I was staying at the Courtyard Marriot. I unpacked and got on the next shuttle to the Hyatt Regency. When I go to check-in at the fair, they don’t have me! I’m freaking out, but remaining calm as they go through the motions of figuring out who I am. They had me registered as “Thom Thomas.” After fixing my name, I had just enough time to check my mailbox before orientation. Despite the mix-up in my name Nichimashi (Tokyo) was able to leave me confidential information about their school and contract. The orientation lasted about two hours. Where I heard from the president of Search, the director of the Cambridge Fair, and my personal Associate: Sally. Listening to Sally speak was amazing and she helped calm any fears that I - and the crowd - seemed to be having. I knew from that moment that Sally was amazing, and it was meant to be that she was my Associate. I went back to my hotel (thank you Uber), had a late dinner at the hotel restaurant (a Japanese restaurant). And then ironed some shirts and slept fitfully.
On Friday morning, I woke up before 6, to get ready and be on the 6:45 shuttle, to make it to the preview of the first session for interview sign-ups. I had my list of schools that I wanted to schedule an interview with, and then I continued to look around the ballroom for other positions I’m qualified for and are in places I wanted to go to.
I wait in many lines to see the headmasters/principals of the schools and convince them to interview me. Then I have to do it all again for the second interview sign-up session.
During the interview sign-up sessions, I met two other candidates: Mr. Mid-West (also and elementary teacher looking to go to Southeast Asia) and Ms. DC (an administrator who works right here in DC!).
Interview Sign-Up Session 1:
| City/School | Position | Result |
| American School (AS) Tokyo | K, 1-5 | Left resume |
| International School (IS) Beijing | 1-5 | Interview |
| Keystone Beijing | K, 1-5, Theatre, SPED | Interview |
| Xiamen, China | K, 1-5 | Interview |
| ISF- Hong Kong | 1-5 | Interview |
| Hong Kong IS | K, 1-5 | Left resume |
| Pan AS Bahai Brazil | K, 1-5 | Left Resume |
| Bon IS, Germany | SPED | Left Resume |
| Italy, IS Genoa | 1-5 | Left Resume |
| Juju, Korea | 1-5, Drama | Interview Scheduled |
| Manila IS | SPED | Left Resume |
| IS Madrid | 1-5 | Left Resume |
| Ruamrudd IS, Bangkok | 1-5, SPED | Interview Scheduled |
| UK | 1-5 | Left Resume |
| Brazil – Graded School | 1-5 | Left resume |
| Comeroon | 1-5 | Left resume |
| Columbia | 1-5 | Left Resume |
| Venesula: Carabobo | 1-5 | Interview Scheduled |
| Bankstone, Korea | Drama | Left Resume |
Interview Sign-Up Session 2:
| Shanghai AS | 1-5 | Interview Scheduled |
| Shanghai Community IS | Drama | Interview Scheduled |
| Nishimachi | 1-5 | Interview Scheduled |
| Chadwick, Korea | 1-5 | Left Resume |
| FDR, Lima | 1-5 | Left Resume |
| Singapore AS | 1-5 | Left Resume |
| UK TASIS | 1-5 | Interview Scheduled |
| Venezuela, Puerto La Cruz | 1-5 | Interview Scheduled |
| Venezuela, IS Monaza | 1-5 | Interview Scheduled |
| IS Seoul | 1-5 | Left Resume |
| Brazil, Chaple | 1-5 | Left Resume |
| Switzerland AS | Theatre | Left Resume |
| IS Zurich | Theatre | Left Resume |
So in the interview sign-up sessions I spoke with 32 schools and got 13 Interviews! Sounds like some great odds. Interviews and school presentations will be discussed in part 2.
