hello? job calling

I had a frustrating interaction with the owner of the BS school but that chapter is now closed - I've chosen to terminate contact and maybe when I go to the bank next the money will be there and I'll consider it a blessing... and maybe it won't and I can consider it a lesson. Either way I made a decision to move on - and in furtherance of that decision I contacted other Callan schools in the area and submitted my resume.

I had one call back, yesterday, asking if we could meet sometime next week. YES I said as I desperately need a job.

This morning I got up early and made my way over to the visa agency to finalize my application - on the way my phone rang. I was asked if we could move up our meeting till today - I said YES again. Then I had my meeting, went to my uni, went to pre-school and then headed over to this new Callan school.

On the way my phone rang again - the school I had interviewed with last week that had offered and then rescinded the job offer finally had to take decisive action and terminated the other teacher - and were offering me the job again. I said YES.

After my interview with the new Callan school - which has a whole floor of a building instead of one office in a suite - and 8 separate classrooms all wired for audio/video recording and a ton of other cool stuff... where I was told they're interested and I need to do some training for their version of the method (which is better than what I had been taught by FAR) I made my way over to pick up the book at the other school to pick up the book and material for the class that starts tomorrow.... and on the way my phone rang again... it was another school calling... a new pre-school that wanted to offer my a job as a full-time teacher, and I said, thanks but I'm not available on a full-time basis... and she said - send me your hours and I'll see what I can do.

I am a little overwhelmed right now. But I can tell you this - I must apply for my work permit and I will not take a position without a contract again. Apparently, someone here told me, it's illegal for someone to employ you without a contract.. regardless if you're a legal employee or not (?).

work - woo hoo!!

Well I got an email from the owner confirming the school I've been teaching at is no longer functioning. Which is okay on the one hand as I'd told my class tonight was my last class - I haven't been paid for March yet and so wasn't expecting to be paid for April at this point, either. On the other I've lost the potential for earning and my teaching resources.

The owner went on to say he would like to meet me on Monday (our very first meeting) and will pay me for both months, March and April, then. Woo hoo! That is Coral's tuition for May! Right on! Of course, I'm out of a job at the same time.

NOT SO FAST!

While I don't have nearly enough hours to compensate for the loss of income from this position I DID just get another job teaching at another school, a more established one, and will be making a bit more on an hourly rate but less over all as less hours.... however, it's work and I'll have some sort of income and that is a very good thing!!!

And I have a potential lead for tutoring a young teen on Saturdays... we will see.

Crazy Coincidences!!

Ever Monday evening at the start of class I ask the guys how their weekend went. I give a brief overview of mine - it went like this (the three of them) family, friends, cross country skiing... (and me) hiking in the mountains, lodge with friends.

It wasn't until the tram ride home when I asked Marek how he got the scrapes on his chin that we discovered we were both up on Snezka on Sunday. He was cross country skiing all weekend with his cousins and brother up on the same mountain as me. We stayed on opposite sides.

What was even funnier (to me) was when we discovered that he had to sleep on the floor of his lodge in his sleeping bag... while I got a bunk for my sleeping bag and I paid less. Everything at my lodge was less - and closer to the peak as well.

He got the scrapes on his face when he crashed in to a tree. Bummer

Next time he'll stay at Jelenka - which by the way means Deer - as in Deer Lodge.

oh boy.... too much to title it!

My schedule this week -

Monday - work at 9 until class starts - which ends around 5, then get to B. School by 6:45 and teach until about 9 - during my AAU class my incredibly in-depth and esoteric mid-term was due - finish the mid-term during work hours and then stay up late working on presentation for Wednesday - get to sleep around midnight

Tuesday - work at 8, transfer to the other school, work until 4, and then called in to cover an english class for brand new beginners at B School.... a real struggle as I don't speak or understand czech and they don' t yet understand english... work until about 8 and then work on my presentation - up till well after midnight - in between the second preschool and B School meet with Brian about Prague Playhouse and take on the position (non-paying)

Wednesday - school at 11 - but I had to stay up late and then get up at 6:30 to continue working in my presentation - give the presentation and then go to work at school till 6 when I rush over to B School till 9, talk to family- antsy and can't sleep

Thursday - work at 8, switch to second preschool and work till 4, get called in to cover another beginner class at B. School and then go meet friends for dinner/drinks before I go home - the kidl joins us and the two of us get home shortly after 10, some homework,talk to family, get to sleep around 1...

Friday - today, work at 8, stay at the main pre-school and work till 3, stop at the brand new mall at the metro on my way home, get home, clean a bit, fall asleep, meet friends at 8 when I should have been there at 7, get home at 12:30, write, go to sleep and get ready for tomorrow ( I missed meeting up with 2 other friends but I made new friends where I was)

Saturday - work at 8:30 - at school - until 6, meet a new expat guy at 7 (anticipated schedule, details unknown)

Sunday - as it stands right now I should be meeting a friend for coffee maybe (anticipated schedule)

Monday - bank holiday, I plan on running laundry, grocery shopping, and thoroughly cleaning - after I sleep in! (anticipated schedule) Additionally we will be going to both the Velvet Revolution commemoration ceremony and to the anti-radar rally... then sleeping.

Throughout the week the kid has had a miserable cold - the cold isn't really all that bad, but she's pretty miserable!

Monday evening

I had my adult english class Monday night - it was great! I had another new student, and everyone laughed and talked and it was lovely. At the end of the class one of my students offered to give me a ride home - fantastic! I'd spent my day at the forum and hadn't had time to run home and get my coat so was stuck wearing a light weight jacket and thin top - totally insufficient for the weather! I was so excited, until he asked me -

Where do you live?

And I opened my mouth to answer and said - I don't know. EVERYONE started laughing!

One woman offered, well you live in Prague 10, right? And I said yes, but I don't know how to get there! Everyone laughed again!

I explained, I only know the bus routes and I don't drive, and haven't really been here that long - and I don't really know where we are, either. So, they started asking me questions and finally the group figured out where I live and then Karel gave me a ride home, and it was a great end to an incredible day!