Would I be a Teacher?

When I was at High School, (many years ago), it was my plan to be a teacher. I don’t know why, but it was just something I spoke about. But it was not to be as I planned. In my third year of high school, where I was studying English, Maths, French, Latin, Anatomy and Physiology, Home Science, and more. My teacher contacted my mother and told her to take me out of school, and put me to work in a factory, as “I wouldn’t amount to anything.” (I was to learn many years later that this was common for girls in high school.)

I did leave that school and went to another high school where I did Shorthand, Typing and Bookkeeping – in fact, three years of those subjects in one year. I finished the year with eleven subjects and two credits. Quite a good score!

My Early Career

My first employment was at a large wholesaling company where I put my office skills to good use, but I didn’t like it. I recall resigning without telling my parents! When I stayed in bed and refused to go to work, my mother was not happy. But she found me work within a couple of days in the office of her Ophthalmologist.  One of the doctors left to open his own practice and I left too and was his practice manager. Until I discovered nursing. One Friday night I attended a tour of a hospital with the Ranger Guide company of which I was a member.  On the Monday, I signed up to commence training at a country hospital the next month.

Hundreds of Miles Away

The country town was some 400 km from where I had lived since birth. In those days, trainee nurses lived on site, in what was called “the nurses’ home”,   I stayed there until I completed my training just over 3 years later.  Then I went interstate for a few months working in hospitals and private homes before returning to the hospital where I trained, to do Midwifery. Sadly, the course was cancelled before it started so I worked at the hospital for a while.  Over the next few months, I met the man I would marry.

Married life and moving.

I worked at many jobs for years. My husband’s work meant that we moved from state to state. Our children attended school in several states, and as he was often away on business I worked at a variety of jobs – retailing, nursing, sales, manicure and more. When the children left home, I went to university and got my first degree – in teaching.  After that I taught adults – in hospitality, retail, and personal development.

At one of the properties, I also taught Aged Care – which I loved.  Sadly the funding did not continue.

Later I did training as a literacy teacher and taught at a big college with students from overseas learning English.

My First Overseas Teaching Position

In February 2008, I was offered a position at a college in China. It was all very quick and I had little opportunity to study where I was going.  I knew little of China and was not keen to go, but had a friend “encouraging” me to take up the position. I am so glad I did.  I spent the whole year in Shaoxing (south of Shanghai), though returned home during the mid year break and the 2008 Olympics in China.

Not only was I teaching at the college (which became a university that year) I taught at a business college in the city of Keqiau). I  returned for the second semester, teaching at both sites until the end of November. I returned to Australia in December.

It was a year of many great adventures – as I spoke no Chinese/Mandarin, and was often on my ow, but managed to travel to Xi’an, Beijing and more on my own.

2009 and 2010

Early in 2009, I was offered a 3 month teaching project in South Korea, at a city called Jeon Ju.  Again another adventure.  Another teaching role. Typically I was alone – I lived in a small unit and my classes were in the evening, and I travelled around the country on my own.  More adventures.

Early in 2010, I was asked to return to Shaoxing, which I did happily for another adventurous period.  It is not easy living in a country, alone, without understanding or speaking the language, but I had a lot of fun and enjoyed it all.