Got a job...

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I got a job, as an English teacher...
This would be the last job I’d ever have in Mexico... 

Getting a job was priority number one from the moment I got back home… 

It was definitely awkward being at home and getting money from dad for my daily expenses or anything at all, I wasn't even paying for my meals or anything else.... 

When you are young, you can take it for granted that your parents will look after you, feed you and house you...
You don't even stop to think about the expense you may be costing them at all...well, at least that was the way I was brought up and the way it was.

However, I was 21 years old then and, after living independently overseas for some time, I was very aware of the fact that I needed to pay my own way and cover at least my personal expenses...I couldn't continue being a financial burden to my parents for too much longer... 

All my brothers and sisters had left home... 

My eldest brother, Pepe, was the first one to leave...He got married and soon after had a child, my first niece, Claudia...

He was a young man when he got married, however, that was normal back then...he was a schoolteacher when he did so and was also studying Architecture at Uni...

The next one to leave was my brother, Jorge, he left home to live independently somewhere...I didn't know much about what he was doing back then, he simply moved out...it was all a bit of a mystery to me at that time...this was quite unusual in those days in Mexico, as most of the times kids didn't leave home unless they were getting married or got a job out of town or something like that... 

My sisters got married quite young, in their early twenties, although in those days that was the average marriage age for girls...so they were both gone from home...

By the time I left for my first adventure overseas they both had already had their first children, my sister Leticia had Daniela and soon after my sister Silvia had Sergio...

The last one to leave before I did was my brother Mario, he left soon after I went away on my first adventure in Europe, as he got a job up north in Monterrey...that was a great move for my brother's corporate career and life in general, as he also ended up meeting his wife up in Monterrey...and ended up staying there...

So, all my siblings were pretty much all set up for life, one way or another, it was just me left to get sorted...and I'm sure my parents were eager to see what would come out of this young one, their last child...
 As I've mentioned in my previous post, I was so lucky to find that advert from 'Interlingua' looking for English teachers...
I was quite excited about it and decided to apply... I made a phone call to enquire, and I was told to go to their head office for a chat... 
I went for my interview and test to Mexico City's *Zona Rosa, a small business district in Mexico City, where they had their head office.

*The Zona Rosa (The Pink Zone) is an interesting part of Mexico City, located roughly between the Angel of Independence and the *Metro station 'Insurgentes' (*Mexico's City Underground transport system). Pictured above. 

This business district had several pedestrian-only streets and back in 1981, it was a cool place for upmarket restaurants, night clubs and for several renowned Hotels...there were always lots of tourists around there.

It was a place I never necessarily went to, especially at night, a bit out of my lifestyle and budget, but we'd sometimes go there to a small but unique 'Record shop' to buy some of the latest imported records...

I believe things have changed a bit since then... 

I had no car, so I was back again using public transport in Mexico City, so I must've taken a bus and then the Metro to get to my appointment...I'm sure it must've taken me at least 45 minutes to one hour to get there...

I remember I was feeling quite confident when I walked in...and said to the receptionist, I'm here regarding the position for English teachers.
I was instructed to sit in a sort of classroom and wait for someone...there were others sitting in the room, obviously applying for the same job...

Then someone walked in, and we were given a job application form to fill out and were handed an English written test sheet...
It was an English grammar test... I actually found it quite easy...it was mostly basic grammar but had also some tricky questions... 

Then a couple of us were asked to wait to meet with someone for another test, the others were sent home...
Yay! I had passed my first test...

The next test was a conversational English test, which was simply having a brief interview with an American lady...
I must've done well because in the end I was offered the job!

They explained to me that I had to take a 2-week training course, right there at their head office, to learn how to teach English using their system.
Cool, I said, I'm keen...

Then they said to me that they had an opening at a branch by the "Parque de los Venados" a well-known park not too far from home and I said, that sounds perfect, when can I start?
They said "if after taking your training course we think you are ready to teach you can start in January"
Sounds awesome, I said. 

I went back home all smiles...
I GOT A JOB!

I could not believe it...wait a minute...I didn't even ask what the pay was...never mind...
Whatever it was I'm sure it was just fine... 

I felt empowered and hopeful! 

The news of my new job was well-received back at home by mum and dad...they were happy for me, and it sounded like a "real job", a teaching job...

That kind of occupation or profession has always had a good reputation, especially with my family, my brother Pepe was a primary schoolteacher and both my sisters Leticia and Silvia also ended up teaching...so my upcoming job must have given my parents some reassurance that I was moving in the right direction, somehow, according to their hopes for all of us... 

Can you imagine? … I was going to be an English teacher...Who would've thought?...

That type of job had never entered my mind at all until I saw that advert... 

It is interesting how things can present themselves to you in the most inexplicable ways...and, advertising has totally played a significant role in my life, without adverts I would not have found my current business and wouldn't have met my wife Helen... 

Anyway, this was going to be a totally new experience, I thought, and it would be definitely a way to continue speaking English daily so that when I'd take off again, I'd still be fluent...

PERFECT...LET'S DO THIS!