power-packing

Finally taking a mini rest after a power-packing three days!

Though it doesn't look like much, my legs APPRECIATE it immensely.

My big girl furniture is all packed up; though with a few hiccups. My reserved storage unit was super sketch. Ended up linking into a friends storage account and got a wicked deals elsewheres. Holy! It was a nightmare to say the least. Thank god I had my buddy there to assist.

But all is done. For the most part.

Now onto packing for a year abroad in two suitcase <and maybe a hiking backpack> ...

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." 

2013 life motto

Though it is not perfect, however much so I would like it to be, my life motto of 2013 will now forever be with me; for better or for worse baby!

 

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.