phat contract

whilst sitting here in my apartment today after having taken the day off, waiting for my intestines to settle down so i can venture 5 minutes outside without worrying, i realized i hadn't updated people on what's happening with me next year. when i got to school in the morning last monday, just before we left for Explore Nepal and the last resort, our principle allan came up and asked to talk to me. we stepped aside and he quietly said "hey, i've heard a rumor that shannon (the woman on maternity leave for whom i'm subbing) won't be back next year." well, just a few days prior he had asked if i wanted to be considered for the position because shannon had said she wasn't coming back in august for the neeext school year. so i said "yeah, allan, we talked about it and i said you can consider me." to which he replied, "no, janice...she's not coming back in jaaaanuary!" this was a complete surprise to me...and obviously, to him. he told me to consider continuing until june and he would fill me in when shannon confirmed it with him, which was supposed to be within the next day or so. crap! from that moment on that's all i could think about on our trip! the whole ride up i talked to one of the other teacher/chaperones about it and having been involved with contractual things in the past, she was a great person to talk through it with. sure enough, two days later he called and told me shannon had contacted him. he tried to talk her out of it, citing a plethora of reasons, but she was holding to her wishes. she does not want to bring a 4 month old baby back to nepal. period. now next semester i was going to work 60% with a couple 8th grade social studies and a p.e. class, 2 out of the 7 cycle days off and a much more laid back feeling than this semester has been, plus a work visa continuation. now he said i would be at 100%. i struggled with the decision because of the new curriculum and time commitment, but after some negotiating, i wound up getting most of what an overseas hire would get (i'm considered a local hire) and i just couldn't pass it up. i'll get my salary tax free, cash in lieu of health insurance every month and cash in lieu of a round trip airline ticket home. when i finish my contract in june, i'll also get a 10% completion bonus that's intended to be used for retirement purposes. i reminded him i wasn't coming back until a week after the kids come back as i had made my travel plans before i knew i was going to continue and he said the school will work around it. he did not expect me to change my flight. plus, he said shannon was going to write up a more detailed outline of the semester and get it to me. ok. just before we left for Explore Nepal i had explained to my students that shannon was coming back and reminded them that our semester ends before we leave for winter break. oops. well, some of that is still true, but i told the kids yesterday that 'ms. carey' won't be back, so i have agreed to continue and they applauded...how sweet. well, at least the girls did...the boys just looked at me...teenagers! so after the holidays i'll be doing what i'm doing now, just getting paid more than twice i'm being paid as a permanent sub now. sweet! ...and i'll have sheela! hooray. i can do anything for 5 months. after reading one day in the life of ivan denisovich, and studying the russian revolution, my life seems like a piece of cake! just thought i'd let you know my latest news. now if only the dysentery would go away!! love, j