Our first meeting was "only candidates" (the "only recruiters had been before.) When the time drew near, those who were there in the "rooms for teachers," hoping and consuming time while distracting our nervousness, some-many-dipped in their papers, book reviews, manuals and websites, and a-few-with jokes, laughter and cynical enough to allow us to survive the tension, like a smell that sneaks imperceptible until it seizes the environment, was there among us, reminding us where we were and why we were there (finally, the truth was that we would find work and, except an occasional eccentric who seeks employment because you are bored of their millions, all other mortals need to develop certain work activities to ensure these vulgarities as paying the rent, telephone, gas and, of course, hamburgers).
Arrival time, all as moved by invisible alarm clocks which sounded in unison in our consciousness (this is called anxiety, a Christian), we got up and, with more fake than real quiet, move toward the elevators; there, a few steps ahead, opened the doors of an uncertain future as all future (although the uncertainty is usually work more bearable). It was a wonder how there could be seen, we all behaved civilly, acting like any self-respecting teacher, waiting in line patiently and calmly advanced as if nothing really we altered. Entered. The hall where the meeting would take place was the same the next day would be the first battleground, but still lacking for that. The atmosphere was immense, and for a reception gown. Had been arranged several hundred folding chairs, and when we entered, was full lock to lock. We were there all the teachers we wanted to find a job this weekend and all, oh marvel of staging!, Friendly smiled, looked with confidence, and we behaved as if they were a club meeting social camaraderie or tea in the nearby neighborhood. Only then I could see a clear idea of \u200b\u200bhow many we were and how we were, a motley crew of men and women, young and old, experienced and inexperienced. However, young people, where I guess I did not tell me-I formed the largest group. Boys and girls who hardly reached his thirties and, at that time they considered ideal, were about to begin this adventure travel the world teaching classes in places as different from each other, in miles, in customs, in reality, as Lima and Jakarta, as Budapest and Abu Dabhi. Others, like me, were there because the circumstances, that some unstable as the waves of the sea, we were put in back to ride in the back of the adventure, uncertain sands of the great changes.
Although nothing was said again at the meeting tellingly, by the reaction of many of those present, I realized that for the experience of the organizers is evident, few who read the post and less than follow the instructions (if that happens between teachers, imagine what happens to the students!).
singer's voice took John, the creator of this organization that has placed more than 1500 of its members in positions of teachers, managers and administrators in dozens of international schools around the world. Without doubt, must have been a great Professor, simple, cheerful and fun, an old hand who knew how to defuse the charged atmosphere of concern and anxiety. Did more than repeat the thousand signs we already knew by heart, passed quickly which meant that we knew (but then some questions would show how little attention many gave the messages we had sent) and then set tell a series of anecdotes about the lives of international teachers, stories that are in Africa, Asia or South America, places, all of them, including our Latin America, so exotic, distant, distant and full of mystery novel for the vast majority of those who were there (of the five hundred knew we were not more than ten Latinos, except for a very nice lady and I Nicaragua, others were more blond gringos that roamed around, Latino origin but, second or third generation of Cuban, Puerto Rican or Central American-born there raised in the customs and even the language of Shakespeare for whom a hamburger is usual and the Andes or the Amazon, they are as alien as the Himalayas or the Desert Sahara). The stories had a goal, chart how interesting and exciting it can be life "abroad" and John the master had the of whom have years in office, with that humor is so right for the Americans, the mood almost naive, almost innocent, that humor that sometimes we, the Latinos, we sound so strange.
All the stories were the same place, at the same show us how interesting the situation and encourage us to muster the courage to start the day tomorrow. The intention was to reassure us, convince us how exciting this game and make us share the view that, regardless of the outcome, get a job or not-was an experience worth living. I agreed, "at least write an article," I said to Jessica, who, distracted a moment of a thousand notes he took on his block, he replied, with that infinite and natural smile that redeems any guilt and neurosis. Marc, more pragmatic, ironic, said that fortunately did not have to be convinced of anything "in my case, the worst scenario is that I retired to my brother's house in the mountains with my retirement pension ..." "I can hate you? "I said and he told me" of course "with a delicious sarcasm that only the disciples of Diogenes understand without offending.
Then, an hour later, raised the main session, "new", ie that we were going to a job fair for the first time we stayed there and we gather around Sally willing to emancipate any doubt. It was another hour of platitudes and irrelevant questions (again, Sally was not his fault that many did not read the thousands of suggestions and recommendations that it so neatly, sent us), however, there were two or three good Sally dimensions in which we deepened and clarified some issues on how to deal with the interviewers and how to behave in the midst of a series of difficult or embarrassing situations that could arise, but the final recommendation was clear: "Be yourself, be natural" and to hell with Hamlet. Sally explained
that the "battle" began the next day, a particular struggle in which many teachers are looking to be one of the few places that schools offer to their subject. Never drove the statistics and know that officially there were none (because Sally never made mention of them), however, I knew from the morning, an old colleague who I met there, some information was, at least unofficially, because It was the most quiet ("there are ten vacancies around the world and we have only been three professors of theater," he told me very confident as we greeted each other). Not only I met Randall and his confident handling of statistics (and women), also found that attending the fair Gail (whose daughter, Camilla, was student of mine) and Judy (also a teacher at the school where we all work). Gail then introduced me to the school librarian who knew me "for your books," who, with her husband, was also at the fair looking for a new destination for the next two years (which is the usual time of the contracts offered by colleges, both because many of these teachers prefer to live roaming the world and because, I suppose, is a way to be on the safe if the master knew that the only fair and just know that by references to his former bosses - not to be as extraordinary as letters of recommendation and evaluations suggested). Finished
rounds of questions and answers, Sally adjourned the meeting and advised us to "rest for the day tomorrow" obedient, all slowly leave the place. Eight o'clock at night when we parted. Jessica went to the house of the guy who stayed, forty minutes away, Marc went to a traditional hotel in the center that obtained for a better price ("I am frugal"), Gail went to his room he was staying put in the same hotel for the event and I, along with a dozen other teachers, take the free bus gracious and brought us back to the building that housed us.
the way back, about six or seven minutes, was quiet, all of us on the bus we were too absorbed in our thoughts as to maintain an even casual conversation. The next day at seven in the morning, begin a fraternal and friendly battle, but battle at last to get one of the vacancies offered by schools that had attended the fair. Everyone had their preferences clear, all-as he had spoken with my new colleagues in the hours of waiting, had made inquiries, had reviewed manuals, brochures , inserts and websites and, apparently aimed at one or two possibilities that seduced, either by the exotic country, the prestige of the institution or the economic package offered.
Yo-relapsed into confessions-just looking for a job. When early in the afternoon he had told Jessica: "If I hire to make Swahili in Kathmandu say yes" had been absolutely honest, although she, seduced by the delight of sarcasm, he laughed so heartily that until I came to convince me that my sentence was not desperate but a joke. On behalf of the hope-el useless most beautiful gift we have been given, I went to sleep believing Eddie, my old friend, and that "Believe it and you'll conseguis laburo."
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