Job Discussion Forums

[ls650]

[birdwatcher]

Hi Samizinha. Gosh that's kinda depressing! Luckily as I pretty much said earlier, I manage to get around fine. I was trying to figure out if there is any real stigma attatched to disabilities in Mexico. I find it completely bizaare that students or teachers were teasing the teacher who has a vision impairment. I've read about people being teased and taunted for various reasons on this forum. Wow. Not much shocks me but that's one cultural feature that I guess I have to think about. Is it just not taken as seriously in Mexico? I guess in New York city it can sometimes happen also, when teenagers from the suburbs visit, and shout insults at some of our beloved unique and colorful inhabitants ( it often backfires,of course). I remember reading on this forum about a young girl who's native language is Maya or Nauhat and her Spanish speaking fellow students teased her until she left her school. How foolish that those students aren't proud of the beautiful languages and cultures that are part of themselves. How heartbreaking, for everybody. Everybody lost. I know that the TESL gig isn't really very easy for most people, but it seems like the personal rewards make it worth the trouble for a lot of folks. I don't expect it to be easy for me, but perhaps I can get lucky and find a good employer. I believe there are good and bad people everywhere you go. I'm a very optimistic person, and that helps me. If anything I've enjoyed reading the intriguing posts on this site, and I'm sure to be in very good company when I arrive in Mexico!

[MELEE]

I haven't posted yet, because I've been having a busy week and this topic deserves a thoughtful response.

I'd be more likely to lean towards Samazinha's answer myself. Mexico is not a very disablity friendly place. I do work with a teacher who is a polio survivor and walks with a limp. She also has a motorized cart to help her get around campus because our campus is very spread out and includes several steep hills. She can not use the cart door to door, office to classroom because there are many small fightls of stairs scattered around. She manages but it's hard. And there is no way someone in a weel chair could work here. And I don't think the university will be putting ramps in anytime soon. Here in Oaxaca, most disabled people are either kept in the home and out of sight, or sent out to beg, depending on the needs of the family. I've often seen people who would be employable in the US, begging because they are disabled here. For example a man in his 30s with one leg amputated below the knee, but otherwise healthy.

In the time I've been in Mexico (9 years) the TV networks have started running campaigns to raise awareness that disabled people are really differently abled and completely capable of contributing to society. But there is still a long long ways to go. In this aspect I think Mexican society is about 4 decades behind the US and Europe. It is still very common to hear the awful term "menosvalida" for a person with a disablity.

The oringinal post said that the poster has trouble getting around when the ground was uneven. I'm surpised nobody has pointed out that 90% of the ground, inclucing most sidewalks, in Mexico is uneven. I think it is possible to find work teaching English with a cane. The others are right the lack of a college degree with limit you more than that cane. But you should know that it will be different in every way, including the way your limp is treated, than in your home country.

[birdwatcher]

Hi MELEE, Yes, I noticed how uneven the sidewalks in Mexico city are, but I did manage. It may be difficult at times for me to get around, but it's much more difficult to sit back and not pursue my interests. I've read discussions on this forum about degrees and it's a bit confusing. Some people say it's possible to find work, and some people seem to be saying it's very difficult. I recognize you from your posts and I value your opinion. I have to say that with so many people warning me about the difficulty of not having a degree I am starting to feel maybey it's not such a good idea for me to do this! I guess I've got some thinking to do. Thanks for your honest reply.