Three years and some odd months ago I moved to Lativa. I have had my fair share of ups and downs here, but overall, I am happy to call Riga home. However, the time has come to move along.
I technically began the job hunt process in the summer of 2017. MORE than a full year before I would begin a new job. I filled in a profile online and slowly began to see jobs becoming available for the 2018 school year. In October/November, I had to inform my current school I would not be returning next year. And by the end of December, I was informed they had hired my replacement. Not exactly the most comforting of events for someone who likes to know what to expect and how things will work out. But, such is the way for international teaching.
The company that managed the online profile also hosts a few job fairs around the world, including one in London near the end of January. I had never attended a job fair before, but I had heard terrible things about them. However, knowing this fair was likely my best chance at a job, I signed up.
One of my main goals in job hunting was to get as close to Dennis, while also finding a school I really liked, as possible. Most of the potential opportunities seemed to be in Germany. Prior to the fair, I interviewed with one school that was even smaller than my current. It seemed like a great place with good plans for the future, but it didn't feel right for me.
Days before the fair I was beginning to feel a bit more discouraged as I had heard very little back from the schools I wanted. But then I received three emails from three different schools all in one day! Each email offering to meet up for an interview at the fair! That certainly provided the confidence boost I needed.
I arrived in London Thursday morning, headed to my hotel, got changed, and headed over to check in for the fair and do my first interview. I stayed across the street from where the fair was being held, and I feel that was a wise choice. The fair had taken over the entire hotel it seemed! There were even tables in the lobby bar where schools were set up and conducting meetings and even interviews! Most interviews were held in various hotel rooms, including all of mine.
I found several of my current coworkers and chatted with them as we all prepared for the days ahead. Then went upstairs for my first interview. I was pleasantly surprised to find how at ease I felt throughout the interview. Very quickly they began to share all the great things about their school - including all the things I was so praying to hear! I left the interview feeling excited to talk to them again. Prior to the interview, I was more excited about the second school I would be meeting as that school is closer to Dennis. But, after the interview, I was reconsidering that order and rationalizing a few extra hours on a train.
Later, I was again in the lobby with a friend. I was still in awe of the fact that interviews were occurring all around me, but also loving it! Confession: I am a shameless eavesdropper! hehe! I was listening to a conversation between two administrators and a man they seemed eager to hire as a math teacher. They were only a coffee table away, it would have been harder to not listen! hehe! My friend sitting next to me asked what school they were from and I zeroed in on their name badge only to find it was a school in Casablanca! Without thinking I enthusiastically blurted out "Casablanca!" Of course, one of the administrators looked over and I sheepishly explained that I used to live there. He went back to his conversation/interview which ended about four minutes later. When he glanced over again I apologized for interrupting (but not for listening in, because again, of course, I was listening!). We began to talk about schools and life in Casa and my friend joined in asking about positions they were seeking to fill. Her ears perked when he mentioned a position in administration- not the exact role she wanted but something to gain experience from. She took the conversation from there and scheduled a more formal interview, away from the lobby and shameless eavesdroppers, with them. The next day, she accepted an offer from that school! So my eavesdropping paid off ;)
The next day, I was interviewing with the school that is closer to Dennis. I arrived a bit early for the interview but another school had some information packets in the hallway so I began to flip through them. Another teacher candidate came up who was planning to interview with the info-packet school. She and I discussed the school and how beautiful its campus was. She seemed really excited about the school and the position. Then, the door opened and the woman said to her, "Hello, thanks for coming up here, but I've just offered the position to another candidate and I don't feel it's fair to waste either of our time. Thank you again for coming up and for understanding." And just like that, the door closed. We both looked at each other in a complete loss for words. That was a conversation I did not need to overhear. The woman seemed bummed, but shrugged and said that was the way things went. I was beginning to see the 'terrible things about job fairs' for myself.
Finally, my door opened, only for the interviewer to tell me she needed five more minutes. Candidates sign-up for 30-minute slots and for many schools their schedules are packed, meaning you have to make the most of those 30 minutes. And, my time was being spent reading about some school elsewhere. When the interview did begin, they had great pedagogical and curriculum questions to ask. They had good things to say about the school, and in the back of my mind, I kept telling myself it was that much closer to Dennis. But I didn't feel the same sense of comfort and peace as I had with the first school. I left thinking if they offered the job, I would probably say yes. Not exactly the excitement I had felt the day before.
Shortly after that interview, I received an offer from the first school I interviewed with. I called Dennis to share the news and we talked about if this was a good thing or a really good thing. I shared with him how I was more excited about this school and felt like I would enjoy it there. I believe part of Dennis was secretly hoping I would not get a job simply because the backup plan had started to sound even better than the me-getting-a-new-job plan, but he encouraged me to do what felt right. He is great.
So, I happily accepted an upper elementary teaching position with a school in Frankfurt, Germany. Thus, ending my months long, stress and worry filled job hunt. :D
