In the beginning...

So it goes like this…

For those of you who haven’t heard I am moving to North Carolina in the United States to teach.  “What!” I hear you cry, “When did this happen and why didn’t you tell me?”  So to save me from repeating this story over and over again I thought it might be a good idea to fill you all in via this blog.

So here goes…

Towards the end of last year (2010) I was reading one of the local education gazettes and saw an advert by a company called VIF (www.vif.com), promoting opportunities to work in the US.  I decided to look up the website and see what it was all about (I had looked into the same organization when I first left college but that seemed like a whole life time ago).  After much surfing of this website I filled in an application form and sent it off.

A month passed and I hadn’t heard anything, so I pushed it all to the back of my mind and carried on with life.  Then out of the blue I received an email thanking me for applying but there were no positions available at this time.  To me this door had closed and I was looking for another to open.

In January of this year, after returning from a trip to Australia an email arrived asking me to fill in another application form for teaching overseas.  With mild amusement and a little excitement I filled in a second application and sent it off – half thinking to myself that it was a long shot.

Well, within a couple of days of sending the email I received an email asking whether I would be willing to do a phone interview with a New Zealand consultant for VIF.  Stunned and slightly scared I responded with a YES.  This whole journey was beginning and it was freaking me out! 

I also thought it was about time I told someone what I was up to, so they too could share in my excitement and fear.  Mum in her usual fashion was completely supportive, full of questions and completely ready to send me on my way.

Late one Monday night in March I sat nervously in the garage (as it had the only phone that wasn’t a mobile one – I was scared the battery might die in the middle of the interview) and waited for the call.  The interview went well and the VIF Consultant – Sherryl, was great! After what seemed like an eternity (ok - so it was about an hour) the interview wound down and I was informed that I had successfully made it to the next stage of the process.  This whole thing was more than freaking me out – I was starting to feel very overwhelmed at the possibility of it all happening, but in my usual way I played it down, as I didn’t want to get my hopes up.

Not long after my interview another email arrived informing me that the next stage of the process was going to be happening in the next few weeks.  I was to have a face-to-face interview – this was moving faster than I had ever expected and I realised it was time that I started telling people about what was going on. 

So after photocopying passports, drivers licences, teacher registration cards, going to see a JP, getting employment history’s and finding 3 people to be my referees - I was all good to go!  The interview was on a Sunday morning in Parnell where I had to introduce myself, do a writing exercise, teach a lesson, have a full on interview and “sell” myself on a short video clip that would go out to prospective schools.  I felt I had done well, but for now I had to wait to see what would happen next.

The next part seemed to fly by – I had been successful with my interview and now all my paperwork had to be processed.  Once that was complete all I had to do was wait, and wait and wait.  The months seemed to pass by and I hadn’t heard much - if anything.  I went through times of doubt, hope and then doubt again.  I knew that schools in the US started in August and that was fast approaching.

(OK so this is long winded – so I can hear you saying “when will this post end” – my reply “soon”)

It was the last day of the July school holidays and I had all but given up hope of it happening this year.  I had resigned myself to the fact that this wasn’t the year for me and I would look forward to it happening next year but as it is with my baking skills – it didn’t turn out as was expected – another email arrived asking if I would have an interview early on Saturday morning – right before Term 3 was about to start.

Again, I found myself sitting in the garage, with the ironing board set up as a desk, computer to my left, my notes to the right and the phone smack bang in the middle – I felt I was sooo ready for this!  After about 80mins I got off the phone feeling relieved and happy with the way the interview went.  The principal sounded very positive and said that someone would be in contact in the next couple of days.  Again I found myself waiting -  first hopeful, then doubtful and then waiting again.

Finally, on Friday morning of Week 1, Term 3 2011 I was offered a job at an elementary school in North Carolina, USA!  I couldn’t believe it – it was now very real!  I have had 2 weeks to pack up my life and be in the US to start school by August 25^th.  Time has flown past and list upon list has been written and crossed off.

So on Saturday 19^th August 2011 I will be leaving New Zealand to fly to Fayetteville, North Carolina to teach a 5^th grade class (10yr olds) at Elizabeth Cashwell Classical Elementary School - http://www.eces.ccs.k12.nc.us/default.htm

My adventure is beginning and I think I am ready for it!

I will endeavour to keep you all updated via this blog but in my normal way I start with a hiss and a roar and then fade quietly into the abyss.