Welcome to my first blog! I'm not a huge fan of writing but I am a long-winded story teller (thanks Dad ;). haha I will compile a quick synopsis of my unpredictable journey so far. (Insert rollercoaster spiel that I gave as the M.C. when I worked at Blazing Fury in Dollywood...keep arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times...bla bla...I don't remember...FIRE IN THE HOLE!)
Why teach overseas?
I think it had always been on my mind, but I never truly thought I'd follow through with the dream. When I felt such a strong pull to other ethnicities and languages in college, I started looking into an ESL degree. However, I am not one to waste money so staying longer than four years and/or switching my major was not even an option. The hurtles for me to teach overseas were my high monthly loan payments, finding a music teaching position without being fluent in another language, and having courage to leave.How did you find this position?
It found me! I signed up for teachaway.com in May 2013. They began emailing me teaching opportunities. I was hoping to teach in Europe or South America because I love those languages. I told God, anywhere but Asia or the Middle East. Their languages have symbols and are too hard. God laughed ;) When I kept getting emails for the Middle East, I looked into earning a TEFL degree in order to teach English as a Foreign Language instead of music. I signed up for the International TEFL Academy and spoke with a rep. He said Europe and South America positions usually pay teachers just enough to sustain themselves, but not enough to afford $600 loan payments every month. Asia and the Middle East were my two options haha I decided upon Asia. Jenny Choi is from Korea. I could teach there! The Middle East was too scary. That day, I saw an email from TeachAway about a music position in Abu Dhabi teaching royalty! I had to at least apply. I probably wouldn't get it. After a phone interview, skype interview, and an in-person interview in Chicago for a school in Abu Dhabi, I did not make the cut. I was a bit relieved. No Middle East for me! It wasn't God's plan. Now back to Asia... Then I received a follow-up email saying they recommended me for a position in Qatar. I skyped with the principal and got offered the position right away! To my surprise, I felt completely calm about the decision. I did not have a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach like I did for the Abu Dhabi school. God's ways are higher than my ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).
What happened to Qatar??
Haha, well........ funny story. Apparently international teaching is known for being unpredictable. So THAT is why they stressed the importance of being flexible in the interviews! Long story short, AAQ cut 40 or more teachers because enrollment wasn't what they planned for it to be. They said they would honor our contracts and place us in a different GEMS school. I got placed with 7 other AAQ hires at a UK school in Abu Dhabi called Cambridge International Academy. I was glad that I was placed with these 7 teachers that I had already been corresponding with and who could relate to everything I was going through. I flew out the 26th, got to my hotel in Abu Dhabi late on the 27th, and caught the tail-end of induction week on Thursday the 28th. First day of school was Sunday the 31st.
Any other hiccups?
haha Yep! But we're surviving!
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