Job Discussion Forums

[avolkiteshvara]

OK here is the situation. I really want to move to Spain. But can an american get enough work to pay a monthly student loan and eat everyday??

I have a $300 a month payment and from everything that I've read the only places I could afford to teach is in Asia; not my fav but better than nothing. I don't mind working 40hrs+ if I need to. Just makes me sad my student loans could prevent me from living in such a cool place.

Thanks in advance for all responses.

[csenoner]

not sure about spain, but it is possible to save that much a month in rome if you are willing to work, but you have to live ina cheap place and probably share a room and work 40 plus hours. also, take into account that it will take a few months to break even. i would think you could do it in spain too if you work for multiple schools.

[Moore]

It's possible to do it, but not really a brilliant idea: three problems:

First problem: when you get here to get set up you'll need a couple of thousand in the bank- for the first month you'll only get a few hours work per week (and it's not made any easier starting out if you're an illegal), then building up, plus appartment room deposit, hostel while you wait to find one, mobile phone and bills while you look for work and flats, plus eating and a bit of going out so you meet a few people so you don't go crazy and you get something out of being here.

Second problem: it's actually quite difficult to work 40 hours a week here, assuming you'll have to get a bit of your income from company classes: there is a morning slot: usually 8 until 10:30, then a lunchtime slot from 2 until four, then the after work slot from 6:30 onwards. You can fit in private lessons around these, but you also have to factor in transport times (it'll be all over the place, at least in your first year) and also cancellations by privates (factor in at least a 20 percent cancellation rate). Most people do around 25 hours a week here, but to do that they are on the go for a lot longer, often starting at 8am and working until 8pm with some inconvenient gaps in between. Also, don't forget that even for an experienced telf teacher 25 hours a week contact time is plenty, and over thirty five a week is seriuos burn-out territory and can only be sustained for a few months.

Third problem: though it'd be all right after a bit then summer comes, work dries up significantly and although it's possible to get by, it wouldn't be possible for you to repay a loan as well.

Go to Asia, more specifically South Korea (which by all acounts can be a good laugh too) and you can bank a thousand a month. Then take some of your savings and spend a couple of months travelling round Spain and enjoying yourself.

Spain is not a good place to save up/pay off loans: it's more about going out a lot and learning Spanish: if you're always really on a shoestring then I'm not sure it'd be such a fun place to be.

[Jari]

I concur with Moore.....save money in Korea for a year and then come to Spain. I did S.Korea for a couple of years bought loads of gadgets went out a lot and paid off my debt and saved money. And of course learned tae kwon do and ate the fantastic and cheap korean food....however Korea can also be a drag sometimes (very homogenous and very serious at times) so I came to spain and I have no complaints with that move either!

[spiral78]

I'll join the consensus - it would be so tough that it wouldn't be enjoyable anyway. But remember that you aren''t losing the chance to work (albeit illegally) in Spain forever - just postponing it until your loans are clear. That's lif~!!

[jr1965]

I second Moore�s response, too. I lived in Korea (Seoul) for a number of years and am now living in Madrid. I'd say that if you're starting out as a teacher AND have loans to pay, Korea is probably a better bet. Keep in mind, too, (as others have said) that you're an American and would have to work without papers here in Spain...what if your employer decides not to pay you; how will you make your monthly loan payments? How will you pay bills, rent, pay for food...Why deal with all that hassle starting out?

Korea isn't easy, but looking back, I'm really glad that I started out there instead of coming first to Europe. I met some wonderful people (many of whom I still keep in touch with); I learned a lot and managed to save and pay off loans, too. Do your research on the place, though.

Good luck!