Twelve years ago when I finished my contract as a hospitality coordinator in a local company, I sat in my kitchen pondering what I could do for work knowing that I needed to find something quickly or I wouldn't be able to stay in Italy because my rent and bills were accumulating.
As I twiddled my thumbs in desperation, opportunity literally came knocking from the postman who randomly rang my doorbell one day and asked me if I was English or American. He said he saw my name on the mailbox downstairs and he knew some families who were in need of English lessons. I wasn't actually a teacher, but I was a native speaker and I studied communications in college, so I thought I could probably do what they were wanting.
The first meeting was amazing because I got to use my own language in a foreign country to do my favorite thing, which is talking. From there, I looked up language schools in the area and made my way to Inlingua Imola where I found the owner working late one evening. She said she was searching for a new teacher because she had a lot of new courses starting. She also said she could train me since I didn't know what I was doing and then I could start immediately after.
I had no idea before I began teaching that it was indeed something that fit me. I loved it from day one and really for all the subsequent days in the 12 years to come. I've woken up happy to go to work because it has really just been a paid pleasure for me and the school became both my savior and sanctuary. It found me from the beginning and then it stayed by my side and supported me when I needed a job, when I needed friends and company, when I wanted to work after having a baby, when I was divorcing, and all the years later when I was taking care of myself and my daughter single-handedly. I can count on one hand the number of days or times that I have had problems at work and it has been one of the longest, most beautiful and rewarding relationships of my life.
I always thought I was teaching others, but equally or even more so possibly, my students have taught me so much about themselves, their lives, their culture, and their families. Almost everything I know about Imola and Italy has come from my students who have helped me learn about and feel part of the community. It has been a lifeline for me and I have felt so lucky. Also, standing in front of others, leading groups, and working with people of all ages, backgrounds, and preferences has given me a lot of experience in how to connect and work with other humans, and the thousands of hours I've dedicated to teaching over the years has really shaped me. I remember that as a kid I loathed having to stand up in front of the class and speak at school, but now it is something that thrills me. I like the dynamics of large groups, working with so many varied personalities, and finding ways to keep students engaged in learning. It is a welcome challenge for me.
I will admit, however, that after 12 years, I've run the gamut of teaching. I've worked with kids, adults, and older folks in one-on-one and group lessons. I've gone into public schools and companies and I have encountered just about everything. I was starting to feel that it was time to make a career change and apparently the universe agreed with me because a few months ago, I was informed that after 55 years of business, my precious school would be closing its physical location and would only work remotely. I was shocked, to say the least. I absolutely never imagined my school closing as it has been a stable and fundamental part of the community for language learning and although I am ready for a change because it's time for me to expand outside of teaching, I feel both grief and gratitude for what is happening and what this job has provided me.
In a serendipitous series of events, I am currently opening the door of the new house I just purchased while simultaneously shutting that of the school. It has been heartbreaking and emotional to clean out the school and to reflect on everything there that I have been through. I have been digesting this situation for months, but I still don't feel fully prepared for next week when I will actually close the door completely on a place that became my second home and where I have always felt safe and comfortable.
Sixteen years ago, my bank job in Seattle ended during the 2008 financial crisis and it allowed me the opportunity to move to Italy where I had wanted to live for years after travelling. I don't think this normally happens once in a lifetime, let alone twice, where I'm left in the midst of company remnants and therefore sent on a quest to rediscover myself and my purpose, but here I am again in a career crossroad wondering what the universe has in store for me and if it can top teaching. I'm curious to see what my next path will be, but for now, I want to acknowledge all that teaching has taught me and given me in the way of friends, community, and my own self-development. I hope to carry all of these things into my next personal achievement and I want to thank all of my students, colleagues, and the people I have met along the way who have participated in my experience as a teacher. It has been an honor.
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