Job Discussion Forums

[Wolf]

Okay, I was just wondering where people felt . . . the least invigorated living. This is obviously going to be a very subjective thing, and that shoudl be okay. I WANT to hear your personal stories on this subject.

As you can probably guess, I'm less than riveted by my current location. So for me, the most boring EFL job location I've ever had is a small farming community (with a university) somewhere north of the city of Nanchang in the PRC. It's a good job . . . but with the salry vs my expenses . . . I can't afford the usual "live like a king" lifestyle that expats around here use to keep themselves occupied. The city is a long and frustrating bus ride away (PACKED bus), and that plus my tight budget holds me back from "getting out there" - other than to visit friends.

As you can see from my post count here.

What about everyone else?

[fat_chris]

For me, it's right now...at home...in Ohio.

For me, being out in the field, wherever that may be, can't be boring.

[denise]

I don't know if "bored" is the correct word, but my least favorite job was in China. It was only a summer job, so naturally I did not spend enough time there to really get to know the place, but still I was disappointed with how unprofessionally the school was run. Very little emphasis on teaching--just "talk to them a bit" for however many hours per day over four weeks.

I haven't been bored anywhere I've been. Even now, in the little rice field that I call home, I manage to keep myself occupied. The poor students are bored to tears here, though. I guess I should be grateful to be able to drive, have parties at home (something that the students can't do because they are in a dorm and are somewhat monitored), experience a new culture, etc.

d

[Steiner]

Well, when I first saw your topic heading I thought you were talking about the most boring post I've made here at the ESL Cafe. I've got a lot of contenders.

Haven't had anywhere yet where I really didn't feel invigorated. I like where I am now, out in the middle of semi-nowhere with a boring big city nearby. But it's not for everyone. You might feel overstimulated here, though, Wolf.

When I was in Yangshuo (a really interesting town in a really interesting and beautiful area of Guangxi province, for those of you not familiar) a guy who told me how boring it is living there and I wanted to slap him and tell him to wake up. After a week there I was tired of all the excitement.

fat_chris--where in Ohio? I lived in various Ohio towns for about 18 years.

[Roger]

Good reply, Steiner! Yangshuo is NOT a boring place, no matter how tedious your job is!
There are those Western-style cafes and restaurants with their second-hand books. There is that magnificent scenery. Nice climate, variety in foods, etc.

But, it is true that China can be a dead-end for many. People spend their time on their jobs (I refuse to call that "working"), and spending their money again. Nothing else. No visits to churches, cultural centres, boy scouts. Watch your fellow passengers in trains and buses - they pull the curtains in the most dramatic landscape sceneries, and fall asleep!
FOr me, the most boring place was Shenzhen. It has a well-appointed city library with good publications from overseas, including Russian, French, Italian and German magazines; that used to be the cultural highlight of my weekly outings.
In schools, you never get hold of interesting magazines or dailies *unlike you are a fan of the CHINA DAILY or 21st Century).
I used to know very few Chinese who were outdoors enthusiasts. Most of them tended to be couch potatoes, unwilling to drag themselves for more than 200 yards on their own feet!

[Capergirl]

I have a wonderful job here in Nova Scotia but I'm bored to tears. In Korea and Taiwan, I was never bored, but the job conditions were very stressful. Pick your poison.

[Wolf]

Steiner - I'd get sensory overload from actual coffee cream rather than milk in my instant coffee.

Roger - China has boy scouts? For some wierd reason I didn't think there would be such an organization here.

Capegirl - I could make a truly awful "pick you position" joke, but, with great effort, I will refrain from doing so.

[Capergirl]

[dmb]

The lonely planet guide says of Doha. "it has been described as the most boring place in the Middle East. we won't go that far but it is difficult to find anyone who says it is exciting." I have to agree with this. Maybe when the Asian games come here(in 2206) it will be different. But I wont be here. shame

[fluffhead]

I voted for western Europe. That includes Scandinavia, right?

[struelle]

I'm fortunate, haven't had a post that bored me to tears. I must really like EFL or else be a sucker for punishment.

Why not reverse the thread, that is what's the most exciting and invigorating post you've had? For me, it would have to be teaching the students in Bangkok for my CELTA. I had more than share of criticisms for how the course was run, but putting that aside, this is what made the post interesting: constant learning environment and feedback, immersion in EFL shop-talk (I go crazy for this stuff), laid-back students, great food, fascinating city, nice weather, fun colleagues, and cheap cost of living!

Teaching in China is also fun and rewarding for similar reasons. China beats Thailand in my experience when it comes to meaningful conversation with students, free time, creativity for lesson planning, and astonishing travel opportunities. But where China has been a real drag is the cold weather in winters, constant materialism, whimsical management, and not enough work hours. Then again, I've spent most of time in Shanghai and I'm in need of a change of pace. Other regions of China, preferably the SOUTH where it's WARM would suffice for that.

On a side note, I completely agree with Roger about the laziness of many students, especially those in prosperous economic regions. Given the incredible vast nature of China and places to travel to, it's equally astonishing how locals tune that out and live an extremely restricted lifestyle.

As one student told me on the bus when we were coming back from a trip to WuZhen, "It's only a dream to travel around our country. We have to stay in the same place and work, that's just the way it is."

Steve

[arioch36]

K U W A I T.

Of course, we were kept virtual prisoners for the first two ? months for our safety. I knew nothing of the language.

So here in China, in even a boring place, i can enjoy it more because of my extremely limited, but partial knowledge of the language.

It reminds me of the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray (on the Chinese english movie channel last night)

At first he hates the boring stupid town. Then HIS attitude changes, and he sees the town through different eyes, and decides to live there.

I do love the way a Chinese person will say, "Place X is beautiful"
"have you ever been there?

"No, but I know it's beautiful because they say so"

[guest of Japan]

Trust me. You don't want to live in Punxatauny (sp?). I drove through their one time and there was a whole lot of nothing.

[johnslat]

Dear guest of Japan,
But . . . the really important question:

Did you see your shadow there while passing through?

Regards,
John

[fat_chris]

At least Punxsutawney, PA beams in the national spotlight once a year. The city takes on major importance as the nation drops everything to see if we will indeed be in for six more weeks of winter.

Other places are simply forgotten.