This is The End, My Friend

The End - The Doors

366 days. Yes, my school is still milking every last inch of life out of me and having me, along with all other teachers, work an extra day on top of the year long contract; they don;t quite understand that if you start work on the 12th, your last day in a one year contract is on the 11th. But eh, after everything else that has occurred this year, THIS truly is nothing!

The countdown has been long and arduous. But it feels so, so sweet to realize I have only three more teaching days left. WOW! I have almost made it. Though, with how this school is run and in light of the not-so-recent, but 'new' financial issue I am apprehensive I will make it to the end. A school has closed. Pay has been delayed. Severance has been delayed. Purchasing of flights home has been delayed. Fingers are crossed that all comes through the wash right and in a timely manner.

When I look back on the person I was compared to the person I have become throughout my time here I am shocked and amazed at the great leaps and bounds I am made from the inside out. Though I look completely the same - seriously no changes there! - my being is internally altered for the better. I would not have been able to manage all of the stress that has come from this teaching position and along my travels if it was not for all the hard work on my part and others on my personal, self-improvement journey. I send out HUGE positive vibes, love, hugs and sanks to all of you who have been here for me along the way!

It is The Final Countdown, my last day is occurring as I type. I am observing my incoming as I type. Ah my kids are in good hands. Though I will miss seeing them dressed as Oompa Loompa's during the infamous performance in December. Hopefully Nikki will send me pictures and video :) One can only hope eh.

I am still shocked and amazed at all of the personal growth I have gone through this year. I am definitely not even close to the same person as when I arrived; thank goodness for that! I am appreciative of where I have ended up, minus the struggles to get here however haha.

Week One

What a whirl-wind! I have come a LONG way from day one. I am still overwhelmed and feel pressure on a continuous basis and no one really seems to fully know what is going on. CIS is definitely not the school it says it is. For one, it is not Canadian, nor is it an international school; it is just a private Korean school - hence my severe lack of holidays and better pay. For any teachers out there, I would recommend not staying for more than a year (only one teacher has) or don't come at all. It will not be what you were led to believe.

I was hoping to test out the waters of the teaching world of elementary students. I had the thought I may actually be ok/happy to teach elementary back home, and what better place to test run that idea out. On a good day I feel like a drill sergeant with these kids. It's actually awful. I honesty don't see how any learning truly occurs.

I have started to establish the routine though. Working a split shift blows the big one, but I am saving cash money big time that way.

It is unfortunate though that the kids and I are unable to actually have fun and have creative lessons due to the schools structure.

I'm adjusting though. 1 week down, 51 more to go.

First Day

Rockin the sock bun!

Outside the school

Day one was a bit of a crap shoot. I was not given any orientation. I barely knew how to get to my classroom. Then they left me to teach. All day (and night). On my own! Fack! I had no idea where the books were or anything. It was insanity!

I have never felt more overwhelmed and unprepared and FUCKED to be honest. I am also learning sketchy things about the school; teachers not being given their pension, being overworked and having to pay a damage deposit on ther apartment which is never returned. 

I am told by others who have done something similar that this is normal and it to shall pass. It's just so hard now waiting for it to get better.

I am feeling more today though (day two), that I am ok in Korea but that the school was not a good choice.

My schedule is kindie 940-240 with an hour lunch, then a break from 240-420, then after school (grade 3 or 5 depending on the day) from 430-720. I work a split shift everyday. Though the break is needed to work that much it sucks waking up for work and then coming home to basically go to bed. It is also interesting to find out now, that a part time teacher only works 940-240 and ONLY makes 500 less than I do now. I totally would have opted for this had someone actually told me. I could have actually been enjoying the city more that just on weekends and holidays.

I understand the school is understaffed, but this school is fucked I think.

Commence life altering moment ... now!

Life has been ridonkulously crazy this past week. I've had a million and two interviews, cleaning up my current classroom, hanging out with the pup/fam-jam/friends ... The list goes on and on.

After my very weird, and random interview I quickly received an email stating that the school wishes to hire me.

Say what?!?!!!

Wow man! Life as we know it is OVER. I will be taking a twelve month hiatus from Canada as I venture out of the fish bowl to South Korea. 

Eek! 

This is MY real life.

Bring on the kindie-gartens!

Packing

Wow! Packing and moving can be such a chore! I am impressed with myself for being more efficient this time over though. I am even (planning) to purge my belongings as well. Look at me being a grown up eh.

It neat to see the styles and trends we once bought into that have too quickly faded from memory. It is also interesting to see who your true friends are, who will make the effort and who will have stranger harass you for not attending an event due to packing; did not know we were still in high school.

Have become hooked on PLL; as A would say "keep your friends close, and your enemies even closer." 

gaaaaa-zuuuuks!

I never would have imagined there to be THIS much paper work and running around to accumulate documentation whentrying to solidify a teachign position overseas. Well, I knew it would be require some elbow grease, but I feel very in the dark at times, even with a friend who has taught abroad; I greatly appreciate being able to pick her brain! The time difference and broken understanding of one another does not add positively to the situation either.

To date, I think all I have left to accompligh is:
1) receive my contract - come on now, hurry that up please!
2) send my documents to the Korean Consulate in Vancouver (why is there not one in Edmonton, I have no idea)
3) <potentially> apply for notarized copy of my college diploma
 4) send all documents to the school I will be wokring at
5) book my flight and/or have the school book my flight <clarification needs to be provided!>

Very much so looking forward to having friends over this weekend for a last hoor-ah! and to be venturing home to see family.

That was odd ...

Let us recap my interview with my second South Korean school shall we:

"Hello <insert name>. Can I ask you some questions?

Tell me about yourself. (What is your teaching background)

Do you have a preference to teach older or younger kids?

Do you have any questions?"

I then proceed to berate her with my myriad of questions ... 

Followed by:

"Is there anything else you'd like to know about me?

Do you have more question for me?"

"Nope. I love Canadians. And I really like your voice."

"Is there anything else you'd like to know about me?"

"Nope I can tell by the questions you ask (all very typically work questions) how you will be."

And the was legitimately the interview. I was in shock; thought to myself, this is a joke, right? That wasn't for realz?

Immediately I rang up an experienced teacher of the abroad and she assured that YES, was that not only the interview, but they do/have hired simply based on how a persons voice sounds. To top it all off, I am sick ad nasally! Hopefully the loss of this sultry, sexy, sicky, phlegmy voice will not cause them to question their decision. Ha! Sooooo, in short I probably got the job. Eek!

I cannot believe this is real life.

Oh! And I was offered and accepted a job in the city. Here's hoping I need to graciously turn it down 😊

hindsight is 20/20

Well it seems that these days consist of either having an interview or schedule and, you guessed it, waiting to have an interview ...

Had an interview yesterday for an aboriginal school in the city. I felt as if I were talking with two very incompetent people; I probably could have said anything and I would have amazed them. Many applied for the position and I was short listed due to prior exposure in the school.

It is funny (and also a little terrifying) to think that ALL of our decisions, choices, actions, etc can greatly impact our lives in the here and now as well as in the future. In university, I was require to participate in some volunteer work through BBBS. I ended up volunteering as an in-school mentor as the school I just spoke of. Due to my interest in the school, my own cultural background (Metis), and my winning personality/smile/dimples, I was remembered by the principal. As soon as she saw my name in the pool of applicants, she had to interview me.

Nice knowing you can leave such a positive impression on a person.

In my heart though, I truly do not want this position. It will make for a decent fall back for sure, but is definitely not my first pick.

I do have an interview to be scheduled with a school in South Korea though. The recruiter company has by far, been one of the best I have dealt with to date. The position will be the biggest pay, great places to go and work in; all around looks and sounds idyllic. Fingers crossed.

waiting

In the wise words of sir Lancelot, aka my pops, "We're always waiting for something; isn't that funny?!" And he is absolutely right. We are either waiting in line at the grocery store, put on hold by a customer service rep, anxiously waiting for a movie to download, or waiting to eat back from potential job offers that will greatly affect the next 14 months of your life.

Wow. Let's take a step back, breathe, ad soak that in for a minute.

A few weeks ago, a man waiting in line (ha!) at the bank behind me, informed me as well as all others who would listen, that we spend 5 years of our lives waiting in lines. Utter craziness I feel. Even with all our technological advances, we have yet to decrease to amount of The Wait from our lives.

Now here I am, waiting on someone else, somewhere else to help shape and mold my immediate future. Will I return to a teaching position in the city? Will I leave the country to teach? If so, where? Will I return to school in the fall? For what?

So many unanswered questions! The uncomfortablility of it all is starting to weigh on me.

OH the places you COULD go!

"Wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy ..." Well maybe not quite like P. Diddy, I am younger, female and ... well ... not African American; let's be honest! Had yet another interview with a recruiter this am at the god forsaken hour of 8 am ON A SATURDAY! Who ever thought that was a good idea should be high fived. In the face. With a chair. Nah, it actually wasn't too bad.

I was, however, in a panic about, "should I do my make-up if I am probably going to climb back into bed and/or shower afterwards?" In retrospect that was a silly thought to have as we turned off the webcams immediately the help minimize our delays. Ha! Well I only put mascara on anyways, so hmph!

Interview went well. I am happy to have completed it in my sweat pants and a nice, teacher shirt as well, while sipping my morning coffee. I am surprised I did not become hangry as I have yet to have breakfast. Sleeping in a bit longer felt more important.

Big push from the recruiter for an IB position in China. Will see what some research tells me so that I am can decide if it is a good place or not.

Having my BEd is fairing well for these positions overseas though. Way better than I thought too! I am typically able to view positions and apply for ones that most others cannot, and receive the higher end of pay. The position in China would give me 12 weeks of paid vacation! That expensive piece of paper is definitely starting to work in my favor I'd say.

Yesterday, I has an impromptu meeting with, you guessed it, another recruiter. He gave me a good confidence boost, stating that, "You are in the top 1% that apply for positions ..." Was a good call. Waiting to hear back for specific placement options.

But man! The whole process of acquiring all the necessary documentation is ridonkulous! I feel like a chicken running around with their head cut off. I don't want to forget something, or do something incorrect as it would/could mean I do not receive a position. Oh the pressures!

"cry me a river" - j.t.

Much to my dismay, the teacher I was going to replace has elected to stay in Daegu for another teaching year. In short, I was not offered the position. <insert pouty face with arms crossed>
Often when I am teaching, when a student complains, I sing "cry me a river," by Justin Timberlake to make light of the situation, put even a small smirk on their face, and to encourage them to move on.

At this time, I would like to sing this to myself. Yes I am pouty. Yes I am disappointed. Yes I feel just a lost without a plan yet again. But, there are other positions out there. There are other recruiters out there. I even have an interview with a recruiter this weekend.

Maybe this position, though it seemed Perfect, was not the one meant for me. Or maybe, just maybe, I am not suppose to be heading overseas at this junction of my life. Maybe my silver lining is to stay and keep Bauer, hopefully receiving a teaching position in the city ... but maybe not.

Time will only tell.

I do feel that I should take this summer and cancel all work plans. I should take time to focus and visit family; you never know, I could be asked to leave in four days time.

I felt stupid this morning thinking of may upcoming tattooing. It feels like it will be a negative reminder of how I did not get to go away. But in thinking deeper, it will be an continually reminder that I CAN pick up, try something new - wheather it be moving out, going abroad, travelling, meeting new people, starting a new and better chapter in my financial investment, whatever - and that it is ok and never too late.

Anticipation ...

Ugh!

 I find myself constantly refreshing my email, logging in and logging out in hopes of quickening the pace of a reply back from South Korea. This job opportunity would change my life either if I am fortunate enough to be offered the position as well as if I am not successful. *sigh of stress/relief*

I cannot hope but to receive an email sooner rather than later. At least that way I will have a somewhat clearer picture of where I will find myself as months end.

I have recently booked a tattoo session; first one! - going to hurt like a mo-fo, fa-sho! I am anxiously awaiting the approaching day as well. Cannot beliee I am finally do this too. It will symbolize and remind me that I can/should/will pick myself up and try new things with open arms.

I am a grounded, free spirit; oxymoron anyone?!

happening so fast ...

Had a great interview with the South Korean school I applied for. The banter back and forth was flowing well, laughs were being had; I feel as though it went very well. With the interview being conducted over Skype, I totally rocked the boxers whilst wearing a nice "teachery" shirt 😊Either way, I should find out within the next week mayhaps two weeks on whether or not I am the successful candidate! Fingers crossed.

expedited

Wow! Things are starting to happen so quickly. After having applied to a few different recruiting agencies I have chatted on the phone with two of them - one was a legitimate interview *insert panic here* - and am now nervously anticipating my interview with a school in South Korea TOMORROW!

Holy ballz!

I cannot believe all of this. The amount of running around that is required to acquire an overseas position is astounding. I have completed the following and am now waiting to receive all documentation back:

· criminal record check for the recruiting company and my visa

· child welfare check

· passport renewal

· 6 passport photos as the Consult needs copies

· Notarization of my Bachelor of Education

· sealed transcripts

Feels like I have been running about like a chicken with their head cut off (picture me sitting at your dinner table with my head pulled through my shirt and arms flapping).

Though I am really hoping for this position, I am also terrified. I am beginning to feel claustrophobic; though I am not contained to a jail cell, I will be contained in South Korea, for twelve months; restricted from immediate contact with friends a family, though technology will help bridge the gap (time difference not taken into consideration).

This could actually happen.

My Journey of Self-Discovery

Wow! The past two years have seemed to fly by. Let's take a quick recap of my past educational endevors and subsequent career shall we ...

Half way through my education degree I had a strong sense that "this just isn't for me," yet I persevered onward as I was not wanting to waste money; I had come this far, why stop now. In the end, I would at least have something "stable" (and I use this term VERY lightly) career to fall back on.

I have since completed this arduous degree and to no avail.

Immediately out of university I received a temporary job offer. And as all first year teachers, I took it whole-heartedly. I was set up to teach a majority of courses I did not specialize in.

< I have majored in Phys Ed and Social; two extremely common choices unfortunately for me >

I trudge along through the next seven months of my life and happened to learn some much needed experience and knowledge along the way. I do love learning and miss being in school as a student myself for this reason.

Afterwards, I wound up in another temporary position to finish off the school year. This position was much more relaxed, involved more phys ed, which was beyond awesome (!), AND, again, involved many subject areas that I had little to no experience in.

wooo hoo to me for surviving year 1!

Ending the year, I still felt as if "this isn't for me," though I have no idea of what is for me. Hence, I have chosen to stick around in this profession for a bit longer.

You can't beat the holidays - there is no need to build up seniority to get the best times off, it's part of the deal!
This year, I am with a different district all together, still having the same "I don't belong in this career" feelings, teaching EVERYTHING I did not specialize in, and subjects I did not enjoy or do well in.

Ah, how I love our educational system sometimes.

The good news though, I am about to embark on what I predict will be the best adventure of my life thus far. With no responsibilities and nothing tying me to any one place, I am off to on My Journey of Self-Discovery.

I do hope that we can take comfort together in my greatest moment of uncertainty, and sift through it all until we reach greatness.