I got an email from a school in Indonesia the other day asking for a Skype interview. It will at least be good practice. I don't know much about Indonesia, but I'm in the process of researching it. I'm excited that it's near Australia. I've always wanted to go there.
I've learned that Indonesia is now the world's 3rd largest democracy, but their current issues include: alleviating poverty, improving education, preventing terrorism, stemming corruption and controlling avian influenza. The terrorist bombing in 2002 worries me a little. There are more natural disasters here - occasional floods, severe droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes and forest fires. But, Indonesia has the world's 2nd highest level of biodiversity - following Brazil (according to size, tropical climate, and geography). Its flora and fauna are a mixture of Asian and Australasian species, which I would LOVE to see.
A woman from Venezuela emailed me this morning asking to interview me at the job fair. I would love to travel around South America...but again, I'm worried about safety. Of course I'd stay out of Columbia, but Venezuela boarders Columbia. I'm researching the country and there are a few facts that scare me.
1. The nation had one of the worst murder rates in the world in 2007 - 96 homicides for every 100,000 inhabitants.
2. Voters in Venezuela believe crime is out of control, and in 2008, polls indicated that crime was the number one concern of voters. (Hmmmm...not good)
3. In 2002, relations between the US and Venezuela worsened...and I'm not sure how they're doing now.
4. In 2006, an estimated 139,000 Colombians sought protection in 150 communities along the border in Venezuela. (Note to self - don't hang out on the boarder!)
5. Venezuela is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. However, they did show greater resolve to address trafficking through law enforcement measures and prevention efforts in 2007, but punishment of offenders and victim assistance is still lacking.
However, Venezuela is beautiful! I would love to be able to visit the highest waterfall in the world, or travel through their forests and lowland rain-forests with over 25,000 species of orchids. How cool is that? 38% of the 21,000+ plant species are unique to Venezuela. 23% of reptiles and 50% of amphibians are also unique to the country. We would be able to experience and see some awesome stuff and travel to other South American countries.
I'm finding this process so frustrating, because I don't want to be a scared of everything. I know no matter where I go it's not going to be perfect - there's going to be some crime or other issues, but I want to feel safe. I want to be safe.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
What? Somebody actually wants us?
It's funny how much I've actually missed writing. I didn't realize it until I was required to write a personal statement and needed to update my philosophy of education.
These past few months, I have been getting ready for an overseas teaching fair in Iowa (of all places). My friend Megan and I are going together. We would have gone this year, but we got started looking into everything too late. So we're just getting through this year - she's subbing and waitressing, and I'm subbing and nannying. Not anything super fun. I think we're both tired of going to jobs we don't love only to pay the rent and bills, go to sleep and then wake up the next morning just to go to these jobs again. Not that we aren't enjoying time with our friends and family in the area, but I think we're just ready for an adventure...and we're ready to be teachers with our own classrooms!
I can't tell you how many times someone has asked me "So, what's new? What's going on in your life?" and I really have nothing exciting at all to tell them. "Same old, same old..." I reply and laugh to myself, desperately feeling the need for change.
So that's what we're doing. We've been writing letters of interest and sending resumes to schools all over the world. And surprisingly to both of us, we've heard back from a number of schools. Not that I don't believe in us or lack confidence in our abilities. I think we're both great teachers and have stellar resumes. However, I feel like on paper, I look like an "Average Joe." I haven't traveled anywhere amazing. I haven't volunteered extraordinary amounts of time anywhere. I didn't start clubs or organizations. I've been to school, got good grades, participated in a few extracurricular activities and organizations and graduated. Compared to the 600 or so applicants that will be attending this job fair, it's hard for me to imagine that I stand out.
But I do. We both do! Schools actually want us, which for some odd reason, is so unbelievably inconceivable. Our parents keep telling us that we are highly qualified candidates and we just need to be confident in ourselves. It's great advice, and we are confident. It's just mind-boggling that schools in Mexico, Germany and Switzerland are interested!
A week or so ago, a principal in Monterrey Mexico contacted both of us. He's looked through all 600 applicants that will be attending the fair and wanted to interview us via Skype. How cool is that?!? We both had a couple interviews and the school and teachers seem awesome. Our philosophies and styles seem to match well, and I think it'd be a great fit. The other day, we got an email from him formally inviting us to be elementary school teachers at the school. WE ACTUALLY GOT A JOB OFFER!! I'm pretty sure this made my year :)
Although this is an amazing opportunity, and I want to just jump at the offer and scream "YES!", we've paid crazy amounts for plane tickets to Iowa, and I think we owe it to ourselves to follow through and go. If we take this job in Mexico right now, I know I'll always be wondering what could have been if only we'd gone to the job fair. This school in Mexico would be amazing, but if I have a choice, I'd love to teach somewhere in Europe. I want to travel all over, and this would be an incredible opportunity. So for now, we politely replied we could not make a final decision until we attend the UNI job fair. There is a possibility that he could hire different candidates before Meg and I make a final decision, but that's the chance we're willing to take.
For now, we're sending out more letters and resumes, getting everything in order for Iowa and hoping we made the right choice.
So this is why I started a blog - partly because I miss writing and partly to keep friends and family updated on what's going on with this international teaching business. :)
These past few months, I have been getting ready for an overseas teaching fair in Iowa (of all places). My friend Megan and I are going together. We would have gone this year, but we got started looking into everything too late. So we're just getting through this year - she's subbing and waitressing, and I'm subbing and nannying. Not anything super fun. I think we're both tired of going to jobs we don't love only to pay the rent and bills, go to sleep and then wake up the next morning just to go to these jobs again. Not that we aren't enjoying time with our friends and family in the area, but I think we're just ready for an adventure...and we're ready to be teachers with our own classrooms!
I can't tell you how many times someone has asked me "So, what's new? What's going on in your life?" and I really have nothing exciting at all to tell them. "Same old, same old..." I reply and laugh to myself, desperately feeling the need for change.
So that's what we're doing. We've been writing letters of interest and sending resumes to schools all over the world. And surprisingly to both of us, we've heard back from a number of schools. Not that I don't believe in us or lack confidence in our abilities. I think we're both great teachers and have stellar resumes. However, I feel like on paper, I look like an "Average Joe." I haven't traveled anywhere amazing. I haven't volunteered extraordinary amounts of time anywhere. I didn't start clubs or organizations. I've been to school, got good grades, participated in a few extracurricular activities and organizations and graduated. Compared to the 600 or so applicants that will be attending this job fair, it's hard for me to imagine that I stand out.
But I do. We both do! Schools actually want us, which for some odd reason, is so unbelievably inconceivable. Our parents keep telling us that we are highly qualified candidates and we just need to be confident in ourselves. It's great advice, and we are confident. It's just mind-boggling that schools in Mexico, Germany and Switzerland are interested!
A week or so ago, a principal in Monterrey Mexico contacted both of us. He's looked through all 600 applicants that will be attending the fair and wanted to interview us via Skype. How cool is that?!? We both had a couple interviews and the school and teachers seem awesome. Our philosophies and styles seem to match well, and I think it'd be a great fit. The other day, we got an email from him formally inviting us to be elementary school teachers at the school. WE ACTUALLY GOT A JOB OFFER!! I'm pretty sure this made my year :)
Although this is an amazing opportunity, and I want to just jump at the offer and scream "YES!", we've paid crazy amounts for plane tickets to Iowa, and I think we owe it to ourselves to follow through and go. If we take this job in Mexico right now, I know I'll always be wondering what could have been if only we'd gone to the job fair. This school in Mexico would be amazing, but if I have a choice, I'd love to teach somewhere in Europe. I want to travel all over, and this would be an incredible opportunity. So for now, we politely replied we could not make a final decision until we attend the UNI job fair. There is a possibility that he could hire different candidates before Meg and I make a final decision, but that's the chance we're willing to take.
For now, we're sending out more letters and resumes, getting everything in order for Iowa and hoping we made the right choice.
So this is why I started a blog - partly because I miss writing and partly to keep friends and family updated on what's going on with this international teaching business. :)
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