Jeff Vyduna

1. How did you get this job? What will it be like?

The original plan, if anyone can have such a thing, was that Rebecca would terminate her 2-year contract early after this year, and move back to Chicago in July. She met a couple named Tom and Joanne who will be returning to their home city of Toronto after this school year. Tom currently teaches high school technology and has an associates degree in graphic design (technology class is considered non-core, and does not require a teaching certificate in Guatemala) - and I thought, if he can do it, maybe I can as well.

I exhaustively researched taking a Leave Of Absence from Deloitte. I also called some of my own high school teachers and found businesspeople that had made the transition to being educators. Of course I devoured some books on the subject. I interviewed in New York with the superintendent and principal of the high school, and they offered me the job.

I'll be teaching a half-load of classes, and working on various business projects for the school with the rest of my time. I’ll be teaching an upperclassman multimedia elective class (digital photography, web publishing, sound and video editing, and flash animation), as well as introductory programming in VB. There are many other special projects I’ll work on with the rest of my time: making sure the overall technology curriculum is in line with U.S. standards, selecting administrative software packages and service providers (e.g. web hosting, curriculum management packages), financial analysis, and hopefully implementing a Junior Achievement program.

2. What will the school/students be like?

From stable homes, and ethnically very diverse. The school is an "international" school, and many students are from relatively well-to-do families. The goal is to prepare students to attend a university and be bilingual . They have been instructed exclusively in English (excepting some courses like Guatemalan history class and Spanish class) since kindergarten, so they are mostly fluent by the time they reach high school.

It seems that I'll be working with a great team of fellow teachers from all around the US and Canada, and a supportive administrative staff.

3. Can I visit?

Absolutely. The plane ticket is the only expensive part of that proposition! Round trip Chicago to Guatemala can be found for $450 (it’s a four hour flight). Rebecca and I will be happy to host and lodge you. Food and tourism is excruciatingly cheap in Guatemala - truly amazing. The beaches are like Cancun, and Tikal is the largest site on earth for Mayan pyramids and ruins. Lago Atitlan, flanked by four volcanoes, is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world and we stayed at an amazing small private beach resort for $25/night! Hike an active volcano, learn to scuba diva, rent a sailboat. Barter in the markets for handcrafts, volunteer at an orphanage, surf in the ocean at an empty black sand beach.

4. Do you know Spanish?

Very very little, but Guatemala speaks grammatically correct, clear Spanish (unlike Mexico which has a lot of slang). I'll probably be making significant effort to learn more during my year down there, taking lessons. It's not really necessary - most American teachers down there don't know Spanish, and they make out just fine.

5. What will your living conditions be like?

It's always temperate down there, usually always between 50 and 90 degrees year round. A surprisingly nice apartment will be provided above my salary, which is minimal but very livable for Guatemala City.

I'll have a cell phone with 10c/min rates to the US. I'll have high-speed internet, A/C in my computer labs, most everything I would elsewhere. Guatemala City is the size of Chicago and relatively modernized.

Rebecca and I recently bought a pimping machine known as a ’96 Neon. Rebecca says it is purple. The previous owner of our blue car sadly thought it was some sort of racecar. Besides the racing filter and drilled aluminum pedals, it has the darkest window tinting you’ve ever seen. Friends, we have chrome windshield wipers. I begged, but she castrated it already (replaced the chrome bazooka with a proper muffler). It does 0 to 60 in just under a week.

6. Isn't it dangerous down there?

The 80s and 90s were very difficult years for Guatemala with unstable political parties that sometimes financed themselves by kidnapping foreigners for ransom (if it helps, they were treated well while in captivity :-). This was a byproduct of a civil war that was not resolved until 1998. The country is definitely on the upswing, and they recently elected an ethically solid new president. It's like Chicago - there are some neighborhoods you don't walk through alone at night. The vast majority of Americans are perfectly safe for extended stays including lots of traveling the country. You must take appropriate precautions though.

Overall, it promises to be a rewarding and broadening experience for me. I will miss friends and family, and especially the weddings or other special events I will not always be able to afford to fly back for. You’re always welcome to visit, and I hope this invitation resonates in your head when you’re chilly in February and daydreaming of a beach. - JJV