Spring Update for the Giullians

I haven't been very good about blogging lately... it's been crazy. But we are getting so excited about our move!

Rexburg has finally warmed up, but some of the days are so windy. Case and point:

It was SO windy... that is a maxi skirt, and not a mid calf length skirt. You can't even breathe out there. It makes running harder, but I love that I don't have to wear a huge coat every day!

 We are also getting suuuuuper excited about moving to Miami. We've been talking, and we haven't gone on a "big" trip just for the heck of it since we've been married. Every trip has been to family (which is the best reason to go) in one way or another. We have also been getting super excited about all the cheap flights that we can get from Miami. It's cheaper to fly to Costa Rica than it is to California! So we have been saying, "Oh man, we should go to the Bahamas... we should go to Puerto Rico... we should go to the D.R... we should go to Panama..." etc. Makes us sound super fancy right? (hint: Still cheaper than flying home.)

So last night, we were at Barnes & Noble and ended up sitting in front of the "International Travel" section. I was staring at the Caribbean section, and I told Brandon, "Ok, we're doing it. We're buying a book tonight, and we are making that our first big trip out of Miami!" So with some discussion, and looking up some flights, we found a destination:

Look at those flights! I'm going through our orange book right now and highlighting worthy attractions... We don't know when we'd go but we will!

The D.R. is a definite place I've wanted to go, but I figured I shouldn't go when a certain elder is there... so that he can serve his mission. But in Year 2 of PA school, here we come Dominican Republic!

Job Hunt- Florida Edition

Am I seriously doing this again? Yes, yes I am.

Luckily, there are more than 300 elementary schools in the two districts nearest where we will live in Miami. We are looking at a town named Aventura (or "adventure" in Spanish... how exotic!), because that's where a lot of grad school students live and it's safe, which is my biggest concern.

So, I've started to look at places to apply. Since the Miami-Dade school district has 195 elementary schools and the Broward County school district has 135 elementary schools (not counting charter schools and private schools), I can't apply to all of them. Nor do I want to. So I'm coming up with a system to determine where I'll live.

Step 1) I've been looking up the schools and how far away they are from Aventura. I'm only writing down the schools within half an hour, because I don't want to commute an hour if I can commute 5 minutes. Don't worry about a shortage of schools, I've found about 150. I'm also looking at the school's populations, because if I'm going to teach Special Ed I'm not going to do it at a school of 1100 students.

2) Once I'm done with that, I'm going to look at the "Crime Map" app for which schools are in safe areas. Again, I am not going to apply to a school that is in a dangerous area.

3) After that, I'm going to start sending out resumes! I'm excited about this, because I actually feel confident about the experience I have this time. I can handle anything after this year... phew!

Job Hunt comes to a close!

I am feeling super humbled and blessed.

As mentioned... I have been looking for a job. I was just about to give up when I got a call from an elementary school in Ashton Idaho. I was given an interview... and then a call for an interview. But, this past Tuesday I was called by a school in Rexburg. Schools in Rexburg are like the motherload. All those women who have husbands in school want to work in Rexburg. I had already been turned down from about 10 positions in Rexburg, and had given up hope. I agreed to meet with him and interview the next day.

 Through the interview, I was sure to be candid and charming but honest. When they asked what my biggest weakness was, I was ready for an answer. I said my lack of experience, which I hope to remedy in a job. I told them I was a hard worker, and have passion and empathy for the students I work with.

Well, the principal had me step outside for a couple of minutes to talk about if they wanted to hire me. I walked down the hall, and then they called me back. Then, they offered me the job on the spot. He asked if I needed time to think about it, and I said absolutely.

I decided to take my talents to Rexburg, because a 4 mile commute will be a dream. I will also be teaching Title 1, which is a reading intervention that is before Special Education. I will have 2 aides, one of whom has been there for 10 years. Thank goodness, I will need the help!

I am so grateful for all the prayers and support. My parents and grandparents on all sides have been praying for me nonstop, and many friends and other family members have been as well. Brandon has talked me off a couple of ledges during this job hunt. He is excited to have, in his words, "A sugar mama". I said live it up for the year or so that I'm teaching, because after that it's allllll him.

I'm going to be a teacher!

Unemployment.

So, I've been applying for jobs. Obviously. I've applied to probably over 60 jobs at this point. I did have three interviews this week, so we'll see how those go.

I know it's only been a week and a half since student teaching started, but I feel like it's been forever.

Cons: The obvious. No money coming in on my end.

Feeling like I have no purpose in life.

Rejection over and over again.

 BUT, the greatest pro is that I am not stressed. Brandon said he loves my "not in school" self. And I agree.

Saturday night we walked for 2 hours, just talking and laughing our heads off. It's so awesome. I feel like this time before work starts and kids come and whatever the future has in store for us is going to be a great memory for us in upcoming years.

But for my to-do list this week:

-Go to the temple (it can't hurt my chances of getting a job, right?)

-Run/continue my 30 days to flat abs workout.

-Apply for more jobs.

-Crochet (Brandon is being so polite with waiting for his blanket, but this is what I have so far:)

It's only 1/4 of the way done.

-Wait.

Well, it's done.

I survived student teaching.

And you know what? I'm going to miss those little bugs.

On my last day, one of my boys gave me a bouquet of flowers and a necklace that said "#1 Teacher". It's so sweet. They also all signed cards and gave me some school supplies for my next teaching job. When they were leaving, one of the girls said, "Don't worry Mrs. Giullian, I probably won't cry until I get home." How do you not miss that?!

But now I'm on my first day of unemployment.

What will I do?

-Get my teaching license.

-Go to the temple.

-Train for my 5k in July (that I've been badly neglecting).

-Keep applying for jobs.

SPEAKING OF WHICH: I got a job offer and another call for an interview. One is a teacher's assistant at a Montessori school in Sacramento, and the call for the interview is at a Goddard preschool in Durham, North Carolina. Because who wouldn't want to live by Dane?! (And Alyse and Tommy, of course). It depends on the position they want to offer me, though.

-Keep up my Etsy shop. (Visit it! http://www.etsy.com/shop/CamillesCrochet)

But I can do anything I want to! I can continue to learn Spanish like I've wanted to. I can get a Master's degree if I want to. I can work full time if I want to (and can get hired).

Soooo, yeah. It's sweet.

Ok, I'm going to level right now.

I'm 3 class days away from finishing student teaching. I've applied to over 50 jobs, and I haven't heard anything positive from a single one. I've applied to jobs in 5 states (Idaho, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Wyoming), and am getting nervous. If anyone can pass on job opportunities I'd really appreciate it. I'm trying to stay positive.... but yeah.

For the record, I'm still applying. I have applications started in other states and districts as well.

Job Hunt continues.

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If you know of any jobs in Sacramento, Phoenix Mesa area, Houston, Charleston (West Virginia), Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Portland, or pretty much anywhere else, let me know. I've applied to about 50 jobs and uploaded my resume to a ton of websites.