A few weeks ago I handed in a letter of resignation to the Wake County Public School System. Although I love North Carolina, my school, and my community, I feel like it's time to move on to the next adventure. I am sad to go. In fact, since I made this decision I've often felt a twinge of guilt. How could I leave in a time when many North Carolina teachers are moving on to higher paying jobs either out of state or in different fields? Working hard to earn a Master's degree and not being compensated for it makes it easier to leave. Giving all of my time and energy to a job for five years, working hard to become a team leader, department chair, directing school plays, and sponsoring after-school clubs, and then having my tenure taken away makes it easier to leave. But the friends I've made, the connection I feel to my community and my school, my love for my profession and my students, and the feeling that North Carolina is my home make it hard to say goodbye. I'm not leaving the teaching profession all together, (I don't think that would be possible for me), just changing my job title from North Carolina teacher to International Educator for the next few years. Teaching internationally has been a dream of mine for a long time now, so I'm excited to share that I will be teaching 5th grade in Kuwait next year at the Universal American School. Kuwait is a small country in the Middle East with a population of around 3 million people. It's very tiny compared to the United States. See a size comparison below comparing Kuwait to North Carolina from ifitweremyhome.com. Many people I've spoken with are worried for my safety as there is a lot of media right now about dangers in the Middle East. I have talked with several individuals who are living in Kuwait now or have in the recent past and they all say that they feel safer in Kuwait than when they lived in the United States. There are many American interests in Kuwait (buisness, oil, education), there are several American military bases in Kuwait, and as a culture, it is just safer (no guns, no alcohol). Here's an interesting comparison from ifitweremyhome.com about what life is like in Kuwait as compared to the states. I am eager to experience a new culture, to feel what it's like to be the one who is "different." In a time when our media misrepresents the Middle East and there's a lot of cultural misunderstanding, I am eager to listen and learn. I also suspect that traveling internationally will deepen my appreciation for my American citizenship and the rights that it allows me. There's a lot to do before I leave. I need to finish out the school year with my 6th graders and say goodbye to my students, colleagues and friends (and clean out my classroom, yikes!); finish my Master's degree in New Literacy and Global Learning from NC State (I have three classes to go this summer); figure out all of the tricky paperwork involved in getting a Visa to teach in Kuwait; sell most of my possessions; visit family in Illinois; go to the UK with my best friend, and hopefully learn Arabic. It's going to be a crazy summer, and it's going to be hard to have so much change happen at once, but I think it's worth it when you're pursuing your dreams. And as corny and idealistic as that sounds, that's what I'm doing.
3 Comments
Lauren
5/4/2015 11:01:27 am
Jill, I'm so proud of you and am amazed by your courage to step into the unknown! My Aunt and her friend moved to Kuwait to teach, I'm pretty sure at the same location, and they loved it. They lived there for 4 years. Keep in touch and enjoy every minute! Life is too short to not go on the journey.
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Latrice
5/4/2015 11:07:53 am
i am so excited about your new adventure and all that is happening as you close a chapter in what is sure to be a life long journey in education. I know this has been a dream of yours for a while, and though I will miss seeing you from time to time, I think this is such an exceptional experience to get to have. I pray that God is with you and uses you as his vessel in Kuwait. I hope you know that you have touched my life in ways that I don't have words to express. Love you!
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Catherine Coyne
5/4/2015 09:48:27 pm
Jill, while we will all miss you greatly, your adventure unequivocally beckons, and we are nothing sort of elated for you! While I will miss your strong leadership skills, innovation mind, and techy expertise, I too know that when the opportunity to follow your dreams runs right between your fingers, there's nothing you can do but reach out and snatch it. You, Ms. Zappia, are destine for many great adventures in life, and along the way, you will be changing lives, big and small, with your contagious passion.
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