Job Discussion Forums

nomadder · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2003 2:00 am Post subject: Homeless For Life?

I'm wondering how many others out there feel like they'll never find a place to settle. You like(or liked) where you teach(taught) but you can't see living there forever. You go home and all has changed and you can't see living there forever either. And so you search. For what, you're not sure. You'll know it when you see it or maybe someone or something will cause your journey to take a major pause. Or it could be that you are just born to be a wanderer. You know that every place has its good and bad points so why not just keep wandering in order to shake up the mix? Any thoughts?

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

Why not just keep wandering?Well,sooner or later,everyone gets sick or dies.That sounds pretty simplistic.But the idea of a life of wandering appeals to some people."The grass is always greener".I am not saying that is necessarily wrong...but.And if you want to settle down,of course,you will be faced with at least some compromises.No place is perfect.No job is perfect.It is called accepting reality.
And of course,the original poster was correct.Things do change,obviosly.Some times for the good,but sometimes they become worse.
At least a portion of people are in this business because of bad economies back home.Maybe they are not even that happy teaching overseas(well,some ARE happy,of course) but they figure it is better to be employed overseas than unemployed back home.Who can blame them?They are doing the best they can under the current situation.

khmerhit · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2003 2:22 am Post subject: Is this Classified?

SWM, late 30s, GSOH balding with paunch, WLTM feisty adventurous red-headed ESL female pro for rollicking good times & possible marriage with a view to settling down... anywhere! Replies to Reverse Culture Shock Unit #4657, major G7 nation where it snows a lot.

Capergirl · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2003 2:34 am Post subject:

@khmerhit...Red-headed? Confused

Me little celtic heart is broken. Crying or Very sad

Capergirl · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2003 2:46 am Post subject:

Oops...meant to answer the question by the original poster. Razz

I have to say that I don't see any white picket fences in my future. I have that wanderlust so many EFL-ers have. Currently, I am pretty much going out of my mind being stuck here in Nowheretown, Canada...I desperately want to be on a plane to somewhere (I've changed my mind half a dozen times in as many months Rolling Eyes

). Maybe it's some sort of a sickness, I dunno. I do know that it's hard to make the decision to go globe trotting when I have my little girl in tow (she's 3). Will it be hard for her to move around so much? I hope not, 'cause I definitely don't see myself staying put. Confused

Tong Dawei · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 215

I long for the day when i can see atleast five years down the road so to speak. I have lived in many places over many years of my life. I want to settle down. Since i have lived in so many different settings, i know that every place has its good/bad points. It's the same with people and jobs. Hopefully, someday soon i will be in the position of having a job where the good points outweigh the bad, in an area where I feel comfortable enough to stay so that i can be willing and able to make the commitment of taking on a mortgage. I really look forward to having my own nest...

"Some where over the rainbow..."

Until then, i try to enjoy the journey towards that still elusive goal.

Wolf · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth

I have a friend (former US Army brat) who is thinking of pulling up stakes agian soon - and he's got two grown children.

Nowheretown, Canada sucks. Evil or Very Mad

That will never be my home again.

My job out here is okay. I'm sighned to stay another year. Might stretch that to two (I want to limit the number of times I move while doing my MA.) But I simply do without a lot by living here. This is not a "spend the next 40 years here" kind of a place. I would, however, like to spend more time in China.

Japan was a fun place to live, but I wouldn't live there forever unless I could get a much better job than I currently qualify for (hence the MA).

Own a home!? On what I make!? I'll spend the next year saving enough to make my last school payment. A round trip to see my family will eat up at least six months' salry of the year after that (provided I stay in the PRC and decide to go home for a visit.)

Next stop? Possibilities include:

- Developed China
- Vietnam
- back to Japan
- Singapore (sigh . . . not easy)
- Hong Kong (another sigh . . . not easy. PS Yes I know this is "Developed China's" poster city, but immigration laws are different. )

Ironcially, in spite of Our Founder Dave's advice, I have no desire to go to go to South Korea (anymore) or Taiwan (no, Capegirl, this isn't a personal dig Wink

). For some reason, Taiwan just doesn't lure me. I can't really say why. I've been warned off South Korea's Hogwan industry. I have some Korean friends who are really cool (living in Japan), so I was interested to go see once upon a time, but it seems that working there can be problematic. Rolling Eyes

If I want to get kicked in the teeth again, I'll go back to Japan via the Big 4 and at least get paid on time, keep my passport, and have the right to quit and/or join a union.

But that's just me.

Bertrand · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 293

The best part of travelling somewhere is the actual travelling; arriving is always something of a disapointment.

I don't know if this is at all relevant but the Chinese have an old proverb: The world's longest journey begins with a single step.