Unemployment and filling the time

Have started my Masters of Education. I am going to be a Teacher-Librarian (or just a plain librarian it will qualify me for either).

So far:

LIKES
Learning about lots of whizzy fandangled cyberspace gadgets (finally getting an excuse to try out Second Life...as if the First One isn't busy enough)
Having an excuse to loiter in a school library
...and on the internet!
Getting in touch with others who are interested in the same things.
Hope: that I am finally on the right path and anticipation at the lovely library jobs I might one day have!

DISLIKES
Stupid, bloody irritating annoyingly offputting virus that latched onto my computer during a recent sojourn at my cousins. Perfect bloody timing! Everytime I logon to the net I get a Microsoft Error message which promptly shuts down the web. And I keep getting redirected to junk advertisements! I've never had a proper virus before so this is a whole new world of PAIN!
Having to READ so much guff. Some of the academic language they use in the articles we have to read is so POINTLESS and irritating!
Computer headache :(

I am happy to be on the course. It lasts for 12 months and at the end I will be a qualified librarian. The Masters will give me a few more points for the visa to get back into the UK but I still have to head back there before my 30th birthday. Which means teaching in Asia (or somewhere) is still on the cards.

The job I was looking at over the Summer did not work out so now I have to wait until the Aug/Sept round. Good thing is I can study this course from anywhere in the world, so I can still apply for jobs o/seas. Bad news is that apparently the economic downturn has caused many schools to put a freeze on recruitment. As my recruiters already consider me 'difficult to employ' this is going to make things interesting...although one recruiter did tell me that it may mean international schools will now be more open to one year contracts, which is FANTASTIC for me!

I've also read that in the UK school system, Miss M will be eligible to start proper school after her 4th birthday, which, unfathomably, is this September!

Fear and trepidation

My resolve is so fickle. I am so bored here, and so desperate to get away, yet when it comes to the thought of actually getting on a plane to land myself in some godforsaken part of the earth, I still tremble and quake.

Putting that aside, I must fill in some of the gaps in what I have already done in researching the great OE.

Having already taught in the UK in the past I am familiar with the myriad of teaching agencies available to 'regular' teachers (ie: primary/secondary, Bachelor of Ed trained). In the past I've dealt with Timeplan, Smart Teachers, Bluewave, ITN, TeachLondon, Protocol, AStar, Hays...the only ones I ever worked for were Protocol teachers, during my 'London sojourn'.

This time round I do not have the desire to get a job with my BEd in an international or IB school. Firstly, I feel that they will sniff at my erratic teaching experience and secondly, many of them require a minimum of 2 years commitment. The plan this time is to find ESL work, which may pay less and be a little less secure, but allows me to take a more relaxed approach - more freedom to travel and to leave after 6 months if that is where the wind is taking us.

Still, the thought of being paid squidzillions and having free accommodation and being able to teach History was quite alluring, so I re-registered with with Select Education http://www.teachanywhere.com/ who place teachers all over the world. They keep sending me their job mailers, which has an effect on me that is not unlike turning up at my Mum's when she has a roast in the oven...

Teaching English in Bratslavia, anyone? History in Holland? Nursery assistant in Korea or Nigeria?

Of course, many of the European jobs are off limits because I am cursed not to have anything EU about me, but I will rant properly about that at a later date. I also think that eventually the option of working for an International School would be a good one as it may help me to gain teaching work in Scotland. Although working as a Tesol teacher for the next year or so may actually hinder me from getting Int school jobs...frown, frown. I will just have to face that when we get there.

The good thing about the mailers is that whenever my resolve to escape falters a little, the enticing aroma of all these jobs in such delicious locations is enough to get my mojo back.

Still waiting for my course books to arrive...waiting...waiting...