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tedkarma
Joined: 17 May 2004
Posts: 1598
Location: The World is my Oyster
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 Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:21 am Post subject: Re: Opportunities and Happiness |
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| Katemarsh wrote: |
| I would assume a general love for life among people who seek careers that incorporate travel and working in schools but I am getting a very different perception from this site. Any thoughts? |
Generally speaking, you are responsible for your own happiness - regardless of those around you.
All that said I think there are about three general populations of expatriates, no matter the career or location.
There are those who are extremely negative and who complain constantly. These are people who like to "poison the well" and want you to be as unhappy as they are. Smart expats keep their distance from these people - as their negative attitude can and will affect you. I purposefully head the other direction from these type people. Don't socialize with them or even chat if at all possible. For these negative expats there is always some other country that was FAR better than this one, some job that was far better than this one, yada yada yada . . . THESE people are very common on discussion boards.
There is an opposite perspective - people who overly love where they are and see no warts or blemishes. These people are often newbies in the honeymoon phase of culture shock - or people who have dug themselves in so deep that they need a psychological justification for continuing where they are. These people are quite common on discussion boards.
The third group is the generally well-adjusted long-term expat who sees the good and bad, but don't let those things affect their life or attitude. Personally, I love where I live and intend to retire here. But I also don't pretend that it doesn't have its problems. Only a few of these people can be found on discussion boards.
Ultimately - it is all up to you though.
Last edited by tedkarma on Thu Feb 22, 2007 5:24 am; edited 1 time in total |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 5:17 am Post subject: |
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| As for me, I work in a university right now but plan on leaving either mid-summer or this fall. One person's achievement is another one's dream. |
Jizzo, if you don't mind me asking, where are you going next? |
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dmb
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397
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| Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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Ted, your three groups are
1) miserable
2) rose tinted glasses brigade
3) realistic
It's a bit simplistic isn't it? I have been all categories at some point. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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| There are those who are extremely negative and who complain constantly. These are people who like to "poison the well" and want you to be as unhappy as they are. |
Well there may be some countries that are just not good to live in.
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For these negative expats there is always some other country that was FAR better than this one, |
There may be some well-adjusted people who do not take to a certain country. I lived in Germany before. I remember complaining about money a lot and I never do that in Korea. Am I just a complainer or does the situation have an influence on one's mood and actions in a country? |
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tedkarma
Joined: 17 May 2004
Posts: 1598
Location: The World is my Oyster
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| Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:30 am Post subject: |
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| dmb wrote: |
Ted, your three groups are
1) miserable
2) rose tinted glasses brigade
3) realistic
It's a bit simplistic isn't it? I have been all categories at some point. |
All generalizations serve the purpose of simplification, don't they? Those of you who post regularly on this board can sort most of the other regular posters into the three catagories - no?
Of course, yes, most of us have been all three - I certainly have too.
But - the real issue is into which catagory do you settle and do you allow outside factors to completely rule your life and determine your personal happiness? We all know people who take no personal responsibility for their own lives, for their own success and happiness.
What I am trying to suggest is that the adaptive realistic successful long-term expat - better find a way to get themselves into the "realistic" catagory.
| Quote: |
| Well there may be some countries that are just not good to live in. |
Very true - I lived for five years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - certainly ranking high on the not-so-wonderful-places-to-live list, no? Yet there were many catagory 3 (realistic) and happy people there - among the whiners and complainers. Generally, those of us with goals and some idea of what we wanted out of life - where the happiest there.
Don't get me wrong - I hated Saudi Arabia - but yet I was able to adjust, adapt - AND make a good life for myself during that time.
Geez, did I get myself into a box on this issue or what?
All I am trying to suggest, in the long run, is that you - yourself - are personally responsible for your OWN happiness. Not the location, not the school, not the job. I've spent too many years among expats who play the "blame game" and who wallow in their "pity parties" to have much patience with them. Life is too short. |
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