If you’re anything like me (or like I was a few years ago)—a 35-year-old woman with a knack for folding clothes more neatly than Marie Kondo but stuck in a dead-end retail job—this blog post is for you! Grab your passport, and let me take you on my journey from hanging clothes to hanging out in beautiful Prague!

Retail Woes and Weather Woes

After years of rearranging racks and dealing with customers whose  main goal in life was to piss me off (at least that’s how it seemed to me, though I have since realised it was likely that I just really hated my job!), it dawned on me that I needed to get out, to do something different,  and perhaps leave the UK. If you’re not familiar with the UK and its weather, you might be forgiven for romanticising the country, its past, and its power structures. Me? I’m not a fan of the monarchy, the archaic traditions and ceremonies, nor the weather. In fact, I despise the weather – coming from the North gives me that right.

The TEFL Revelation

One fateful evening, pissed off after a long day on the shop floor, I was scrolling through “What’s Next?” job boards, and I stumbled upon an ad for a TEFL course. “Teach English abroad? Why not?” I thought. So, I clicked, got caught up in a night of research about the whats and the wheres, and before I knew it, I was knee-deep in an online TEFL course learning grammar rules I had never once thought about previously, watching demo videos of people teaching kids, and learning about where I could expect to find jobs. Best of all, this all went down on the comfort of my couch!

Packing Up for Prague

Once I bagged my TEFL certification, which I’m proud to say took me a little over 60 hours to finish out of the very optimistic (or is it pessimistic?) 120 hours, the adventure really began! I emailed a few recruiters with my updated c.v., had exactly 2 interviews, and that was it: P45 from the job I despised, and I booked a one-way flight to Prague. To be honest, packing was equal parts excitement and mild panic. But my friends didn’t let me back out of it – I think they really just wanted a place to crash every few months in a glamoroous new city, to be fair!

Upon landing in Prague, I was greeted by stunning architecture, delightful pastries (hello, trdelník!), and a friendly vibe that made me feel right at home. The city looked like it had jumped straight out of a fairy tale, and I swore I could hear the faint sounds of “Into the Woods” playing in the background.

The Classroom Experience

Teaching English in Prague has truly been a breath of fresh, crisp air! My students range from eager children to adults who are just looking to improve their skills for work or travel. Each day in the classroom feels like a performance, and if I’m being honest, I’m here for my daily dose of comedy! Whether I’m explaining the difference between “their” and “there” or trying to get a room of teenagers to stop playing with their phones, there’s never a dull moment.

Embracing the Culture

Outside the classroom, Prague is bursting with culture and opportunities. I’ve wandered through historic streets, soaked in the artistry that surrounds me, and tried to communicate in Czech (which, let’s be real, still sounds like I’m trying to speak in tongues).

I’ve met amazing fellow expats and locals, all looking to share stories over a pint of Czech beer (which is cheaper than water, by the way!) and engage in discussions that are often deeper than my old retail conversations about seasonal sales.

Embracing My New Life

So here I am, a reformed retail warrior, reveling in my new life teaching English in the enchanting city of Prague. It’s liberating, it’s fun, and it’s everything I didn’t know I was missing while folding clothes and smiling through the struggle of awkward customer interactions.

For anyone sitting at a desk, dreaming of brighter skies and laughter-filled classrooms, I’ve got one thing to say – take the plunge! Leaving the comfort zone is scary, but trust me, the view from the other side is breathtaking! Worst case scenario is that you hate it and can look back from a similar job back home in the knowledge that you tried it and it wasn’t for you. Best case? I’m living the best case.