Yesterday was full from start to finish. I have recently been wanting to go back to work. Actually, more accurately, I have been wanting to reinvent myself. I'm not sure teaching is really my thing anymore but I really don't know what else I'd like to do. I don't want to get a full time job or even set hours in a part time job unless I really love it. I looked a bit and put the word out there but nothing promising came across my path.
I thought of substitute teaching but the school our kids go to do not do the traditional US type subbing where they call you in for a day here or there but rather only for long term - 3 months every day - type subs. In my opinion I would much rather be a full time teacher than a long term sub. Long term subs have to do all the work as a full time teacher (for a set period of time) but get none of the follow your kids through the year type satisfaction.
There is a private, international IB school very close to our house - 15 minute bike ride to be exact - that does do the traditional call in sub type subbing. I have actually sent my resume to this school each year, very half heartedly, with no reply. This year I sent it in again with much different response. I got emails from both the elementary and high school principals requesting an interview. That was promising. In between the emails and setting up an interview another job became available at another nearbyinternational school for a part time English speaking librarian. At first, this seemed perfect to me but then I found out that it is only 6 hours per week. Well, good I thought. I could also do both. Librarian and subbing. But... they have a thing here called a "mini job" and you are only allowed to make a certain amount total with all of your one or 10 mini jobs. If I did subbing (you are only allowed 5 days per month) and the library job I would make over the allowed amount. The limit is not a lot of money, in
 |
This is at our favorite Asian
restaurant but picture
was taken the week previous
when he actually had the
surgery.. like I said -
any excuse we go! |
fact it is quite small but it seems the subbing job, with the flexibility and the ability to at least make up to the limit of the mini job cut off seems to make more sense. Plus I am certified to teach in the high school and elementary so both principals made me feel like they actually wanted me... I have to choose between the two schools. Even though I can technically teach any grade because of scheduling I have to choose. I'm torn. I'm drawn more to the high
school age but upper elementary would also be fun. Regardless, I got a job! One day a week/5 days a month. I filled out the paperwork on the spot and then took my application for a background check to the "Burgeramt" and just have to wait a few weeks to be cleared and then I'm good to go. Kind of excited. Kind of nervous. Will keep you posted.
While I was at my interview Marty had a follow up for his cataract surgery that he had the week previous. He got a glowing report from his doctor who said it was "Perfekt!" Germans do not throw out that word lightly!!
When we texted each other we decided to meet for lunch to celebrate at our favorite Vietnamese place. Any excuse to go there is a welcomed one. Yay for a successful surgery and a new (very part time) job!
I went to school to pick up Benjamin and his friend Zeke. We are starting weekly playdates alternating houses - one week his house next week ours. They are great friends and treat each other as
equals. Zeke's mom said she liked them together because they don't overpower each other the way kids so often do at this age. Early in the school year last year Benjamin came bounding out of school saying "I want a play date with Zeke" Him mom Gayla happened to be standing where we were unlocking our bikes and she told us that Zeke was her son. And a fast friendship between the families began. We love the Renslows!! Happy for their friendship.
So while I was at school picking up the boys Josie comes bounding over saying she doesn't have class last hour. Benjamin gets out of school at 2pm and Josie at 3pm. This is perhaps the 5th time that there isn't a sub to cover one of her classes and she gets let out early. Remember when I said that their school doesn't have traditional subbing? As far as I can tell when a teacher needs a sub one of the other teacher's fills in during their planning period. But if that class happens to be first or last hour then they just cancel class??? Crazy! She is only 7th grade. The kids love it and I guess I'm not even bothered by it but it is a huge difference from the US. We couldn't even do that with our high school students and some of them were 18.
Anyway, so Josie and her friend Meredith came home with us. Snacks, play time and laughter. I really do love a full house and love that we live even closer (just by 5 minutes) to school than we did last year.
Oh and at the store I found some comforts of home. The food here is really good. You can find just about anything - except real,
natural peanut butter and red licorice- but pretty much everything else I have found. They do not do convenience snacks very well though. The "granola" bars are just glorified candy bars, they just don't have good snacky stuff, or good crackers or good chips. But there is a grocery store here called Aldi and somehow (I've heard various stories about how they are related ) but Aldi is tied to Trader Joe's in some way so sometimes it makes me happy to buy the "trader joe's" labeled brand even
though the snacks aren't nearly as good... but better than the traditional German variety.
Oh and in construction news they broke through the attic floor for real this time and the ceiling split in our bedroom and the large light fell onto our bed. A soft landing, thankfully so nothing broke but disconcerting all the same.
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