Job Discussion Forums

[nomadder]

To those who have worked abroad, come home for a time and left again-at least once-what do you think about your future? Will you live in your home country for any length of time again eventually? Why? Is there a point of no return and when is it? Will you just keep moving?

Anyone think they were going back to a second posting and find that they never left home for various reasons? That's me-as knowing the place too well I couldn't go back to the worsening job market(also just knew too much overall-a little naivete is handy when going abroad) and no other countries appealed.

Seems if you keep moving, you keep moving-if you know what I mean. What's been moving you-or not?

[denise]

I keep intending to return and stay home, but the prospect of better job offers abroad and the adventure of getting to know new places has once again lured me away--my last stint in the US lasted about six weeks! I do want to settle there eventually, because no place that I have lived could ever feel like home, but I know that once I do go back for good, going abroad would likely be off-limits, since I wouldn't be able to afford extensive travels anymore.

d

[basiltherat]

Yes, I agree. I think its important to touch base regularly with your home country if u think that you'd like to return there for good eventually.

Naively, I spent a period of nearly 9 years in Jakarta without once going back. When I eventually did, it was a real nightmare. There were so many things different and things that had happened to change the way of life i had left were enormous. It worried me so much, i ran back to Jakarta to seek 'refuge'.

Now that I've overcome this (as a matter of necessity, after the brown stuff hit the fan in Jakarta in 1998 and we were more or less forced to leave), I have promised myself that we WILL have some kind of root in the UK, be it small if necessary, and will return regulary for a few months.

I no longer accept year-long or lengthy contracts abroad and do not go for positions that take me a night's worth of flying to reach but instead apply for positions relatively nearby and that allow me to return or agree to my returning at lease twice a year for at least 6-7 weeks each time.

For me, I'm getting to the end of my 'term' in this gig, but for those who are starting out, the comments above are my tuppence worth.
best
basil

[Justin Trullinger]

Overseas for around a decade, in a variety of countries and occupations...

The longest I've been without visiting "home" is around 3 years. Shortest space between visits 6 months.

No, I don't really imagine settling down "back home" at any point. It's not so much where I want to live- it's that I love what I do, and see less opportunities for it in the US.

If there's a "point of no return" it's probably a very personal point- different for each of us. Or for some teachers I've met, it may not exist- I've known a lot who never get tired of going on about how great home is, and how they can't wait to get back, no matter how long they've been gone.

For me, I never really felt a strong connection to "home," so maybe I was nearly past the point of no return before I ever left...

Best,
Justin

[nomadder]

The concept of home is a weird one sometimes. It actually took me some time to re-aclimitize after 3 and a half years away and then after various monthly stints home and longish travels.

I would say it comes down to the things you can do in the place. Eventually unlimited English entertainment became a big selling point plus being able to get what you want anytime anywhere well at least easily. You also know everything that's going on and available.

There is something to be said though for the anonymity and bubble life abroad too.

I've found a great area that I think I should live in-near my present home but if it takes living abroad again to save some money for property, maybe I'd do it. You just shouldn't underestimate how living away can affect your view of home and for how long it will affect you afterwards. Maybe after a second time I'd have more clarity and focus.

[gaijinalways]

Been out of the country going 15 years. Go back about every 18-20 months, 2-3 weeks at a time, it's enough for me. Considering moving back, but hope to do it on my schedule, my terms.

[MELEE]

I haven't been to the US in over 4 years. I haven't lived there since 1995.
I've definately settled here. I feel completely at home here. I don't have much desire to move back, but find myself looking at an ulternative certification program in Texas that both me and my Mexican husband could do if we moved to the US, I'd probably put time frame on it though, a maximum that I would want to live in the US, like 4 years. I'd move back to the US for no more than 4 years. But like Justin said, everyone of us is different and in my case, I really think I was born on the wrong side of the Rio Grande/Bravo, this is where my heart is.

[nomadder]

It seems to be a combination of what you get used to plus momentum.

You can plan to just visit home/work abroad for a short time and then end up there longer than planned and then get more settled than planned and then you can get used to things and lose your momentum.

It often takes a lot longer for the mind to stop than the body.

Others can keep on the move so much that they never settle too much. Always thinking about the next place. Never letting the dust settle. Never focusing too hard on their immediate surroundings.

You can think about what you like where you are and why you should stay there or think about what you will like in the next place and why you should move there.

That being said I should really unpack suitcases and boxes one of these days and maybe purchase some big ticket items. Or should I???>???

[william wallace]

The problem for me, is not that I can't return to my home country, the problem is where I want to move to in my home country. I could go to Toronto(yuck!), Vancouver-Well, basically "Out West",but I want to live in the area I know best-Cape Breton, and that place hasn't had good employment since 1900.But I'm sure within the next 3-4 years I'll head home regardless of the consequences.

[lozwich]

Today I feel like going home, back to where my heart lives, for some extended verandah sitting time and looking at the trees.

But if I went, what would I do when I got there???

That's one thing that keeps me away: the fact that I'd have to start all over again in some other job because I wouldn't want to do ELT in my home country.

[mlomker]

[Wild Bill]

A few years back I was bouncing back and forth from overseas to the US (home). I would do a contract and when it ended go home and get a postion there. After a year or two in the states and then the "wander lust" would get too strong and I would be headed back overseas. Now I am sort of stuck here in the US due to the fact that pension is needed for retirement. But luckily enough, my current position allows me my summers off and I do summer esl camps abroad. But I still torture myself by reading the job lists here on Dave's.

[nickpellatt]

Im a newbie at the start of the TEFL adventures....I have a rough plan of how I hope things will go...and they will involve returning to the UK on a regular basis, and eventually returning there permanently.

In short, Im using the short working hours to improve my education, and hope to return to the UK better qualified and experienced, and hope this will land my a job at one of the many language schools in my locality. Permanent jobs do exist there, but are few and well contested, at the moment Id have no chance...

I plan to return often.This is mainly because of family - if they were here, I would be less inclined, as it stands now, summer breaks will always be for returning home to see them...and to earn a little money to a) afford frequent trips home and b) to make life here more comfortable...

I miss little things, just been for some yang jou chao fan (sp) for lunch (special fried rice), and would have LOVED a sausage in batter too....

As mentioned by another poster, I also find it hard to go home...my travels only started last year with 7 months from the UK, but when I went back, so many simple trivia or sporting things had changed, fashions, music etc.....

[lozwich]

Any ideas what causes wanderlust? I've had it from about the age of 10 and seem to have inherited it from my parents who were both wanderers when they met, although they managed to fight it off when they got married and had kids.

I can't seem to get it out of my system, no matter what I try.

[MELEE]

I think it's a recessive gene that pops up here and there in the family tree! My great great grandpa crossed the Rockies 7 times with a pair of mules and a covered wagon. My dad is convienced I got it from him.