Erin (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} theduckiest) wrote,@ 2008-07-19 21:57:00 |
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More Decisions
I don't know where I got this indecisive thing from. Both my parents don't seem to have problems making decisions. I guess that may be what's wrong...they just made all the decisions for me?
So, here is the latest one I've been troubling myself over:
I want to take the CELTA class on how to teach English, as previously mentioned. There are two course providers in Milan: Teacher Training and The British Council/International House. The International House is a respected international chain, in fact, there is one in San Diego (one of the like 6 cities in the US that offers the CELTA certification...however, I feel that job-wise, it is more useful for me to go to Italy, since you have to be there to find a job). The one girl that I've read about who is legitimately sponsored to teach English in Italy went through the International House in Prague, and said they offered her a job afterwards. Their location is also pretty much ideal, it's in the center of Milan, near the University. The cost is also about 50 euroes less than Teacher Training. Their schedule is also slightly preferable; class starts at 10 and ends at 6 (as opposed to 9:30-5).
Teacher Training is a small operation, run by someone who used to work for the British Council. I can't decide if this is a good thing or not. Since they are smaller, they might be better connected and more helpful, or they might not be and might not be as prestigious. They said that they may be able to assist in finding housing, which is KEY (more on this later). Their location is less than ideal - it is near the Central Train Station, which unfortunately is not the best part of town. They have always answered my emails promptly, and seem to be nice though.
Either way, I end up with the same certification. What I wanted to do was apply to both, see where I got accepted, and then make the decision. However, right after turning in my application to Teacher Training (I turned this one in first because I initially preferred them, as they have been so responsive), I saw a clause that said the following:
"I understand and accept that should I be offered a place on the course I have applied for, I am committing myself to completing the course, and am therefore liable for payment of the entire course fee."
This worries me. I believe that I will find out if I am accepted after the interview. So, if I am even offered a place, I MUST take the spot, or pay for the entire course?! That seems 1) sketchy 2) desperate. It made me think that the International House was a better option. I am just really not sure. Either way, I sent in the International House application on Friday and am waiting to hear if I got an interview; I sent in the Teacher Training application on Wednesday and sent an email on Friday saying that this coming Friday would be best for me to interview...so hopefully I will have my interview with the International House first! But what if I don't get accepted to either?!?! The classes I believe are kept to a maximum of 12 people, I am a little worried I won't get in - the applications for both were actually really intense. I hope I get in, because I am really excited about this!
So, the housing issue. One of my students said that his 21 year old sister lives by herself and I could stay with her, so there's one option, although this would be in Corsico, where I taught (which is accessible to Milano by metro). I could also stay for short periods of time with various people I know, ask Anna to rent the room to me again (it might already be rented, she might not want to rent to me, and either way, I can't have overnight guests), check the easymilano.it listings. It's hard to worry about all this when really, I need to find an apartment here in San Diego for the month of August only and I'm too scared to ask my roommate :P
Anyway, good news on the $ front, my mom's company is doing a trade with continental airlines and I might not have to pay for my flight to Milan (and my mom wouldn't have to pay for a flight to come visit me!!). This is all so exciting and stressful, and I'm not even there yet! I know it will be more stressful when I'm taking a really intense class and trying to scrape out a living with tutoring jobs (assuming I can find some...still haven't sent in my application for that!). I hope I can get everything to work out. And not be homeless in San Diego for the month of August.
Also, I can't decide if I should fly out of San Diego or drive home to Austin and leave my car there. I just don't want to make the 3 day drive, honestly :P
I don't know where I got this indecisive thing from. Both my parents don't seem to have problems making decisions. I guess that may be what's wrong...they just made all the decisions for me?
So, here is the latest one I've been troubling myself over:
I want to take the CELTA class on how to teach English, as previously mentioned. There are two course providers in Milan: Teacher Training and The British Council/International House. The International House is a respected international chain, in fact, there is one in San Diego (one of the like 6 cities in the US that offers the CELTA certification...however, I feel that job-wise, it is more useful for me to go to Italy, since you have to be there to find a job). The one girl that I've read about who is legitimately sponsored to teach English in Italy went through the International House in Prague, and said they offered her a job afterwards. Their location is also pretty much ideal, it's in the center of Milan, near the University. The cost is also about 50 euroes less than Teacher Training. Their schedule is also slightly preferable; class starts at 10 and ends at 6 (as opposed to 9:30-5).
Teacher Training is a small operation, run by someone who used to work for the British Council. I can't decide if this is a good thing or not. Since they are smaller, they might be better connected and more helpful, or they might not be and might not be as prestigious. They said that they may be able to assist in finding housing, which is KEY (more on this later). Their location is less than ideal - it is near the Central Train Station, which unfortunately is not the best part of town. They have always answered my emails promptly, and seem to be nice though.
Either way, I end up with the same certification. What I wanted to do was apply to both, see where I got accepted, and then make the decision. However, right after turning in my application to Teacher Training (I turned this one in first because I initially preferred them, as they have been so responsive), I saw a clause that said the following:
"I understand and accept that should I be offered a place on the course I have applied for, I am committing myself to completing the course, and am therefore liable for payment of the entire course fee."
This worries me. I believe that I will find out if I am accepted after the interview. So, if I am even offered a place, I MUST take the spot, or pay for the entire course?! That seems 1) sketchy 2) desperate. It made me think that the International House was a better option. I am just really not sure. Either way, I sent in the International House application on Friday and am waiting to hear if I got an interview; I sent in the Teacher Training application on Wednesday and sent an email on Friday saying that this coming Friday would be best for me to interview...so hopefully I will have my interview with the International House first! But what if I don't get accepted to either?!?! The classes I believe are kept to a maximum of 12 people, I am a little worried I won't get in - the applications for both were actually really intense. I hope I get in, because I am really excited about this!
So, the housing issue. One of my students said that his 21 year old sister lives by herself and I could stay with her, so there's one option, although this would be in Corsico, where I taught (which is accessible to Milano by metro). I could also stay for short periods of time with various people I know, ask Anna to rent the room to me again (it might already be rented, she might not want to rent to me, and either way, I can't have overnight guests), check the easymilano.it listings. It's hard to worry about all this when really, I need to find an apartment here in San Diego for the month of August only and I'm too scared to ask my roommate :P
Anyway, good news on the $ front, my mom's company is doing a trade with continental airlines and I might not have to pay for my flight to Milan (and my mom wouldn't have to pay for a flight to come visit me!!). This is all so exciting and stressful, and I'm not even there yet! I know it will be more stressful when I'm taking a really intense class and trying to scrape out a living with tutoring jobs (assuming I can find some...still haven't sent in my application for that!). I hope I can get everything to work out. And not be homeless in San Diego for the month of August.
Also, I can't decide if I should fly out of San Diego or drive home to Austin and leave my car there. I just don't want to make the 3 day drive, honestly :P
