Closing of the first overseas chapter…

As we get closer to the end of the school year and that well-earned summer break, I sit with my coffee on the terrace on a sunny Sunday morning. Tomorrow will be the last week of the year and the closing of the first overseas chapter for me.

As I sit and reflect, I can’t fathom where the time has gone. It’s been two years since I first moved here! I’ve completed almost two years of teaching here, which is four classes in total. As I sit and sip my coffee I wonder where that time has gone. It certainly doesn’t feel like two years since I arrived with my suitcase. All hot and bothered and nervous as hell! But, as I sit and reflect on my time here. What an experience it has been! I keep reminding myself that I made it! I achieved it! All those years of dreaming about living and teaching abroad, and here I am with two years worth now under my belt!

And now, after two interesting, exciting years I feel it is time to move on and begin a new adventure and experience. I am certainly not ready to move back to England! This teaching overseas vibe has got me! For one thing, being a teacher in the UK is frankly awful! And for another, there’s just too much to see and experience yet.

I’d been contemplating a move for a while. But, I didn’t have anywhere particular in mind, or anywhere in particular that was standing out to me. So, I began by updating my CV over the past two years. Where I’ve been teaching, what skills I feel I’ve gained, year groups taught, courses etc. Then, I started trawling through all the relevant job sites with the glimmer of hope that something interesting would pop up!

I’ve often found in different job seeking experiences that I apply, and often get to the interview stage. But then that’s where it tends to go pear-shaped! My nerves often always get the better of me! So, although I smile and aim to demonstrate my enthusiasm for the position I think the fact that I’m terrified with nerves shows more! This then, unfortunately, all too often reveals my ever so gormless, clumsy and somewhat at times dodgy social skills! I have turned to leave an interview, back home, before now and somehow caught a stack of loose papers piled up causing the whole lot to fall across the floor as the interviewers just stared at me from the other side of the room as I frankly tried to pick them up and place them back on the table. I wasn’t offered the position!

And sometimes, that’s when those negative thoughts and feelings seem to rear their ugly head. I guess it’s fear of the unknown, worrying about what will be, or just when certain other aspects of life get on top of you from time to time. I think it’s why I have a fondness for life quotes to keep positive in moments of darkness and negative thoughts.

Here are just some of the ones that I’ve adapted or interpreted that I have read often from blogs, books, and even social media:

~The best possible medicine for the soul is light-hearted laughter with light-hearted people.

~Do what you love and what makes you happy, as long as its legal and doesn’t disrupt the peace of others.

~Make sure you appreciate the people in your life, hang on to them and make time for them. Its true that you don’t meet people by accident, they’re there for a reason! And in today’s world of technology, there is no excuse. It feels good to remind yourselves and reminisce the good times, fun times, the laughs and memories made together.

~We all make wrong/bad choices from time to time. We all have regrets and wonder what could have been, but the important thing is that you can admit that to yourself, learn from it for the next time and move on.

~Don’t tell others about your dreams and goals, work hard at them and show them instead.

~What constantly plays on your mind, niggles at you, even bothers you at times is your destiny come knocking. Open that new door and chase it as new possibilities and adventures await!

~If it makes you feel unfulfilled, heavy, empty or miserable – walk away, jack it in, leave it behind! Whether it’s a relationship, or a job. Anything that damages your soul in such a way simply isn’t worth it.

~And when you do have the courage to leave that something behind, do so with a clean conscience, but never forget the lesson it taught you.

~When you’re knocked down in life, fail at something, or simply don’t achieve what you’d hoped, let yourself be sad for a short while. It’s important to let things out and not keep them bottled up. Then get up, dust yourself off and re-focus your energy. It doesn’t mean you’re a failure – no one is! You just haven’t found your destiny yet.

~Block out the naysayers and gossips. Instead pity them for having the time and energy to focus on your goals and dreams instead of chasing their own.

~Always trust your gut, it will never let you down.

Some may seem a bit much or spiritually deep! But I feel are important reminders in life to keep going and not to give up and to help change your trail of thought!

A lot of these I’m still reminding myself and working at! But help me to snap out of negative thinking mode and refocus my energy.

Whilst searching through the different teaching sites I come across two positions. Both are for the same country, but different cities. One that I’d love to work in slightly more than the other. But both equally interesting positions that match my experience and skills.

I decided to apply for both and so start the process of reading each of their websites and researching before adapting my application for each position and school. Click send, sit back and hope for the best! Two days later I receive a response inviting me to interview via Skype at the end of the following week. This school is the second choice out of the two, but it’s an interview and a step in the right direction nonetheless!

The dreaded interview day arrives and with nerves aside and a few deep breaths I hit the accept call button to begin the interview. However, after having had more of an insight into this position, and after discussing it with the two heads, I decide not to proceed any further. Even before knowing if I’ve got through to the next stage of interviews or not! The reason being, that this particular position required me to teach across all primary year groups and only teach certain subjects as a cover teacher. Not worded this way in the advert! This position would have been ok in a smaller school setting. You get to know all of the children well in a position such as that. However, I think I would prefer to have my own class and be based in one area of the school, not all over the place!

Having not heard from the second school since sending my application a couple of weeks ago I assume that I have been unsuccessful! (I have since learnt that this process can take several weeks or even months sometimes in international settings). That is until I received an email saying that I had been longlisted for the position and was invited to a Skype interview in a few days. At this point, although nervous already, I was beaming! I liked the feel of this school already, I had a good feeling about it. It’s also the one out of the two that I was most hopeful about! The interview day arrives, but isn’t until later in the afternoon. So, I literally had all day to sweat it out!

It gets nearer to the interview time so I set up the laptop and log into Skype to make sure everything is working as it should be and is ready to use! Then go through the usual motions of sweaty palms, butterflies/dropping like a stone in my stomach and taking deep breaths. And the whole time just wanting to get on with it and for it all to be over with!

It gets nearer the time and so I sit and anticipate the inevitable bubbling sound of the Skype call. The interview lasted about 20 minutes with quite an enthusiastic headteacher, who was also quite a pleasant, jolly lady. This time, I felt more at ease than during the other interview. Maybe it was because I was getting more practice with them lately! Or, this particular interviewer just made me feel more at ease, I’m not sure! I even seemed to have more control over my wondering, waving across the screen hands! Managing to keep them on either side of my laptop. Still gesturing and waving them about either side, but hopefully out of sight of the interviewer! She just had to contend with my shoulders tensing up and down for 20 minutes!

Sadly though, despite feeling more positive this time, I received an email the following afternoon informing me that I had been unsuccessful. Disappointed, yes! But it just meant that I needed to keep trying and applying. Unsuccessful on this occasion, but most certainly heading in the right direction!

Over the next few weeks, it kind of goes that way. I am invited to interview where I am either unsuccessful, or it just doesn’t feel right and so I go with my gut. At times I can’t help feeling I am being a tad too fussy maybe!

It is getting closer to the end of the year and the summer holidays. But despite this, I am not worried. Maybe I have developed the ‘manana’ approach after two years of living in Spain! But, at the moment my feeling is to enjoy the time I have left with my classes and in Spain. Especially after a fantastic year so far with both my classes.

The highlight for me. And what I really loved! Was how each of my classes cheered, air punched, high-fived and clapped with huge cheesy grins on their faces as I told them they’d all passed their Oral English test. 100% pass rate!

All their efforts, hard work and practice activities in class certainly paid off! I was so proud of each and every one of the children across both classes. I was also so thankful that all did achieve a pass and that I didn’t have to deliver the unfortunate news that someone hadn’t passed! If I’m honest, I was never fully comfortable with the procedure of these tests. It all just seemed like so much pressure on the children to do well and pass. And, the expectation from the parents that their child would achieve that pass, regardless, was added stress for teachers!

But, it meant we could all relax a little and enjoy the fun activities of the last school week of the year.

The children’s achievements helped me to feel like I was leaving Spain on a good note. With pleased parents and, rightfully so, chuffed children who were pleased and proud of themselves. They were more than ready to leave school behind for a few weeks and enjoy their well-deserved summer break.

Adios…

And, with that, we all switched off for summer! The children headed off to the beach and pyrenees with their families. And I packed my suitcase and said goodbye to Spain. Headed back home to the UK for my summer break before heading off to my next teaching abroad destination. Watch this space!

And so, this chapter comes to a close as I turn the page to begin the next, new chapter. Adios Spain, it’s certainly been an experience!