Job Discussion Forums

Hed_Kandi · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 45

PLEASE READ BELOW AND THEN RECOMMEND ME A DESTINATION - BECAUSE IN 2 MONTHS I'M OUTTA HERE, AND I DON'T WHERE I'M GOING, BUT JUST THAT I'M LEAVING!

I want to go to teach in a place, (a city, a town) where the pace of life is so laid back that you watch the days to turn to weeks and weeks to months.

I wanna go somewhere where there is very few cars (that don't infest the streets), where the means of transportation is a bicycle or roller blades or 150cc scooters.

I wanna go somewhere where it is considered the fashionable norm to wear nothing more than a tank top, shorts, shades, and a pair of thongs. (As opposed to girls wearing $300.00 low rise jeans, stilletos, and sporting the latest Louis Vuitton hand bags - and sending 200 text messages a minute).

I wanna go somewhere where the cost of living is extremely cheap, somewhere that the locals live simply with just the basics of life. Somwhere that street vendors are selling the freshest of local, tropical, produce.

I wanna go somewhere where the city or town isn't one big tourist trap, ready to rip off foreigners. I'd like to go somewhere that I can just blend in amongst the locals and exist.

CAN SOMEONE RECOMMEND ME A PLACE TO GO ?

GeminiTiger · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 2:02 am Post subject:

Most people think,
Great God will come from the skies,
Take away everything
And make everybody feel high.
But if you know what life is worth,
You will look for yours on earth:
And now you see the light,
You stand up for your rights. Jah!

-------------------------------------------

Wink

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

There are hundreds of places that match these criteria! I'd imagine posters here could list a few around the world. At the same time, it would help to get more specific, i.e geographic region, climate, salary, age group, length of contract, etc.

Off the top of my head I'm thinking Thailand, particularly out of Bangkok. If the demand for EFL is good, check out places like Chumphon, Surat Thani, Hat Yai, and maybe even the Phuket area now that the tsunami has scared off a lot of tourists.

Indonesia is another good one, but out of Jakarta of course. Bali would ideally match your criteria if you can get a job there.

There used to be a guy on these forums who raved about Cambodia, you could look into that as well. Generally the things you talk about are common in SE Asia, it's my favorite place in the world for adventure and the laid-back pace of life.

At the same time, I'm quite disillusioned by the spread of global capitalism as, once introduced to an area, it threatens the slow pace of life, people get meaner, more isolated, prices rise as people get richer, etc. There are better advantages to localized markets and tourism that thrives on local capitalism. The 'Wal Mart' and '5 star hotel' models of development act more like a virus.

Another option you might consider is working in a big city that is a central transportation hub. That way you can save up money and travel to those ideal places where it's harder to get a job. Bangkok is a fantastic hub for SE Asia travel in my opinion, and the life there is worth it. Same with other hubs like Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Seoul.

The best part about Asian cities like that is it's convenient to travel around, using them a base. In North America, the geography makes it hard to do that.

Good luck on what you decide!

Steve

Hed_Kandi · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 45

Also, I wanna go somewhere where there isn't a big party/ night club scene. Somewhere where every second person isn't getting smashed on booze (or other mind inducing narcotics), where the night scene is more a leisurely stroll through the town gazing at the stars.

I really am not into the whole club scene (grinding with anonymous women, getting hammered on red bull/vodka, listening to the latests mass produced hip hop music).

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

Hed_Kandi · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 45

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

tedkarma · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 2:53 am Post subject:

Two words: Thailand upcountry

"upcountry" meaning anywhere - except Bangkok

Though you'd still need to dress semi-professionally.

Zero Hero · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 944

Why would such a place - if it even existed - have any need of an English 'teacher'?

Hed_Kandi · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 45

Hed_Kandi · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 45

Hed_Kandi · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 45

Joachim · Joined: 01 Oct 2003 Posts: 311 Location: Brighton, UK

Southern Italy.

Or maybe Cambodia??. Thailand IS wonderful, but a degree is a visa requiremant for all teachers working there.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Hed_Kandi · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 45