Escher by bloomingdem on Flickr. License CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
It’s been just over two months since I moved to Prague. It’s year 11 since I moved overseas, and this is my fourth country. I’ve always worked in small K-12 schools (average size of 350) where I was the only instructional technology person. I’ve taught computer science and math, administered PowerSchool, Haiku Learning and WordPress, taught computer classes from K-12, presented workshops to teachers and parents, completed yearbooks, served on school improvement and accreditation teams, etc. Education is my passion and I’m resourceful. Yet, every time I start a new job, there is a whole bunch of learning and relearning that I have to go through.
Starting a new job is a bit like culture shock. I seldom experience culture shock when I move because I expect to know little. However, at work, I’m used to being the one that people come to for answers, and suddenly there is a whole body of knowledge that I have no awareness of because I’m new to the school. That is a very disconcerting feeling. Fortunately, I’ve had great support from my supervisors and colleague. And although I don’t have all the answers, and am unlikely to ever do so, I know how to create or find some answers. And isn’t that one of the greatest skills of the learn/relearn experience?