Since the age of about 6 or 7 I’d say, I’ve had glasses almost permanently attached to my face. The first thing I do in the morning is reach over and put them on, and the last thing I do at night before falling asleep is take them off. The only time I don’t wear [...]
Got an Interview for Peace Boat
A small bit of news to report on the job front. While the situation on the southern front (i.e. finding work in Okinawa) is going depressingly badly, I did get an interview for a teaching placement with an NGO called Peace Boat. If I got the placement I would depart from Yokohama at the end of July on a 3-month voyage around the world, teaching English to the volunteers aboard the ship. They would also want me to do an extra-curricular project of some sort and I think a voyage like that would be an ideal opportunity for something like a Model United Nations conference. Even if the English ability is relatively low, the conference can be adapted to suit their ability and knowledge.
The Peace Boat, in their own words, “seeks to create awareness and action based on effecting positive social and political change in the world. We pursue this through the organization of global educational programmes, responsible travel, cooperative projects and advocacy activities.” I would be travelling on Peace Boat’s 67th voyage, which would stop at 21 ports around the world, and have highlights including travelling through the Suez and Panama Canals, visiting Auschwitz and sample organic coffee in Cuba. I would never be someone to say “Yeah, I should get this job”, but I would like to think that if my interview and sample lesson plan goes well then I have a half-decent chance. They are looking for people with international awareness and educational experience and I’m thinking that the debate and Model United Nations courses I’ve taught and conferences I’ve run over the past 5 years might give me a chance.
While I am pretty pleased about this interview, what I would like much more is an interview of some sort here in Okinawa. All I’m getting from the public sector is a lack of response, and from the private schools rejections due to the economy biting and people & companies having to cut back. Have said it before but it’s not a good time at all to be in the job market. And even if I got the Peace Boat placement, I would still need to know before I boarded the ship whether I would be staying in Okinawa or not on my return. If not then there is no point me continuing to pay rent and own possessions down here.
Maybe I am just looking on the bad side of things and should be thankful I have an interview at all. My friend has just been telling me that only around 30 people get chosen for interview so I must be doing something right in my applications. We’ll see… Interview is on the 26th in Tokyo so I’ll be heading up to the capital for the weekend. And I have just heard from the other teacher who arrived in Okinawa at the same time as me (and who is at probbaly the top academic school in Okinawa, me being at about number 3) that he has an interview too. We get on pretty well so it would be great if either of us (or even both of us) could get placements.
Tags: education, ESL, featured, global vision, internationalization, job-hunting, model united nations, ngo, peace, peace boat, Teaching English, tefl, TESOL
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Comments 10
April 7th, 2009 at 23:33
Good luck Dave. Here’s hoping that they take the international experience, diving qualifications, and teaching ability into account.
Sounds like it would be a great experience.
April 8th, 2009 at 03:10
Best of luck for the interview! It sounds like a wonderful thing to do, and sure, there are some uncertainties about what to do after, but a lot can happen between now and then. Think positive!
April 8th, 2009 at 04:58
Chin up Dave good news with the interview and fingers crossed you get a few interviews for another teacher position in Okinawa if the peaceboat does not work out. Sounds a amazing experience though if it does work out you flying up to Tokyo or taking the ferry?
April 8th, 2009 at 06:18
Good luck mate!
Wedding is on september 11th if you do come back!
April 8th, 2009 at 16:12
Thanks folks. You’re probably right that I should be more upbeat about it, especially as it’s the only ray of light I’ve had in my job hunt so far. Will keep trying to stay positive and see how my interview and screening goes.
Gorgous – No chance of me taking the ferry. Not cheap and takes 2 days to get up to the most southern point on the mainland and over 3 days to get to Tokyo!
Chris – Great news! Will pencil it into my diary and see what I can do
November 19th, 2010 at 17:54
Hey Dave!
Did you end up going? I randomly found this page while researching Peace Boat stuff, and it sounds like your situation last year is kind of similar to what I’m looking at now, except I’m in Taiwan. It’s good to see your friends supporting you about the stuff. I just got rejected from a job too and it’s just like, oh well, c’est la vie for now. Hope you figured out something else amazing to do! I’m sure I will eventually too. haha. Take care,
Vanessa
November 19th, 2010 at 18:57
Vanessa,
Would love to report that I was chosen, but I missed out and my screening didn’t go well. The interview was fine but I messed up the model class. Scaled it for an ability level one higher than the test students were, and when the class is only 5 minutes long you can’t really cover your tracks and adapt.
Hopefully you’ll have more luck than me though. Let me know how it goes and good luck!
Dave
May 19th, 2011 at 11:47
Hey! i found your blog while researching the Peace Boat. The school I teach at has been invited to participate aboard on the 25th on June. I’m super excited. Did you get the position?
May 20th, 2011 at 12:58
Thank you for you comment and congratulations on the invitation to participate in Peace Boat. Unfortunately I didn’t get the job offer from them, bone of my friends did and he said the experience he had and the people that were on the boat had too was amazing.
Make the most of your time involved with Peace Boat