The Journey to Discover What is Next

Last Week of School

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During the last week of school I began to realize and let sink in a huge journey was ahead of me, yet I tried not to let myself go there because I knew I needed to finish strong with the group of students I had. Of course, I definitely had days that were tougher than others, especially when a kid would come in my class with such pride to hand me a gift, and the most meaningful cards the whole family made personalized with such heartfelt words. In no way was it easy to appropriately say thanks to the many who have embraced me so well to enhance my passion of teaching in the classroom. I am still working on the thank you and not ready to say good bye… and I am pushing 5 weeks out of school! Yikes! It was hard….I think the last couple of days someone, if not me, came to me in tears as they realized my teaching journey was on a path of change. It was by no means easy to pack up things gutting room 26 including returning all my teacher books and supplied teaching materials, and then bring 16 packed boxes/containers and 4 3-doored plastic containers through the house and upstairs into my bedroom. After many conversations with those whom I hold with high regard I am assured there are reasons for everything, and I am ok with not necessarily knowing the answers, but I do know what my passions are and I consider the way they are used a journey, for I have certainty that God will use me and them in His perfect will, often opportunities I don’t even think.

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Summer Week 1

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Why not dream big? When am I ever given the opportunity to have a free ticket in life to do anything I want to do…considering I really do not have too many attachments that can wait for me! After pondering life with my sister, we came to the conclusion that I love to travel, be with kids, and teach. Why not teach abroad? But where? I thought of spinning the world and whatever my finger landed on that is where I was going….yet, that might be too drastic and not that smart. I decided to come up with a list of criteria of what it would take to get me to teach in another country. After my criteria were set, I began the idea of searching for the best place to teach. I started by a Google search and definitely became overwhelmed fast. I decided maybe Japan was the place for me to go. It met my personal criteria…. my good friend’s grandparents live there, it was safe….and why not?

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Next I needed to figure out the teaching aspects. A few days passed since my Japan revolution…I remembered Glendora’s sister city is in Moko, Japan, along to with the idea that the middle schools are sister schools. Bingo!!! I called the president of the sister city communication, whom is a principal in my district and I had his son last year. After hearing the experience he had, I was in. He emailed the Moko people and to my unfortunate luck the Moko American teachers from last year decided to spend another year teaching…resulting in no teaching in Moko for me. At one point one teacher was being considered to be let go, but the city decided to give the teacher another try. Still in contact with the Moko experienced principal, I received an email that suggested I try an agency called Joy Talk that hires American teachers to come into the Japan school system. I researched the website, and decided to apply attaching I think 9 different documents they wanted from me. Then I waited to see what would happen!

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Summer Week 2

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I heard back from Joy Talk. They wanted to interview me through Skype. No problem. It took me quite some time to realize the time difference from Japan and California, for my interview time was scheduled for Japanese Standard Time. I figured Japan is a day ahead of California and time is close to opposite. I had no choice for an interview time, I signed up for 5am my time, 9pm Japan time. Slightly nervous, I was coached by my roomies and sister. I also called my Moko expert freaking out and asked him what I needed to ask through my interview. I was ready. My sis even said something along the lines of, “Don’t forget to do your hair and make-up, it is an interview…but sit in your underwear if you want, but be confident!”

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Bright and early, I woke up on a Wednesday, 4am, got gorgeous, by 4:30 I was downstairs, heart pounding…reassured by Ephesians 5:1-2 and 15-17, “Follow God’s example in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love for others following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, because that sacrifice was sweet like perfume to him.” “So be careful how you live, not as fools, but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do.” I even had a power bar and huge glass of water. I was set. 5am appears on the clock….no sign of the Joy Talk people trying to ring me in through Skype…then I reread my email what seemed 100 times. I could not figure it out, why was Joy Talk not calling me? I looked again at the Japanese Standard Time and my time….ohhhhhhhh nooooo wrong day….I went back to bed, and repeated my steps the next day! Practice is good right! Two days in a row of 4am primping!

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The interview went really smooth. We video chatted for over an hour and a half. Joy Talk answered all of my questions and made me feel at peace right away, as he mentioned in person I was indeed the person all my papers claimed I was! In Japan, my role as a teacher would be to team teach with a Japanese English teacher at the middle school level. Elementary exposure would be slim for me since I do not speak Japanese, and the teachers are intimidated by Americans. I would be like a celebrity as the Japanese want to learn and embrace the American culture, as I in return and learn about Japan. Joy Talk said they needed two weeks to match my strengths with the needs of Japanese Board of Education, and then they would get back to me. I was game, yet the second I disconnected from the internet, I began to freak out, and of course called one of my colleagues at 6:45am. She helped bring me back down to reality! My mom is gone for a month, can’t call her, why not another teacher who I was certain was awake! I began to realize I needed to be patient and have trust in the Lord whatever happened! No matter what I simply know the Lord truly knows the desires of my heart Japan or not.

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Summer Week 3

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I was ready to get away. Went to the beach and enjoyed Santa Barbara. After three days of being there, I received a phone call from my Grandma that she was not doing to great health wise. After many conversations with the family, I was the best candidate to come to the rescue. My roomie and I left the beach early and began the 5 hour quest to Grandma’s house! Basically, the lil lady was dehydrated, not eating, and had a new medical discoveries, I think the medical issues have been there, but now it is named because she willingly went to the doc! She has COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. I felt like a genius, for if it was not for my 5^th grade body system knowledge, then I would have not been able to use all the technical body terms with the doc! I could of belted out songs with him…but he was interesting! hehehe I am glad I got to spend time with my Grandma. We cooked sooo much. I know she was feeling better when she wanted me to make her a tri-tip, chicken friend steak, whole made potatoe salad….and the list goes on! And then she wanted another tri-tip, cause the first one was so good! God bless my roomie all the way to heaven, she put her hands to work big time.

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While at my Grandma’s I was able to check the status of my joblessness on her dial up internet! Haller! Prior to my trip to my Grandma’s, I had to write a grant summary of how the funds were used and heard back from the grantee. A portion of what he said was, “I'm beginning to think you have an awesome team of fifth grade teachers with whom you work. I'm impressed and pleased.” Ahhh sweet….but ok God? What is up? Then I talk with my teammate and realized all the pink slips were taken back….what does that mean for me? Nothing. I am a temp, a year to year contract for the past 3 years, which is what I signed up for. I know! I thought it would get better over time, but I was wrong. My hands are tied along with my principals! I am starting to feel tugged and warred out. There currently are no possibility of me going back, but really who knows! Yikes. Then I get a phone call from my principal who answered many of my questions. Apparently, another principal in West Covina wanted names of teachers who would be quality to be interviewed in her district. I received her name and number and set up a time to interview with her and another human resource dude. I was game. Might as well take the opportunities and see what happens!

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Summer Week 4

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I got home and decided to email Joy Talk to follow up on my interview with them since it had really been two weeks. By the end of the week I heard back from them and this is what they said:

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Dear Erin,

Thanks for your e-mail. There is one requirement from the boards of education that we have new contracts through that is holding your employment back at the moment. Because there is elementary school involved to a certain degree and there are no teachers trained in English at Japanese elementary schools at present, these boards of education require all their ALTs to be conversant in Japanese. If, however, another location comes up that does not require this, I will get back in touch with you.

Thanks again for your time recently and hopefully speak to you again soon.

Kind regards

Grant Harbourne
Joytalk Manager

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There I stand with Joy Talk and the possibility of going to Japan. It is out of my control, as it seems many things in my life, but I can be proactive and I have faith something good will come out of all this!

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As I am getting back in the swing of things at my home, I started to delete the million messages on my home phone answer machine. Then I realized there were more messages for me to call another district. I connected with Duarte, and basically they wanted me to stop by the next day to fill out an application, then the applications would be delivered to the principal who is hiring. Also I was referred to another person at APU who deals with international teaching. I was to also see her the next day to get information from presentations the international schools had made at APU for the teachers. Sweet!

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I hung out with a friend from out of town and the roomies pretty late…after everyone went to bed, I decided I should write a cover letter for Duarte and West Covina with appealing details about me considering the drought of CA teacher jobs…went to bed after 2am and then woke up to get ready for an interview with West Covina the next morning.

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Prior to my interviews, I try to get to know what I am putting myself into, I guess you can say I stalk the schools and district. I realized one of the people who would be in the interview with me from the WC District Office was a person whom was extremely rude to me last year when I interviewed at an APU job fair. He did not want to give me the time of day. Trying to think positively with a second chance for him I tried to not be too biased in the interview.

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While waiting to interview I connected with the secretary in the DO. Mention grandkids and you make the lady happy! She even shared her tamale recipe with me! Always food!

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I sat down in the interview and the, lets call him the second chance dude, was blowing his second chance. I do understand it was a blind interview, because the three who were interviewing me had nothing about me except what I gave them, but come on! Second chance dude could have sat so far back that his feet could have made it to his desk, not once made eye contact, and really does not like Glendora, making it very apparent, insulting my experience and teachers. I decided it was unprofessional. The part of the interview I later realized could have blown it for me was when I asked the other dude in the room who he was. I knew of the principal and second chance dude, but the other guy????? I am embarrassed to say, but understand I was getting frustrated, I said, “I’m sorry, I don’t know who you are, are you the sidekick?” Yes, I know, bad, self control…..Processing now, I have to remember my passions, and cannot let others get in the way. I am learning that DO people do not always know really what does happen in the classroom, simply based on the questions that were asked of me. The principal was alright, yet it seemed she wanted to befriend me. I have enough friends! Oh may the feisty McGee come out!

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From West Covina, I hopped on the freeway and went to Duarte. Sat in there ohhhhh a good hour and filled out an application. Ran into the Superintendent, sat with him for a while, and then he took my info to the principal who was hiring. I guess she had a stack of at least 200 applications to go through.

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Then I went to APU and got more info on international teaching. After I took the info home and researched the paper work, I am thinking it might be too late to try to apply in another program to go abroad. The door is not completely closed, but I do need to make a few phone calls and emails to have confirmation. I guess my philosophy is I don’t know if I don’t try.

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Summer Week 5

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Currently, I am in week 5. Yesterday, I received a phone call from West Covina. My heart was confused; I had such a high frustration level with the interview, although I am glad I did it, but of course I thought for sure they did not like me. The secretary wanted to know if I could interview next Monday. I immediately asked if there was another time. That is the time I really did plan a vacation to be out of state. She called back and said there was not a way. We hung up and then I began to think, was I being stupid denying an interview when they are hard to come by? I checked flights out Monday to see if I could change my flight to make it work around the interview. I called the secretary back and she put me on the calendar for next Monday. Then I asked her what the interview was for. Apparently, my information was passed to another principal in West Covina, possibly from the interview last week. I am assuming the interview from last week was practice, and they hired someone else? Monday, the other principal wants to interview me at the cite. The school looks good. The teacher of the year and classified of the year were at the school, so that has to say something….but I will know more after Monday morning! Funny fact she has the same name as two other bosses I’ve had! Serendipity!

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Seconds, literally, after I hung up with West Covina, the principal from Duarte called who is hiring. She wants me to interview Wednesday. Wednesday I will sit before a panel and they will be introduced to me! I am game, and getting the hang of this whole interview thing…maybe!

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Tonight, I got another phone call from a fellow colleuge and she told me her story of what she has encountered since March...mentioning as she is has been encoutering change and has had many meetings in the District Office...every time reminding them of what type of teacher I am. My mind is confused and overwhelmed! I thought I had the story of my situation right, but others have different ideas, sadly I am certain I know what I signed up for no matter how disgusting a situation can get.

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Over the past 5 weeks I have felt and experienced every type of emotion, often wondering if I am sane! But I can honestly say through it all, I have peace. Ever since the beginning of this past school year, when my gut was telling me there was a lot of change brewing, I have had peace and assurance that the future really is not in my hands, but the Lord’s. I know and trust in the Lord. I will take action and wait. I will be still. I will search. I am confident the Fall has great journeys and adventures ahead of me and truly that is what keeps me going. I am prepared, although I don’t have all the answers. I have made no decisions. I am simply leaning on the Lord. And eventually will have to have discernment!