THE SEARCH IS OVER!!!
Success!!! I spoke with Angie during our phone interview on the 3rd. She did most of the talking, but I think we hit it off really well. She threw me some curve-balls, and I responded as best as I could. Then, last night, I got a call from Angie at Diamond Head English School, and she offered me the job. I read the contract thoroughly this morning, and everything seems to be in order.
I am so glad I got this job, it was my current top pick! Angie seems really honest and straightforward and also very cool and easy to get along with. Everything I could want in a boss.
Angie basically said that the new teacher will be almost like a family member for her. I'm so glad she chose me, it's such a good opportunity and I'm really, really excited about it.
The job is in Shiga Prefecture, in Yokaichi, Higashiomi. It's right near lake Biwa and Kyoto is the nearest large city. From what I gather, it is a medium-sized city made up of small towns that merged together. The school is a small, family-run school. It will just be Angie and 2 other teachers, including me. The apartment is 3 rooms (2 tatami, 1 wood floor), with a large kitchen and a small bathroom. I will get a bike to get to and from work, and go sightseeing and to the store. The work hours are 2-10, but some days I may not have classes scheduled for all those hours. It will be nice to sleep in every day though! I will be teaching mostly little kids.
This lifestyle suits me better than the one that Tsukuba city had to offer me, in my opinion. The working conditions are better too, because the dress code is much less formal (Bernard requires suits and business dress, where Diamond head requires clean, conservative clothing. Like chinos, a nice shirt, etc.). The pay at Bernard is more, but there are more expenses to deal with (Apartment costs more, car costs, utilities, etc). I considered the pros and cons, and also followed my gut instinct about what the bosses are like. I have no doubt that I made the right choice.
It starts in February. I can't wait! I have a lot of planning to do. I need to email my host family and tell them about it. I also need to go shopping for clothes and shoes/boots (good luck getting "western" size anything in Japan - shoe shopping there was a nightmare). I need to get my visa and Julian's visa straightened out. I need to get my taxes squared away and inform my loan agency that I'm going to be leaving the country (so they don't track me down and break my knees). I need to buy plane tickets, the sooner the better. I need to figure out what I'm bringing and leaving behind. I need to finish up my TESL training course (7 lessons to go!). I need to notify all my friends and family in the US of the change of address. And like I mentioned before, I want to take CPR classes and volunteer/mentor in the meantime. I want to have a small family party too before I go. I need a new digital camera. I'll still be working with the U of R up until February for the money. What else, what else... So much to do! Leave comments if I'm forgetting anything.
Now, to write an email to Bernard School saying that... I'm not taking their job... How to word it.
I'm still new at this.
Success!!! I spoke with Angie during our phone interview on the 3rd. She did most of the talking, but I think we hit it off really well. She threw me some curve-balls, and I responded as best as I could. Then, last night, I got a call from Angie at Diamond Head English School, and she offered me the job. I read the contract thoroughly this morning, and everything seems to be in order.
I am so glad I got this job, it was my current top pick! Angie seems really honest and straightforward and also very cool and easy to get along with. Everything I could want in a boss.
Angie basically said that the new teacher will be almost like a family member for her. I'm so glad she chose me, it's such a good opportunity and I'm really, really excited about it.
The job is in Shiga Prefecture, in Yokaichi, Higashiomi. It's right near lake Biwa and Kyoto is the nearest large city. From what I gather, it is a medium-sized city made up of small towns that merged together. The school is a small, family-run school. It will just be Angie and 2 other teachers, including me. The apartment is 3 rooms (2 tatami, 1 wood floor), with a large kitchen and a small bathroom. I will get a bike to get to and from work, and go sightseeing and to the store. The work hours are 2-10, but some days I may not have classes scheduled for all those hours. It will be nice to sleep in every day though! I will be teaching mostly little kids.
This lifestyle suits me better than the one that Tsukuba city had to offer me, in my opinion. The working conditions are better too, because the dress code is much less formal (Bernard requires suits and business dress, where Diamond head requires clean, conservative clothing. Like chinos, a nice shirt, etc.). The pay at Bernard is more, but there are more expenses to deal with (Apartment costs more, car costs, utilities, etc). I considered the pros and cons, and also followed my gut instinct about what the bosses are like. I have no doubt that I made the right choice.
It starts in February. I can't wait! I have a lot of planning to do. I need to email my host family and tell them about it. I also need to go shopping for clothes and shoes/boots (good luck getting "western" size anything in Japan - shoe shopping there was a nightmare). I need to get my visa and Julian's visa straightened out. I need to get my taxes squared away and inform my loan agency that I'm going to be leaving the country (so they don't track me down and break my knees). I need to buy plane tickets, the sooner the better. I need to figure out what I'm bringing and leaving behind. I need to finish up my TESL training course (7 lessons to go!). I need to notify all my friends and family in the US of the change of address. And like I mentioned before, I want to take CPR classes and volunteer/mentor in the meantime. I want to have a small family party too before I go. I need a new digital camera. I'll still be working with the U of R up until February for the money. What else, what else... So much to do! Leave comments if I'm forgetting anything.
Now, to write an email to Bernard School saying that... I'm not taking their job... How to word it.
I'm still new at this.
posted by Margaret at 13:13
3 comments
