My Move to Prague
I began my move to Prague by stepping into the unknown. I arrived in the Czech Republic on a cold wintery morning, completely unaware that both this transition and the day itself would mark a turning point in my life.
This was November 17th, 2016, a national holiday in the Czech Republic. This day is called “The Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day”, or in Czech it’s known as “Den boje za svobodu a demokracii”. On this day, the nation remembers two pivotal student demonstrations: The first in 1939 against Nazi occupation and the second in 1989, which helped ignite the Velvet Revolution and end decades of communist rule.
The moment I stepped off the plane felt surreal. As the taxi wound its way through the city, I pressed my forehead against the window, watching as the historic buildings and cobblestone streets passed by. Prague Castle stood in the distance, the Charles Bridge stretched across the river, and the view from the car looked like a scene out of a fairytale. It was beautiful, but beneath the excitement of starting something new, a real adventure, was an uneasy fear I couldn’t shake.
What if this doesn’t work out? What if I completely fail?
A Sink or Swim Beginning in My Move to Prague
The questions looped in my head. I wasn’t just entering a new city; I was stepping into the unknown. I hadn’t fully considered what it would mean to start over, making new friends, dealing with immigration bureaucracy, navigating daily life in a language I didn’t speak, creating a new identity, and most importantly, wondering whether I’d even pass the TEFL course for teaching English that had brought me here.
My first memory of the course was sitting in a small classroom, being told what teaching English would be like, and then being thrown straight into it. It was a true sink-or-swim moment. I really had no idea of what we were supposed to do, except somehow teach a small group of four Czech adult students. Standing there, nervous and uncertain about how it would go, was terrifying. As you can imagine, it went terribly, but it was a start, and from there, it could only get better.
And it did. Over time, standing in front of a class became more comfortable, then natural, and eventually second nature. Until the final day, the grammar exam. When I heard the word “exam,” panic hit me. As a native English speaker, I had never studied grammar formally. We just speak it, we don’t think about the rules behind it.
When Everything Was on the Line While Starting Over in Prague
The tension eased slightly when the instructors said we’d have two chances to pass. What do you know, I needed that second chance after all.
I remember walking down the hill from the small flat where I was staying, the cold air hitting my face, my mind spinning with doubt. Would I pass? What if I didn’t? What if I had to go back to Canada, feeling like I’d failed? My dream of living in Europe was hanging by a thread.
The turning point came as I prepared for that final test. It was a make-or-break moment, and there was no going back. The pressure was intense, the fear of failure almost unbearable. As I walked to the school that morning, my grandmother’s words echoed in my head: “Never put all your eggs in one basket.” But this time, all my eggs were in that basket. I had to pass or go home.
The Turning Point & What Failure Taught Me During My Move to Prague
Through the fear, the self-doubt, and the uncertainty, I learned one lesson that has stayed with me ever since: the fear of failure isn’t a sign to stop, it’s a sign to keep going.
In my darkest moments, I chose to keep moving, one small step at a time. That forward motion, however slow, became the key to everything that came next.
Looking back now, I see that starting over wasn’t just a challenge — it was a turning point. What I feared most, failure, became the very thing that pushed me toward growth. Once I understood that, everything changed.
Call to Action:
Are you feeling stuck or overwhelmed by the fear of starting over? Whether you’re facing a career change, a new city, or simply wondering what’s next, you don’t have to navigate your challenges alone.
With the right support, you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
Book a consultation call today. Let’s talk about how you can face your fears and take the next step toward your goals. You don’t have to do it alone!
Questions to Reflect On:
- What is the biggest fear that’s holding you back from starting over—and what would happen if you faced it?
- What does ‘starting over’ look, sound, or feel like for you right now?
- When was the last time you took a risk despite fear—and what strengths helped you through it?
- If you had a growth mindset today, how would you act differently?
- What’s one small step you’re willing to take in the next 24 hours toward change?