Friday, December 17, 2010
Aiden's Birthday
Nearing the End
We have nothing but tests next week for our students. Two teen classes insist on being allowed to "work together", i.e. cheat. They've insisted I get information about the test for them ahead of time to "prepare" for what's to come. And, the kicker; "Our teachers before have always let us work together and talk." I know I don't look that old, but I'm really older than having been born yesterday! Teenagers make me want to shudder, cringe, cry and scream for our future. I'm not being dramatic in the least!
Aiden and I begin to clean out our apartment today. It's amazing how much stuff accumulates after only four months. We had only purchased the necessary-iron, broom, fan, etc., and we'll leave it behind for the landlord's future tenants. The hardest thing to pack or leave are our books. They become like friends. We read their stories here and if we bring them home, they'll always be our tie to Montenegro (along with the hundreds of pics we have...).
Another apartment to clean, another move. I've done this how many times before? And how many more in the future? People think that this is difficult-to pack up and move across the world to a virtually unknown living/working situation, but what really terrifies me is the thought of moving back to California with permanence, buying a house, having kids and "settling down". I feel as though I've been in transit since high school, or at least my mind was... This was my dream even then. Move. Explore. Venture. Move again. I've got Aiden, something I couldn't fathom back in high school, but I feel as though we're invincible and that there's nothing we can't do and nowhere we can't go. Thank you to you, our loved ones, for being supportive, loving, and patient while we trek around the world. We hope to inspire others to take up the journey and meet us sometime, somewhere. Perhaps permanence is overrated.
Aiden and I begin to clean out our apartment today. It's amazing how much stuff accumulates after only four months. We had only purchased the necessary-iron, broom, fan, etc., and we'll leave it behind for the landlord's future tenants. The hardest thing to pack or leave are our books. They become like friends. We read their stories here and if we bring them home, they'll always be our tie to Montenegro (along with the hundreds of pics we have...).
Another apartment to clean, another move. I've done this how many times before? And how many more in the future? People think that this is difficult-to pack up and move across the world to a virtually unknown living/working situation, but what really terrifies me is the thought of moving back to California with permanence, buying a house, having kids and "settling down". I feel as though I've been in transit since high school, or at least my mind was... This was my dream even then. Move. Explore. Venture. Move again. I've got Aiden, something I couldn't fathom back in high school, but I feel as though we're invincible and that there's nothing we can't do and nowhere we can't go. Thank you to you, our loved ones, for being supportive, loving, and patient while we trek around the world. We hope to inspire others to take up the journey and meet us sometime, somewhere. Perhaps permanence is overrated.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Budva on the beach
This was one of our earlier trips and we love the sea. Something about water is restorative to the soul and psyche. Plus, the statue was pretty cool. Sunshine+sea=happy Sarah.
The Great Debate
To sell out and teach somewhere to make a ton of money or not to sell out and teach somewhere to make a ton of money. THAT is the question.
We've come to a crossroads in our careers. Saddled with school loans, we're hardly a carefree couple who can work for beans. Having just started out (well, nearly two years out), we're beginning to see the way the world of teaching outside of the U.S. works. Asia offers plenty of jobs with a range of teaching salaries and expectations. Europe makes is darn near impossible for U.S. citizens to get into and teach and the pay is better but the cost of living makes it difficult to save. South America offers the experience of a lifetime but hardly enough money to survive. And then there's Africa. We know little of Africa because their job listings don't dominate the employment sites and teachers who've taught there don't comment much on job forums.
So, we ponder. Why did we get into this profession exactly? We're not lit or rhet majors. We're TESOL majors. We want to teach English to those who have different native languages. But now we'd like to become double threats and not just teach a language, but perhaps contribute to improving the lives of the suffering and needy. And make money all at the same time? Oy.
I'm writing this as an outlet to my frustration. Thanks pop culture and professional athletes for reminding me just how out-of-whack the world is. Why do teachers not receive million dollar paychecks again?? Should we put a price on education? Yes. Let's start at a thousand bucks an hour and go from there. Here's to all the educators out there who have made it their life's work to helping the improvement of developing minds!
We've come to a crossroads in our careers. Saddled with school loans, we're hardly a carefree couple who can work for beans. Having just started out (well, nearly two years out), we're beginning to see the way the world of teaching outside of the U.S. works. Asia offers plenty of jobs with a range of teaching salaries and expectations. Europe makes is darn near impossible for U.S. citizens to get into and teach and the pay is better but the cost of living makes it difficult to save. South America offers the experience of a lifetime but hardly enough money to survive. And then there's Africa. We know little of Africa because their job listings don't dominate the employment sites and teachers who've taught there don't comment much on job forums.
So, we ponder. Why did we get into this profession exactly? We're not lit or rhet majors. We're TESOL majors. We want to teach English to those who have different native languages. But now we'd like to become double threats and not just teach a language, but perhaps contribute to improving the lives of the suffering and needy. And make money all at the same time? Oy.
I'm writing this as an outlet to my frustration. Thanks pop culture and professional athletes for reminding me just how out-of-whack the world is. Why do teachers not receive million dollar paychecks again?? Should we put a price on education? Yes. Let's start at a thousand bucks an hour and go from there. Here's to all the educators out there who have made it their life's work to helping the improvement of developing minds!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
First Time's a Charm
Welcome to blogspot, readers! I had done a little posting of blogs on our website, but it's quite a complicated task because it takes Aiden's handiwork to upload and publish and stuff that I don't understand and obviously can't do. Anyhoo, here we are, at present, freezing our tushes off in Podgorica, Montenegro. The current temperature is 34 degrees with an expected high of 36. But, at least no rain!! We've been quite drenched for the past month or so and some of our students have missed classes because their houses were flooded. I'm getting in a quick posting before work to jump start the process of regular updates. We've been here for nearly four months and it's about time I started reflecting on our time here. I don't know when we'll get back to Eastern Europe and I have a memory like a brick wall, so I'll see you soon!
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