Job Discussion Forums

[thrifty]

[denise]

I agree about the "you're so lucky" comment. Luckily, it has only happened to me once, and that was waaaaay back before I started teaching, when I spent a month in Guatemala to do a summer Spanish course. My ex had the nerve to say that he envied me--I believe his exact words were, "I wish I could just up and go to Guatemala!" GRRRRRRR!!!! So today he has a house, car, new TV, etc. (I don't really know, not having kept in touch with the boy), and I have had several years of travel and experiences that I wouldn't trade for anything. Plus a career that I truly love, one that doesn't make me pray for the weekend or for the next holiday. It's all about priorities.

d

[Wild Bill]

It seems that every time I went home, it was like walking into a time warp. I had progressed, but every thing was just the same. But as for "oh woe is me", most of my pals envy the fact I did the overseas gig. Now I am teaching in an American High. Boy, DO I MISS BEING OVERSEAS!!!!

[Topo Gigo]

Re the You're so lucky thing - you are lucky. If by accident of birth, you happened to have been born, say, in Eastern Europe or somewhere in Africa where the local language wasn't sought after by most of the world and the local economy/infrastructure made going abroad pretty difficult, then you probably wouldn't be where you are now.

That said, I do get that it would grate coming from someone with the same background and opportunities as you, who doesn't have those things cos they've chosen something else...and as that's the point you seem to be making, I'll shut up now.

[sheeba]

[rusmeister]

Just to offer a counterpoint, G.K. Chesterton said that travel narrows the mind. His argument is interesting.

[denise]

[jonniboy]

I guess I'm lucky to have friends back home who are pretty savvy travellers. However the families ignorance can be a bit annoying - when I worked in Spain they would relate to it only in terms of their package holidays and to me they'd never experienced "the real Spain." Since moving to Latvia I've just given up altogether with them - most of them seem to think it's somewhere in the middle of Russia and now I just grit my teeth when the irrelevant jokes about Cossack dancers and stuff are made. That said I do try to keep in mind that they really have no need to know about such places.

The comments that have annoyed me most have been those which somehow belittle my efforts in my chosen career. Being asked when I'm going to get a "proper job" , being told that I'm getting money just for "chatting to women". The most annoying question for some reason is being asked "but how can you teach English to people when you don't know the local language?" An attitude that sums up to me exactly why British people are so poor at languages as they're taught completely the wrong way in the UK.

[JZer]

[kait]

I told a man that I had recently moved back to the US from Taiwan. He responded, "That's funny. You don't look Korean."

[Deano1979]

Sorry about ressurecting an old thread, but I found it to be way to interesting to let it rest

Do the Americans who return home perhaps see where the majority of us come from when we say that Americans are perhaps a little ignorant? World perception of Americans as ignorant is harldy rare.

One of the most technologically developed nations in the world, good economy, high standard of living, good education, good work ethic. Still, Americans have a reuptation for being ignorant.

I wonder if perhaps Americans returing home after being abroad for a while dont maybe begin to understand how the reputation for ignorance has been developed.

Im not attacking the yanks. I just think that their major priority in life is career and work, with little time for interests outside career.

[BTSskytrain]

there are only two types of people in this world. those who get it and those who dont'. when hit with the question, "so why do you like living overseas?", i always want to answer, "if you have to ask you won't understand." but i don't as that would be rude and god forbid i hurt anyone's feelings in our mushy, politically correct society.

so, i usually give a really blunt but honest answer like,"well, because thoughts of being tied down to a wife (when i'd rather be sleeping with everyone else's wife), having to be financially responsible for 2.5 kids and a dog, a mortgage, car payment, credit card debt out the wazoo,and all of the other crap that goes along with the american status quo is DOWNRIGHT BORING!!! that not only gets 'em quiet real fast but also gets them thinkin' too.

[jr1965]

[mcsam]

I have to say that I don't think that Americans are ignorant (no I'm not American) I think that they are insular. They have no need to be outward looking they have everything they (think) they need at home, whereas Europeans depend (and have greater ease of travel) on each other much more for economic reasons so what happens in the rest of Europe and the rest of the world impacts on us more. I also think the European media reports more widely from the rest of the world than the American media and most people get their information from sources like the tv and if that is the case you can only know what you are told

Anyway to more light hearted things.

The most stupid question I have ever been asked is "So tell me what's weird about (insert name of country)?" Eh, What? What is weird or a little strange when you first arrive somewhere soon becomes the norm. How do you answer such a general question.

I have to agree that the "Your Lucky" comment gets on my nerves. I usually reply "Well you can do it too if you get off your bum".

I also get annoyed by people who say they REALLY want to live and work abroad but they can't because of mortgage/job/money/etc....... Nothing is insurmountable if you REALLY want it.

[tedkarma]