You never know

It's a public blog.
You never know who's reading.
Apparently I never know who's reading, either. :-D

A friend who had her daughter in my all-homeschooler Girl Scout troop emailed me on Thursday morning to offer to drive me to my interview in downtown Portland. She had read on my blog that I was going.

I tried to talk her out of it.
Told her that it would be hours and hours. Traffic. Parking. Waiting for me. Did I mention the traffic?

I told her I wouldn't blame her for withdrawing her offer. Asked her to consider riding the Max with me... then she wouldn't have to drive in that crap either.

But no. She said the traffic did not upset her, that she was fine with it and that she'd be here at noon to pick me up.

You know... curbside service.

And about five minutes early, Stephanie was outside my house.

I still can't believe it.
I told her on the way downtown that I have a lot of friends, but a VERY short list of people I would do something like that for. It's just way too stressful for me. We caught up a little on our kids. She's a mother in law now, too. She also approves of the girl her son married. I still can't believe he's old enough to BE married. Time's just screamin' by, isn't it?

So she came at noon. Interview was at 1.
Of course I didn't want to be late.
Again.

::sigh::

We were downtown in about a half hour, leaving us with 15 minutes or so to kill. Drove around the block a couple times, then found a shady spot to park the last little bit.

I was a little early. They were apparently still eating lunch, but came to get me about five minutes before one.

The interview was long. They had a huge list of questions. I had a huge list of answers. It's hard to explain, I am not trying to impress anyone. Either the skills I have are good, marketable and what they're looking for, or they're not. I don't embellish my resumé, I don't stretch the truth, I just present myself in as straightforward a manner as possible. Easier that way. More... me. On the other hand, of course I want to impress them. I'd like them to hire me. I think this is the best fit out of all the places I've applied. They seem to think a lot like I do.

I completed a unit study about insects and arachnids this week and just made three copies of everything in it. Dropped two of them off at summer camp this morning, one for each camp they're running, and kept the third one. When I got the email telling me some of what to expect at the interview, one of the things was this:

Be prepared to discuss your experiences working with K-5 youth including group management and designing curriculum
Have in mind a lesson or activity you would implement and be ready to explain your process for planning and delivery.

I was glad I had brought it with me. I explained a bit of it, telling them that I really like having parents involved in the activities the kids are doing. I do a question of the day during the bug unit and parents and kids together go home and research the answers.

I also brought a couple activity plans that I'd built from scratch. This organization actually rewards you for being able to write and implement curriculum. They liked it. One of them (I was interviewed by two site directors... you know, people who actually do my job!) said she loved it and would like to do some of the activities on it.

The company I'm currently working for is moving into the territory of top-down, one-size-fits-all everyone must learn _____ for their sites.

I find that depressing, I've always been so glad to have a bit of freedom for the kids. I feel like having them sit and do 'school' after school is a terrible thing to do to them and I've been worrying over it. I can't turn my program into a cookie cutter program. I just don't operate that way.

Anyway, I think the interview went okay. I have no idea who else they're interviewing, no idea what the competition looks like. But I feel okay about it.
If I have to leave my current placement, this is where I'd like to go.

Cross your fingers.

And thank you, Stephanie. I appreciate you taking your whole afternoon to drive me downtown and then deliver me back home. I was not nervous about your driving, I wasn't stressed out over traffic, and I really, really appreciate what you did for me today.

If I get the job (and if I have to leave my current one, this is the one I want) I'll make you and your hubby matching tie dyed shirts.. your choice... to wear in public or pajama shirts that come to your knees. And socks.

:)