I promised you news, I vowed that there would be a next step and yep, it’s here! Actually it came together much more quickly and a whole lot easier than I had anticipated which of course has me a little hesitant about the next step BUT it’s forward motion and it’s an opportunity that the universe has thrown my way so I would be awfully foolish to not take it at this point.
There seem to be some suspiciously conspiring forces keeping me OUT of the Middle East (much to the joy of some friends and family) and in Africa right now. While looking for teaching positions in the Middle East the first time, I found the volunteer job in Tanzania. Attempt #2 for searching in the Middle East and I’ve found and accepted another African job. This one however, is paid (thankfully!) I was looking for positions for the fall and had planned to start travelling my way up north hoping to eventually end up somewhere around the Middle East, most likely broke, destitute, and desperate for work. Instead, I found a job that starts in April, keeps me in Africa, and should it all fall to pieces (which it won’t), leaves me maybe enough time to still find work somewhere else for the fall. I was needing to get a move on and now I’m feeling a little out of time. Don’t you love how when you just put it out there, to the gods or the universe or whatever spins the stars that something usually falls right in your lap? How it continues to come together for me, I will never understand but will be forever and ever grateful.
As of April 20th, I will be the new primary teacher for the British International School in Accra, Ghana. Sounds MUCH more prestigious than it is but I am super excited nonetheless. The interview was more or less, “Can you get to Ghana for April? Would you prefer to teach Infant or Primary students? You will be expected to teach British curriculum for core subjects, not English as a foreign language. Do you have any questions?” And then our telephone connection was cut off. A few frantic emails and I was assured that they had all of the necessary information and would be contacting me shortly but that I could send any questions that I had. Ummm…. Whaaaaa? How about a real interview please? I gathered that that wasn’t going to happen and that they either had zero interest in me or were maybe somewhat on the desperate side and considering I was already in Africa, I was top of the hiring list. I sent off a shopping list of questions about the job, the school, the students, and emphatically shared the fact that I have only taught ESL, not proper British curriculum. My questions were promptly answered followed by a job offer and a contract a couple of days later. Oh. My. Gosh.
I hummed and hawed, read the contract details until my head hurt, made Nicola read the offer over and over with me, sent a few more clarifying questions, made myself sick over how to talk to the owner of the dive shop about leaving in a month when I had told him I would stay until September, forced myself to think about what was best for me, not everyone else, and then with a bit of a stomachache, accepted the job. The leading up to it process is always so ridiculously and unnecessarily filled with anxiety for me but once the decision is made, the proverbial bandage ripped off, I become giddy with excitement over the prospects of my next big adventure. Folks… I am going to Ghana.
Details… I’m to arrive in Accra on April 20th so that I can get settled in and have a few days of orientation before 3rd term starts on April 27th. The pay is low, it’s Africa, but I’ve always been pretty good with living cheap cheap so I think I’ll be okay. There’s a “huge teacher house” that some of us will be sharing where we each have our own bedroom and bathroom but share the common area and kitchen (this is paid by the school) and I think we are provided transportation to and from the school as well. I’ll be assigned the grade that I’m teaching once I arrive and I’ll be responsible for educating these poor little buggers in History, Geography, Art, and Phys. Ed. Panicking about the Art part as I have zero creative ability, think I can probably swing History and Geography since I’ll simply be following a prescribed curriculum, and find it absolutely hilarious that I get to be a gym teacher. Wonder if they’ll provide the short shorts, tucked in t-shirt, tube socks pulled up to the knee, and shiny, silver whistle? Oh I can just see it now…. Not a pretty picture people, not at all.
And get THIS!.... I start 3rd term of British schooling so the kids are in class until the end of June, we have a week to do final reports, then we are off, on holidays, PAID until the last week of August. I work three months then get 6 wks off… PAID. Hello travel bug! I can cover a lot of ground in 6 weeks! I can either fall madly in love with it all and stay until my contract ends (July 6th, 2012) or I can hit the hills running looking for what’s next. I figure by the end of May I should know whether or not I want to stay so I either give them my 30 days I-want-out-of-here notice or start looking at travel routes. Either way, I’m unstuck from here and I am on the move. Really, this is coming together far too nicely.
I’m optimistic, always hopeful about new adventure, but I’m no longer ridiculously naïve. The politics of my school in Thailand and the insanity of my life in Tanzania were all invaluable learning lessons. As always, as long as I have my passport and a credit card in hand, I am never, ever stuck. I’m pretty good at up & out in short notice in the cover of darkness. This is another reason why minimizing comes in so handy. Oh! And I’ve just received my new credit card and have submitted all of the necessary paperwork (along with highway robbery fees) for a brand new passport so I’m finally feeling a little more in control of my life at the moment. Shiny new passport should be in my eager little hands by the time I fly out of here, fingers crossed, somewhere around March 23rd.
Since I have a new credit card, the first two exciting purchases: a brand new, very cool camera, and a plane ticket to visit my parents before I start my new job. Natalia brought me back my first REAL camera from her visit home and I am currently in the process of trying to figure out all of the fancy pants features. And I am scouring the internet for affordable tickets to see my snowbird mom and dad in their winter home in Florida for a few weeks once I leave Mozambique. If anyone wants to come see me in the sunny citrus state, that’s where I’ll be, soaking up civilization, using all of the hot water for stupidly long showers, watching TV, and trying to remember how to drive. Yes mom & dad, I am driving EVERYWHERE!!! Wow, I really miss driving. ROAD TRIP! Yeah, maybe even a road trip. Think about it, dear readers, who knows when I’ll be back on North American soil again... this could be your one and only chance to see it, to see me … a misplaced, misguided Canadian soul’s last grasp at life in the Western world. If nothing else, I’m sure will be fairly comical. Most of my life has been just that so far.
Life is about to become very hectic here as I prepare to leave. I am moving out of my place Mar 1st so will be homeless and drifting for my last three weeks, I will need to help find and train my replacement at the dive shop (even though I haven’t really figured out what I’m actually doing yet!), I will be fretting over the last minute application and processing of my passport from a consulate that will most likely take their sweet-ass time, and I will be preparing to say goodbye to a place that is filled with so much and so many that I have come to love. How does it go from too much time to not enough time at all? Always seems to be the case for me. But probably for a reason as if I have time to spare, I think too much and that is never, ever a good thing. Rush, rush, rush and GO! I will be just fine.
That’s the news from Mozambique, from one adventure to the next. Will update you soon!
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