Job Discussion Forums

fat tony · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 86 Location: UK

Do any of you guys surf? I have a CELTA and am looking for a teaching position with good surf nearby. Any suggestions?

Chester · Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 383 Location: Australia

Did you get the CELTA in a surfing competition?

Cardinal Synn · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 586

Ah, surfin' dude teachers in Indo. A breed unto their own. I remember a teacher who was late getting back from his weekend surfing trip, so he had to go straight to his business English class - a suit and tie job - in his board shorts and flip flops, not to mention some super loud shirt thingy. Went down really well with da management.
OK, what was the question? Oh yes, schools with surfin on the old doorstep. Not that many, unless you teach in Bali obviously. You're most likely to find work in Jakarta in which case you're looking at a few hours to the nearest decent surfing. A lot of people manage it - teach during the week in Jakarta and head to Pelabuhan Ratu at the weekend. Then there are Ujung Genteng (a bit harder to get to) and Panaitan Island (even harder to get to).

fat tony · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 86 Location: UK

No silly Chester, they don't give out CELTA certs in surfing competitions. I found it in the sand when I got out of surf after a morning of epic right-handers at Burleigh.
Do you think I could find a job just teaching English between sets while sitting out the back of a break?

Cardinal, thanks for your input.

fat tony · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 86 Location: UK

No silly Chester, they don't give out CELTA certs in surfing competitions. I found it in the sand when I got out of surf after a morning of epic right-handers at Burleigh.
Do you think I could find a job just teaching English between sets while sitting out the back of a break?

Cardinal, thanks for your input.

guru · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 156 Location: Indonesia

there's a few surfing teachers at Bandung. You could try Bogor also, though from these cities it's still a few hours drive (longer by public transport). otherwise try a job in Bali.

Chester · Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 383 Location: Australia

nice beach.
why leave?
i worked at surfers paradise teaching english to brazillian and jap students.
lots of ESL jobs there.
pay is abut 18 bucks an hour, minus tax.
also one place has a strip club next door.
that would be "narly" aye?

interesting to be called "silly"
that I am not

grow up, junior

fat tony · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 86 Location: UK

interesting for you to tell me to "grow up". Have you ever heard the expression "If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck....it probably is a duck". If asking if I got my CELTA in a surfing competition isn't a silly comment then I don't know what is. I replied with an equally silly comment and in a very lighthearted way. Relax senior, and don't take yourself so seriously.
I have another job that I enjoy when I am in Australia.
Why leave? -there's more to my life than "ripping the bag out of sick filth surf".

guru, thanks

Cardinal Synn · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 586

Chester don't surf!
Read some of Chesters posts and you'll see he is pretty lightened up. I don't know why he minds being called silly. He is. In a good way, Chester.
Silly is good. Growing up is bad. Being called junior is probably a bit annoying though. Of course, maybe Chester is really really ancient, in which case we are all "Junior". Even me. I'd prefer it to being called "senior". That would suck. Grow young senior. I'd hate that. So, Fat Tony, count yourself lucky.
Anyway Tony, if you put some of those place names I mentioned into a Google search or whatever, you should come up with some useful info on surfing in west Java. Panaitan Island is a true surfin adventurer's paradise with loads of potential for getting world class breaks all to your self. Like all good things, you have to work at it to find the gold. I'm too lazy to go there myself and more of a skater than a surfer. Skateboarding is crap in Jakarta, though there is at least one park I know of. Full of little kiddies though and I'm too embarassed to use it. If you're into the whole surf vibe, then you might as well head to Bali. Gets very crowded on the popular breaks though. The less popular ones tend to be pretty hollow with nasty coral to decorate your body with. Wherever you go, you'll have a great time, just keep the old mind open

sidjameson · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 629 Location: osaka

Hi Fat Tony, I thought your reply was quite funny. Still you never know when things can get taken the wrong way. Now I know how arms races happen.
I think it's great to have a passion like surfing. I can't even swim. Embarassed

I know that this will sound condescending, but I swear it isn't at all. What happens to surfers as they get older? I mean living the lifestyle must be great. Teach a bit surf a lot. I can imagine.What though happens to all these guys after their 40th or 50th birthday? I just wonder thats all. I mean apart from the fact that mnay must have nothing to fall back on, how does one move from the beach,surf, chic, freedom lifetyle to a housing estate in Newcastle?
Any ideas?
Yours enviously, Sidjameson

Chester · Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 383 Location: Australia

gee you got me there with the snappy combacks

and i thought you were clown shoes.

fat tony · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 86 Location: UK

sidjameson, I guess they sit around talking to their mates about the good ol' days when the waves were bigger and better and less crowded and the young folk respected their elders.
You quite often see older guys out surfing. They just ride bigger boards and smaller waves. I don't surf that often as I move around alot and spend alot of time in areas with no surf, but I love it when I get the opportunity. I intend looking after my body so I'm still surfing when I'm 70. Time will tell, eh! We'll see what Mr Arthritis has to say about that.
Newcastle (NSW) has got some good surf by the way!

Chester, you are right, I AM clown shoes. I intend taking up clowning in the future.