Response

As much as it seemed I wouldn't, I did make it to TESOL. I believe there was no other way! I finished in/out-processing much quicker than most, and things went relatively smoothly.

I have no idea what direction the chaplain thing is going to take. Perhaps I am a bit too easily distracted, in which case it wouldn't work out anyway. I will have to keep you updated on that as things unfold.

I was all set to go to the first meeting in Denver to talk about my trip in November! I had booked the trip with 3 different airlines in order to accommodate my rather tight schedule. I was really bummed when the meeting was cancelled. Little did I know, however, that due to this cancellation, I would be able to hang out with one of the most fantastic people I have ever had the opportunity to meet! I met them at a session about the State Department's English Language Fellows. I had been to a similar one in the  past, and it really didn't provide any new information, but somehow, this person and I started talking. They had to go, so we decided to hang out the following day. It was good having someone to go to the plenary with (I hate large stadiums), and to try to figure out what sessions to go to.

I also was able to walk through the TESOL exhibit hall and randomly run into a professor of mine from Hawaii Pacific University! I would be able to go out to dinner with her and two of my colleagues from there as well. We went out to this Tex-Mex restaurant and had a wonderful time. We talked about who we still kept in contact with, what we were presently doing, and all the normal things people talk about... I think. We also were able to get an interesting and much too happy person to take this photo for us. It will be great for memories someday, I am sure!

Then there was the company that stopped me as I was wondering aimlessly around the exhibit hall. I found myself being pulled aside and asked about the possibility of teaching in Saudi Arabia. I happened to have a copy of my resume on me. When she saw it, she made sure to get me scheduled for an interview right away (which she could do because the one who reviews the resumes before oking an interview happened to walk by right at that very moment). The interview went very well. The two who were interviewing (a Saudi math teacher and a British English teacher) asked a lot of different grammar, methodology, and classroom management skills questions. Apparently I answered well enough as they both wanted me to go to their respective sites to work! I was offered the job and now just have to decide that this is what I want to do.

And then I had to check out of the hotel. That caused a bit of a mess, but it all turned out alright. I managed to get to the airport in plenty of time. I probably would have barely made it, but the flight was delayed! It was delayed but not enough to make me late for the next flight. I made it to the next flight with a little more time than I thought because it was delayed slightly as well. When I arrived to Mexico city, I had to wait a little while longer than the other places, but I was able to get through customs and recheck my bags with little difficulty. Even the light on the random selection station was cooperating this time around!!

All in all, the things that really annoyed me all seemed to result in things that couldn't have happened otherwise, and I wouldn't change these things for the world!