From the archives in 2010:
Yesterday I had a good, informative, relaxed interview with AU– in Kuwait. By the end, I really thought it would be a fun place to work. Initially, I just applied thinking “try anything.” But the interviewer presented her school well and asked some good questions. She welcomed mine and I think we could have chatted all afternoon. I was delighted that she set up a second interview.
I did have concerns – Kuwait is really falling off the map and I doubt I’d get visitors there. It’s the desert and I’m not one for sun. Yet it seemed like the quality of life would be good and I’d love to have whatever resources I needed. Imagine!
I just finished my second interview with the AU– in Kuwait. That didn’t go as well as yesterday’s. I connected easily with Michelle, yesterday and this woman today was much more negative. It seemed more like an interrogation and though I tried to remain upbeat, I wasn’t enjoying her personality much.
She kept focusing on why I changed jobs so much. For my field, I’m rather steady given the uncertainties and low status we have. She kept asking the same questions again and again. Despite my flagging interest, I remained positive. But there were no questions about how I teach, just why I left each job and what my ultimate goal is. She kept pressing to find out why I didn’t want to return to the US. Well, that’s my preference, not some big problem. I didn’t really want to say “People are uncivil. The Tea Party Folks get to me. The politics has all gone pear-shaped.” Some EFL/ESL teachers are so parochial and seem to suspect folks like us who have a curiosity about the world. She asked me three times why I wasn’t staying in China. Each time I told her “This job here is ending. The agreement between these schools has changed and most other jobs here pay $800.”
My goal is to get out there and see if it would be a good fit. I really liked the idea of their flying me out there to check things out. Still my interest has plummeted.
I do feel my soul has taken a beating and I need to heal. Yesterday I did write six pages and today I’ll do more.
Tomorrow I interview with Cambodia. I hope you get an interview with the AU– as I’d love to compare notes.
I’m fine with returning to the US and taking some classes and moving in a new direction.
smkelly8
