Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

So, I have started blogging again. I will try to keep everyone updated and informed about my fabulously boring life and simultaneously cause the least amount of damage in my professional life. Yeah, that was my English teacher way of saying no more blogging on myspace or facebook since I am "friends" with some people I would rather not share my personal and/or professional decisions with. I guess if you are reading this you do not fall into that category. Or maybe you do and this message will self-destruct in 5....4....3....2....1.
I always wondered when I would be able to properly use a self-destruct message.

Most people know I am soon to embark on a pretty extraordinary chapter in my life. Although leaving is something I've convinced myself I am ready, willing, and able to do, I am still not 100% sure. If I haven't seen or talked to you, I am contemplating a move either to Brazil or England. Why do I feel I must leave the country...? I don't really have an answer. I guess I am going on the assumption that I am still young enough to survive relocating and maybe even have some fun along the way. Of course, moving an entire family always complicates matters. But, be it England or Brazil, I think the girls will only benefit from the experience.

The biggest factor in the decision to move is my current misery at work. I am ready to be done with the Florida education system. In my opinion, it is broken beyond repair and I will be burnt out in a short amount of time if I stay here. It is really sad that in an inner city school, with all the issues we deal with, the students are never the problem. Public schools have a steep, sink or swim, learning curve; I am proud of the fact that I figured out how to tread the teaching waters. Unfortunately, there has been a shift away from education as we know it and towards 24/7 test prep. The ultimate realization that Florida has more problems than one lowly educator can fix came when English teachers started getting into trouble for teaching grammar, writing, and vocabulary. In English class. In some strange twilight zone moment, I agreed to be co-department head for the English Department. Apparently, English Department is code for Test Prep Department... I am pretty sure I could fill 100 pages detailing all the misadventures to be had in an F school. But, I am trying to look forward and not feel too guilty about abandoning ship.

On to more pressing issues, the decision between England and Brazil is getting very difficult. Brazil has in-laws (could be good OR bad...), a new language, and a chance for Eulalie and Natalie to learn about their other half. England is not a developing country and would allow for a lot of traveling. And, I know the language. Hmmm......