Job Discussion Forums

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

What country are you from, and will you return there long-term after TEFLING?

I left the US in 1998 and have no plans or reason to return. Will retire elsewhere, eventually.

johnslat · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 6:43 pm Post subject:

Well, the tense is wrong for me, but after having spent 22 years teaching EFL abroad (insert "broad" jokes here), I returned .

It's worked well for me.

Regards,
John

esl_prof · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 6:46 pm Post subject:

I had no intention of ever returning to the U.S. when I left. After a decade-and-a-half abroad, I came home for a year to regroup while planning my next overseas adventure, started tutoring refugees and, six years later, it looks like I'm probably here to stay.

MotherF · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 7:48 pm Post subject:

I left the US in1995. At this point in time I have no plans to return, but I've learned enough in live to know that nature has a way of throwing a wrench in to carefully laid plans.

Shonai Ben · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 617

Left Canada in 1998.Been in Japan since then.No plans to return.Basically, I don't have anything to return to.

BadBeagleBad · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 2:05 am Post subject:

Well, my case is a bit different. Born in Mexico, lived in the US from 5 till 17, back to Mexico for a few years, then back to the US for 10, and back to Mexico since. No plans to live in the US, have made a life here, which is, I think, better than the life I would have had in the US.

rtm · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 1003 Location: US

I'm another back-and-forth person: 10 years teaching EFL, then back to the US for 7 years, then abroad again for a couple years, and now back in the US for about a year. Not sure where I'll be in the future.

water rat · Joined: 30 Aug 2014 Posts: 1098 Location: North Antarctica

peripatetic_soul · Joined: 20 Oct 2013 Posts: 303

Temporarily, yes. I'll let you know after Medicare cranks out. I've visited Panama and Ecuador to explore retirement options. Imagine renting a 3-BR house with a garden and car port for $250 USD.
Health care seems to be better/more affordable in those countries, hence the reason so many ex-pats retire there. Of course, as you are aware as world travelers, there are tradeoffs. For me, the main ones are space to have a garden, a-c, and excellent health care at a low cost, none of which you can find in the U.S. unless you have amassed a generous pension. After teaching 5-7 more years, I will most probably retire in Central or South America, depending on the circumstances with respect to housing and health care. After all, who would have anticipated that petrol prices would be about $2.15 per gallon at this time in parts of the US? We know it's possible.
Happy Holidays,
PS

Mr. Kalgukshi · Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2014 12:05 am Post subject:

Mushkilla is gone. Please advise should he return under another aka.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I went overseas in 1985 and didn't intend to come back. I returned in 2001 to dispose of my nicely appreciated piece of real estate and had moved my things back to store at my parents' home, and then my father passed away. It was soon clear that my mother was in the early stages of Dementia and would sooner rather than later be needing assistance. As an only child, who could afford to do so, I retired and stayed until she had passed this year. And now it would be too complicated to move.

Things don't always turn out as one would wish...

VS

sager · Joined: 26 Dec 2012 Posts: 35 Location: Germany

I left South Africa in 2001 and have no desire to return there.

MuscatGary · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 4:48 am Post subject:

Left the UK in 1977 and went to Germany then Spain then Venezuela, two year in each. Went back to the UK and worked there until 1993. Got itchy feet again and went to Spain, India, France, Spain, Kuwait and Oman with spells off in Tenerife. Currently working all over the Gulf and no plans to ever return to the UK. Retirement is looming and Tenerife is home!

Halcyon Chimera · Joined: 22 May 2009 Posts: 36

I left the US in 2012 and have no plans to ever return except maybe to visit. Nothing is there for me. This is only my third year teaching in China, but they've been vastly better than the two I taught in Alabama. I just turned 30 last month so I've got at least another 30 years to teach and save up for retirement to the beautiful beaches of the Philippines Very Happy

psychedelicacy · Joined: 05 Oct 2013 Posts: 180 Location: Beijing

Left the UK in 2005, thought I would be a TEFL lifer, but returned to the UK in 2014 to do a Master's in a subject not related to EFL or education at all. Not ruling out becoming an expat again in the future, but it will not be as a teacher.