It's been a little difficult to find time to write lately. I've been really busy between both jobs, skating, teaching and volunteering. Searching for a job has consumed a lot of my free time lately. It's pretty much been like a third job. I've had two interviews, one at a school in Liberia, Costa Rica called Instituto Estelar Bilingue and the other in Queretaro, Mexico for Bridge (the organization that I got my IDELT certificate from).
So far, the Liberia school is my first pick. I've been to Costa Rica twice already, and I'm comfortable there. I have dreams about my experiences there, and I can picture myself teaching English there. It's a perfect combination of local culture and experiences and the tourism industry, plus Liberia is only an hour and a half away from the Nicaraguan border and not far from the beach. I've been talking to my host brother, and having ties to the country is always a comforting feeling, especially since I'll be so far away from friends and family. I've been in contact with another school called Idiomas Mundiales, which is based in San Jose and Heredia in the Central Valley. The prompt response from there really shocked me, as he told me he was very interested in hiring me, I just had to be in country and the interview was just a formality really. This was even before I was done with the IDELT course when I was still in Santiago.
My second choice is still being decided. There's a full time job in Antigua, Guatemala (which is outside Guatemala City) at a preschool. I'm still trying to see if I could exhibit enough patience with children to teach English at a preschool, but Antigua looks like an absolutely beautiful city. I would definitely consider moving here and it would be a big risk for me to move somewhere where I didn't know anyone, but I know (just like my experience in Chile) I would make a lot of friends and learn so much about myself as well as my students.
I haven't really researched the school in Poza Rica, Mexico yet. From what I've read, the pay is really good for Mexico standards and the school is funded by the oil company, Pemex, so they have really competitive pay rates compared to other schools in the region. I actually hadn't even heard of this small city. Apparently, most of the population moved years ago, so the town's population now is about 34,000 (half the size of Flagstaff). Its close proximity to the beach and some insane Mayan and Aztec ruins make it really appealing to live, plus I could always meet family and friends in Cancun or other locations during vacations. I adore everything about Mexico and I know I wouldn't have issues with eating Mexican food every day either. :)
I'll be updating as soon as I know anything...at this point, I'm pretty much a sitting duck until July or August, which is when the hiring season in Mexico starts and also when the director of the school in Liberia will be able to tell me whether or not the teachers are going to be renewing their contracts. The director of the preschool basically told me that I'd come in October, stay for a two month trial teaching period, and be hired in December.
