Re-FIREment! Staying Young While Getting Older
– © 2005 by Norm Petrik

I am an older man, yes I am 70 and now retired for one year, I had been scared about retirement, what would I do when I have nothing to do? I used to ask myself, and thus I organized a retirement support group at the Men's Center about 6 years ago, and that has been very satisfying for me and for some others too. We meet monthly and welcome new members, and we have a core group who keeps coming back.

Well in this past year I became a student again, I applied for and was accepted in a Czech language immersion program in Dobruska Czech Republic, a small town of 7,000  residents, East of Prague, near the Polish border. It is  a scholarship program provided by the Czech government to have people from many different lands be welcoming to Czech immigrants in foreign lands. So I became a student again, living in a dormitory, sharing a room with an older man from Brazil. We learned language and culture, though I was somewhat familiar with both since I have been active in the Czech Slovak Sokol organization in St Paul, and the Czech Slovak Cultural Center. And I had studied Czech language in the Army 49 years ago, and still retained some of it, having visited relatives several times in the Czech Republic in recent years and  I expect these are the reasons I was given the scholarship which did not include transportation costs.

There were 76 students from 36 countries, about half under age 30, and about one fourth over 60, so it was quite and experience being in such a diverse group, by age and country of origin, and relating together a lot. We were divided into 6 classes of about 12 students each, according to ability. I was in class 4 of 6, with class 6 being the most advanced students. Each weekday we had  5, 45 minute class sessions, in which we studied from a text book, and had to respond in class to questions from the instructor, I still remember being scared when the instructor asked me questions, and I didn't know for sure the correct answer even though  most of the time I got the correct answer! We had homework assignments, and there were always some corrections made on my and others' work, actually I believe I was better at writing and grammar than most in my class, but less good at understanding.

We ate meals together, all at no cost to us, breakfast was in the dorm, and dinner and supper were usually in a nearby restaurant. So we usually gathered together in small groups, people were very friendly. We took a lot of trips in the nearby towns, and saw lots of points of interest, palaces, monuments etc. That was the way we really connected with the culture. We had an assignment in the last week to go to nearby small village and find out some information out about the village to bring back to class, and we did!  Each class  also had to perform a small skit for the other classes during our last week, we chose a comic story about WW I  and Good Soldier Swek, who faked lots of things including illness to try to get out of serving. It was fun, and I was one of the soldiers in the hospital acting sick!

We spent our final day in Prague, touring the President's Castle, and being greeted in the gardens there by the President's wife. That was fun, and then the next day I boarded a plane for home, wow, what an experience, being an older man can have lots of interesting elements to it. I am glad I went, and glad to be home.

Norm Petrik is a many year board member, facilitator of programs at The Men’s Center, and a co-developer of the Retirement Support Group.

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Emotional Abuse Support Group: Turning the Last Page
– © 2005 by L. Dudley

After eight years, Tracy of the Emotional Abuse Support Group (EA Support Group) will be leaving the Men's Center. The Emotional Abuse Support Group was created out of the need to address issues necessary to support the communities and members of the Men's Center. During those eight years on Thursday night, Tracy created an environment to which people could find a safe place to heal and learn. Through her own experience and education, Tracy shared her knowledge and support for others to gain skills and self-awareness in re-establishing their own personal boundaries and self-worth.

Those that came to the EA Support Group were representative of all of the demographics to whom the Twin Cities' Men's Center provide services and support. Those that came also found kindness, empathy and understanding. While hundreds have attended the EA Support Group, thousands have benefited from Tracy's work, generosity and support through sharing with their family and friends.

Once healed and strengthened, many members would move on — an inherited compliment to the Emotional Abuse Support Group; occasionally dropping in to share their gratitude and stories of their families, spouses, grandchildren and professional accomplishments.

Tracy has helped many people over the eight years and has made many friends. As with many of the members of the Emotional Abuse Support Group, she is entering new and exciting ventures. Her absence will be noticed, and her work will not be forgotten.

Thank you Tracy