post torf.

decision made. i have accepted a job teaching grade two at ASFM in monterrey, mexico!

what a ride.

the international fair was an adrenaline-pumping emotional angst-fest. despite the fact that i wasn't nearly as nervous as many people, i still managed to ride an incredible rollercoaster of highs and lows. from the euphoria of an interview that you know you nailed to the waiting game once jobs begin to be offered to the tear-fest when i finally decided, i went through a wide spectrum of emotions in a 48 hour period.

I had interviews in uganda, thailand, guatemala, mexico, egypt and germany. each was incredibly appealing in its own way. at first, i envisioned myself in a romantic exotic desination - the pyramids in cairo, the beaches in thailand... but ultimately, i went with my gut. the organizers said over and over again that we are searching for the right fit - personally and professionally. locations will always be there, but at this point in my life, i am searching for a collaborative learning community, support for beginning teachers and a work hard/play hard atmosphere.

i never thought i had a chance at a school like ASFM. they tend not to consider inexperienced teachers, and the school has quite a reputation on a global scale. however, i pursued them, e-mailing them long before the fair even began. luckily, i scored a pre-torf interview (with a little help from some friends!). meeting the recruiters from ASFM was so comfortable. they exude such a warm, positive aura. the interview was more like a two hour conversation! i left hoping beyond hope that they would actually offer me a job.

the friday night was the craziest part of the whole fair. we arrived, picked up our registration envelopes full of (or not full of) blue cards requesting interviews and then bombard the gym en-masse to line up to request interviews. tension was running through all the candidates. there is nothing like being a part of 300 teachers racing like children into a gymnasium - getting pushed and shoved -- it is very easy to feel incredibly overwhelmed. i kept my cool but went a little crazy requesting interviews. by the end of the evening my entire schedule for the next two days was booked!

unable to sleep, i got only a few hours of sleep on friday night and returned to the faculty around 7 the next morning. my morning was jam-packed full of interviews... if nothing else, i knew i would leave torf with a growing confidence in my interviewing skills! by mid-day, i knew that the vibe i had gotten from the recruiters at ASFM had gone unmatched. there was a veryvery close second from a school in germany, but i knew i had to put myself out on the line for the school in monterrey. so, i sat down and composed a note to ASFM telling them that i had had several interviews and a few job offers (which was true), but that they were still my number one choice.

i did not get a note back from ASFM for 2.5 hours. they felt like the longest in my life. when a little pink slip finally arrived in my message box saying, "you're on! i am pleased to offer you..." i started jumping up and down, tears welling up in my eyes. i knew, at that moment, that i had made the right choice. i went right away to accept the job, and (obviously) burst into tears in front of jeff, the school director. tears of joy, of course.

torf was an experience like no other. i met loads of amazing people, got absolutely no sleep, made contacts at schools all over the world and changed the course of my life significantly.

wow. i am moving to mexico!

pre torf.

the international fair (torf) officially begins tomorrow at 3:00. i have been trying to get to bed early in preparation, but for some odd reason i have had trouble falling asleep. i guess i have had a lot to think about!

-i got offered the supply job in thailand. i was absolutely shocked! he wined and dined us, and tried to give us the pitch on why we should take the opportunity. in truth, it is amazing: great location, wonderful benefits... but i think i am ready for my own classroom. i told him i was interested, but needed to pursue other job opportunities at torf.

-an administrator from a school in guatemala called last night and offered me an interview for a grade one position. i went down to the hotel this morning to meet him. it was really laid-back, and i got to see a cute slide show of the school and guatemala city. at the end of the interview, he offered me a grade one teaching job! at that moment, i KNEW i really wanted my own classroom. i think i will have to call thailand and let them know that i can't turn down this challenge.

-about an hour later, i met with a school in mexico. i had contacted them via e-mail, because i was very interested, and i knew it was difficult to get noticed as a first year teacher. i went to the hotel at 3:00, and didn't end up leaving until almost 5! i had thought the interview in guatemala had been laid-back, but this interview was AMAZING. it was so comfortable, almost a conversation about who i am, and what i believe is important in education. the school is very curriculum-driven, and has high expectations of its teachers. professionally, this is an opportunity like no other. i wasn't officially offered a position, but if i want it, i think it is mine! i have until mid-day on saturday to let them know.

-this evening i got another call and an e-mail from two different schools in uganda. what an experience that would be! i have interviews with them tomorrow morning before the fair.

phew. i did not expect this to happen along this timeline. i never realized that administrators would actually take the time to visit with candidates before the fair. it is actually a perfect scenario: the timing is more flexible, the setting is more relaxed and it works to their benefit. they can snatch the goodies before anyone else does! it also gives me more time to make my decision, and research the schools.

i am feeling good because i know that - either way - i will have a job for next year! i am trying to celebrate the fact that i have choices... but i wish it wasn't so difficult to choose.

on my mind.

when i sat down to write this post, i realized that i had several things on my mind. it has been one of those days where my mind has been wandering from one thing to another... maybe it is the weather, or the events coming up this weekend, but i think i am feeling generally a bit overstimulated. welcome to the randomness of my thoughts these days:

1. the interview: i had my first job interview yesterday. it was for a one-year position as a supply teacher at an international school in bangkok, thailand. it went really well, i think. he was really nice, and asked all the questions that we have been prepared for in teacher's college. my favourite was: describe your life story in five minutes! phew. the school looks incredible, with great resources, support for new teachers and great travel opportunities. part of me wants my own classroom, but then another part of me is really attracted to the idea of not having to plan, having loads of exposure to different grades and lots ot freedom to explore and be involved. the international fair hasn't even started, and yet the drama has already begun.

2. a good laugh: i haven't figured out how to insert a link into a blog entry yet, but if you need a smile, check out this video. this baby sure knows how to get the giggles! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P6UU6m3cqk

3. ethical consumerism: our throwaway lifestyle has been getting to me lately. i don't think that i create a large amount of waste, yet my garbage pail is overflowing every single week. the enormity of this issue goes WAY beyond a short blog entry, but the world is running out of resources, and we can't stop consuming. i was reading an article this morning that said we would need FIVE planets to sustain us if every human being on the planet was living at U.S. consumption levels. in order to combat this, 'ethical' consumerism has moved into style. but isn't that an oxymoron? how can consuming (aka, destroying) ever be ethical? wouldn't buying nothing be ethical? (also almost impossible...) instead, these days, we believe we are buying ethical if we own organic cotton pyjamas and buy recycled toilet paper. that is a start, but the reality is that we need to do more than this. more specifically we need to buy LESS. in this case: less is more. we need to sustain ourselves in a needs-based lifestyle through connected communities and buying local. shopping is certainly politics, and it is time for us to wake up and vote.

4. side a: i have been spending loads of time in the car, and have re-discovered books on tape. yes, tape. c'mon, i have a '93... i don't think cd's were invented yet. i am now addicted, and i advocate everyone to try them. it makes all the time you have in the car worthwhile - and it is nice because i never feel like i have enough time to read! go to the library and borrow one, you will fall in love.

interview season is coming up. i should stop thinking about all these random things, and start focusing on that!