Job Discussion Forums

[reddevil79]

I've spoken to a couple of teachers who left the school in question in August and said more or less the same as pe666. Proceed with caution I guess...

[housecat]

[quote="reddevil79"]I've spoken to a couple of teachers who left the school in question in August and said more or less the same as pe666. Proceed with caution I guess...[/quote]

Well, even if things are less than perfect, or more than irritating, might they be okay for only six months?

[pe666]

I don�t think there should be a problem with cats down here, and I�m pretty sure you can cross the border with a pet. Are you for sure coming to Pachuca? Are you driving or flying?

[pe666]

�Well, even if things are less than perfect, or more than irritating, might they be okay for only six months?�
I�m sure there are worse places to spend 6 months. But as far as a �TEFL� experience goes, it�s pretty lame. To be fair, I never made the effort to learn Spanish, and I didn�t have much interest in Mexican culture when I came here. I was just trying something different. I�ve realized I don�t fit in here at all, and don�t really want to. If you are really interested in learning about the culture, travelling and that type of stuff, you can make the best of it. But it won�t be easy. Do you mind if I ask why you want to come here? And are you driving or flying?

[housecat]

I'd love it if I could drive, but I bet I'll be flying. My son's not that big on car trips and the 8 hr. drive to Houston is usually a little more than he can handle.

It's not 100% yet. Actually, I do like learning culture and language--it's kind of my thing. And I've know a lot of Mexicans, of course, and used to be pretty immursed in latino culture and fairly fluent, but it's been a long time, and I've been a LONG way away.

I'm thinking of comming because A) I'm doing a Master of Arts in Teaching and should do internship next semester, but it's tough to find a public school job around here in January. It might still happen, but there really aren't many openings to compete for. I want to be employed for internship because I have to support myself and my son--and how will I do that if I'm teaching 8 hrs a day, plus homework?

I also happen to be quite desperate to be an ex-pat again. I lived overseas for more than 10 years and have been back State side for three years. Three LONG years.

So, a six month gig teaching in Mexico sounds great to me. It will give my son a chance to pick up some Spanish, and he's young enough that it shouldn't interfere much with his academic progress to take a half year in a different school.

I'm interested in what about the experience you feel will not be easy? My biggest concern is taking my son. I've shipped myself off to other places before, but I'll be bringing him, too, and he'll have his own issues that I'll be dealing with.

I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs, so I don't really party. I'm just a momma with a wanderer's heart. And I want to give my son a chance to see a HELL of a lot more than rural USA. Don't want him growing up narrow sighted.

[jfurgers]

[Guy Courchesne]

While I'm sure you can find that in Mexico City Mr Furgers, I think you need to expand your circle some.

Been to little Korea? Little Havana? Anywhere in the centro historico? Tried speaking French with someone here, or German? Asked anyone about their family history? Noticed the dozens of different accents in Spanish spoken in the streets? Gandered at the architecture around town? Been to a museum or gallery? Tried eating anywhere besides the taco stand outside the metro stop?

Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black.

[Milenka]

[housecat]

Regardless, the point isn't the narrow minds and sights of the Mexican people or the American people. It's my son's mind and sight that I care about.

[pe666]

As far as what makes it difficult here, I was going to tell you some of my obversations about the people, but I realized that being a 6�4 blond-haired blued eyed, kinda scary looking man, people are going to relate to me totally different than how they will to you. The thing to keep in mind is that you are going to work for a place called �The American School,� so named because they modelled themselves, supposedly, on the American model of Education. If I had really pondered that for a moment, I would have never come, because who in their right mind would ever want to go to an american school if they didn�t have to! So, being the American School, you drudge yourself off to work by 7am, (if you are late more than 3 times, they dock your pay,) and you are not allowed to leave the campus until 3 pm. During the workday, you will be trying desparately to control some very bad behaving children, with basically no curriculum or administrative support. The mexican staff there tend to keep their distance from the American staff, because the Americans come and go so much, so you get stuck hanging around with a bunch of Americans. Depending on where you live, most of the stores are either American chains, (wal-mart owns most of Mexico by now,) or mexican chains modelled on American chains. And even if you go to a �real Mexican� store, most of the food is actually produced in America! So I�ve found that my life here is basically the life I was trying not to lead in America, ie drive to work, drive home, watch tv, repeat. Only nothing works right. Now, alot of that is my fault, because I�m not a naturally sociable guy, so I don�t make friends easy. SO, What I mean by �ts not easy to make it worthwhile is that you have to make the effort in terms of making friends, outside of the American School fishbowl, and you have to be prepared to deal with a lot of BS, in terms of people not doing what they say they will do.
As far as bringing a kid, I don�t know much about childcare. I would hesitate because of the dust, which is mining dust and heavily polluted, and the sun, which, because of the altitude is really bright. I would also advise you that the health care system here is not of the highest quality, and I wouldn�t put to much faith in the American School helping you out if anything serious happened.