I'm teaching in the desert..but not the one I anticipated.

It's been a long time since I've updated this blog. October 2010 to be exact. It's August 17, 2011 today. At the time, I had just gotten a rejection email from the Teach in Bhutan program. Despite the disappointment I continued to apply to other teach abroad programs, including one to teach in Abu Dhabi. I had the interview in January. I headed on my own dime to Los Angeles, CA and had time to visit with my Godmother and cousins. I was having a great time! Until the interview. It was one of the most unprofessional interviews I've ever had! The man decided to attack my personality and told me I was not perky enough to be a kindergarten teacher. I was fuming. He told me he wanted to see me jump around and clap my hands in excitement. The funny thing is that around the same time, I was informed that a certain annoying woman who was interested in a former beau of mine was well know for jumping around and clapping in people's faces. So in my head I kept thinking..He wants me to be "clapper!?" I left LA feeling very upset and wondered if I would ever find a job. I really had high hopes of teaching in the desert of Abu Dhabi. It seemed like it would have been a great adventure. Now it seemed like a silly dream. I continued subbing for Spokane Public Schools, the Catholic Schools, and Central Valley but I longed to teach in my own class. About this time I discovered Zumba and suddenly not only was I getting in shape, I was also feeling a lot more energetic and confident. Yet the confidence kept getting shot down with every rejection I got from interviews. I looked for other teach abroad programs, but nothing. Then I got word of a possibility in Appleton, WI, which is very close to where my mom lives. I headed to the Midwest, attending a wonderful retreat first and then relaxing with my mom and aunt. The interview in Appleton was a waste of time and the interviewers told me I didn't have the right certification. I was not amused. They knew this fact from day one. I didn't know why they acted like they wanted me to teach for them. I returned to Spokane feeling very down. Another year of subbing. It didn't seem fair. I applied for a few more places and hoped for the best. One of the districts I applied to was Pasco School District located in the Tri Cities of Washington. They had a post for bilingual kindergarten teachers. I had missed the deadline but decided to apply anyway. I had lived in Tri Cities before many years ago and while I remembered that I didn't care much for living in the desert I did meet nice people. A few days after I applied I got a call for an interview. So I rented a car (since mine had some issues) and headed down for the two hour drive to Pasco. The last time I had been there was in 2004 and was surprised at how much it had changed. I felt good about the interview, but then again I felt good about the one for Bhutan, St. Al's, St. Charles, Othello...and all resulted in..nope you're not the one we want! I took a bilingual test then headed back to Spokane. Upon arriving back to Spokane I had a message to call the principal right away. I assumed it could be one of two things; A job offer or a you're out of the running, thanks anyway call. I called back and got a job offer. I was in shock. After so many rejections I finally had a teaching job again. I love kinder and while I have never taught bilingual kinder I knew it would be a good opportunity. I was heading back to the desert. Not Abu Dhabi or Bhutan, but the desert of Pasco, WA. I kept thinking back to the Abu Dhabi interview and how they told me I was not perky enough to teach Kindergarten. I may not be perky, but I am a good teacher. I'm very nervous, but I know it will be a good adventure. I will miss Spokane so much but at least it is only 2 hours away and not 2 days away like Abu Dhabi. I will blog more about my adventures in the desert of Southeastern Washington. Not quite the desert I anticipated but a desert nonetheless. Only God knows what the year has in store for me.