On the surface a teaching exchange is about the travel. We imagine the shape of the continent, kangaroos, sunshine, beaches and barbecues, iconic landmarks from an aerial point of view. It is a third-person perspective, the forest view.
This past summer we were in contact with an Australian teacher who was also not matched. Our qualifications matched, but living situations didn’t. During our correspondence, we spent considerable time in first-person exploration of an exchange; street-view thinking, so to speak, and literally in Google Earth.
Having a specific place to consider broughtour thinking to the ground – considering the minutiae of an exchange. Where to get groceries, the commute to school, how garbage and recycling is collected, looking for a piano teacher, where is the closest sport fencing club, etc,
The continent view turns into a specific classroom with individual students and their families. The staff list become your colleagues, the policy manual and handbook guiding moment to moment decision making. It really is an enormous undertaking: professional challenge and social upheaval. But challenge is rewarding too. Exchange bloggers comment on the challenge, but none regrets the experience.
The problem so far is….everything here takes me so much longer!! I could tell you where almost every item in all of Clandonald School is located but couldn’t find a hole punch here. Little things like different sized paper, 2 ring binders, none of my personal teacher resources and not being able to understand my own timetable were setting me off! I have a binder of great Math and COGS plans left for me but couldn’t understand them or find the resources to teach them. Between Sunday afternoon and Tuesday night, my culture shock was sky rocketing!
http://jackson6adventuresdownunder.weebly.com/2/previous/2.html
People ask me what I miss most from Canada. I tell them “ my reputation from school.” Having 20+ years of experience and having to start again like a first year teacher is not something I can say I enjoy.
I have been teaching for 4 weeks now and finally feel as though I am settling in. The first two weeks I definitely felt like a new teacher. I was arriving an hour before work, staying an hour after work, getting home and spending an hour or two doing additional school work. Thankfully things have settled down a bit now. Hopefully it lasts!
http://mattandalysonsaussiewalkabout.wordpress.com/2012/03/01/teaching-upside-down/
As much as I am eager for the beaches and barbecues, I am excited for the professional change. An exchange year promises challenge, growth, new experiences and a lifetime of personal and professional memories. It is said that change is as good as a holiday. How much more invigorating is change AND a holiday? We are hopeful to find out.
