Ok, so I had the skype interview and hung up feeling very sad thinking I didn't feel it went as well as I hoped. First when I turned on skype I had myself by the window for light and of course it was too shiny in the camera so I quickly had to try move so it was clearer (stressful). Apparently there were a ton of people in the room, but only the principal carried out the skype interview, but everyone else could see me on a screen. Then they got straight to the core questions. Wow I felt overwhelmed and wasn't sure I was answering them properly. It was a lot about how I teach and the NZ curriculum. Now I couldn't explain of course fully I felt about the NZ curriculum having not worked with it, but I had read up on it and in detail what I would have been required to teach. I was able to apply how I have worked and will work as a teacher and that was how I answered the questions - all honestly.
Well it turned out they called my references in Sweden (very impressive they managed to figure out the time difference as I'm still struggling with it myself) and checked with two I believe. I then got a phone call the next day offering me the position!!! I couldn't believe it. They said they were impressed with my interview and I was highly recommended. I am going to do a great job and make them want to keep me now :p It's only a 1 year fixed term as they call it. The teacher I am taking over for is getting 1 year off so I will be taking her position.
I begin in 3 weeks. I told the daycare I will be leaving and they took it well. I was a bit worried. Originally the plan was for me to stay until I got my passport back from immigration, but this was simply too difficult to do. It wasn't a field for me and I was very unhappy. My 3 months is up April 12th. John will go into Palmy immigration on the 16th with the letter and then I just need to hope my passport gets sent back to us with the restriction removed.
We have in the meantime decided that if I don't get anything permanent by Feb. 2013, then we will aim to go back to Sweden. I have my job held for me there and my apartment, but hopefully now that I have a job, something permanent comes up later, we can begin to enjoy NZ and we can stay here. I don't have that feeling yet, but only due to the hectic start and not having been able to really enjoy it here quite yet.
We are trying to decide our living arrangement, whether I move into the room he is renting at Palmy, storing our stuff at our neighbours house until we decide what to do or if we take the chance and rent our own apt. at Palmy and move our stuff to that place rather than having to move everything twice. The problem is we have some heavy things that won't be able to be lifted without help, which makes it difficult to ask for help 2x to move the heavy things. I suggested asking our neighbour to help with the heavy things until we can decide properly, but it does make more sense to get an apartment, pay someone to help us move and do it once without imposing on our neighbours either. They have been wonderful and supportive to me while here.
At least with this position, John and I can live under the same roof. We've pretty much decided that I will travel to school everyday by car. It's a one hour drive, but I'd rather live in Palmy in the city that another town like we're in now. Also, considering it's not a permanent job, for me it feels silly to choose that area to live in. So it might be an early start to my morning since I think it opens at 7.30, but it'll be fine.
So that's my newest news and I feel very happy and proud I got chosen! I'm off to see the school on Monday as I'm invited for morning tea and I told the daycare that I need the morning off, but I'll be in by lunchtime. Off to start breakfast and packing for the day :)
Friday 30 March 2012
Monday 26 March 2012
Time for 2nd one tomorrow!
Well as the title says, it is time for a skype interview tomorrow. I was very happy they could offer skype considering I'd have to borrow someone's car (and there is a limited amount of people here I know that I could ask that of - a neighbour and a colleague) and then take more time off to get there. Now it doesn't really conflict with anything. This one is closer to where John goes to school, but not a permanent position, but it is a 1 year position. Granted, getting experience is always a beginning.
We have started to talk about our worries and the "what if I don't get anything permanent" senario. We have decided to give it a chance until February and if it doesn't work out that I can get any permanent position, we will then have to consider going back.
I can't admit I'm fully happy doing what I have to do now, unless I could use my "crystal ball" as someone on the forum once said and see what the future holds. It's cold in the house unless it's been sunny in the day and my days consist of counting the days from when John leaves until John gets home. I count the hours at work until I'm done and worry everytime I get called in if they're letting me go due to financial reasons they're having. Lucky for me I'm not one they are letting go and I'm very grateful for that. I didn't know until it was a possibility exactly how grateful I was. I suppose we were aware compared to Sweden that the job security here isn't as good, but seeing where I am now, it's scary how bad the job security is.
I suppose looking back we were very very spoiled in Sweden with very well built houses and apartments, great job security, wonderful parental leave (though that's not something we need to worry about), much better pay (though that doesn't bother - at least not if I'm teaching) and just in general the safety net. Now I can't say much yet about New Zealand since my days only consist of working and evenings consist of looking for a school who would like an eager, hard-working, wonderful teacher! I have applied to literally everything (no exageration) that is permanent and primary over the entire country this past weekend. Now people says it's not the right time to look. Well I have to start to look and there are positions out there. It's just a matter of them wanting or not wanting me.
I honestly can't wait to get something permanent so I know I can plan for being there because then I can also plan for living here! Once that happens we then plan to tour and see this country we were so eager to move to. We know there are so many beautiful places to visit, but any money we make we save for the possibility of having to drive to in case I get called for an interview.
Now my fingers are crossed for tomorrow because at least that would be a start. I have my long distance cousin in Auckland praying for me (also a teacher) so it was nice to have a chat with her to get some advice. She is working & living where I'd love to be. Well with John in Palmy is my first choice, but 2nd choice is Auckland because there is a university there and John could transfer there. We still haven't heard anything from Denmark and whether they are going to pay him to study here. It would be a nice bit of money to help towards his school if they say yes. It might also allow extra funding for me to stop and do subbing until I got a permanent position if I can't get anything. Maybe I'm just not being patient enough, but I feel I've had enough holidays now at the daycare and want to get back into what I love doing and what I do best. It's strange not using my evenings to plan. I actually like planning! Well it is nice having this extra free time, but still I'd rather teach.
I've started to look into seeing if someone has a room to rent in this area so then I could use the car and go to Palmy on weekends instead of us living here. Apparently though this is the wrong area to do this in since people don't rent as it's all Army subsidised living. Of course it is. Anything to make my daily life easier is just not happening right now. We had a lovely little mouse living in our house. The little thing just couldn't help but make his markings and then had the nerve to eat everything off our traps without setting them off! Well we caught him 2nd time around and so far no sign of more. Phew it seems it was just the one (knock on wood!). Ok, so a mouse might not seem like a big deal to you. Well let me tell you. I haven't had to deal with them since I was a child. So I'm not used to taking care of them as an adult either. I even considered getting a cat and let me tell you I am not a huge fan of cats since I'm afraid of their claws. No, really, I didn't plan on getting a cat, but I did ponder the thought for all of 10 seconds.
Oh did I mention the dead bird in our "chippy" (the little stove in the kitchen). Oh yes and I most likely didn't mention the day I came home to literally a hundred flies swarming in my kitchen since it was a hot day and the crock pot was on. Well they say this is normal here. I kept saying the amount of flies I have was not normal, but nope, no one would come check it out until I investigated. Well, not being a house owner, nor a farmer, nor a person really with anything to do in nature (well I do love camping, but still wouldn't consider myself any expert), what did they really want me to investigate?! Well maybe it was the dead bird I found a month later in the chippy that I mentioned in my first sentence? Not sure and don't think it was that, but you never know since I've no idea how long it was there.
Now I'm off to sleep now that I've put my frustrations down on the web. At least I can get a giggle out of my story as I write it. I should probably say in all of this that John loves it here and he'd probably love it more if I was doing something I liked. I know he worries because of me and the getting a job part. I promise if I get a permanent job in teaching, I won't complain. :p
We have started to talk about our worries and the "what if I don't get anything permanent" senario. We have decided to give it a chance until February and if it doesn't work out that I can get any permanent position, we will then have to consider going back.
I can't admit I'm fully happy doing what I have to do now, unless I could use my "crystal ball" as someone on the forum once said and see what the future holds. It's cold in the house unless it's been sunny in the day and my days consist of counting the days from when John leaves until John gets home. I count the hours at work until I'm done and worry everytime I get called in if they're letting me go due to financial reasons they're having. Lucky for me I'm not one they are letting go and I'm very grateful for that. I didn't know until it was a possibility exactly how grateful I was. I suppose we were aware compared to Sweden that the job security here isn't as good, but seeing where I am now, it's scary how bad the job security is.
I suppose looking back we were very very spoiled in Sweden with very well built houses and apartments, great job security, wonderful parental leave (though that's not something we need to worry about), much better pay (though that doesn't bother - at least not if I'm teaching) and just in general the safety net. Now I can't say much yet about New Zealand since my days only consist of working and evenings consist of looking for a school who would like an eager, hard-working, wonderful teacher! I have applied to literally everything (no exageration) that is permanent and primary over the entire country this past weekend. Now people says it's not the right time to look. Well I have to start to look and there are positions out there. It's just a matter of them wanting or not wanting me.
I honestly can't wait to get something permanent so I know I can plan for being there because then I can also plan for living here! Once that happens we then plan to tour and see this country we were so eager to move to. We know there are so many beautiful places to visit, but any money we make we save for the possibility of having to drive to in case I get called for an interview.
Now my fingers are crossed for tomorrow because at least that would be a start. I have my long distance cousin in Auckland praying for me (also a teacher) so it was nice to have a chat with her to get some advice. She is working & living where I'd love to be. Well with John in Palmy is my first choice, but 2nd choice is Auckland because there is a university there and John could transfer there. We still haven't heard anything from Denmark and whether they are going to pay him to study here. It would be a nice bit of money to help towards his school if they say yes. It might also allow extra funding for me to stop and do subbing until I got a permanent position if I can't get anything. Maybe I'm just not being patient enough, but I feel I've had enough holidays now at the daycare and want to get back into what I love doing and what I do best. It's strange not using my evenings to plan. I actually like planning! Well it is nice having this extra free time, but still I'd rather teach.
I've started to look into seeing if someone has a room to rent in this area so then I could use the car and go to Palmy on weekends instead of us living here. Apparently though this is the wrong area to do this in since people don't rent as it's all Army subsidised living. Of course it is. Anything to make my daily life easier is just not happening right now. We had a lovely little mouse living in our house. The little thing just couldn't help but make his markings and then had the nerve to eat everything off our traps without setting them off! Well we caught him 2nd time around and so far no sign of more. Phew it seems it was just the one (knock on wood!). Ok, so a mouse might not seem like a big deal to you. Well let me tell you. I haven't had to deal with them since I was a child. So I'm not used to taking care of them as an adult either. I even considered getting a cat and let me tell you I am not a huge fan of cats since I'm afraid of their claws. No, really, I didn't plan on getting a cat, but I did ponder the thought for all of 10 seconds.
Oh did I mention the dead bird in our "chippy" (the little stove in the kitchen). Oh yes and I most likely didn't mention the day I came home to literally a hundred flies swarming in my kitchen since it was a hot day and the crock pot was on. Well they say this is normal here. I kept saying the amount of flies I have was not normal, but nope, no one would come check it out until I investigated. Well, not being a house owner, nor a farmer, nor a person really with anything to do in nature (well I do love camping, but still wouldn't consider myself any expert), what did they really want me to investigate?! Well maybe it was the dead bird I found a month later in the chippy that I mentioned in my first sentence? Not sure and don't think it was that, but you never know since I've no idea how long it was there.
Now I'm off to sleep now that I've put my frustrations down on the web. At least I can get a giggle out of my story as I write it. I should probably say in all of this that John loves it here and he'd probably love it more if I was doing something I liked. I know he worries because of me and the getting a job part. I promise if I get a permanent job in teaching, I won't complain. :p
Saturday 10 March 2012
1st down and possibly a million more to go...
I visited my first school and went through the 1st interview. I absolutely loved the school and can't describe how I feel I'm perfectly suited for it since it is soooo similar to my last school I worked at. Now if only they can feel the same way. I was very nervous, but answered all questions honestly and felt I did a great job. What might come against me is not having NZ curriculum experience, but I've read through it and it seems to be very simply and similar to what I've already worked with. So now when my phone rings, it'll be the news I'm waiting for - either a yes or a no. Every part of my body has parts crossed just hoping the answer is a yes! Beginning next week I've completed 2 months where I'm at and I'll be breaking in my last and final month for immigration. Then I'll get the letter ready for my employer to sign and John will be in to immigration in Palmerston the Monday after my 3 months to hand it all in personally. We know they won't sign it off right then and there, but at least we will know they have it in their hands. I just had a colleague go through the same thing and it took her 3 weeks to get it. On the other hand she sent it to her agent first who then sent it into immigration before she got it. I can't write too much about the school since it was only 1 interview and I don't have an answer. It'll only make sense to write once something becomes of it.... or not. So fingers crossed and lots of prayers for me this week - and that's even if they make their decision this week.
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