Getting a job as a milspouse

Okay, so imagine getting a call (from your now spouse) saying, “Babe hope you like Japanese food!”

Wait, WHAT?!?!

Once your head is wrapped around the idea of picking up your life, leaving the comforts and conveniences of the United States, now what’s next? I didn’t want to just sit and become stagnant for the next three years, I wanted to continue to build my skill sets and my resume for future career purposes. So within a month of arriving in Japan I decided to hit the ground running on my job search, I found a listing online in special education and immediately applied. A week later I received an interview time via zoom.

Camp Zama Middle/High School

Y’all I was real nervous, this was all new territory for me.

Not only am I in a foreign country but I’m on a military base and the rules associated with this role can be overwhelming to a new comer. So the way that the schools system operates here, I had to interview with not only the teacher but the Principal as well. Talk about intimidating, but this is where I utilized my pageant and political interview skills.

*Mom* All those endless nights of pageant prep paid off!

Interview went flawless, and within two days I heard back from the school that I had been selected for the position. I was honestly over the moon excited, what a cool opportunity!

The school did warn me that the onboarding process would or could be rather lengthy.

(Multiple background checks, endless amount of paperwork, HR in the states, military regulations, etc,etc,etc)

So that “lengthy process” was no exaggeration. I got the official job offer in July and did not receive a start date with the green light to begin until January 19, 2021! (LIKE INSANE)

Throughout this down time though I had become quite the house wife, developed my own little routine and was genuinely satisfied with my days at home. So I did become a little apprehensive, whenever we got back from leave and had the mandatory 14 day lock in I was beginning to stress about the expectations of this job, the unknowns, and how this new job would affect my home since I wouldn’t be there all the time.

Update: My house to me, (& my OCD) isn’t nearly as organized since I started working, but hey thats what the weekends are for right?

Today I am one week down and can tell you that this new journey will most definitely be a learning curve. I have always had a love for aiding in special education and I hope that passion continues to show through while I am employed here. I have always, and will continue to be authentic when discussing and blogging about my personal life so this is as honest as I can be. I am so used to the school systems in the United Staes, and the DODEA school systems here are a contrasting and complex organization in comparison. My goal is to make an impact on those students that I interact with daily, to me it is worth it if one student feels as if they are being heard, and that someone cares.

Time will tell how the Lord chooses to work all of this out, and I know that I’ve still yet to find my dream job, but this opportunity abroad really does give me a sort of purpose and drive. I am pushing my own bounds, expanding horizons, and doing my best to be a wife that my husband will always be proud of!