paperwork, PAPERwork, PAPERWORK!!

Since I made my decision to sign my contract it's been a never ending process of paperwork. I got a list of all the documents I would have to fill out, scan, authenticate, or acquire. Here is my list of required documents: Security Application/Registration Form (1), Undertaking Letter (3), Passport photos (15+), Color copy of passport (5), authenticated WOU transcripts, authenticated B.S. degree, authenticated Oregon Teaching License, Color copy of said transcripts, degree and license (3), Experience letter from current employer with UAE attestation (2), Personal information form, and a new joiner form. This is only the first list they gave me... the second one was a list of things that had to be scanned to them in PDF format and added my visa application.

If you're thinking, "Whoa, that's a lot of paper!" You'd be completely correct. Most of the forms had to be printed, filled out, scanned and imported to word to be saved as a pdf. It's a little crazy. The filling out the forms came with an instruction book and was a little intimidating, but doable.

I ordered my transcripts and got my BS out of it's pretty folder and made copies and had them notarized. Then had to make the trek down to Salem to the Secretary of State Department. That was much easier than I thought it was... but now I've discovered that they may not have done it correctly and I may have to start over!!! Believe me I will NOT be paying that $40 plus gas all over again. Unfortunately I just discovered this possible problem. Actually thanks to pulling out the document list to blog about it... So THANK YOU friends who are reading this, you could be saving me literally hundreds of dollars. Now I'm waiting for an answer about those very documents to see if they're ok or they need to be redone.

In the mean time I've learned that I will be teaching 2nd grade!!! That is so unbelievably exciting.

I also have all my passport photos done... I found a way to cheat... here's the trick... go to Costco and get your passport photo done there... they'll charge you $4.99 for 4 pictures. You then pay an additional 2.99 to purchase the digital rights to the photo. Go home and pop it in the computer and goggle passport photos. You'll see services to do it online... you just upload the costco version and they make it into a 4x6. Then you pay $0.13 for each additional 4 photos. I ordered 5, 4x6s so I've only ended up paying $0.36 for each of my photos... a grand total of less than $9.00. I think that's great compared to the $25 I would have been paying for the same amount. Imagine if you had to buy them for a whole family to move...

Well it's not too bad....

I'm still feeling a little crazy and hopefully I'll understand more and more as I move along...

A Chance of a Lifetime!

I've been trying to write about this topic since April. I think the problem is that there's just so much stuff swirling around in my head. It seems like with each person I talk about a different aspect of my pending adventure. So I guess I'm just a little all over the place. I'm excited and scared and totally in denial. If I didn't have checklists and a series of steps that need to be completed I don't think I'd have any clue what it is that I'm doing. So I've decided that since I can't eloquently spew my thoughts and feelings about the whole thing right now I'm going to go start at the beginning and see where I go.

On April 16th, with the pep talk from Emily on my mind, I headed out to the 2013 Portland Professional Educator Fair at the Oregon Convention Center. I arrived early and got my booklet, only to be completely overwhelmed. There was an astounding turn out for the fair, not only educators, but also districts.

I watched as other educators sat in groups and mapped out their attack plan for the day and had no idea what to do myself. I found a ledge to sit on and opened the booklet. There were lists and lists inside and I had no idea how to utilize the book. I started out marking all the booths who were looking for K-5 teachers and quickly decided that was a waste of time. At this point they had opened the doors and I was afraid of being left behind. I flipped through the book until I found the section that listed the districts that were looking for K-3 and decided to approach it much like I would the Health Expo or the Women's Show. I started at one end and intended to work my way around.

The first stop was Yupik, Alaska. The women there was very friendly and promptly asked for my resume. I figured this might be an indicator of my luck for the day. I continued down the line, comparing the school/district listed to my book. I talked to the American school in Kuwait, and even got a call from them a couple of weeks later. I talked to a district in Idaho and Alief Independent School District in Texas, where I was asked to come back on Wednesday to interview. After talking with an amazingly nice woman at the Alief I made a stop at an empty table to regroup. This allowed me a minute to look at the table next to me without actually engaging the recruiters at the table. They were from the Glenelg School of Abu Dhabi (GSAD) and weren't listed in my book. I actually was walking past them when something stopped me. I have no idea what it was that prompted me to backpedal and talk with them. After a brief conversation they asked if they could see my resume. After reviewing it they asked if I would be willing to interview later in the day. I agreed and set my alarm so that I could continue making my connections with the other districts.

I talked to multiple districts in Arizona, Washington and Oregon. When 12:30 rolled around I made my way to the room where GSAD was conducting interviews and sat down with Laura. It was a great interview and I walked away thinking, "Wow, this could really happen."

A couple of hours later I received a text message from Laura asking me to stop by the booth at 3:30 to talk with Angela, that they wanted to offer me a contract. To say that I was shocked is a gross understatement. I stopped by and they asked if I could come back the next day, since I had two interviews set up I said it was no problem. I picked up my contract on Wednesday and was told that I needed to have my answer in by Sunday.

On my way home I crunched numbers, and thought about the opportunity. I started thinking about all the possibilities. The fact that this school wanted me enough to offer me a contract within hours of meeting me.

I think I'm taking my cues from Dad right now. He's pretty much in denial, and for me that works. I have so much to do and I want to enjoy my time left here with my friends and family. I guess this is where I should mention that my contract is for three years. I know that this is the right path for me. I know it all the way to my toes! I'll post again about my process and where I'll be... This is just the start of my amazing adventure!