Job Discussion Forums

[Hod]

Well, here are two typical lunchtimes in my past. One was Malaysia, the other Morocco. Guess which is which:

1. Comin' for lunch, Hod? Wanna go to the Japanese? Na, that was yesterday. Dimsum perhaps? Indian? OK, KFC it is.....

or

2. You wanna get some chips?

[ask_murderer]

Newbie here. I love this thread! I'd have to go with Latin America across the board on this one. I've lived in Costa Rica, Colombia, and S. Korea, so I've got some reference for comparison...though not as much as I'd like (still haven't made it to Europe). Here's what I've found through my travels:

FOOD
I'm a big fan of anything that follows the "meat & potatoes" path. My favorite dish in Colombia was the Bandeja Paisa because is was just a big tray of meat, rice, more meat, beans, and meat (sometimes with a fried egg on top). That, and beef empanadas...mmm, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it and only ate 20 minutes ago.
On the flip side, there are two basic types of food I'm not too crazy about, veggies and seafood. That being said, Korea doesn't exactly rank high on my list since those two food types make up a great deal of the cuisine. I lost a solid 10-15 pounds in the 8 months I spent there becuase it could be a bit of a challenge to find a meal that wasn't smothered in veggies.

CULTURE
This one is closer than I would have expected before going to Asia. I was in Costa Rica for a year (8th grade), followed by Colombia for 4 years. I loved the culture because is was so warm, open, and inviting. I was pretty shy when I first left the US, but by the time I got back, the Latin American culture had brought me out of my shell. I even learned how to dance... though you'd never know it now.
The Korean people were extremely kind and generous. They were always putting their best foot forward and seemed very interested in American culture. Probably the single biggest determining factor in my preference of Latin America is in the work ethic. In Korea, work was everything. Even as children, they worked waaay too hard. I taught some kids that went to 6 different after-school academies each week (one for English, Chinese, Math, Piano, etc...). Now, I don't mean to imply that the Colombians didn't work hard, but they simply seemed to better realize that working is a means to an end, and not the end itself.

CLIMATE
I could probly go either way on this one. I like having seasons, especially since I took up snowboarding, but there's something to be said for the happy medium of having spring/summer year-round. Still, this one's split down the middle.

THE LADIES
Hmmmm...well, I'm married now, so there's only one that matters to me (and she might read this later, so I have to say that ). Anyways, if you've ever been to Colombia, I think it's pretty easy to tell who gets my vote.

MONEY
Ya know, I'm not too picky with this one. At the end of the day, all I want is to be able to come home not hating my job, pay my bills, crack open a beer (or 2 or 5), and still occassionally go out. Don't need the fancy house, car, big TV, yadda, yadda, yadda. Just don't want to be struggling all the time.

Ok, I know I wrote a lot, but I love talking about this kinda stuff. I've been back in the States for about 2 years, and I'm getting a little stir crazy. BTW, my wife and I are looking into going overseas to teach in the next few months, so if anyone hears of something, I'd greatly appreciate a quick head's up.

Laters,
AM

[Aramas]

Um - Latin American food rates so highly mostly because of two local staples - margaritas and daquiris I also like food that isn't sucked through a straw, and enjoy Mexican dishes, meat and seafood - and thoroughly dislike cabbage. Consequently I rate Latin America rather more highly than Eastern Europe in the food category. For neophytes such as myself, the choice of a first TEFL destination generally comes down to Asia, Eastern Europe or Latin America. I haven't considered Western Europe for the simple reason that I can't legally work there, otherwise France, Italy, Spain and Portugal would rate very highly. I love Indian food, and there are some interesting AFrican countries, but there's not much of a TEFL market in those areas.

I rate cultures according to how alien and interesting they are, and by how likely they are to want to kill me. For those reasons, parts of Asia, including Thailand, Cambodia, Viet Nam and China rate highly, whereas Islamic countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia do not - not that they're not alien or interesting, but rather, since Our Beloved Fuhrer fell in with bad company, Australians are about as welcome in the Muslim world as...well, Americans. Latin America loses marks for being predominantly Christian, but at least they don't want to kill me (but then they haven't met me yet ). Buddhist countries rate highest, since they don't subscribe to the Christian ethic of killing people and taking their stuff, nor do they display much interest in ruling the world or converting heathens (whether into Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, charred flesh or slurry) .

I rate Asian girls (don't bore us with that dreadful PC girl/woman crap) at the bottom because the local culture in much of the region only acknowledges three kinds of girls - wives, virgins and whores. Since I'm a firm believer in the fact that marriage is nature's way of telling us that our lives are over, and that 'renting' company is...well, really weird, it's not an arrangement that appeals to me. Eastern Europe rates so highly because skinny, natural blondes make me feel funny.

I enjoyed Justin's fascinating account of intestinal flora and fauna collecting. That should nicely supplement the joys of trainspotting and pressing wildflowers. I'll bear it in mind.

[Spinoza]

[ask_murderer]

I gotta agree with Spinoza about the money situation in Korea. I went out all the time and still managed to send money home to keep up payments on my car, credit cards, etc...
Yes, I have many vices, but god help me, I still love 'em all. I lived in Gwang-ju (~4 hrs south of Seoul), which was a fairly big city with lots to do. I found, though, that I spent obsene amounts of money when I ventured up to Seoul, so it's probly a good thing I didn't actually live there.

[nomadder]

3 little letters- h i v

Recent reports say it's on the increase in Eastern Europe and Asia. Then again there are all those people who don't even get tested. Don't forget all the other stds plus hepatitis. Keep in mind that condom use is not so widespread in other countries(and not 100% effective) especially where women don't have enough equality as Justin mentioned about Ecuador and many countries don't educate people on the dangers plus they have a don't ask/don't tell mentality re: health scares-think Sars etc. Then there are cultures with widespread adultery.

Anyway back to food...at least you can usually kill off parasites, worms, etc.

[Aramas]

HIV - Actually I read an article recently in which it was claimed that the latest UN report showed a decline in HIV infection rates in SE Asia. It's still a serious issue, but then I've managed to survive several decades of enthusiastic rodgering without impregnating anyone, so I seem to have the 'safe' part of sex nailed - so to speak. I've certainly done more than my fair share of drunken 2am chemist runs.

I remember vices. Unfortunately, the only vices I've been permitted in recent years have been the metaphorical kind that girls put your nuts in. Well, unless you consider sloth to be a vice. Some even call it a deadly sin, but for myself it's more of a calling.

I have to rule out countries that require a degree - at least for my first year abroad. That rules out Korea, Japan, Taiwan, etc.. I'll be continuing my degree externally, so all bets are off for my second year. I find consumerism strangely repellant, so I probably wouldn't enjoy the more affluent TEFL destinations anyway.

It's hard to express how the various factors involved in choosing a country are weighted. In the end it seems to come down to tempered desire.

[Spinoza]

[Aramas]

No degree, unfortunately. Over the years I've managed to pass around forty-odd units, which should be enough for two and a bit arts degrees. However, when ever I come face to face with a course coordinator they tend to just look at me and blink a lot. They seem to have all sorts of silly rules about doing subjects at the same university, in the same decade or even in the same discipline! Philistines!

[Justin Trullinger]

But a degree completed through many years and with random credits in many disciplines is the best kind of education by far!

In Latin America, women are also wives, mothers, virgins, or whores, for the most part. The confusing bit is, they're often just the same women in different circumstances.

If you come to Latin America, and I think you'd enjoy it, shop in advance. The midnight drunken run to the pharmacy is unlikely to work, as pharmacies aren't open late, and condoms aren't widely available outside of pharmacies. Better yet, bring several large boxes with you, as in most places here you can only buy boxes of 2 or 3.

About irritating, PC, self righteous girls vs women comments- here the age of consent doesn't mean too much, so if girls is what you want, girls you'll get! But don't blame me when their older brothers come knocking. (And they come armed!)

In any case, due to the not overwhelmingly large foreign population here, foreigners are disproportionately regarded as attractive. But remember about safe sex, or you'll find yourself making that drunken midnight run to the convenience store...for diapers.

Take care, and have fun.

Justin

[dmb]

Try Turkey Food -wonderful, culture- loads, women- beautiful, lifestyle- easy. winter in Istanbul sucks though.

[guangho]

Being a vagabond, I tend to look at individual employers first and location second. The reason is pretty simple- a lousy employer can make your life a living hell even if you work in paradise. (The reverse however, does not apply-no employer can ever make me feel jolly about working in, say, Kigali, Rwanda circa 1994.)

Sadly I have consumed many a consumerist vices and now am saddled with debts to repay. I have notions (delusions?) of making decent money (in TEFL, the law, whatever), paying off my debts, investing in some property and spending my remaining days bumming around in reasonably close proximity to the equator. (Several years in Memphis, Tennessee left me unable to cope with temperatures below 25 centigrade. Nevertheless, a part of me really wants to go to Iceland or Alaska for its splendid isolation.)

Now as for local culture, I would like to be in an area where, even if full integration is not feasible, I would not be looked upon as the resident freakshow. I recall my time in Korea as filled with moments when people would stare at me, point at me, laugh uncontrollably, etc. I realize that being Western made me exotic to them but to be honest I spent the first decade of my life in Eastern Europe and never once saw any non-Caucasians. This did NOT however mean that upon moving to Philly I started pointing these people out and laugh at them. If I did, I would probably be sucking chicken noodle soup through a straw right now and likely deserve it. Anyway, eventually, I hid in my apartment (or hovel to be precise) and started posting on Daves.

Tied in with this of course is the relationship factor. If you ever want to become an unpopular man in Korea, tell the ladies that you aim to remain there for the rest of your days, forever and ever, amen. You'll be living in solitude in no time. True, this sounds depressing, but think of the honesty! Far better to avoid being exploited now than to wake up thirty years hence and realize that you have been exploited for the last three decades. Now, not every Korean woman is so mercenary- I can only go by a small sample that consists of my personal experiences. The fact that I was in a long-distance quasi-relationship during that time (one which mercifully has been put out of its misery) complicates my experience a bit. You may in fact find the ladies quite fetching and selfless.

Food-this is one area where knowing the language helps A LOT, especially in China where dishes with such horrifying descriptions as "Pork intestines in congealed chicken blood over rice" abound. In Korea, the issue wasn't so much that I would be munching on fried rat *beep* in soy sauce but rather that a) most Korean menus have no pictures, translations or transliterations (i.e., you must learn the Hangul alphabet) and b) most Korean dishes are basically variations of other Korean dishes. Don Kosseau does not drastically differ from Pizza Don Kosseau. If you do not like cabbage, think twice, as the national meal is kimchi, which is to say fermented (and by fermented, I mean rotten) cabbage.

You seem to value social connections and fun more than money and say that money is a largely a non-issue to you. You also seemed fond of Bolivia. If that is the case, you may try looking around the southern Hemisphere- i.e. Africa, India, etc. India has call centers that hire so called "accent trainers" to make Mrs. Mumley of Mishawka, Indiana think she is talking to an American about her problem with Windows when in fact she is chatting up Raj from Chennai. The money is good (for India-40,000 rupees a month is the norm) but you may have a tough time getting paid by certain companies. And India (southern India) may be a good fit for you. Nice people, weather, etc.

[gaijinalways]

I have lived in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and am now living in Japan. I would rate Taiwan as the most fun for people and food. At the time I was living there, the pollution was terrible in Taipei because of the construction on the subway lines and the elevated rail system (which had one trunk line finished just before I left), so in the meantime everyone went by mostly 2 stroke scooter. So, I ended up with some respiratory illnesses and decided this wasn't the place for me after 2 years


Hong Kong I really enjoyed, but of course it has changed now with the new 'landlords'. Hong Kong was fun as I was living alternatively in a village with banana trees, and on an island with not many people (no high rise living for me). The money was okay (I owned a small company with a CHinese fellow), but I enjoyed the energy in the city. Good government subsidized shows; concerts, dance, etc.

Here in Japan I live in a house, but it's small and in a crowded area in the city (convenient, but not my style). Things are expensive, but you can save quite a bit of money if you don't go crazy on clubs or bars (of course, this is after you are settled here). A big problem for some people coming here is that you need a lot of money to set up here, though you can live in a gaijin house initially which will not require as large a deposit.

The bigger problem is making friends here. The Japanese are notoriously shy, and generally don't interact that well with foreigners. I would say this can be the biggest turn off, by far. The climate is okay, except for summers when it gets humid, though there are four distinct seasons here which are nice after living n Taiwan (mostly rained all winter , dreadful), and in Hong Kong where it didn't really get that cold most of the time (no heat inside generally though, temps down to 3 C!).

One place that I taught briefly in, Thailand, was fun, but I only did that while I was on vacation. To make good money there you would need to stay in Bangkok and teach Japanese, of all people! Great food in Thailand, and very friendly people.

[mick_luna]

I've taught in Hanoi, the Czech Republic and Brazil, and worked in the Solomon Islands. The latter comes out far ahead for kind, sweet people, although generally very laid-back and shy. Brazil, don't even think of working there, at least in Rio or Goiania, they still have slavery there. Overall civilization and society (and of course, beautiful girls), the Czech comes out on top, but you do have to learn the language (although i guess that applies anywhere, its just more difficult for Slavic or Asian languages).Also, terrrible wages and teaching conditions, and good luck getting paid. Vietnam was easier to find work and make money, and low cost of living, but lots of xenophobia and very mercenary culture, pretty tricky to fit in there.

I've heard that Taiwan offers various work opportunities, and that the girls are friendly, although not much more than that. Japan supposedly has the most liberal females in Asia, although i seem to have scared my Japanese dates off with a kiss on the first outing. They were a lot friendlier than any Vietnamese or Chinese girls i have met though. I'm not sure how that goes beyond flirtation, however.

I saw a posting for a volunteer/work position in japan, they said it only required a TESL cert. which i have, it paid 200,000 yen a month. So i take it they don't need a degree for that type of 'volunteer' work? That one offered accomodation with the school headmaster's family, i think,although they were looking for a female. i don't think i'd pass, even in japan.

I've heard some good things about ecuador. IS there much demand there for teachers? I imagine its very hot, no snow even in the mountains? Nice girls, similar to Brazil or Columbia? (I have no experience of columbia, but am told it is the friendliest for dating in latin america. But I'm not interested in going anywhere even riskier than Rio de Janeiro, that was too stressful by far). Also, i like a place with skiing, i really dislike intense heat or direct sunlight.

Most recently i've been writing essays for uni students, but i've done editing and written feature articles for magazines, as well as private teaching and work in schools. My primary skills are as an illustrator and writer, though. I've been told there may be some demand for that, and good remuneration and reasonably priced necessities, in Taiwan. Any ideas about that?