Shakedown Cruise

So, most people ask me if I am afraid and the answer is yes and no. Of course it will be nerve wracking to constantly not know anything. How to use the phone - how to grocery shop - do you shake hands when you meet a man, woman, child, peer? Just everything! But, no I am not afraid. I have a pretty sturdy faith in the goodness of people and the universe. It's time to do this- I have felt it for a while now. Here is a poem I wrote this winter while I waited to learn about this adventure . . .

Shakedown Cruise

The Universe will take care of you.
she tells me
in faith
and I listen
to my elder
with trepidation
the tethers coming unfast as we speak
the tide turning
no anchors on board
no map, no compass
no stars

She cannot offer charts to me but has traveled this route before herself
and here she sits safely at home
proof that
one can depend on the Universe

My heart knows this -
Or is it my mind?
They argue so!
I have trouble discerning
spliced together as they are
on my jury-rigged ship’s shake down cruise!

I wait
for a lift,
and the stars to reveal themselves,
someone to catch the line

Here is what I did on my summer vacation so far . . .

Dated June 17 - My year-long search for a teaching position in a boarding school had turned up nothing. At least nothing that I was interested in. So here is Seth's "good-bye for the summer" note to me, (Seth was my candidate search liaison with Carney Sandoe and Associates).
Thanks for getting back to me, MaryAnn. I'll definitely be in touch with any new leads that seems to be a good match for what you're looking for. You never really know when that perfect job will present itself (hopefully soon!). I will continue to be committed to your search until we find that job, or until you tell me stop!
Enjoy the summer,
Seth

Later that day-from Carney Sandoe-at 12:49 in the afternoon

Dear MaryAnn,

We have sent your file to the following schools:

SCHOOL OF EGYPT

And another from SE at 2:20 in the afternoon

L.A. - The School of Egypt SE received
your CV through Carney,Sandoe &Associates. We are considering you as a
candidate for a teaching position. The School is located in Cairo
Egypt. If you are interested please send an e-mail to L.A. -----@aol.co

And I replied the same evening at 6:20PM

SCHOOL OF EGYPT
Adress
Cairo,
Egypt
Ms. L.A., Director
Dear Ms. A.,
Greetings from Nantucket Island off the coast of the northeastern United States! I have been notified by Carney Sandoe and Associates of Boston that I was referred to you as a candidate for the fourth and fifith grade teaching positions that are open at your school for the fall of this year, 2009. I welcome the opportunity to exchange information with you and to learn how I may become part of the teaching and learning community at the School of Egypt.
I look forward to hearing back from you soon and will be happy to supply you with any documents, references, or statements that you may need in addition to what is already on my profile page with Carney/Sandoe.
Thank you for considering me for these positions.
Sincerely,
MaryAnn Bartlett

At 6:52 PM same day

Hello Mary Ann

Thank you for your interest in School of Egypt. Dr. A. the Head of the school is in New York City at the present time. She will be in touch with you to set up a phone interview. I am attaching a brochure of the school we send to interested candidates. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to write to me.
L. A.

at 8:20 that night

Dear MaryAnn,
I am happy to learn of your interest in SE. Would you be available for a phone conversation this Thursday at 8pm?
Have a great day.
D. A.

From Kathy on the same day I wrote asking for a reference

on the alert and ready to roll! exciting!
From: MaryAnn.Bartlett@comcast.net
To: ----@comcast.net; -----@hotmail.com
Subject: Reference
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:18:46 -0400
Hello my dears,
I hope you get a call from D. A. sometime today or over the weekend. A call or an email actually - I give out both I think.
She interviewed me for a teaching position in a school in a suburb of Cairo that her mother is starting up and it is intriguing. Although I am not 100% sure that I will take the job if offered (don't tell her THAT : ) ) I would like to see if I am offered it.
Still thinking about all that Nantucket has to offer of course!!
Thanks in advance - I hope you are able to make contact even though I know how BUSY you both are!
MaryAnn

On June 23 B - a mom of a student of mine - was interviewed for a reference after a missed appointment via phone (D.'s son ate the cell phone!)

And later on June 23rd!

Dear MaryAnn,
After talking with L., we would very much like to make you an offer to teach at SE. I would like to discuss the specifics over the phone because, given your unique talents, if you were to accept the offer, we would like you to teach language arts to the fourth and fifth grade rather than a self-contained third grade classroom. I know this is different than what we originally discussed but, in speaking with L. about staffing, we feel that this would play to all of our teachers' strengths.
You are clearly a gifted, motivated, dedicated and thoughtful teacher. We would be thrilled if accepted our offer. I am available to speak by phone this evening after 7:30 and tomorrow morning until 1pm.
Best regards,
D.

I spoke with Deena and then the next day with L. on a SKYPE connection at Bobby and Karol's house (L. was 30 minutes late and I left numerous worried messages for D.. Turned out L. was distracted by decorating her grandson's room since he was moving to Cairo with D. - a flawless excuse in my opinion!).

Thought about it over the weekend.

And accepted on July 1st!!

YUP! Going to CAIRO EGYPT!! Leave on August 14.