Job Discussion Forums

afowles · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Posts: 85 Location: USA

I started teaching because it fit conveniently into my love life. Now, things on that front have changed but I still want to continue teaching in a different country.

Part of the reason is that I don't want to go back to the States just yet. Things have become really weird in the past two years and I think I might need to give it some time to settle before returning.

So I have this wanderlust and whence it comes I do not know.

Why are some of you living this crazy lifestyle?

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Just playing the cards I was dealt and love the game.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

I did that corporate America thing for thirteen years. That was enough for a lifetime.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Because I enjoy it. I would like to return to the US to teach, but as mentioned already, things are a bit odd back there right now...

d

Perpetual Traveller · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 651 Location: In the Kak, Japan

Because it's fun! 'Nuff said,

PT

London10 · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Posts: 35

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Gregor · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 842 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

Aw, hell, try reading some U.S. HISTORY - it's ALWAYS like this. It always has been.

Who cares? We do this because that's just the path. For a lot of us (at least, for me), it was the easiest path - the path of least resistance. That's one of my philosophies of life. Always take the path of least resistance. That makes life easier, and thus more enjoyable.
WAY more interesting, too.

Get this - the path of least resistance is leading me back to the U.S. now. VERY weird, and surprising. I was starting to think I was stuck out here in flippin' Asia for the rest of my life! Who knows? I MAY even make it back to Latin America.
Vamos a ver...

spidey · Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 5:43 am Post subject: Re: Why do we do this?

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

I'm hip!!

joshua2004 · Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 11:55 pm Post subject:

From time to time I think about going back, for the money, for the "security." But then I remember that there are so many places you can earn an excellent living. And I also remember that people in other countries are no better or no worse than anyone else anywhere. That if I give my all, people anywhere will respect that, respect me, and I can be happy there.

The difficult thing about being American is being raised to believe you are the best and where you live is better than anywhere else in the world and that is patently false. It's a hard mentality to break out of completely. Many times I ecstatic about where I am and what I am doing. And then other times, when stress gets to me, I look for the security and reassurance that comes with living in America. It's those times that I wish would stop. I need to focus on my problems here and deal with them instead of avoiding them.

But I wouldn't need to deal with my problems if I hop on a plane and watch them fade from the window of a Boeing 747.

If there was one bit of consolation I could give you is that living abroad has taught me that work is tough, life is work, and you should try to enjoy it.

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

That was a great post joshua2004. What I find shocking is what has happened to my home province in Canada (BC) over the last 4 years. It has been taken over by an extreme government that calls itself 'Liberal'. In reality, this government is very right wing, and our premier Gordon Campbell has many similiaries with George W - at least on the economic front. Much of what you write about the US applies to this government, and this province is now becoming an anomaly in Canada.

Did you know the BC Liberals violated international labor standards and were reprimanded by the ILO no less than 9 times? I just found that out recently.

I can criticize my provincial leader, but the fact is, like with George W, that he has supporters and people voted him in. That's a scary thought, but it's true. The reality is that you run into people like this all the time back home. Especially in the teaching profession, there is a general lack of respect from the public and misunderstanding for what actually happens.

It can be very discouraging.

Living abroad, while I don't see it as escape, can be an excellent way to put these grievances aside and just enjoy life. As well, like you said, you can earn a decent living in many places around the world and the negative changes back home don't affect you directly.

I often recall seeing pictures of George W and Gordon Campbell in newspapers or on TV while I was living in China. While I knew exactly who they were and what they stood for, having that distance was somewhat reassuring.

Steve

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 4:33 pm Post subject:

I'm not extremely knowledgible about Canadian politics. But on the US front,

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Why do I do this ?

Because I am quite good at it. I enjoy it. And my employer$ pay me rea$onably well :D