Training in New Mexico

Well, I’m not overseas just yet, but last week I had an experience that is in many ways related to my upcoming adventures, so I figured that it would be appropriate to write on them here.

Last Monday (July 14th), I flew to Albuquerque, New Mexico (my first solo flight of many to come) for my IB English training. A shuttle took my fellow trainees and me to beautiful Montezuma, New Mexico, the site of the United World College and historic Montezuma Castle (which served as a dining hall, classroom building, and, for the lucky (myself included), a dorm).

The whole week was phenomenal in every sense. The grounds were picturesque, the people incredibly personable and insightful, and the classes helpful and practical. Several off-campus excursions were available, two of which I took advantage: an alpaca ranch on Tuesday and Santa Fe on Wednesday.

To my knowledge (and I inquired about this often), I was the only participant (of well over 200) who was about to begin their first year of teaching. Many of the participants were overwhelmed by the curriculum, yet I didn’t even feel as daunted as many of the long-time teachers were. Maybe it’s my young, idealistic, fresh-blood nature of gearing up for my first year of teaching, soon to be smashed on the rocks of reality. Or maybe I’m just that gung-ho that it will work out great, like things usually do when I go all in for them, like I am with my Dubai adventure. Probably a little of both.

Aside from the great experience and many wonderful relationships that I fostered (many of which are also going international and with whom I’m planning rendezvous with in their respective countries and in Dubai), I learned three big things. The first is the obvious one: I learned about the IB English program, the whole reason my school sent me to this conference in the first place. Second, I learned a good deal about teaching English, about teaching internationally, and about teaching in general from my many new friends at the conference. And finally, I learned something about myself. Actually, ‘confirmed something I was already pretty sure of’ would be a more appropriate phrasing. This week, for me, was kind of a trial run for Dubai: a long-distance solo trip to a place I’d never been, where I knew absolutely no one and had very little idea of what to expect. And I survived. Nay, I thrived. The week was absolutely wonderful, and I have absolutely no doubt that I will thrive similarly in my adventure to Dubai. Given, Dubai is a whole lot farther away, a whole lot culturally and geographically different, a whole lot more varied in its trials, adventures, and joys, and a whole lot longer lasting than my week in New Mexico. And yet, I have every reason to believe that I will shine all the more because of those increased differences. Besides, I’ll have my lucky adventurer’s hat.

Thanks for reading. This’ll probably be my last post until right before I leave (on August 20). Please keep my in your thoughts and prayers as I work on getting all my ducks in a row in preparation for my departure. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go try to figure out the best way to finagle my stuff into my suitcases to not go over the per-bag luggage weight limit. Fun.

Welcome!

Greetings friends and family,

As I will be moving thousands of miles away from almost all of you next month, I've created this blog where I will (hopefully) be able to share many of the adventures and experiences that await me in Dubai and beyond. I'll do my best to keep this updated with pictures and stories on a fairly regular basis. And as always, drop me a message to let me know what's going on in your life as well. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I prepare to make this big and exciting step in my life. I love you all.

Intrepidly yours,
Jeremy