A New Starting Point

Who would have thought? Who could have predicted. . .? Ahead of me was Czech customs and I was really here! What a ride it's been since then. Perhaps a chronological catchup would be in order.
-- Taxi ride from the airport to my wonderful pension -- terrific family "taking care of me", superb location right by St. James (my work) and marvelous transportation everywhere, it seems. The ride was both remembered and new. What changes since the first trip in 1990 (which feels as tho' it were yesterday). Some are practical -- it isn't nearly as difficult to find/use English. Some are disheartening -- the graffiti is everywhere! Most are, from my point of view, just plain wonderful. It is so good to be at this next step of life.
-- Friday was the first day at work. Joined the "faculty" with two other Americans. One a middle years woman who came straight from five years of teaching English in Japan, the other a young man right out of college. We are indeed a mixed group. There are about 130 teachers, 40 of whom are full time. Already I'm finding some who seem to be possible good friends, some who are folks from whom I know I can learn a lot, and others I haven't quite figured out! Never could I have predicted I'd be taken on at a place which brings together so many of the things I've done and enjoyed over the years. And I certainly would not have predicted how much I'd enjoy returning to teaching. I didn't even know enough about it to wish for it! If you're interested in knowing a bit more about the centre, check out the (not updated) website -- stjames.cz
-- The weekend was a blur of catching up on myself and trying to prepare for a new week.
-- First week was a somewhat limited schedule and a bit of a chance to get used to the wide variety of resources St. J has for its teachers. Must say it was wonderful to have even limited access to the computers, since I was still not online. One big lesson already apparent is how accustomed I've become to having nearly instant access to family and friends, especially when needed. I've learned a big lesson about the impact internet and cell phones have on both my spirits and general productivity and how much I depend on them.
--Second weekend looked as tho' it might involve a move into long-term accommodation. It didn't -- and I'm still here at Holiday Home (my pension). If curious -- at holidayhome.cz you can see "my" front door right behind the blue car at the Prague location. Then it looked as tho' this weekend would be it. Wrong again. Finding a share is becoming a major job! And I have no idea how that will work out. I can only trust that it will. Kim, the other new female teacher and I were looking for something together. Practicality seems to insist we have to find what we can find -- asap!
-- Second work week was both wonderful and exhausting. There are two requirements to sign on as a full time teacher (me): you will teach 17-20 hours a week at minimum, and you will be available for St. James to give you an assignment at peak hours -- between 7:30-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. On paper that sounds early but not too bad. Right! I'm out around 6:30 (yes, it's still dark!) on the day I have a 7:30 class. On two other days I begin at 8. And just a day ago I was asked to take a very late class the night before. On paper it sounds as tho' there might be a lot of time off between peak hours. Wrong again! Yep, I'm tired. And all the classes are taught at the client companies. That means either metro (which takes many more stairs and much more walking and gets you there more quickly) or tram (which has much more frequent hop-on-hop-off opportunities and allows viewing various parts of this marvelous old old city). My doctor should be thrilled -- I've walked and walked and . . . .

Yes, I'd love to have the last settling-in step completed. Don't know what it will be, but I'm sure right things are happening behind the scenes with it just as they were with this whole wonderful dream-come-true.

And I thought I was a work-in-progress before this adventure! I can hardly begin to examine/count/understand/learn all the incredible images, opportunities, and lessons that only 17 days (but who's counting!) have brought. I see and hear so many things to share.

Enough for now! I'll be back with more . . .






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