Anguilla? You mean Angola? OH! Antigua?

No... I mean Anguilla. 

Since beginning the Anguillian Chronicles, the latest chapter in the life of KTS, many people have asked, well how in the world did you end up there?! 

Lord knows really. It never dawned on me that I would find myself here but let's recap, shall we? 

On Tuesday October 22, I sat in room 216 at P.S. 33 feeling down and out about my search for life beyond my masters degree. Websites called out for teaching assistants and volunteers throughout the world. No need for a masters. Hell, just have a bachelors in SOMETHING and speak English and you're good to go. No experience necessary. China. Korea. Vietnam. Japan. Kuwait. Dubai. Saudi Arabia. 

...No where that spoke to my heart.  I felt defeat. 

Two and a half years of studying, and for what? No matter that I spent countless hours and dollars on exams to become a certified teacher. No matter that I took the time to study and learn to become highly qualified in my field. No matter that I dug myself into further debt for another degree. 

I professed my frustration to kindergarten rockstar and extraordinary woman Caryn who whipped out her phone and sent an email on my behalf to a school she had once taught abroad at: 

There's a student teacher here who is really awesome and is interested in teaching abroad. She'll be done in December and wants to leave the country ASAP. She's lived abroad before. Her degree will be TESOL K-12.... Basically second language learners, but she's awesome and could teach any kids --any age. She's doing 1st grade now. Let me know if you guys could use someone soon who's young & enthusiastic! 

I had no idea that email would be the start of the next grand adventure of my life. Honestly, I had never even heard of the island, a 17-mile-long, 3-mile-wide stretch of land just a 20-minute boat ride away from the glorious St. Maarten. Caribbean island? Couldn't be that bad. Google educated me with turquoise water, long stretches of white sand, heavenly sunsets full of colors unknown to Crayola boxes, shacks serving rum punch and fresh snapper right on the beach, endless sunshine no matter the month, and mansions meant for celebrity getaways. I was sold. 

Meads Bay, Anguilla

A few weeks passed and Anguilla appeared to be nothing more than a Google search and drool fest until one afternoon. Caryn came to me, "Are you SERIOUS about teaching abroad?" Yes. Definitely. "Would you be able to start in January?" SHIT, I mean... yes. Why not? I'm sure I could make it work. 

Hey, have her send her resume ASAP!!!!! And she better be serious too we are currently interviewing. We need more than awesome we need extraordinary and someone who can understand the Caribbean culture...... now.

I spent hours upon hours googling Omololu International School, the International Baccalaureate program, PYP, learner profiles, transdisciplinary learning... all new and unknown to me. I sat with Sarah, the all-star first grade teacher who taught me for the final months of my masters, and reviewed what I had experienced, what I had accomplished. I had never interviewed for a teaching position. Hell, I had never interviewed beyond bartending. 

On Friday November 29 I sat plumping my hair, frantically reviewing my extensive notes, banishing my family from their home, and pep talking myself through my computer screen reflection. 

After two hours of questions, it was over. All I could do was wait for further contact. And wait I did... praying, wishing, hoping, doubting, reflecting, contemplating. I often considered sending an email to politely decline any further consideration. There was too much to be done, hardly any time to prepare, and no savings to go with. Practicalities pointed to a resounding no, not now, not this. After all, I am a planner and my mind attempted to reassure me that there would be other opportunities. Yet my gut said wait... just wait... I needed to know what they thought, what they wanted, how they felt about Miss Smith. I refreshed my email morning, noon, and night for five never-ending days until finally...

Dear Ms. Smith,

On behalf of the Board of Omololu International School, I would like to invite you for a follow-up interview and discuss possbile employment at OIS. We understood from Ms. Graham that you had a very good interview and I am looking forward to speak with you.

LORD ALMIGHTY! I proceeded to sweat in the New York December winter for the next two days until my second interview. I flipped through the pages unsure of what questions would come beyond the two-hour interview I had already sat through. Things were bound to get specific... so I thought. 

At 3:00 pm my Skype beckoned to me. This was it. The moment of truth...

We would like to offer you the job. 

Naturally there were some technicalities mixed in but that was it. Plain and clear. They wanted me. I had exactly one month to find a sublet, quit my job, pack up my Brooklyn chapter and move to Anguilla... all whilst battling winter storms and holiday madness.

The Skype call ended and I proceeded to cry for the following two hours. It was time to relocate my balls and let Miss Smith emerge.