Introduction
We kept you up-to-date by posting quite some photos lately. Time to tell you again of our stories in more detail. Our life here keeps being interesting, with new people and we of course we had more activities with friends we’ve made so far. I will start with some news on one of the main reasons we’re here: yours truly getting some foreign teaching experience.
Work opportunities
I already told quite a few people in the Netherlands: when we went back to Yellowknife, we knew there was a good opportunity a spot on Sir John Franklins staff would open up. A spot that would be in my subject area. Although eventually, after some internal switches, it didn’t turned out to be a job teaching Chemistry. However, the job opening on Mathematics was something I certainly could qualify for, so, after some time pondering on what to write, I send in my resumé, cover letter and transcripts of diploma (loads of stuff needed here for an application). Deadline was January 20, Job would commence at January 29, so when I hadn’t heard anyhing after January 22 went by, I assumed I would not be invited for an interview. To my surprise, on Sunday January 24, I was invited to come for a job interview. Interview turned out to be a list of questions every applicants had to answer, so, instead of an actual talk, which I am used to, it was more of a cross-examination, without saying that is necessicarily a bad thing. It sure was different, which made it hard for me to conclude if I had done well or not.
The waiting and the outcome
Tuesday January 26 was the last interview (3 persons were interviewed), so I spend my Tuesday evening and Wednesday all day sitting besides the phone, even bringing it with me to the bathroom: yet no news :-(. Since it is common in Canada (and the USA, for that matter) to not contact people that are not shortlisted for interview, as well as sometimes don’t call anybody else besides the person that is hired after the jobinterviews, I assumed the worst. So when I got a call to substitute teach at Weledeh Middle School on Thursday, after hesitating for 3 seconds, I decided to do it. If there was no news at the end of that day I could simply walk by Sir John on my way back from Weledeh anyways. Of course it turned out that they called that morning and left a message at our machine, as well as calling again at 1 pm. That time Judith was home again from volunteering, so she answered the call. Around 02.30 pm I phoned Judith and heard I should give Sir John a call, which I of course did: if they were that eager to talk to me, perhaps, just perhaps, they would hire me! A false assumption, I found out minutes later. No real disappointment, weird enough. I think I had foreseen it. I could say more about the why’s and reasoning, but it may be better for those who wish to know more to just ask me by e-mail, facebook, MSN or Skype. Let me just close this chapter by saying it wasn’t about my qualifications, nationality or the effort I already put into Sir John.
Broadening my horizons
Like I said, I went to substitute at Weledeh Middle School, a school that is, like St. Patricks Highschool, a part of the Yellowkinfe Catholic School (board). Funny enough I was even teaching Science and Health, my own, or close to my own subject. Even funnier was their genuine surpsise when they found out I had a teaching degree and 7 years of teaching experience. After being with them for a day they actually hoped Sir John would not hire me, since they only “just found” me. The next day, since I was substituting a teacher that got the flu, I could come back for another day. No time for me to mourn the first day of not teaching in the position at Sir John I was just turned down for.
About Weledeh
Weledeh turned out to be a very different school than the ones I have been in so far in Yellowknife: they have all grades from Kindergarten to Grade 8 (2e klas Voortgezet Onderwijs). There were only 4 homegroups (basisklassen) in Grade 7 and 8, the levels they see as their Middle School. So after a day I think I had seen all kids that were in those groups (the ones attending that is of course). That gave the school a more intimate atmosphere, very likable.
Of course, like in St. Pat’s, I had to do other work as well during preparation periods, that, especially if you are used to be a teacher and used to take pride in your profession, felt somewhat like not being taken serious as a teacher: peeling off letters from posters so they could be re-used, sorting stickers into envelopes for different classes, punching letters from paper. The latter actually turned out to be a fun job. ;-). But anyways, since I am a beta teacher, I tend to find ways to do these kind of jobs pretty fast, which I think surprised them as well. They really had a hard time finding work to keep me busy. I understand this maximalisation of your work force from a corporate point of view, I accept it pays the bills, but it makes you feel somewhat uncomfortable in your professionalism as a teacher.
But the teaching itself was very enjoyable: the students were very willing to help me out setting up the proxima, the SMARTBoard and what not more. The sub plans were thorough and very well doable; I am already aware that this makes a huge difference in your day as a substitute teacher.
New situation, new goals
So this marks the start of a new period for me: I really want to put in at least 10 days on Weledeh, on St. Pat’s and on William McDonald. To get a broader view of Canadian education and to get the most out of this experience. Whenever there is an opportunity to sub on Sir John I will certainly do so, especially if it would for be Chemistry, Physics or Science. But I don’t aim at working at Sir John solely anymore, like I have done so far.
Fun stuff
Of course there has been more than just work. We had some culinary new experiences, like eating moose bonemarrow and typical dishes from New England. But also I succesfully made my own broth, which was partially used to make home-made “kroketten” (croquettes filled with a beef ragout).
Almost weekly we’ve been visiting The Elks’ Club and we spoke quite a few more teachers and got to know them better. We went bowling (5 pin bowling!) with Carolin and Scott and we had some relaxing time as well: days with just fun activities, walk on the ice road, watching some tv, basically: enjoying a slower lifestyle, having more time spend together.
Judith
Judith has been working out and has been swimming at the city pool, I did some more indoor cycling. Every day has just a bit more daylight again, which is nice as well. Judith still is volunteering two days a week at Mildred Hall and started on reading with kids at Weledeh (Grade 1) as well on a weekly basis. Literacy programs are huge here, like I have mentioned before.
Prince of Wales Heritage Center
We went to this museum again, this time with Travis and Robyn. The museum had an exposition about the residential schools. The children of the different first nations that are here were not too long ago taken from their parents and put into these schools, in which they were assimilated into the “western” culture and told that their own culture was “primitive” and “bad”. A lot of these schools were Catholic based and a lot of molestation took place in these schools as well. The exposition told about the stories from “survivors” from this system. The system also was taken as an example and highly praised by “researchers” from South Africa, who used their foundings to design the Apartheid system. Scary, but insightful.
Conclusion
We’ll keep you updated with pictures and stories. Hopefully tonight we’ll see some Northern Lights, since the weather forecast says it will be clear. Of course we’ll try and take a few nice pictures if that will happen!