonald's?" we asked. "Oh, yeah, McDonald's. You like, don't you?" We laughed, and said sure, but ended up somewhere with a bit more local flavor.

That's all for now. Stay tuned for another update, which i promise will not be far behind. Hope all is well with everyone who is reading this. Also, i will be moving soon, so if you were inclined to send some mail, please hold off, as i may not get it!

JC