Aptly describing himself as 'gregarious and personable', Mr Reynen told straitstimes.com on Friday morning that he first heard of the contest through a colleague who suggested he give it a shot. -- PHOTO: ISLANDREEFJOB.COM
AMERICAN Greg Reynen, a physical education teacher at the Singapore American School (SAS), has been shortlisted as one of 16 hopefuls vying for 'The Best Job in the World' - the role as an island caretaker at Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
Hours before the finalists were announced, Mr Reynen had a fitful night, dreaming that he had missed a phone call. He didn't, as he picked up the call prefixed with '+61', Australia's country code, at 6.45am on Friday.
Mr Reynen will travel to Queensland for interviews slated for May 3 to 6, and he intends to 'go with the flow'. He plans to be there earlier so he can explore Queensland's islands.
Asked about his chances of landing the Best Job in the World, Mr Reynen quipped 'one in 16!'.
SYDNEY - AN AMERICAN who lives in Singapore is among the 16 finalists announced on Friday for what's been dubbed the 'Best Job in the World' - a A$150,000 (S$160,000) contract to serve as the caretaker of a tropical Australian island.
Greg Reynen, 31, a physical education teacher at the Singapore American School, was shortlisted because he 'impressed us with his passion and enthusiasm, which were on show when he donned his flippers and goggles and paraded around central Singapore as part of a media stunt to promote his application,' said the organisers on their website.
The estastic 31-year-old said he was 'really excited' and immediately called his mother and sister to share the good news, but not before his sister hung up on him, thinking he was a telemarketer, he said with a laugh.
His colleagues and students were also told of the good news when the school announced it during its assembly on Friday morning.
Aptly describing himself as 'gregarious and personable', Mr Reynen told straitstimes.com on Friday morning that he first heard of the contest through a colleague who suggested he give it a shot. A week later, he decided 'on the spur of the moment' to apply for the role.
Helped by a filmmaker friend, his video submission showcased his antics, including running through a crowded MRT train dressed in a wetsuit and flippers, and careening down a path in a park while sitting on a tiny skateboard.
Mr Reynen grew up on a small farm in Minnesota where the closest town was a community of just 250 people. 'Singapore is very different,' he said, compared to the 'very cold winters' Minnesota has to endure.
Observing the crowds on Orchard Road when he first arrived, Mr Reynen said he did a check on population density and found that Singapore was 'easily 15 to 20 times denser' than even the biggest city around the area he grew up in.
A semester spent as a translator in Spain during his undergraduate years sparked the wanderlust in Mr Reynen and took him all over Europe. Since arriving in Singapore four years ago, he has travelled extensively in Southeast Asia, rattling off India, Bali and Thailand as some of the highlights of his regional trips. He said Singapore 'feels like home' and that its geographical location is 'awesome for travel'.
Mr Reynan taught Spanish in a high school while he was in the US and was told that he had a gift for teaching. Seeking to combine his love for travel with his love for teaching, he attended a job fair seeking international teachers and ultimately landed a job with the Singapore American School. He now teaches physical education in middle school, working with 11 to 13 year olds.
Travel, mountain biking and rock-climbing are some of Mr Reynen's favourite past times. 'You know, if you don't get hurt a little, you probably didn't try hard enough,' he said in jest about his knack for adventure.
