The school is new, and next year will only be its second year of operation, but I'm super excited to be on the cutting edge of something spectacular! Additionally it uses the IB IPC curriculum, allowing me to become IB certified, and the potential jobs for the future to increase.When I look at the pictures of the way they present the material to students I know I'm going to love it. They start each session with a field trip or day of exploration surrounding a unit. Units could be about food, inventors, or animals, and they might vist a grocery store, or a zoo, or the teacher may dress up as famous inventors for a day. Then they spend 4-6 weeks studying math, english, science, and social studies surrounding that idea/concept. How incredible that all the subject areas can relate!!!!
The job starts mid July, so I will be heading home briefly to get all my documents and my life together before heading there. I wasn't planning on going home, but it looks like it will be necessary to get my visa before I head out, and to get all my shots and medication to prepare for 2 years. It will be crazy busy, so if you are hoping to see me, you better book ahead. I'll be in Minneapolis for a stint and Marshfield for a while. I'm hoping to sneak in a few days in Milwaukee with my niece and nephew as well. Chances are if you pick a place I love (the Republic, 331 club, Al's, Hard Times, anywhere with cheese, cheese curds, beer, or burgers) you'll be in.
I've already started making a list of things to do when I'm home and things I need to purchase when I'm home. Rain proof items are essential, given the monsoons. The climate means I'll be wearing a lot of teacher dresses, and I'm not sure how I'll deal with the heat and wetness, but I'm sure I'll adjust.
Also, it is time to begin learning a new language. I'm not sure where to begin. The second language of the school is Mandarin, and I feel like that could be useful in my travels, but, Indonesian is apparently the official language.
Overall I feel as completely unknowledgeable and freaked out as I did when I decided to move to Albania. I've realized that you can't trust what any person or any web forum says, and I have no idea what to expect. But that is what make my life so fantastic :)
The best part about landing a job so soon? I'm able to plan for the next 2 year of my life. Well, sort of. I know that 4 months from now I'll be on a plane to Jakarta, and that 3.5 months from now I'll be home. I KNOW I GET TO SEE MY FAMILY!!!! And I can start planning some kick ass trips in southeast asia. I keep forgetting how many people I know who are teaching and/or live there. I have an insane amount of places to visit. And so I offer you my bucket-list. Knowing that I accomplished zero of the items on my last one, and that I'm almost okay with that because I don't care to see many of those place anymore, I made this one less specific.
Asia Bucketlist:
1. Go surfing. It's number one because it is realistic.
2. Bhutan, after reading Beyond the sky and the Earth I cannot resist
3. Burma: it is number 3, only because Scott and Robert plan on going there, but it would make the list no matter what.
4. Bali: I've been obsessed with this for a year or so now.
5. Thailand: I'd like to SEE bangkok( for like 2 days), and the explore some other countryside, or find some random waterfalls to jump into. I wanted to go to Thailand freshman year, for some very strange reason and I've been constantly intrigued.
6. Vietnam/Cambodia: This could be a fun combined trip. I've heard a lot about each and for awhile I thought eventually I'd end up living and teaching in Vietnam, so I feel a week long visit is necessary
7. India: I'll be close enough, and it has always been on the list, so why not. I need some indian food and a Sari.
8. Taiwan: for a little while I thought I was going to be getting a job here as well, so I've found a lot of things I want to see.
9. Volcano hiking: yep. This is an ex-pat group in Jakarta. For real.
10. Jakarta blues festival: don't judge. Live music? I'm in.
Why not Australia, China, Japan or New Zealand ? Because overall they seem a lot like Europe to me. Over rated and expensive. If I get there, great. If not, I'll survive. Let's be real, I thought I'd love travelling Europe and now I just cannot get the beauty of Asia out of my head, and I never want to see a church or museum again. This is obviously a basic list, and I'm very open to suggestions from anyone with experience :) But if you suggest a building then it better be spectacular because I'm in love with the natural world.
My Adventerous One I wish you well!
ReplyDeleteLooking back can sometimes be as challenging as looking forward. Time passes quickly and each new season brings new challenges. Make good choices and enjoy life. It's short.
ReplyDeleteJust another thing the nephew the one you left when he was a few months old... the one you thought wouldn't remember you Quincey.... calls SKYPE TT and begs to talk to you all the time.