Anybody Have A Little Red Car for Sale?
(Warning: this post has nothing to do with education and contains graphic descriptions of man tears and my possibly burgeoning mid life crisis. But hey, I pay the bills around here and so I can write whatever I like…)
I sit in a very quiet Cedar Rapids Iowa airport on a Saturday afternoon. The University of Northern Iowa Overseas Job Fair rages on an hour north of here in Waterloo. We’ve left it behind.
Having never been to a job fair before, I had no idea what to expect. Arriving at the fair yesterday morning, we found a mailbox that had been set aside for each of the candidates present at the fair (about 650) where schools had left notes for us telling of their interest in us and giving some information about their schools. We had about 15 initial offers from schools wanting us to contact them. We shuffled through these, found the places we were interested in and when the doors opened to the hall itself where representatives from each school was standing; a crazy few hours ensued. You had three jobs to do: contact the schools who wanted to interview you and that you are interested in, contact those with a polite note who wanted to speak to you but that you are not interested in, and third, try to convince other schools that you might be interested in that you are worthy of talking to.
650 people looking for new jobs. Approximately 150 schools. Chaos ensues.
After doing all that we had to do, the interview sessions began. In a hotel across the street, in the convention centre itself, at tables in random areas spread across the place, dressed up bodies tried their best to convince others they were worthy or a job in a city somewhere around the world. We spent Friday and Friday evening talking to schools and handling a few interviews. Two leads looked especially interesting to us and one of the schools, a beautiful looking campus in a place that we had never considered was very interested in us. Then through Friday night, as a couple, we talked and talked, slept little and considered what Saturday would bring.
In the morning, through tears, we talked about what our plans had been for this fair, the places we wanted to go and the consequences for ourselves, our 2 boys, and our close family.
We decided to leave and head back home. This was not a decision made out of fear or in anger. This was a decision made, more than anything, out of faith. We are a staunch Catholic family and we firmly believe that we are where we are for a reason. For two years now, we thought we were leaving Snow Lake. We talked to schools last year who were interested in us and could not bring ourselves to a decision. We talked to many more this year and dealt with people in good faith, fully expecting to be leaving our home behind and beginning a new adventure. We have dealt with literally hundreds of emails from colleagues who did everything possible for us; handling our resumes into the right hands, giving us information on salary packages and housing. Answering every tiny little question we had. And yet in the end, feeling like Jonah, we are brought to a place we had no idea we would be. We fully expected to be leaving Iowa early Monday morning with new jobs and a new contract. We were excited for the opportunity.
I have no idea what this means. I have no idea what our next steps are or what this means for our life. Those of you who know me a bit better know about the situation in my classroom and in my school so you understand more fully the consequences of this decision. I have no answers for any of you. All I can tell you is that we appreciate all of the time you have taken for us this year. The emails, the skype conversations, setting up interviews, battling with administrators and being our voice in cities around the world. This is not a decision we made lightly, or in fear, or in anger. This was a decision made as adults who sometimes have no idea how their lives are supposed to go.
Clarence,
For several years I have enjoyed reading your blog posts. I just want to let you know that I feel for you and your family and hope that you find your path.
Maryanne
Thanks Maryanne I appreciate your kindness.
When one has faith, one has a path. When one has a path, one has a place to walk. Walkways criss-cross many paths, many paths mean many decisions. Decisions require faith. I have faith – faith that what ever decisions we make for ourselves and our family are the right ones. I’m thinking of you and wishing you only what’s best for you and your family.
Kia kaha e hoa, aroha nui – (Stay strong, my friend, much love).
Chrissy; I have been learning more and more over the past few years that my path seems to be a complex and convoluted one. I have been fortunate in my life to have had many opportunities and to get to meet many wonderful people. Where I need to walk is now a mystery to me; I thought I knew where I was headed. I appreciate your friendship in a tough time.
Let us know how we can help out along the way!
Tough decisions. Seems like the time wasn’t quite right. You may stay in Snow Lake, or not. You’ll know “when waiting is filled.”
We gotta go for beer; it’s on me. I got no place to go and nothing more important to do than that, with you.
Courageous and smart. The “faith thing” adds another component to decision making that is both comforting but challenging. All the best.
I’m with Darren, it just sounds like the time was just not right. That certainly doesn’t mean the opportunity is lost forever, or that something exciting might not be waiting just around the corner. Sometimes taking a risk is all you need to open up new and unexpected doors. Good luck, Clarence!
Thanks all for the continued support. We are home now, looking ahead and thinking back to what just happened and we still have no answers. We know that we were not completely comfortable with the schools that we were talking to in Waterloo. The “fit” was just not right and that was definitely part of our decision. While it is -30C as I sit here and write this, we also know that life here in Snow Lake can be pretty good. We have a nice house directly across the street from the lake while my canoe sits in my garage waiting for spring time to come so it and I can spend our hours together out on the water. It is like stepping back from a brink of some kind. We had expected to be back here on Monday (today) with a new contract and new plans to do something different. Instead, we are stepping back in to our old lives, picking up where we left off. Maybe this will help us to see ourselves and our situation here in a new way and with new eyes…
Sometimes pulled. Sometimes pushed. Sometimes it feels like no guidance at all. Then, faith is all you have. So glad that you have it. I keep the faith that I will be fortunate enough to work with both of you some day.
I know the international job market is changing. At our convocation this year, our superintendent said that recruiting has rapidly shifted from a season to an all-year enterprise. I suspect the rapid growth of the ISS Job Fair in Bangkok along with the Search Fair in KL means that increasingly, Asian jobs never make it to the US fairs. WIth UNI being smaller than the big ISS and Search fairs, I know that this year, some schools that have always gone to UNI decided to drop that spot. Sure makes it challenging for a teacher to figure out what to do.
Take Care.