working gal

After months of being a woman of leisure, I have decided to buckle down and look for work, actually I don't have a choice. I'm happy to report that within a week of sending out 2 applications, I had two interviews and two offers. I am back in the system, I have a job! (See below for position I accepted).

I know most of you think I'm a nerd for being excited about work, but this fall when I saw all the kids and their new Spongebob Schwammkopf backpacks, I missed school. I missed being the biggest person in the room, I missed knowing all the answers and I especially missed getting sick on a regular basis (although on a very happy note, no seasonal allergies in Germany for me.)

The interview was like nothing I was prepared for in Canada- I had to teach a sample lesson to 26 kids, then have an hour long interview with the principal, curriculum developer and a parent from the parents committee. Isn't that great? They actually care about the credentials of the people they hire, instead of guaranteeing a job to anyone who completes university and sticks around long enough to get a tenured position. (Teacher friends, this comment is not directed at you, but you know what and who I mean!) .

BERLIN _____________ School is looking for a primary school teacher

• starting January 2009
• mother tongue English, preferably with some knowledge of German
• with a primary school teaching degree equivalent to the German “Staatsexamen”
• with teaching experience in the age group 5 to 8 (years 1 to 4), preferably in mixed-age groups
• subjects: English, topics/environmental studies, social learning; teaching experience in physical education, music or arts welcome
• willing to contribute to the organization of a newly founded primary school on the basis of the school concept

home for the holidays

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I know I just started this blog all about my adventures in Berlin, but I also just booked my tickets home and I'm really excited! The prices are unbelievably high around the holidays, so I booked the best deal...

I'll be flying into New York on the 13th of November for about 6 weeks. I leave the 31st of December from NYC too, so I'll be celebrating 2009 with a bottle of airplane wine in seat 11f, hopefully beside a giant football player! Beat those New Year's plans!






Autumn along the Spree river

back in berlin

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This summer, a trip by land and sea through Japan, Russia and the Baltic states brought me back to Berlin, the city of my early childhood. After a 26 year hiatus, I am here looking for a job, an apartment and something new.

When you first arrive in the city, you aren't struck by an incredible skyline or flashy architecture but there is a certain charm to it that makes everyone who comes here fall in love with it. The clubs and cafes, the people, the rowdy football fans, the history, the small neighbourhoods, the abundance of live music and the bike paths are all part of why I'm here. But there is more to it than that.

It's exciting to not understand everyone around you and to have to learn a new language by completely immersing yourself in it. After a short train ride (choose any direction, any time) you are in another country with different food to taste and a new language to massacre. Flights to Moscow, Barcelona and Dublin are 30 Euro each. Quebec city and Ottawa are fun and all, but I've seen enough tulips for a life time!

It's true that I have no friends here but that's why God invented Skype and airplanes. There is an Ultimate community that I've yet to tap into because I can't understand when they meet, but that will sort itself out. There are plenty of people on Craigslist who are looking for strictly platonic friendships and most don't seem creepy at all. There is also a young expat crowd (mostly artists and freelancers) who organize events around lonley newcomers. Plus I'm not ready to have a baby and that seems to be a theme back home these days! Hopefully Lucas will find work too and stick around so we can form a couple cocoon and each be the only person the other one knows (see the my next posting entitled " How to Slowly Kill a Relationship". )

All kidding aside, I think this is going to be an incredible experience (there will be tears!). Stay tuned...