Praha Life

The last time I posted, I was anxiously awaiting my arrival to Prague. Well, now I have been in the city for three amazing months. These past three months have been a whirlwind. I have learned so much and met so many new people. My time here has flown by without me even noticing. Twice now, I have tried to write a new blog post, but have come up short. I'm not sure I can fit the on-goings of these past three months into one blog post. So many things have happened since then. I can, however, briefly sum it up.

Prague is everything I hoped it would be and more. The city is gorgeous and there is so much to do here. I am never bored. I have an apartment in the center of the city with three people from my TEFL course. The apartment is a two-minute walk from the Astronomical Clock and our street is always bustling with tourists. On any given night, I am bound to hear singing and laughing of drunken tourists outside my window. Although the tourists can get a little annoying when you're in a hurry to get somewhere, I keep reminding myself how cool it is that I live somewhere that people want to visit. I am so lucky to be here. I wake up every day feeling extremely grateful to be living in this beautiful city.

The first month in Prague was filled with lesson planning, teaching, and a decent amount of stress. I received my TEFL certificate on April 12th, 2014 and am now working part-time as a preschool teacher for 3-5 year olds. The TEFL course was demanding and terrifying at first, but I made it through. Teaching is a lot harder than I expected and a bit of a daunting task. I met some great friends in my TEFL course and have had so many adventures with them already. We all came to Prague as strangers, and now it feels like we've known each other forever. I couldn't ask for anything more in my life right now. This is exactly where I want to be and I am so grateful that I decided to take the risk to move to a foreign country. I'm so happy to be living my dream :)

The Final Countdown

     Well, twelve days from now I will be on a plane heading to Prague. I honestly cannot believe how quickly it has crept up on me. I feel so unprepared. I still have a million things to do. And packing? HA that's funny. I have virtually nothing packed. I remember scrambling around the night before I left for London trying to finish my packing. Let's hope I don't repeat that this time around. I feel like this day is sneaking up on me so fast. In less than two weeks, I will be back on European soil. I am not even going to try to lie, I am really scared. The closer it gets to March 12th, the more apprehensive I become. This time around, it is so different. I am going completely alone without knowing anyone else. Also, I think the fact that I don't know how long I'll be gone is freaking me out a little bit. When I was studied abroad, I knew down to the day how long I would be away. This time around, I could be gone for any amount of time. Two months, six months, a year? Who knows. It's going to be harder for me because I don't know how long I will be away from everyone that I love.

    The last time I went away, my nephew was just shy of three months old. I missed him horribly. Now, my little buddy is almost three. I am so fearful of leaving him. He is old enough now to understand that Aunt Keek won't be back for awhile. On top of that, I now also have a five month old niece. I will be leaving not one, but two little ones behind. I have so many reservations and I know a lot of my loved ones would feel relieved if I changed my mind about going. Despite all these fears and reservations, I know that I won't change my mind. I have spent way too much time dreaming of this day that is fast approaching. I have obsessively researched job opportunities abroad. I have prayed and hoped and dreamed of this moment. I couldn't imagine my regret if I changed my mind. This is hands down the most brave thing that I have ever done. Five years ago, if you would have told me that I would be moving to Europe all by myself, I would have laughed in your face. I have never considered myself a particularly independent person. I rely on a lot of people for help and advice. My family and friends have always been my crutch. I guess this will be the first time I will truly be on my own. After 23 years, I will finally feel like an adult. Of course, in true Kasey style, I can't easily transition into adulthood like a normal person. Instead, I pick the most drastic change that anyone could go through. I can't help that I caught the travel bug. I can't help that I'm different from my family and 90% of my friends. I don't believe that life is meant to be spent in one place. I want experiences. I don't want a boyfriend or a husband or a child right now. I just want to go see the world. Whenever I am feeling apprehensive or afraid, I need to remember why I am doing this in the first place. I need to remember what made me fall in love with travel. One of the worst feelings is living with regret. I refuse to live my life with regret. So, in twelve days, I will board a plane to Prague, feeling fearful and anxious. But underneath all that uncertainty, the desire to travel and explore will fuel me to keep going. I know that this is what I am meant to be doing.

I'm moving to Prague!

     I have big news. Like big, life changing news. So, I have officially put down a non-refundable deposit for a TEFL course in Prague! Yes, that's right…I'M MOVING TO PRAGUE! What?! Even though I put down my deposit at the beginning of December, I am still freaking out about it! I am going to be living in Europe. I am going to teach English. Terrified doesn't even begin to cover how I feel. But underneath all those nerves, I am so excited. My dreams are finally coming true. I have jumped through so many hoops and have spent an unhealthy amount of time online researching job opportunities in Europe. Finally, FINALLY I am going to continue my traveling dreams. The scariest part about the move is the course itself. I have researched the TEFL program that I'm joining, and it doesn't seem easy in any way. Apparently, the second day of the course I will be up in front of the classroom teaching a lesson to native Czech speakers! I am in no way comfortable with public speaking, so I know this opportunity will be a challenge for me and will test me in many ways. I am so ready though. I am so ready for a change and I am so ready to be in Europe again.

This is my future home. What?! How beautiful is this?

       I'm going to be in for a huge culture shock once I get there. Prague is so different from London. From the people, to the food, to the atmosphere…I honestly have little idea what to expect. I am a little apprehensive about what this experience will bring, but I am 100% sure that this is what I am meant to be doing. Awhile ago, I was absolutely convinced that I had found my "ticket back to Europe". I started working for a popular tour group, promoting their company. I worked my butt off to make sure I was doing my absolute best, hoping to earn a European Internship with the company. When I found out that I wasn't chosen for a position, I was crushed. I had such high hopes for this opportunity and I was sure that I would have been stellar at it. I came so close to my traveling dreams, just to have them snatched away at the last second. That same night I found out I wasn't going back to Europe (at least not with the touring company), I prayed and prayed that I would find a way to get back. I had to keep reminding myself that everything happens for a reason and God must have something bigger in store for me. The very next day, I was browsing a popular travel blog and came across a blog comment mentioning a TEFL course in Prague. The comment was from a young American much like myself, who had the travel bug and joined this program on a whim. In his comment, he said it was the very best decision that he could have made and went on praising the course. At first I was indecisive, thinking "Would I ever want to go to Prague?" and questioned my ability to teach. But something about that comment stuck with me (not to mention the author's response confirming that it was a reputable course). I researched the course, pouring through their website and looking up reviews online. Something about this program just seemed right. It clicked with me that this was something I actually had the ability to do. I honestly believe that it was no coincidence the day after I was upset about my plans falling through, this opportunity just happened to fall in my lap. It was like God was saying to me "Here it is! This is what you should be doing!" I knew right then and there that I would be moving to Prague to teach English.

       Not getting that internship may have been the best thing that could have happened. Sometimes better things come along when you least expect them to. Although I have no idea what the future holds for me, I am so thankful to have found this opportunity and I am so happy to be traveling again. I encourage anyone who has ever wanted to travel to take the leap and make it happen. Do whatever it takes. If you want something badly enough, make it happen and don't give up. There will be obstacles and setbacks along the way, but you can't allow yourself to become discouraged. Sometimes things have a way of working out if you stick with it  :)

Forever Young

       So I guess this post really isn't really about travel…like at all. But lately I have been noticing somewhat of an epidemic on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram (basically any form of social media). Engagements…babies….everywhere! Sound familiar? When did I become old enough that people younger than me are having babies in multiples? When I, myself, feel overwhelmed watching my niece and nephew for longer than a few hours. It is becoming more and more common for people to get married and/or have children at a younger age. I'm not saying I disapprove of it, I just know for a fact that personally, I am nowhere near ready for marriage or kids. I don't think that I am necessarily immature, but I am nowhere near mature enough to be responsible for another human being, let alone pledging my love to someone for the rest of my life. I am young. I am a little bit selfish. And I am not ashamed to admit that. I am in no rush to grow up. Yet, I'm sure my 18 year-old self would probably think that 23 sounds "so old". She also probably thinks that I would have my shit together by now, but yet here I am. Young, ambitious, and little bit lost in life. But that's the joy of being in your twenties, isn't it? Learning who you are, taking risks…it's all part of the game. I am okay with the fact that I am single with no clear path for my life just yet. 

       

      The problem with all these young marriages/pregnancies is that it is giving all of us twenty-somethings unrealistic expectations to live up to. Old me used to think that I needed to be married by 26 at the latest, hopefully a kid or two by 30. Like there is a timeline for life and if we don't reach these milestones by a certain age, then we are failures. When in fact, this couldn't be further from the truth. Maybe I'll be 30 and still single. So what? Who says that I need to be married with kids by a certain age? I am not trying to bring down those who are doing these things at a younger age. I give them major props for having their life together and knowing what they want. I can hardly keep a fish alive, let alone another human being. But, I can say that I'm glad I didn't choose to settle down just yet. It may not be the right choice for everyone, but I am very okay with being a single 23 year-old woman. I am at a point in my life where I actually enjoy being single. Not being tied down to anyone, not having to worry about anyone but myself. It is very freeing. If I were married or had a child right now, the chances of me fulfilling my travel dreams would be a lot lower. I am glad that I have my entire life ahead of me to figure out who I am and what I want to do. There is no rush to grow up and there isn't a timeline for milestones in your life. I want all young people to remember that. You don't have to try to fit into a certain mold to be successful in life. Whether you want a family at a young age, or not until you are 40, it is all up to you. Just make sure you're living your life the way YOU want to, not the way you think society expects you to.

This Crowded Bar is Full of Sin

       Last night as I sat in a crowded, dirty bar in my hometown looking around at all the people who I went to high school with (most of whom hardly even remember me), I had never felt a greater desire to get out. Out of this town, out of this state, out of this country. It is true when they say that the desire to travel never goes away, it only grows stronger. I don't know what it was about being in that grimy bar that brought on my wanderlust so strongly. Maybe it was all these people that had never given me the time of day in high school. But no, I wasn't bitter about that. I think it was the fact that I know how much more I want for myself than being stuck in this town my whole life. It is true that there aren't many job opportunities in this town and that a good amount of its inhabitants avoid working like the plague. However, this is my home. It is the place I was born and raised my entire life. The kid that I went to kindergarden with was also the kid that sat next to me at my high school graduation. But, maybe this was the problem. The fact that wherever I go, I run into someone I know. The beauty of living in London was that I could go to the store or walk down the street without every single person knowing who I was. Yes, there are definite upsides to living in a close-knit community; yet that feeling of animosity is so empowering. It is empowering to walk down the street and and be yet another face in the crowd. To some, this mindset may feel lonely. To me, it feels like an opportunity. It feels free. 

      

      Ever since I left Europe, I knew that I would be going back. By now, my London memories feel more like a really good dream than actual memories. Like that one time my friend Jess and I hung out by Big Ben after getting lost on the night bus. Or that other time when we made friends with an Italian girl and a Czech girl by the Eiffel Tower and they taught us how to sneak on the Parisian metro. My experience in London feels like a three and a half month dream. Coming back to reality was comforting, yet constricting. That feeling of wanderlust keeps creeping back up on me at the most random times. I know that there are varying degrees of wanderlust. For me, I feel like I got the brunt of it out the majority of us that went to London together. Most look at their time abroad as an experience, but are happy leaving it as a memory. For me, it is my solace. In college, I would get drunk and look at my European pictures and cry. I mean literal tears. Like I was mourning my time abroad (pathetic, I know). It is so hard for people who haven't been abroad to understand the feeling. And yes, I sound like one of those know-it-all study abroad snobs (maybe I am haha), but it's so hard to explain how it feels to physically miss a place and all its people when you have only lived there for a short time. For me, London will always be my second home. It's a hard reality to face that I may never get to live there again, with their strict laws and all the hoops that I would have to pass through as an American. So, for now, I am searching for a new adventure. Of course I will always love my London, but I think I may have found something perfect for me...but that is for another time and another blog entry :)

Tongue Piercings and the Beginning of a Bucket List

      I just paid back my first bout of student loans resulting in almost $1,000 bucks, and let's just say my bank account is crying. The many joys of becoming an adult. Also, I recently took out my tongue piercing. Yes, my tongue piercing. For some weird reason, I have wanted my tongue pierced since I was 19. Last year, I made a spur of the moment decision and decided to get it done. After having the piercing for almost a year and half, I decided to take it out. Another step to becoming an adult, I guess? Pretty much everyone I met never even realized that I had my tongue pierced anyway. And contrary to what my mother said, I did NOT have a lisp, thank you very much.

     
     Anyway, clearly I have no idea how to structure a blog yet since I am bouncing all over the place. Trying to keep up with the travel theme, I wanted to share some things on my bucket list. Keeping in mind, my list is still growing! Some of my goals are simple, some are a bit more ambitious (to say the least), but I am convinced to accomplish all of them!

-Visit all 50 states
-Go zip lining
-Ride in a hot air balloon
-Go to the Ellen Degeneres Show
-Intern for the Ellen Degeneres Show
-Visit the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam
-Go whitewater rafting
-Live by the beach
-Ride a mechanical bull
-Donate blood
-Climb to the top of The Leaning Tower of Pisa
-Visit Stonehenge (In a series of unfortunate events, I haven't made it there yet)
-Be part of a flash mob
-Live in New York City 
-Tour Buckingham Palace
-Stand on the equator 
-Learn to drive a stick shift 
-Climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower
-Ride a gondola in Venice
-Be someone's Maid of Honor
-Work and live abroad
-Volunteer abroad
-Visit Australia 
-Adopt a dog
-Win a karaoke contest
-Meet a celebrity 
-Go on a cruise 
-Make a wish in the Trevi Fountain
-Win big at a casino
-Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Ireland
-Attend a gay pride parade
-Visit the rainforest
-Visit Auschwitz
-Visit the Louvre in Paris
-Build a house
-Go to Las Vegas
-Adopt a child
-Ride a camel in Morocco 
-Go on an African Safari
-Ride on an elephant
-Swim with dolphins
-Ride on a wave runner 
-Learn another language

I am Not Clever Enough to Come Up With a Witty Title

        I have never made a blog before, so I am not really sure where to start...but here goes. My name is Kasey. I'm a 23 year-old from Bradford, Pennsylvania. I recently graduated from a small, private liberal arts college in the middle of Amish town, Pennsylvania. My alma mater, Westminster College, has captured my heart and I have met some of my greatest friends during my four years there. I now have a degree in Communication Studies, and I'm not entirely sure what I want to do with the rest of my life (Does anyone?) I originally came to college freshman year as a young, hopeful eighteen-year-old majoring in vocal performance. I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do, besides sing. Singing was one thing that I was certain that I loved, and I was overjoyed to be accepted into the music program. Little did I know what I was getting myself into. The first week of classes I struggled with basic music theory and an overwhelming schedule that plagues many music majors. Also, I was being taught operatically, which I struggled to gain an interest in. I realized how unprepared I was for the program and how I had little idea what I was doing. So, maybe three weeks into my freshman year, I officially left the music program and tried to figure out what else I should do with my life. It was a tough pill to swallow. Whenever I saw the future for myself, it involved singing and performing. Clearly, I had not thought through what I was going to do with a degree in Vocal Performance. Broadway? Professional singer? I had no direction for my life at all. And although singing will always hold a special place in my heart, I decided to pursue something that might better help me in the future. It was hard because there is a part of me that feels like I gave up on what I really wanted to do; but at the same time, I continually remind myself that I don't necessarily need a degree to continue to do what I love.

 I decided on a major in Communication Studies with a minor in Marketing. Wedding and event planning always appealed to me, and I thought that the communication/marketing mix would come in handy. I stuck with it, excelling in communications, and taking a plethora of business courses such as accounting and statistics in order to fulfill my marketing minor. While communications was a breeze for me, the business courses (as expected) proved to be more challenging. I am certain that I would have graduated with honors had it not been for a few particularly tough business courses that I struggled with. Even so, I don't regret taking them. I had always loved marketing in high school, and I learned a lot taking the courses that I did in order to fulfill my minor requirements. After a semester of working with a wedding and event planning company, I am still unsure of how I want to move forward in regards to my future. I learned a lot at this internship and it was hard work, but sometimes I wonder if I am cut out for the fast-paced style of work. So here I am, newly graduated with a shiny degree, and little idea of where I should go with it. 

        Thankfully, in the fall of 2011 during my junior year, I made one of the best decisions of my life and chose to study abroad in London. I have never been a traveler by any means, maybe vacationing only a few times in my entire life. I remember one of my sorority sisters talking about the Westminster in London program, where students and professors from Westminster go over to London and study together. This immediately sparked my interest, but also terrified me. I had never been anywhere, I had just been appointed a position in my sorority, and I still talked to my mom on the phone every single day. But as soon as the thought entered my mind, I simply could not stop thinking about it. The possibility of living in London for an entire semester was both terrifying and exhilarating. While talking to a friend who had previously been part of the Westminster in London program, I remember her words: "If you have any interest in studying abroad, and don't take this opportunity, you are going to regret it." These words stuck with me as I took the leap and decided to study abroad. Getting the courage to tell my parents was the hardest part, because I knew they probably wouldn't take me very seriously. Me? The girl who had never been anywhere? And at first, they didn't. They assumed I was all talk, as did most of my hometown friends. But I was convinced. The thought grew and grew in my mind until it was all that I could think about. I knew that I had to seize this opportunity.

      When that day came to board the plane that would take me to a foreign country and away from everyone I loved, I was paralyzed. The entire three and a half hour drive to the airport, I was a ball of nerves. I remember making my parents stop at rest stops periodically because I was positive that I was going to be sick. Despite all that, I did it. I said goodbye to my mom and dad. I watched my mom start to cry as I clutched my laptop, trying to catch up to the rest of my group, some acquaintances, mostly strangers that I would be spending the next semester in Europe with. Little did I know, these people who I had hardly ever talked to before would become some of my best friends. When you are thrown together in a foreign country, you tend to bond with others quickly. So, although boarding that plane brought so much uncertainty, it was the best decision that I could have ever made. I got to explore so many amazing places during my time abroad. Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France...I had never seen so much beauty. From touring Dachau Concentration Camp to visiting The Anne Frank House, sometimes I had to pinch myself. Was I really experiencing all of this? On top of all the experiences that I had, I also made some great friends and even have a second "mom" of sorts waiting for me if I ever want to come back to London (hint: I do).

Anne Frank House in Amsterdam

Dachau Concentration Camp

      It has been over two years since I have been in Europe and my wanderlust grows stronger by the day. Like so many others, I have been bit by the travel bug. I often have dreams of myself in London or other beautiful European cities and wake up feeling sullen and cheated that I am back in my childhood bed. A lot of people don't get it. They don't understand that just because I am a college graduate, I don't want to settle down with a 9-5 job right away. It is so against the norm for us as Americans. Culturally, we are supposed to graduated high school, go to college, get a job, get married, have our 2.5 children…blah blah blah. So, right now I am working part time as a waitress and saving up my money for new adventures (and those dreaded student loans). I refuse to let go of my travel dreams. Although there will always be those who won't understand or will disapprove, I will not give up. Travel is a part of me now. It runs so very deeply and I know I will never be happy if I don't go out and explore. It is great that so many of my peers are finding their dream jobs, getting married, or having kids. It is just not what I want for myself right now. I don't have my whole life planned out, and that's okay. I'm 23 and I still have a lot of living left to do. I want to go out and explore more of the world. Maybe only then I will truly find what I am meant to do.