This first sentence may not surprise you: I didn't get a job today. The next probably will: I got four yesterday. That's right... Four. Let me explain.
I had an interview yesterday at the Prague Institute, a little house converted int
o a school up in Praha 8, near the end of metro line C -- in other words, a bit of a journey. So, I walk in, and the nervous young Czech girl gives me a form to fill out. Of course, the form is in Czech, so I just kind of scrawl personal information across it wherever I think it looks the most official.
15 minutes later, she comes back into the little room and says, "Ok, so, do you, um, have a TEFL certificate?", to which I hesitantly reply, "Well, no."
She responds, "Ok, do you, uh, have any TEFL experience?", to which I am forced to reply, "Not exactly."
She says, "Right. So, are you, uh, legal to work here?" I hang my head in the shame of an illegal immigrant and reply, "Nope. Not at all."
She fidgets a bit, looks around the room anxiously, and says, "Can you teach a class in 20 minutes?" I reply, "Sure." She throws a book down on the desk, and just like that, I'm in.
Lenka and Marcela were very nice, although a bit shy to speak English. Luckily, Petr brought a bottle of wine, so everyone loosened up. Damn, I love this country. The class went smoothly, and the young lady behind the desk put me on the schedule. It's part time, but hey, each class gives me enough money to sleep for the night.
Of course, not knowing that I would have to teach a class, I was late for my next interview at 7:00, in an Irish Pub all the way across town. This was for a job at Angel Club, an upscale joint opening in a few weeks near the Mala Strana, west of the river. So, I literally ran across Prague, my tweed jacket billowing behind me, map tightly clenched in a white-knuckled fist. Sweaty and out of breath, I stumbled into the Pub at 7:50, found my contact, a middle-aged Australian woman, and ordered a water with gas.
After introductions, the first question she asked me was, "Saturdays are going to be gay night. You will get propositioned. Are you okay with that?"
"I don't mind a bit," I replied, remembering my college days. Don't misunderstand; I'm straight. But if a guy's going to buy me a beer or tip me better because he thinks I'm cute, no complaints here.
After a bit of chatting, Simone quite frankly told me that what I lack in experience, I make up for in presence. Oh, and she said I'm cute, bought my water, and told me about her menopause. After the interview, she said she'd be in touch, and that I will have a job at Angel Club in a couple weeks. Right on.
The third job came when I got back to Sir Toby's, my rad Christian hostel (there is only a little bit of sarcasm there. It is Christian, and it is the best hostel I've ever stayed in. Yes, I'm having difficulties with that.) There was an email from Regent school, offering me a contract teaching English in Poland, where native English speakers make more money than doctors. It's a 13 month contract, starting September 1st. I haven't signed it yet, but once they tell me how the visa situation works, that sucker is getting signed.
So, I got three jobs yesterday. But, I said four, right? Well, the fourth isn't mine. Regent has offered Emily a contract as well. I just talked to her on the telephone, and she's going to accept it. So, if you're friends with Emily, go buy her a drink while you can, cause she's moving to Poland. On second thought, make her buy her own drink. She's had enough free drinks lately.... So, I'll be in Prague for the next couple months. Come on over! Watch those American dollars stretch on and on and on and on... And on... And on... And on...
I had an interview yesterday at the Prague Institute, a little house converted int
o a school up in Praha 8, near the end of metro line C -- in other words, a bit of a journey. So, I walk in, and the nervous young Czech girl gives me a form to fill out. Of course, the form is in Czech, so I just kind of scrawl personal information across it wherever I think it looks the most official. 15 minutes later, she comes back into the little room and says, "Ok, so, do you, um, have a TEFL certificate?", to which I hesitantly reply, "Well, no."
She responds, "Ok, do you, uh, have any TEFL experience?", to which I am forced to reply, "Not exactly."
She says, "Right. So, are you, uh, legal to work here?" I hang my head in the shame of an illegal immigrant and reply, "Nope. Not at all."
She fidgets a bit, looks around the room anxiously, and says, "Can you teach a class in 20 minutes?" I reply, "Sure." She throws a book down on the desk, and just like that, I'm in.
Lenka and Marcela were very nice, although a bit shy to speak English. Luckily, Petr brought a bottle of wine, so everyone loosened up. Damn, I love this country. The class went smoothly, and the young lady behind the desk put me on the schedule. It's part time, but hey, each class gives me enough money to sleep for the night. Of course, not knowing that I would have to teach a class, I was late for my next interview at 7:00, in an Irish Pub all the way across town. This was for a job at Angel Club, an upscale joint opening in a few weeks near the Mala Strana, west of the river. So, I literally ran across Prague, my tweed jacket billowing behind me, map tightly clenched in a white-knuckled fist. Sweaty and out of breath, I stumbled into the Pub at 7:50, found my contact, a middle-aged Australian woman, and ordered a water with gas.
After introductions, the first question she asked me was, "Saturdays are going to be gay night. You will get propositioned. Are you okay with that?"
"I don't mind a bit," I replied, remembering my college days. Don't misunderstand; I'm straight. But if a guy's going to buy me a beer or tip me better because he thinks I'm cute, no complaints here.
After a bit of chatting, Simone quite frankly told me that what I lack in experience, I make up for in presence. Oh, and she said I'm cute, bought my water, and told me about her menopause. After the interview, she said she'd be in touch, and that I will have a job at Angel Club in a couple weeks. Right on.
The third job came when I got back to Sir Toby's, my rad Christian hostel (there is only a little bit of sarcasm there. It is Christian, and it is the best hostel I've ever stayed in. Yes, I'm having difficulties with that.) There was an email from Regent school, offering me a contract teaching English in Poland, where native English speakers make more money than doctors. It's a 13 month contract, starting September 1st. I haven't signed it yet, but once they tell me how the visa situation works, that sucker is getting signed.
So, I got three jobs yesterday. But, I said four, right? Well, the fourth isn't mine. Regent has offered Emily a contract as well. I just talked to her on the telephone, and she's going to accept it. So, if you're friends with Emily, go buy her a drink while you can, cause she's moving to Poland. On second thought, make her buy her own drink. She's had enough free drinks lately.... So, I'll be in Prague for the next couple months. Come on over! Watch those American dollars stretch on and on and on and on... And on... And on... And on...
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