The adventure has begun....and I know where!

Weeek 10

Proverbs 2

My child, listen to what I say,

and treasure my commands.
Tune your ears to wisdom,

and concentrate on understanding.

Cry out for insight,

and ask for understanding.

Search for them as you would for silver;

seek them like hidden treasures.

Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,

and you will gain knowledge of God.

For the Lord grants wisdom!

From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.

He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.

He guards the paths of the just

and protects those who are faithful to him.
Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,

and you will find the right way to go.

For wisdom will enter your heart,

and knowledge will fill you with joy.

Wise choices will watch over you.

Understanding will keep you safe.

Saturday I received the absolute for sure from Steve and Moko that if I wanted to go to Japan to teach the job was mine. This is when I contacted very close friends of mine to start praying hard for me, where I could have discernment and absolute wisdom with my heart rather then emotions. I wanted a decision by Monday, for I did not want to string Duarte along in the dark and suddenly say never mind about the job offer I received.

I connected with Steve to get the info of the teacher who decided to not go back to Japan, for I wanted to know why from her mouth. Within an hour of me emailing, Jennifer, she called me on the phone. From there we talked a good hour, with my request of asking her the good, bad, and ugly of her experience. Teaching in Japan was one of the most rewarding experiences for her. She wished she could cookie cut the job in Japan and place it anywhere in the world. I got lit up as she was on fire about the teaching experience alone. When I asked her about the community and support from other foreign teachers who joined her in the challenge and stretching experience of Japan, she began to tell me the reason why Japan will not see her this year. Moka hired 6 teachers. Of the teachers three of the guys were, as Jennifer explained, pretty much disgusting/inconsiderate and crude/cross in their everyday verbal communication, something she realized when she got home and how much there crude disrespectful humor rubbed off on her. The other two teachers are pretty much an isolated couple. Jennifer explained in the many days of free time she tried to connect with the Japanese, but it was hard and lonely. She described herself as an extravert, and decided at one point to hop on trains and just do her own thing by herself to explore. My convo with Jennifer was very informative and I was grateful for it.

As I reflected back on my original criteria list and long multiple conversation with Steve of what it will take for me to go to Japan, I realized a huge hole was in the area of community, one of the largest and most important factors for me. I am confident I can meet and make friends anywhere, make the best of any situation, and pull through when it is easy or hard, but because I had insight on the community of teachers I was going to be living with, it made me hesitate. Typically, in life I have never had insight of who I’d work with, but away from work I have always had a community around me. In Japan it is different.

Prior to making a decision, many have thought instantly with my situation that I needed to go to Duarte. But I really wanted to seek the Lord for wisdom of what to do. I am fully aware of my role in my family, yet my perspective is God, then family. I am not closed to the idea of teaching abroad one day, but I am going to choose to work in Duarte this year as a 4th grade teacher and stay in California! Today I can sign my contract, get a key to the room and see what I have in store for my future!

This summer I have learned many lessons to trust in the Lord with all my heart as he directed my paths. I was reminded through my 6 years of drilled “God First” mentality, I did have that mentality as I tried to discover the what’ s next of my great adventures of life. I still believe that the adventure has just begun, and this year’s going to be one that is dynamically amazing as I embrace this change that I would have never pictured for myself. As I reflect on the past 10 weeks of my summer “vacation,” I am reminded of the verses in Ephesians 5:1-2 & 15-17 as I started my crazy ideas and quest for a purposeful job aligned with the passions of my heart:

“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.”

Today this is what I will do!


Family Update!

Jamie and I had a fast 24 hour trip up north. We got to my grandma’s house 30 minutes after she got home from the hospital. She is very weak as she walks with a walker -often swerving to the left (a side effect of the brain cancer on her right side of the brain), wears pull ups, left side of face is sagging, breathes with her mouth open-as it is hard for her to have deep breaths, and pretty much sits in her chair and still smokes. She was thrilled Jamie and I were there. She thought Grant and Emma were going to be there too, so we teased her because we are now mince meat compared to the great-greats! The hospital lost Gflo’s glasses, so she wears her sun glasses in the house, something that quickly became a joke. We taught Gflo how to do the Fonzy, shakin her head and putting her thumbs up as one hand slightly takes the glasses off as she says, “COOL!” A huge thing we did was learn to make whole made tortillas and clean out 2 of 4 closets filled of 77 years worth of clothes. I was over the top with gittyness as I began to try on the outfits that were obviously ghetto, asking Gflo in all seriousness if I could have the outfits to make a new impression for my new job! The best was finding orphaned single shoes and asking her what she wanted us to do with them! Our trip was extremely fast, but action packed. Health wise mom and UG are deciding what to do next, maybe a second opinion with Sac town based on multiple hours of phone conversations my mom had with specialists. The goal with Gflo is to stay positive, bring in humor and spend time with her. Meanwhile, my sis and I are working out a conflict that arose during our 24 hour Patterson visit with my dad’s side of the fam, as they were royally upset that Jamie and I did not consider the fact to stop by their house (about two miles from Gflo and visit). Honestly, that was the last thought on my mind! Understandable, but awkward! Jamie wants to spend her b-day up there so I am sure there will be more trips up north!

This is the Juciest One Yet!!!

Week 8

By week 8, I was over my mind consuming jobless situation and what’s next, but still had random ideas to press on, I guess one would say. I finally was at a place to write many letters of thanks to my Cullen staff and district. It was good for me to completely express myself and show my appreciation, as in June, it was hard and avoided. At this point, I decided all my interviews in West Covina were good practice, as the result of no job offers (which I am grateful in some ways, for in the three interviews I had, my gut was unsettled). Because I had a fun-filled-action-packed week planned, Sunday night I decided to fill out paperwork to sub through Glendora. To sub, would be my absolute last result job situation. I procrastinated long enough, so I finally responded the Glendora sub paperwork lady. The TB results I had were out of date, but I sent them in anyway, knowing she’d probably call me on it…this was when I began to ponder as I was falling asleep how my insurance was going to be cut soon...so I pondered my insurance backup plans. To maximize the current health insurance I never use, I came up with the brilliant idea to call the doc office Monday AM to update my medical records since it had been a long time.

The after explaining over the phone I needed to have updates stat to the nurses they finally gave into my plea. Going to the doc for me is like listening to someone take their fingernails and scrape them on a chalk board. My mind gets carried away with needles and blood, I get cold sweats, and typically faint. My great adventure to do one whole shabang of a doc visit turned into four different visits!

Doc visit #1:
I am explaining to the nurse that I need updates on everything. She looks at my chart and agrees. I then tell her of my psychological doc office visit-like symptoms. She laughs at and with me, but I told her I was serious. I then proceed to explain the faint prevention plan that works best for me. I first ask for a wet paper towel to place on my forehead, and ask her not to tell me what is going on and worse case scenario, my shoes need to be taken off. We were game, so I thought. I had a physical prior to the blood work/shots. So I am chilling in my paper clothes. I am healthy as can be, the doc says she was going to get a nurse to do the shots and blood work, I am game, yet as I am sitting up listening to the doc, I immediately said I don’t feel too hot, and what do you know, I faint, remember in my paper clothes! I woke up to a multitude of nurses around me! I did fall back (if I would have fallen forward the moon would have come out early!) the doc gave up on me and said I had to come back for a second visit.

Doc visit #2:
Yet again, I fasted. Choosing to sleep in rather than wake up prior to doc visit to run five miles. Get in the room, the nurse and I chuckle as she remembered my faint precaution awareness procedures. I am laying down, paper towel in hand on forehead. I made it through the first arm of torture. Couple shots and blood work. Then the nurse moved to my other arm, I got through the shots, and then she tried to take blood. My veins are deep and I explained that to the nurse, and reminded her, the less I know the better. She did not get the concept I guess, as I knew she was getting frustrated poking around, and moving the needle in my arm. I knew I was going to my black faint land soon, I gave her a five second warning, and what do you know I fainted again! Yet, again, I woke up to a multitude of nurses around me!

Doc visit #3:
Because I had to reschedule my first doc appointment, my TB test result reading day was messed up, so I had to make a new appointment for the TB shot. This time it was like clockwork, the nurse new what to do with my “special” shot needs…and I did not faint! By now everyone is beginning to recognize me and giggle when I walk by them! Oh man!

Doc visit #4:
I am clean. I was evaluated and came back healthy and now am officially up-to-date! All for the sake of my future job that I was unsure of! I laughed as I left the office, it is almost like I made new friends! I should have made them cookies or something! Maybe a Christmas card exchange! Hahaha

I also started my scuba school, sweating as I passed the five written tests. I love tests! My total strength! = ( I now will continue to go on a few more dives and I think I am good to go. It is such an incredible feeling breathing underwater!

By the end of this week I began to have some understandings of why, where and what I needed to do. I knew the West Covina door was closed. I also began to realize why the Japan door was also closed through the JoyTalk agency. Maybe, the idea of speaking Japanese was one thing I could not control, but kept me from going. Also, my grandma was getting worse, where my mom basically went from Africa to my grandma’s house and has been there all summer. I thought that maybe I was supposed to be in CA to help out rather then Japan, but the Duarte door was still half open and closed. In my heart, I knew week 9 was the time I was going to hear from Duarte based on previous conversations, but at the same time I was told things and then there was no follow through.

One thing that really hit me this week was the idea of hiding/taking refuge in the Lord. The concept of finding refuge and turn my thoughts back to the Lord. I am feeling weak, and uncertain, yet, I have not lost hope and certainty of the Lord. I am confident through this change I am growing in ways I would not choose freely! There are so many Psalms where David is feeling like he needs protection, to be rescued, or is facing an army of enemies, but each Psalm explains the character of David and Christ. David, no matter how tough it gets, keeps his mind on the Lord. The Lord is a shield, lifts our heads high, is a protector, provider, and gives strength. God has never failed me.

Week 9

I started this week with the mentality I needed to think about a job again. I looked for a while again on the edjoin website to check the availability of jobs, but as I have noticed since the start, there are none.
Monday and Tuesday were huge monumental days. Randomly, I get a call from the wife of the Duarte Superintendent (who worked with me at Cullen). Small chat at first and then, got to the punch line of my job situation. After she realized I did not have a job, the convo was soon over, and she said it was possible I’d hear from Duarte that same day. I did get some clarity and understanding of why I was treated the way I was with the Duarte principal. Basically, the week I was in Oregon, when I got the phone call to do a demo lesson, the superintendent’s mother passed away and he was out of the office for a period of time. When the principal needed his advice of what to do with me, he was in no place to be reached. I am not justifying the principal’s actions, but she went with what she saw, I guess needing to make a decision, and since I was not there, I was easily taken out of the picture, unless something opened up mid August. I harbor no bitter feelings toward her or the district. It is just the way it was!

Monday, mid-afternoon, I get a phone call from the personnel of Duarte. She offered me a 4th grade teaching job at the school I interviewed for with the principal whom I talked to several times. Yipppppppeeeeeeee! It has happened! Good News! The job is a temp job, which means, I have a year-to-year contract. The 4th grade teacher I am replacing is going to another school to help with their test scores and then come back the following year, is the information I received. No matter what I am grateful to have the opportunity to teach! I would say I am an expert on what the contract is. One day the contract will work in my favor on the other side! Then she asked me when I could come in and start paperwork! I set up a time for the next day! As I hung up the phone, what do you know a lil tear started to come down! It was like this huge burden had been lifted off my shoulder! I was trying to compose myself, and my phone rang again, seconds later, it was the principal to congratulate me and welcome me. She said school started Sept. 8th or 9th, I can’t remember, and if I wanted to pick up a key the 17th I could. By the time I talked to her I was really overwhelmed, but we chatted for a while! Funny, because prior to teaching 5th grade at Cullen, I had 2 years of experience with 4th graders in Hacienda La Puente. I loved the age, and the curriculum of what they learn! This is God’s hand, I know! Very exciting! I also would be working along the side of a teacher whom I worked with at Cullen who was also a temp and let go!

About twenty minutes after that I got another phone call from my mom for an update on my Grandma. After her MRI that morning (to figure out why the left side of my grandma was being favored), the doc called her on the way home requesting her to pack a bag, for they found a mass on her brain and wanted to monitor it with her spending the night in the hospital as seizures are pretty common, and they wanted to avoid that! It turns out that my grandma has brain cancer called Butterfly Glioma. This would explain a lot of what my mom and I have witnessed this summer as we have gone up to assess her health situations. The brain cancer is on both sides of her brain, mainly on the right side. The mass is so big that it is inoperable. The best treatment recommended to her is radiation (for several weeks daily) and oral chemo I believe for life. She is already weak, but wants to fight the battle of cancer. Not only has the 77year old been diagnosed with brain cancer, she has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, emphysema, and has smoked her entire life resulting in her lungs to have the age of a 99 year old. My sis and I have not made a complete plan yet, but are going to be up north sometime this week prior to treatment. UG has already gone up north, as my grandma lights up when a man walks in the room. Unfortunately or fortunately, after talking with him, he decided to check himself in rehab, this week when he gets home! I guess that is good, considering the action going on. Can it get any crazier! When it pours it rains, but wait there is more!

A few hours later, as I am checking my email before going to bed, I get this email.

Erin,

I just got a call from one of the AETs in Moka and she is now home inIllinois. She has decided she does not want to go back to Moka. That meansI will need to find another teacher for her position. Are you still interested? I have not contacted Moka yet. Let me know whatyou think before I call over to Japan.

Steve

Moka was my number one choice to teach in Japan, but was extinguished quicker then I had the idea in my head. It was a sweet situation. As the sister city of Glendora, the program pays the teachers, and takes care of housing (as the teachers all live in a little community together), flights, an allowance for bills etc. I would basically come out on top. There are only six teachers that the program will hire. When I first looked in the program, in June, the 6 teachers who taught last year resigned their contracts for a second year. As I thought I still wanted to teach in Japan, I looked at the Joytalk agency (recommended to me from Moka) and applied with the knowledge that Moko was a much better deal, as I would barely break even through Joytalk. Really, the money did not matter to me, it was more of the ministry and experience. In my head, God would have provided. Then I get this crazy email that says Moka can be a possible option again….the same exact day that Duarte offered me a 4th grade teaching position…the same exact time I find out my grandma has brain cancer!!! I thought I was overwhelmed, but yikes, maybe now I am overwhelmed!

The Lord is my refuge, provider, and strength. I still have a peace and know God has big plans. I am in a win- win situation. But now I need to really sit and assess the situation. I have not communicated with Duarte about Moka, as they were the first to call me and I thought Japan was not an option. I am trying to make my personal deadline of contract signing commitment Monday, which will give me time to figure out what really is going on with Moka- aka if everything is truly a possibility, the family, and really what God wants me to do and how he best wants to use me aligned with my passions. Even though there are now options with a closer certainty compared to before, I am still in the same place of waiting on the Lord for complete assurance and discernment! Though it all, I have a feeling this year is going to be a dynamic year!

Week 7 Tuesday

The 2nd interview with West Covina was good. Last week I had the interview with the principal and one other lady (can’t remember her title…maybe a ESL specialist), while this time two 5th grade teachers were added to the mix. The principal asked me the same questions she asked me last week. I pretty much responded verbatim of the previous interview, minus the “state testing foot-in-the-mouth” statements. Ha! One of the 5th grade teachers is my mom’s ageish, while the other one is around my age or maybe younger. They were polite, but at times I wondered if they were forced to be there. As I answered the questions, they nodded their heads and agreed with me on many of my statements. One looked down quite often, while the other stared at me with little to no facial expressions (my interpretation of her thinking I was nuts with too much energy!) The principal was the only one who really talked, unless I asked a question directed toward the teachers, while the same side kick person took notes. There were times where I would begin to talk getting really passionate with my hands and my face, lighting up, discussing how and why teaching is such an awesome opportunity to create strong relationships and confidence for a child to learn. I felt during the interview there were times the group was in their la la land. At one point I even asked them if they were ok….this might be the only moment, this interview, where I might have over stepped my boundaries. Otherwise, I think I did ok, but who knows. I will know in a week, one way or another, so they say. I just felt when I left there was no spark there! My roomie and I have been in so many situations the past few weeks where the joke has been to let our “God spark go crazy” and shine on….while meeting other people the spark in their eye is what I am looking for, whether it is because it is summer, they are wearing their favorite shoes…just something of passion! My gut tells me there is a better place for me, but we will see I could be wrong. Maybe West Covina is where God wants to use me. I have to remember: God is going to do incredible things through this whole shabang, keep trusting Him with patience, and cling to the journey of faith.

Meanwhile, the Duarte flame might be rekindled, not quite sure. After receiving a phone call today, I do know there are phone calls going around about me to figure out where the Duarte principal was going with her thought process with me. I really have no idea what will happen, but I am game to chill and wait for a while with the information of possible openings she informed me of. It is hard for me to take no for an answer.

It was a big week and there is so much more left to enjoy, I think I’m going to take a break and not think about my future till next week!

No Japan update, unless I sleep with headphones mesmerizing me in the native language to quickly learn Japanese!

Maybe…I will go to culinary school in Italy if everything bombs. Oh this is fun! hehehe

Week 7 Monday

I am back from my trip to Oregon, which was wonderful! I booked my ticket the week after school was out in June, knowing it would be my one out of state trip of the summer. I figured the middle of June would be a good time to leave rather than August. I crossed my fingers and hoped the trip timing would not conflict with any possibilities of jobs. I was wrong for two different positions and was able to fix one, but also lost an opportunity: 1. I had to change my original departure time for a later time to make an interview with West Covina the morning I left. That worked out fine. The principal found out and asked me about it. Slightly awkward, but I guess it demonstrated my quest for a teaching job. 2. I missed a demo lesson the Duarte principal set up to witness the quality teachers she interviewed to make a decision of whom to hire (I found out about this opportunity after I left, the principal told me to call her when I returned).

Now in CA, I decided to follow up with the principal in Duarte to see what I need to do for her to see that I am capable of teaching and love it! As I talked to the Duarte principal, she decided there was no need to have me do a demo lesson, aka she had filled the position I applied for while in Oregon after watching others demo their teaching. This is so frustrating to me! But on the business perspective I get it, yet I was under the impression she would give me a chance to demo teach when I got back-which I understand she in no means had to. She mentioned she had 2 more possible openings (2nd and 4th grade) in August, but was not positive based on a few factors and to keep looking around. She mentioned my interview, references, follow-up references, etc. were good and knew I was a good/quality teacher, and because of that IF there are openings in August she will call me as one of her firsts. I flat out asked her if not being at the school for a demo lesson affected me, and she basically said yes. UHHHHHHH is how I feel right about now. I, in no means regret my trip. And that is when she mentioned I had no control of the situation and the idea that she would call me as I was in route to Oregon. I am not bitter toward the principal or her system to choose. I am just sad that it was a system decided too late for me to be apart of. The Duarte door is not all the way closed, but it is beginning to look that way.

A few lessons in life I think I have mastered are anything with control. I realize I have no control over anything. And this is a lesson I thought I mastered after having to deal with death first hand. I guess it is going to hit all areas of my life. The only control I have is over me. This is hard. I have hit the wall of emotions and definitely have cried a few times throughout today. Over the past few weeks, I have acclimated to the idea I was going to be teaching in Duarte as a 5th grade teacher. I get the whole doors open and closed concept from God. I get he has, thank God, everything under CONTROL. I definitely trust him and in a weird way still have peace. I am just getting weary of this whole process to follow the passions of my heart, because of ridiculous situations yet again, I have no control over, just me. I will be teaching, just don’t know how quite yet! There are reasons for everything, I just don’t always have the answers.

Tomorrow I have my 2nd interview with West Covina, I am grateful for an opportunity, I now need to move West Covina up on my priority list, and see if this is a door that will open or close.

No news from Japan.

Week 6 - Searching!

Monday I had an interview with West Covina. The interview was with a principal whom I have never met (looking for a 5th grade teacher). I am assuming my information was passed to her from the other interview I had in West Covina (that principal was looking for a 4th grade teacher).

The interview was good. She was late, but then I figured it was because she was waiting for one other person to help her interview me. They asked good questions, yet, once again, the district did not send her my information, so she was blind to who I was, but obviously learned who I was fast. I answered the questions well, until she told me why her 5th grade teachers will not rotate anymore at her school (I am game with whatever!), one reason was because of state testing and their school's poor score results. Then she asked me of my school scores...yeah, I have no idea, sorry don't memorize that stuff. I know my answer was lame..... sorry that's not why I teach. Dumb answer, but I really pay attention to the testing aspect in my ways, which is not as much as others do along that line. State action is my framework to teach...I don't necessary teach to the test. I could go on, but her response to me was, "We eat, breathe, and sleep what our test scores will be." I get it, but yikes! Even though I might have been a little clumsy with the state testing talk, she asked me to come back next week for a panel interview with the other two 4th and 5th grade teachers, for they need to help in the process of picking who they want to work with. There are three of us that she is considering. So Tuesday morning I will yet again go back to the school and interview again.

Meanwhile, the same day, which is pretty typical and my comic relief. The principal in Duarte called me. She was impressed with my interview, along with a few other teachers. She said there are many qualified teachers whom she has interviewed, yet has not a clue which one to pick (she has a k, 2nd, and 5th grade spot open). She decided her process to find out which one would make the cut would be through a demo lesson. She wanted me to come this Wednesday to the school and teach for the summer school kids. I am at the moment not in California. I explained to her my situation. She asked me to call her when I get back and she would try to create a way where I could do a lesson for a group of students, even if it was the children of PTA parents, then she will see first hand Ms. McGee in action....should I scare her with a song? hehehe I guess that will be next week also.

I am still not opposed to Japan, but they still only have openings for teachers whom are familiar with Japanese. Rosetta Stone might have to be an investment for me! Ha! Just Kidding!

Not matter what I still have peace. I understand and believe the Lord will provide. I am ready for a revealing of the great future, but it looks like I am still in the search, wait and trust phase!

Hilarious email from one of my students this year!

"I DID IT"i finally passed science.
Now i am close in math but far from laughage arts.
your right it does make you have a warm fuzzy-feeling.
i am sooooo happy i cant explane
it. thanks 4 the encouragement. thats the only reason i am were i am. this is my best
year ever in elemtry school, only because i have the gratest 5th grade science teacher.
[that means you] and i mean that you are the best teacher ever. you and Mrs.Fisher.
THANKS again... i almost pee'd my pants when you sang to Nathan, chad, and griffen.
that was sooo funny. :o

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!