In August, I will make a move that I can honestly say I have thought about for most of my life. I have always wanted to travel and to teach in places outside the U.S. About two years ago, I started thinking seriously about finding a job teaching in another country, so I created a profile on a couple of websites and started looking. I researched curriculum, schools, countries, and all the time hoped that I could get some interviews to know how to build my resume to be appealing to schools outside the states.
Of course, ideally I would find a job in Europe, but those are competitive, so I was really looking into China and Vietnam. I applied to some schools and received a lot of "we need someone with experience in our curriculum" responses. I looked at summer and tutoring positions, but nothing was clicking into place. I decided to put a pause on the applications and really dig into finding workshops for curriculum and getting my qualified teacher status in Great Britain. I also thought I could polish up the resume and attend some job fairs. Then, May 20th, I saw a post for a position in Norway. Oh cheese and crackers, that would be PERFECT! The school was an international school, and as I clicked through their website I saw learner profiles and how much their guiding philosophies matched my teaching. I thought, "You know, why not?" I typed up a cover letter and sent off my application, but in the mean time it was the end of the school year and we all know how sh*t gets real that time of year! I had a classroom to clean out and a camp to run, so the job application quickly left my mind. School ends, and I am home settling into what promises to be a very relaxing summer when I get an email requesting a Skype call with the school from Norway. Life had its own plans, I guess. Wow, am I really going to do this? It's only an interview, right? Well, of course I am. This will be great feedback and don't get your hopes up too high, but NORWAY?! Two Skype calls later, I was sent a job offer. Wow, am I really going to do this? So, in August I will make the move to Norway to teach at Children's International School in Sarpsborg.
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Five years ago, I moved to Andover, Kansas, and yesterday, I locked the door of my apartment for the last time. If I back up a bit, you can feel the weight of that moment with me.
After marrying, I lived in the Beloit area of Kansas for 23 years and in the same house for 15 of those. In 2012, I divorced my husband of 21 years and started a job teaching in Concordia, Kansas. This allowed me to stay in the family home with my youngest. Two short years later, life was ready, but I was not. Concordia Middle School downsized, my youngest graduated high school, and I turned 40. I giggle to myself as I think on this. My how life changes our perspective. I really had no limits then. I could move ANYWHERE! My idea of a big move was applying for a job in...gasp...Andover, Kansas. Now, I can't be too hard on myself, I had never even lived by myself let alone in a city. Let that sink in a minute. I had NEVER lived alone. This new apartment and job became an adventure. I got to choose the furniture, the bedding, the wall art. I mean goodness sake, even a trip to the grocery store was an adventure because I had no idea there were enough kinds of olives to warrant an olive bar. I can remember taking my sons to the grocery store just to see that I could now cook anything on those cooking shows I watched because YES! my grocery has shiitake mushrooms and prosciutto. I bought my first car here. I'd never owned a car with just my name on the title that was paid for with my own money. I went to a movie theater that served cocktails during the film. I went on my first solo vacation and flew by myself. I also struggled. I lost friendships. I battled my weight and depression. I came to grips with adult children relationships and distance. SO. MANY. FIRSTS. And so much growing. It was really like learning who I was for the first time because there wasn't a shadow of Mrs. or Mom looming and dimming the view. This is Nellie. So, when I locked that door yesterday, I took a deep breath and I held that feeling for a minute. It was heavy, and it still is. |
Nellie HillJust a woman leaping outside her comfort zone and telling the tale. Archives
April 2024
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