Just when you think you've got it all figured out, life throws you another curveball...
After my last post in April, it soon became apparent that things weren't working out so well at my school. Basically, I got burned out and it was time for me to make a change. I started looking for another job (while in the midst of continuing to teach, write reports and finish up the school year, a very busy time to say the least!) Plus, I knew that I was going to need to move, as I was living in staff housing. Even had I stayed at my school, I knew that I wanted to move because living 25 minutes walk away meant that I relied on taxis to get to work every day which was a real hassle. Fortunately, a fellow teaching colleague and friend who lived in the same complex was able to have me store my stuff at her apartment.
I was sad to leave my students, my wonderful Chinese co-teacher Juliet and many wonderful teaching colleagues. However, I knew that I wanted to stay in Shanghai, so that helped narrow my search. I knew in my heart that Shanghai is where I'm meant to be right now. I have some good friends here and I really want to get a good grasp on Mandarin. There are also a ton of international schools here in Shanghai. Although late in the game to look for another job in April (most schools start the hiring process in January), I knew that it wasn't too late. The last day of school was June 29th. That afternoon I had a job interview at another international school nearby. The next two days (June 30th and July 1st) I moved my stuff into storage. July 2nd I got a job offer to teach First grade at the new school. The next day I flew back to Seattle for the summer. I got home in time to celebrate the Fourth of July with my family.
I spent five weeks back in the states with my family, which included two weeks vacationing on the Oregon Coast and a week visiting my sister, brother in law and three-year-old nephew in Indiana.
I returned to Shanghai on August 11th and have now started my new job and have moved to a nearby neighborhood. I love the fact that I have found an apartment that is 10 minutes walking distance from the school. I'm also sharing the apartment with another teacher from the states. First grade is a big adjustment from Fourth grade, but I do enjoy that the planning is a lot easier. I have another Chinese co-teacher and 22 students from around the world.
It's another chapter in the Journey Called Life!
Saturday, September 01, 2012
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
A long awaited update
Holy Kamoley! I just checked my blog and realized that it has been exactly a year since I posted last. So if I actually have any followers left, thanks for your dedication! Here's a long awaited update:
Last year I decided to stay in China, since there are actually teaching jobs here and managed to be hired on by a British international school. I started the school year in August (I went home for 6 weeks between jobs) and am teaching Year 5 students (4th graders in the American system). I have been so excited to *finally* have a real teaching job after the three agonizing years of subbing and trying to find work back home in Seattle. (And isn't it an interesting commentary of the US Economy when one has to leave the country in order to find a job?)
Here's an interesting comparison for my job-hunting experiences. For three years, I was applying and trying to find a teaching job in the states. I mostly applied in and around the Seattle area, but also filled out applications from Eastern Washington to Alaska. I was even looking into teaching in Indiana where my sister, brother-in-law and two-year-old nephew live. I didn't keep track of the number of jobs I applied to, but I'm sure it was at least 1000 from various school districts. From those applications, I had 10 job interviews, but no job. However, while in Shanghai, job hunting lasted 3 months. I sent out my resume to about 10 different schools and had 3 job interviews and got hired by one of them. I signed a two-year contract, which included my passage to China, health insurance and housing. I'm doing well financially, since the cost of living is lower than it is in the states.
My first year teaching at an international school has had a sharp learning curve as just about everything is new to me...the British curriculum, the courses, even the Mac computers that all of the teachers have been issued. I typically work 12 hours a day, although the school hours are from 8 to 3:30 Monday through Friday. I almost always go in to school one day over the weekend to prepare for the upcoming week. My colleagues tell me that I'm crazy to work so much and that I need to let things go. However, being a new teacher, I don't know that many time saving tricks and, truthfully, could really use more support. But I'm just trying to do my job...I've given up trying to be "super teacher". Next year will be easier, because it will be the same curriculum and I'll have a lot of the resources that I had to create this year that I can re-use. Plus I'll have a clue as to what is going on. This year has been really overwhelming and I have very little leisure time. However, I really enjoy my students and my Chinese co-teacher Juliet and that is what keeps me going.
As for learning Chinese, that has slowed down significantly because I don't have time to work with my tutor anymore. But I still try to learn a little bit here and there. I decided about a month ago that my goal is to learn one Chinese word or phrase a day. That seems to be going well.
For Chinese New Year, we got a week off of school. I chose to travel to Thailand at that time and had a blast and a half (I'll post about that later with some photos). For Christmas holiday I went home to visit my family, which was really nice however not relaxing at all. In January, I was under so much stress that my body kind of gave up and I had terrible back and neck pain. I was referred to a Chiropractor and fortunately that has helped a lot. But I still have a lot to do to make changes towards a healthier lifestyle.
Fortunately I have made some friends in Shanghai, mostly with other ex-pats that I do not work with. I see them almost every Friday night, so that is one way that helps me deal with the stresses of work that accumulate during the week.
Overall, I am very grateful for my job and the opportunities that living in Shanghai is giving me. I am definitely in the middle of a new adventure: LIVING IN CHINA!
stay tuned...
Last year I decided to stay in China, since there are actually teaching jobs here and managed to be hired on by a British international school. I started the school year in August (I went home for 6 weeks between jobs) and am teaching Year 5 students (4th graders in the American system). I have been so excited to *finally* have a real teaching job after the three agonizing years of subbing and trying to find work back home in Seattle. (And isn't it an interesting commentary of the US Economy when one has to leave the country in order to find a job?)
Here's an interesting comparison for my job-hunting experiences. For three years, I was applying and trying to find a teaching job in the states. I mostly applied in and around the Seattle area, but also filled out applications from Eastern Washington to Alaska. I was even looking into teaching in Indiana where my sister, brother-in-law and two-year-old nephew live. I didn't keep track of the number of jobs I applied to, but I'm sure it was at least 1000 from various school districts. From those applications, I had 10 job interviews, but no job. However, while in Shanghai, job hunting lasted 3 months. I sent out my resume to about 10 different schools and had 3 job interviews and got hired by one of them. I signed a two-year contract, which included my passage to China, health insurance and housing. I'm doing well financially, since the cost of living is lower than it is in the states.
My first year teaching at an international school has had a sharp learning curve as just about everything is new to me...the British curriculum, the courses, even the Mac computers that all of the teachers have been issued. I typically work 12 hours a day, although the school hours are from 8 to 3:30 Monday through Friday. I almost always go in to school one day over the weekend to prepare for the upcoming week. My colleagues tell me that I'm crazy to work so much and that I need to let things go. However, being a new teacher, I don't know that many time saving tricks and, truthfully, could really use more support. But I'm just trying to do my job...I've given up trying to be "super teacher". Next year will be easier, because it will be the same curriculum and I'll have a lot of the resources that I had to create this year that I can re-use. Plus I'll have a clue as to what is going on. This year has been really overwhelming and I have very little leisure time. However, I really enjoy my students and my Chinese co-teacher Juliet and that is what keeps me going.
As for learning Chinese, that has slowed down significantly because I don't have time to work with my tutor anymore. But I still try to learn a little bit here and there. I decided about a month ago that my goal is to learn one Chinese word or phrase a day. That seems to be going well.
For Chinese New Year, we got a week off of school. I chose to travel to Thailand at that time and had a blast and a half (I'll post about that later with some photos). For Christmas holiday I went home to visit my family, which was really nice however not relaxing at all. In January, I was under so much stress that my body kind of gave up and I had terrible back and neck pain. I was referred to a Chiropractor and fortunately that has helped a lot. But I still have a lot to do to make changes towards a healthier lifestyle.
Fortunately I have made some friends in Shanghai, mostly with other ex-pats that I do not work with. I see them almost every Friday night, so that is one way that helps me deal with the stresses of work that accumulate during the week.
Overall, I am very grateful for my job and the opportunities that living in Shanghai is giving me. I am definitely in the middle of a new adventure: LIVING IN CHINA!
stay tuned...
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