Interviewing for a new job is always a bit nerve raking but when doing so from a completely different country it adds a new level of interesting…..
Before the World Race I was a teacher and I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that I would be going back to it after the race. However, I’d also be looking for a different teaching position within Broward County (as opposed to the preschool I worked at before). So I knew it would be a much more tedious process and I would have to start job searching while on the field. Just to give you a heads up, it wasn’t only tedious or interesting, it became quite the adventure as well.
Job Application process started end of March and into April. After the initial application process I had to wait until schools in the county listed their job openings. At this point I was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 12 hours ahead of Florida time.
“Oh this is going to be fun” 
My first email for an interview came in and I was scheduled for 1 PM…… their time. If you are remotely good with math/time, that is correct, I had an interview at 1 AM my time.
**Note to future racers**When job hunting while in Malaysia be prepared for 1 AM interviews. Happy happy joy joy. 
Anyway, the interview went well, I was able to do it in the dorm where we were living for the month. So, although it was late I was able to crawl into bed right after.
My next interviews were scheduled for the next week after I arrived in Guatemala.
This month we are working with a organization called Hope Renewed. For 3 weeks we are staying in a small village that houses a girls foster home. On the compound there is no wifi, and cell reception is very poor (due to the prison that’s a mile away 
which isn’t really a problem, unless your trying to find a job for when you’re back in the States 
). For the interviews our ministry host took me into the main part of town, where the shopping center has free wifi (Thanks Lauren for all your help!!!). Also there are some fast food joints that have wifi but you have to buy food and I’m working on a world race budget here. aka next to nothing. Besides, I couldn’t very well buy all that extra food each time I have an interview. That would get really pricey.
One particular interview was quite a doozy…
Unfortunately, the wifi did not want to work at the shopping center that day, so with only 15 minutes before my interview my host drove me to the directors home 10 minutes away. I had Skype up and ready in time but never heard from the school. I did receive an email from someone at the school for a Zoom chat, but I did not have that app on my phone and the wifi was not strong enough to download it quickly. I sent a email asking it they where still wiling to do it or of they wanted to reschedule. After not hearing back, my host drove me back to town so I could get some lunch and find another place that maybe had decent wifi. It was a bit frustrating, not on the schools part but at how difficult of a process it became to find good enough wifi to just do a simple interview.
Since I was a little frustrated I decided to splurge on some food. So naturally, I went to Taco Bell. Plus they had good wifi so I was able to keep my email up in case I heard back from the school.
The tacos were awesome, for those of you who were wondering
I received an email (most likely because the wifi was much better) asking me to call the principal because he was still willing to do the interview, even though it was now over an hour past our scheduled time. At the time I wasnt thinking about how awesome it was of them to be willing to do that, but believe me it has not gone unnoticed. What I was thinking about at the time was how calling would be impossible. The only functioning phone I had was the team phone. A simple brick phone, that is really only good for local calls and 99% of the time did not like to make outgoing international calls. My personal phone is only good for wifi right now….. How was I supposed to call?!?!
I figured I’d give it a shot with the team phone, but had no expectations that it would work. I actually sent an email before I even tried anticipating it not working.
Low and behold, it worked!!! God is Good!!!! So I proceeded to do my interview, in Guatemala, at Taco Bell…… Well ok then.
The interview went well…. Towards the end I was telling the principal that the town had very poor reception, that it may be hard for him to get a hold of me over the next few weeks. A few seconds later, the call dropped. I called back, we talked for less than a minute Annnnd it dropped again. We were able to message back and forth for the final question since I still had wifi on my phone from Taco Bell. I’m never going to get used to saying I did a job interview while at Taco Bell. The interview officially ended and I was happy with how it went, considering all that happened.
Spoiler alert #1—- They offered me the job immediately! With all that went wrong, more went right. Through no wifi, bad cell reception, bad wifi, dropped calls, many emails back and forth, and multiple locations, it all worked out in the end.
Spoiler alert #2 – I accepted the job offer. How could I not accept it after how well it worked out in the end/ the fact that the interview took place at Taco Bell. =) Seriously though, its a good school and I like the opportunity the principal offered me.
(Fun Fact – The principal did not know prior to this blog that I was at TBell during the interview. If you are reading this, thank you for your patience with the whole no wifi/ terrible cell reception thing!)
**Note to future Racers**While on the World Race there is a good chance you have to do a job interview towards the end and the best place to find wifi for it, is at Taco Bell
It’s crazy how the Lord makes things happen. I was so sure that the interview was going to happen the following week instead of that day (dinner time was approaching and we had to get back to the compound before dark). Then when we were actually able to do the interview, I wasn’t expecting them to actually offer me the position right away. Literally, RIGHT away, especially after how hard it was to communicate. But everything fell into place and I’m excited for this opportunity and what’s to come. Transitioning back into the states is going to be hectic but I really look forward to it.
Summary – Taco Bell is a life saver!! And no, i dont owe my future to Taco Bell but it seemed like a catchy title.
