Numero 1 y 2

Found this online.  Not so sure I would list Prague as No.1, but it is the only place I have taught, so it works for me.  And, since I am next looking to go to the number 2 destination, I figure I am on a roll.

Brazil sounds good.  Maybe I just need to work my way up, or down, the list!

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Top 10 Places for Teaching English

10. Brazil

Brazil’s effort to internationalize yields many opportunities to teach English, in both business and traditional school settings.

9. Saudi Arabia

The Middle East is where you will find some of the highest paying jobs offered for native English speaking teachers. This is not for the faint of heart; you must be interested in life in the Middle East and well versed in cultural differences to appreciate the experience.

8. Italy

Cheap travel and fantastically inexpensive gourmet food are just some of the benefits of living in Italy.

7. Thailand

Thailand is as close as you get to paradise.

6. Japan

Asian nations are practically begging for English teachers and you can find work via the Internet quickly. Most recruit year round, and provide successful applicants with visa sponsorship, apartment, partially-paid national insurance, etc.

5. Russia

Old stereotypes of an economic system fueled by vodka and general lawlessness have made native English teachers scarce in Russia. The demand for teachers far exceeds the supply, making it easy to gain employment with the benefits of visa support, accommodations and often airfare reimbursement.

4. China

With great compensation packages including salary, apartment, visa sponsorship and sometimes airfare, China is becoming a popular choice for English teachers.

3. Mexico

If you’re looking for sun and comfort, Mexico is the place to be.

2. South Korea

Offering many perks such as airfare, housing, insurance benefits, decent salaries and a low cost of living, South Korea offers the ability to travel and make good money.

1. Czech Republic

Chosen for its idyllic location, amazing scenery, high demand and relative ease of entry, the Czech Republic—specifically Prague—is the traveler’s dream come true.

 

I love me some sweet deals

I’ll give you fifty bucks crowns if you can correctly guess what I decided about going to Paris for the weekend in April.

Does anyone know how to say, “Do you know the way to Jim Morrison’s grave?” in French?

 

Bitten by the travel bug

I think I made a mistake when I signed up to get updates from SkyEurope, one of the airlines sites that offers great deals throughout Europe.

In February, they sent me a notice advertising a buy one ticket, get one free in honor of Valentine’s Day.  As a result I am off to Amsterdam next weekend with five of the girls.

Then, earlier this week, I saw that they were offering 50% tickets in honor of Easter. It is hard to see this and not at least look at what it might cost to fly to Malaga or Athens or Naples. So many choices!  Thank you SkyEurope for opening the doors to Europe!

Only problem with jumping on these great deals is that I only have weekends to travel.  At the moment, I am contemplating a Friday to Sunday trip to Paris.  I have about seven more hours to contemplate before I lose out on this deal.

I wonder if I can do Paris properly in two days-wonder if two days is better than not going at all…

Decisions, decisions.

 

Option 4: Daegu, South Korea

Where: That’s right…South Korea.  Specifically in Daegu, the third largest city.

What: I have heard from many people that teaching English in Asia is much more lucrative than here in Europe or elsewhere.  One of Anna’s good friends was in South Korea for a year, went back to Cali, and is now returning to Korea because he actually enjoyed it so much.

When: Seeing as how I am game for whatever, I would go whenever.  A school I found has some very tempting offers…

Why: Making this move makes sense.  In Korea I could teach, which I do enjoy, and I could make a pretty darn good living.  (Wait to see the pros.)  I could work for a few months, save some money to go to my brother’s wedding- with a very big expensive gift, of course- return to work to the end of the year to save the money I will need to do the yoga training I want to do next year.

Pros: Now, this is just my initial research, and at the moment it seems too good to be true, but I have heard otherwise.  This is what the school says they offer (FYI, $1US ~ 1000Won):

- Severance of 2,300,000 won upon completion of contract
- Three days paid sick leave
- All public and national holidays
- 17 days paid vacation leave.
- Unused vacation days paid at a pro-rata rate
- A one bedroom air conditioned fully furnished apartment
- Teachers only pay for the monthly bills for the utilities
(gas, electricity, water),apartment maintenance fee, and the
telephone and cable fees and internet(if requested).
- Health insurance: 50% paid by Yale, 50% by employee
(about 35,000 won per month)
- Round-trip airfare to your point of origin
- Overtime payment: 30,000 won per class
Cons: Well, Korea isn’t exactly Spain where I wanted to go.  But, never fear, I have more plans. I don’t know the culture or the language, but I didn’t know Czech when I got here either.  (Um, I still don’t come to think of it.) But, it is Asia!  So close to Japan and China.  I think it would be an amazing experience.

Jaemiisseoyo, aniyo?  (Korean for it is interesting, no?)

 

Inhale…Exhale…

For proclaiming to love and live the yogic lifestyle and continuing to write on a site with the mantra of life in the present moment, I am failing to adhere to any of these precedents.

All I can think about is what I am going to do next. (Next being anytime from tomorrow until I die apparently because all sorts of scenarios have crossed my mind.)

Clearly, you are witness to this as I post about my possibilities. I have a stock pile waiting to be posted for you all to see. Ideas ranging from yoga retreats and trainings to teaching to volunteering to blindly diving into the unknown. And, these options would take me from Indonesia to Central America and everywhere in between.

Thing is, I shouldn’t be focusing on that. I should be here, enjoying the now. This is what I loved so much about my yoga training is that I could leave everything off my mat and enjoy living one inhale at a time. And, one of the major things I finally came to terms with during this training is that so often we look forward for something else to complete us, to make our lives fuller when really, all we need is what is within us at that moment.

Before I came to Europe, I thought this journey was going to be the defining moment in my life. I was going to find my passion straight away, I was going to fall in love with someone just as worldly, and viola! Happiness! Forever! And Ever!

But, that is an idyllic scene that isn’t unfolding for me at the moment. Granted, I have been here only five months and I do have a job that I enjoy and I have met some great people and gone on some interesting dates…but, recently, all I want is…change.

Will it make me any happier if I am in immersed in yoga in Bali (YES!) and where will I be afterwards? Looking for the next best thing?  Should I invest all this time and energy in searching so far into my future when so much can change in the coming months?

Probably not.

So, I am here.  And, I am enjoying here.  And, while I really am ready to leave here, I am going to just be here…be here now.  Because Prague is a city with so much to offer, so much to enjoy.   Before I know it, I will be gone and probably looking to come back.

So often we search for something to make us happy when all we need is right in front of us.  And, that is probably the hardest thing to accept.

 

Option 3: Algarve, Portugal

Where: If I can’t make it to Spain, perhaps I will travel to her lovely little neighbor, Portugal.

Why: I am set on finding my way back into yoga and have found several retreats/yoga teacher trainings here that would fit into my time-frame, get me close to Spain, and be more affordable than the one I mentioned in Bali.

Here are two I am looking at if you are interested in seeing what they offer at these retreats: Frog Lotus Yoga and Yoga with Neo.

When: The courses here start in late June so I would have time to finish my contract in Prague and save a bit before going…sounds good, right?

Once again, pics stolen from the net: the yoga one from Frog Lotus and the others from Algarve, Portugal’s tourism site.

Pros: Once again, yoga in a warm, amazing, tropical setting. A bit of the Spanish/Latin culture. Oh, and it is all beach side!

Cons: I think the only cons in any of my proposed destinations are monetary limitations. I am not going to pick a place that sucks…obviously!

 

Option 2: Sevilla, España

Where: Sevilla, the southern capital of España.

What: Likely teaching English. But, still searching for other opportunities…

Why: Hello?! It’s Spain. This is the place I most wanted to visit when I decided to come to Europe, but figured it would be a good place to end up in, so I started elsewhere. After talking to so many people here and in Spain about Spain, I am even more anxious to go.

Pros: Obviously, the Spanish culture is a draw for me. This includes: the language, siestas, the Flamenco, beautiful Spanish citizens (heard of the term latin lovers??) And, while there is an average daily temp of 65 degrees Fahrenheit making it one of the warmest European cities, I think that the people are also warmer, friendlier, maybe smile more…

Cons: The Euro! This can make things much more expensive then my friendly Koruna I have become accustomed to here in the CR. Also, I have heard stories about how difficult it is for non-EU folks to find (and keep) work in Spain since it is such a huge draw for people. Therefore, it may be a bit difficult to get on my feet. But, with some determination…

**Pictures taken from Wikipedia…wiki-wiki-what?!?! **

 

Option 1: Ubud, Bali

Ok, so here we go. The first idea I have for life after Prague. I feel I have searched the ends of the internet with all the ideas I have running in my head for what to do next. This is just the beginning.

~~~~~

Where: Ubud, Bali- in beautiful Indonesia.

What: A four week yoga intensive. Life in an ashram.

Preferably at this ashram: Radianty Alive.

(The picture above and below are taken from this site, FYI.

Hope that isn’t any infringement…)

I could totally see myself doing Bakasana like that!

Why: Ever since my yoga teacher training course last summer I have been profoundly impacted by the spiritual and physical influences yoga has on my life. I have disgracefully abandoned my yoga practice here in Prague and desperately want to be a better yogi and return to the state of enlightenment I was in last summer.

Pros: I think it is obvious. A beautiful tropical setting. A month (or more) of intensive yoga training. I go in a flabby lush and come out a detoxified, toned yogi with some awesome moves!

Cons: Only one major thing holding me back. The fees. For four weeks all inclusive: training (another certification), lodging, gourmet and organic meals is $5100US (gasp!). And, that doesn’t include the cost of traveling there.

You have to check it out…it looks amazing!

So, what do you think? Would you come visit me here?!