The story so far (part 2 - selection and interview)

Following the online application I was pleased to get an email telling me that I had passed the initial selection screening and that if any post became available I may be called for an interview; (that was on August 25th.) I knew that there would probably be a long wait and I wasn't really expecting to hear any more.

At the end of October I received a telephone message asking me to call Abu Dhabi to arrange an interview for the following Tuesday. Much nervous tension later and I travelled to Nottingham for a video link interview. The UK link company were very professional and helpful.

The video interview was very like a normal interview except for the time delay. It meant that it was hard to get body language feedback and jokes were received with silence ( for 2 seconds).
The panel were really good at putting me at my ease and the usual questions about teaching maths were asked. I was expecting a 10 day wait to hear if I'd been successful.

That Sunday (Alexandra's birthday) and the phone rang telling me that I'd been successful in my interview and that the 12 colleges around the Emirates could now bid for my services (not for extra moeny for me though). Abu Dhabi Women's College had already bid for me (they were present at my interview).

Much dancing with delight!!!

The story so far (part 1)

Some readers will be unaware of how we came to be moving overseas. Some of these diary entries will be our memories of the last year - the story so far.
I'm trying to alternate the typeface to make the posts easier to read. DO comment or email if you have trouble.

In July 04 it was cold. 03 had been a beautiful summer. I was looking forward to working at Boston College, gardening very happily and at one with my fabulous house on the River Bank. Fed up with the cold we booked a last minute holiday to Crete, where it was lovely and warm. I love to be warm.

There we met a couple who lived in Dubai most of the year; (didn't know this til waiting at the airport to fly home). We'd thought seriously about living abroad and seen a programme with Anthea Turner in Dubai. We decided Crete wasn't the next place to settle, but something stirred within. (I think it was frostbite.)

Mid August found me (as usual) on the Internet. I was looking for teaching postings that didn't require formal UK teaching status and would be for older students. I much prefer my current post-16 students. My International students are wonderful. I'm used to teaching maths to students whose English is a Foreign Language.

Then I came across this job for maths college teaching in the United Arab Emirates (Dubai is one of the Emirates).
http://recruit.hct.ac.ae/job_details.asp?job_seq=455
If the link doesn't work it is because they have updated the posting, go to: http://recruit.hct.ac.ae/teaching.asp
and follow the link to Mathematics faculty. (Please let me know - I'll update this page.)

I knew I wasn't qualified at the time, though my degree and teaching qualification were due to be completed that December; but with encouragement decided to apply anyway.

To be Continued...

Ist thoughts

I never thought I'd take up blogging, but as we prepare for our move overseas, there are so many thoughts running through our heads, it would be a shame to look back on this exciting time as a blur.

Today we are very busy clearing up to get our house on the market. Seems to be an endless job, so many bags for the Cats home.

There's a new personnel officer at Abu Dhabi Women's College (ADW). She's looking into our flights for us. We expect to be flying out of London Heathrow at 2235 on 4th August and get into Abu Dhabi at 0840 the next morning. Shouldn't be tooooo hot by then.

Here's a link to the temperature in Dubai. It is constantly updated:
http://dwc.hct.ac.ae/expatinfo/
95 degrees at the moment.

That webpage also links to all sorts of helpful expat info.

Time to get on with the jobs and stop typing away on here.