STEP 2: The Step with a Whole Lotta Steps.
If you are just joining the ride, please take off your
seatbelt and read Step 1. It’s one of the few times, I will ask you to take off
your seatbelt! But I need you to get this part from the beginning.
Ready?
So last post, I detailed the portion of Getting Back to
Y.O.U.---Your Own Unfilled promises.
That’s right, we all have them. Pull out your list now. We’ll wait.
Mine of course was always wanting to just teach abroad, even
if only for a few months or a year.
I put things in place and started taking the TEFL course.
During
the course, I started my research. I completed my practicum as it was a
requirement for the course. I tutored students at the Literacy Council of
Prince George’s County. I would spend some days tutoring a guy in a reading
class and other days observing the English as a Second Language class. I
enjoyed both experiences. Tutoring one student in a reading class really tested
my patience; I had to think about new ways to get him to learn. That experience
in itself was a blessing because READING is something we take for granted. If
you are following this blog, you are blessed. Education = Freedom, indeed. It
was then that I truly learned the depth and importance of that phrase. Whew,
Jesus, Lord. Thank you. I was also able to take notes and pick up things that I
would want to use in my classroom when I went abroad.
Note: The guy I
was tutoring had started a few months ago at the literacy council. He was in
his 60s and could not read the alphabet when he first started. When I first
started working with him he still had a way to go, but he was writing at least
one paragraph a day in a journal. He liked to write about why people did the
things they did in the world. His determination to learn killed any excuse I
ever gave myself.
SACRIFICE is a
key word. I would get off work from my night job. Then rest a bit before going
to practicum, then go to my afternoon job after. Sometimes I was late, but I
had explained to my boss what I was doing. I was missing money, but it was for
a greater cause---my freedom!
*Greatest Lesson in Step 2*: Do not be afraid to make
sacrifices. They might sting, but if the outcome of your sacrifice is greater
and for longevity, don’t be afraid to make it. Do it!
Before Departure. These are the steps that I took; you will tweak these to fit
your needs and destination :) But I think these steps are applicable to many Latin American destinations and
other countries.
1. Complete course including practicum. Tie up all loose
ends when it comes to acquiring your certification. I was nervous that somebody
would call and say “Ummmm, ONE more thing.” Lol, kinda like graduation. You get
it.
2. Google anything and everything about your intended
destination. Before bed. While you wait at the doctor’s office. At work. Lol.
And create a folder in your email called “_______________ Resources” I know y’all
thought I was crazy just uppin’ and movin,’ but Lord knows I researched the
hell outta Panama. Anything that said Panama, I read it---AND ANYTIME OF THE
DAY. I developed a folder in my email box called Panama resources. I found
travel blogs, people blogs, reviews, anything and everything on what and how to
do stuff in Panama. If I was going to do this, I was going to know HOW to do it
and that I COULD do it. I had so many resources that by the time an advisor
emailed me with what she thought would be good resources for me, I had already
seen all of them and ruled some out. Gotta do your own work.
3. Since I wanted to teach, I needed to know where I could
do this. Thus, I began looking up schools. You know what that meant. Google
search “English schools in Panama” and every other possible combination of
those words to see what the wonderful Google Gods would yield for results, lol.
Unfortunately for me, Panama’s TEFL market/experience wa basically non-existent
on file. Not many people set out to come teach English in Panama, unlike more
popular teaching destinations like Thailand, Costa Rica, South Korea, China, etc.
so it was a bit difficult and even frustrating at times. But, I stuck with it.
I tried a second technique, which was finding different words for school and
not typing English language schools specifically. I tried ‘schools in panama’
and let it give me as many as schools as possible. Anything I yielded that
seemed a bit legit, I added it to a list. Eventually I took all of my results
and compiled a list of schools, phone numbers, email addresses, fax numbers,
and location when available. I would leave this list alone and then come back
after a new creative Google word search got me a new school or something.
Tricks---are not just for kids :) Also, you want to know the peak hiring seasons for the work you are trying to
do.
4. Now, you are like great, I have a list I can send out my
resumes/cover letters to ear employers. No, relax. Not just yet. My institute
advised me to create a packet that most language schools like to see when
hiring teachers from overseas. I would recommend, based on how I was recommended,
a beautifully written cover letter, a solid resume with related
teaching/training experience, a copy of your TEFL certificate and two
recommendations from employers that love you J I have my picture on my resume which they say is
recommended for international teaching positions, but I think its to see your
race…just saying. Just get these things together. Don’t send just yet.
5. Then, you want to develop an email addressing potential
schools. I created one in Spanish since I was applying to schools in a
Spanish-speaking country. But, if you are applying for a job in Thailand, maybe
you don’t know how to write Thai. In that case, English would suffice, lol.
Once you have a nice formal email introducing yourself, attach your resume and
cover letter to the email and send it out. I did a blind copy to many schools,
about once every 1.5 weeks. Do not send all of the information mentioned in
step 4, unless they request it.
6. Wait for responses. Only got 1. But that was normal. A
lot of schools in Latin America won’t hire you before arrival. This step means,
even with all of the other steps, don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear back.
You just gotta make the move.
7. Tell all your friends and family that you are making a
move and that you have done research. Tell them about other people that have
done this same thing (like me). Show them this blog. Show them other blogs.
Tell them that dream chasin’ and travelling the world is in style and that they
too should get with it! Lol.
8. Purchase your plane ticket for the time you think that
will be best to make your move based on peak hiring seasons for your intended
job and personal matters.
9. Do Step 7 again. Cuz some people won’t believe you.
10. Tie up loose ends. Figure out how you will pay your bills
while away. Designate a person to be responsible for different things. Defer
your loans, if you can. Handle any medical stuff. Tell your doctor that you are
going abroad and want to make sure that you can connect with them for
questions. Lord knows, I abuse the hell out of my doctor’s office with
questions. And my cousin that is a PA of course gets bombarded with questions. Check
with your insurance provider to see what they cover. Cancel stuff. Stop this.
Stop that. Prepare.
11. Create a packing list of things you will need that you
cannot find abroad. In my experience, I will always leave the States with a
planner. I will not even begin to tell you my finding a cute planner in August
in Panama ordeal. The teachers at my school knew my struggle, lol. Luckily,
this year, I found a wonderful Paulo Coelho planner. Yes, I am a believer.
12. Purchase International travel insurance.
13. Register with the U.S. Embassy if you are an American
Citizen.
14. Request certain stuff from your closest friends and
family members and tell them to come to your house because you are leaving.
People will pretty much get you anything. Lol. I got cards, money, food, a
magic jack, body sprays, you name it, I was claiming it. The greatest gift
though, was the support of my mother and father. Have a cute little potluck in
your mom’s backyard with your closest friends and just laugh and enjoy them. By
the time you get back, some will be married, moms, dads, CPAs, grad students,
diplomats, etc. basically, prepare yourself for a journey and have them prepare
for your growth on this journey.
