January 13, 2019

I’m going to get into a routine soon and everything is going to start feeling alright.

A lot has changed in the past month but at the same time it feels like nothing has happened. The future simple tense with ‘going to’ is used to communicate two broad ideas, the first being in order to discuss pre-made plans.

I have plans that I’m going to get a job teaching English in Prague and that I’m going to start going to the gym and a lot of other things. But it’s all coming together pretty slowly. After having had quite a worry-free life for a couple of weeks before heading home to Vancouver, my return has felt a little different than I expected.

I had an enjoyable time back at home and was thrilled to be with my family again, playing games and laughing. I got to see a few of my close friends too and despite the brevity of our get-togethers, it was reassuring to know that we’re still all close and connected despite being physically far apart most of the time.

We added a new tradition to our family Christmas celebration with some holiday pinatas, made by my brother and his girlfriend, which really livened up our typically quiet affairs. 

Overall, my time at home felt short but pleasant and I was very excited to get back to the Czech Republic where I would see all my new friends. I didn’t quite realize though that I would be walking into such a momentous period of transition for most people.

Some misunderstandings from the time of my arrival to the changing of the calendar over to 2020, put a little bit of a damper on my mood early on, but as everyone gets more settled into their new routines, life is starting to get back to the light, fun way it was just a few short weeks ago.

I’m feeling, however, a little behind in turning my next page. I made a special visit to the Czech Embassy in Ottawa over December and was hoping I could get my Visa for the year approved before I reached my 90 allowed days in the Schengen.

Now, it’s looking like I may have to go back home and wait for it for a little while. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s a bit of an inconvenience. I just accepted a job offer at a language school, but now won’t be able to start working potentially for up to two or three weeks.

I also moved into an apartment in Prague, a nice little place in Zizkov next to the TV Tower, with two American friends from my course. It’s been a lot of fun so far, but it feels weird that once again the momentum of my friendships, my job search, and just about everything about my new life is being interrupted.

But the other function of the future simple with ‘going to’ is for predictions with evidence. I don’t know if it’s just the depressing winter weather, or a slightly off head-space I’ve been experiencing lately, but my fortune-telling hasn’t been super positive lately.

If I really look for concrete evidence, however, and ignore all the parasitic negativity in my brain, I know that I have a supportive family, great friends, a lot of talent and potential, so therefore I’m going to have a fantastic year in Prague.

That is a prediction with evidence and I’m going to try my damnedest to turn it into reality.