Job Discussion Forums

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I agree. I had a "real job" for two years--just long enough to save up money for my TEFL course and move to Prague.

Some of the people stuck in real jobs back home don't know what they're missing... How many of us have heard something like, "Wow, I wish I could do what you do?", as though what we do is just a lark? (And, of course, they could do it if they wanted and were willing to change their priorities and leave some creature comforts behind.)

d

Joachim · Joined: 01 Oct 2003 Posts: 311 Location: Brighton, UK

I worked in the corporate sector for 2 years as well and found it utterly soul-destroying.

I just don't see ESL as a lifetime career, kudos to those who do, but the thought of living in foreign countries, on short term contracts, with very few benefits and severely limited opportunities for advancement fills me with dread.

And would you really want to raise your children so far away from home in an alien culture?

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Capergirl · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 3:14 pm Post subject:

Aliens? Where???? Shocked

This reminds me of discussions I've had with people who actively try to dissuade me from taking my daughter out of Canada. I once mentioned going to Korea (ultimately, that wouldn't be one of my choices but I do love to see the reactions I get) and someone said to me, "Korea is no place for children!" I gasped and said, "My God! Somebody had better tell the Koreans!" Rolling Eyes

In truth, I'd be fine with raising my daughter just about anywhere but the U.S. or the Middle East. (No offense to anyone from those places.) Wink

johnslat · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 3:21 pm Post subject: Kid-free zones

Dear Capergirl,

"In truth, I'd be fine with raising my daughter just about anywhere but the U.S. or the Middle East. (No offense to anyone from those places.) "

Hmm, it's sort of hard NOT to "take offense", I must say. I mean, that's quite a generalization you're making there. There might be at least a few locations in both places you mentioned where a concerned Mom could safely raise her daughter. I'm a little disappointed, even with the smiley face, that you'd post something like that.
Regards,
John

Capergirl · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 3:27 pm Post subject:

I sincerely apologize, John. My remark was intended to be tongue-in-cheek. I assume that most people here know that I am a Canadian - and that there are many barbs thrown back and forth between the two countries, in jest - so I thought that this would be an acceptable "funny". However, one person offended is too many. Mea culpa and forty lashes with the wet noodle. Crying or Very sad

Sara Avalon · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 254 Location: On the Prowl

I wouldn't raise a girl here either.

Raising children is hard enough without having to worry about the influences they will be exposed to in the society you live in.. But that said, I don't know where on Earth you could raise a child without worry or a slight degree of concern..

The most important thing I think anyone should take into consideration when moving with a child is finding a stable environment. Some place the child can call "home" and go back to when they need their roots. It's no fun being an outcast because you're too globalized for your own good.

Good luck!

johnslat · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 3:50 pm Post subject: Oh, you kid

Dear Capergirl,
Sorry - I thought I detected an underlying seriousness in your post, despite, as I said, I smiley-face. Personally I try to use what could be called the " if the shoe were on the other foot" criterion. For example, if a Mom from the USA posted (with a smiley face) that she'd be fine with raising her daughter just about anywhere but Canada or Siberia. Would that cause a Canadian (or Siberian) to take offense?
Regards,
John

saudade · Joined: 11 Feb 2004 Posts: 48 Location: Campinas, Brazil

There are always risks with every career, especially in our new and exciting global economy. Even "real jobs" can disappear fairly quickly, and the security of a corporate style job/career is sometimes illusionary. I come from the arts, though, so if anything I jumped from the fire into the frying pan. I do think there are dead-end jobs, like working at McDonald's (sheesh, I hope nobody here works at McDonald's - don't flame me! Razz

), and teaching overseas, where many things are possible, and half the fun is finding out what they are. And I think it would be a really precious gift for a child to spend some time overseas. I think it would be enormously cool to grow up bi-lingual; it means you could give your parents twice as much sh*t as a teenager. But maybe not Kuwait...Sara Avalon's Kuwait stories are kind of scary, like turn out the lights and shine the flashlight on your face scary... Mad

Although, America is kind of scary too....

(That was a joke, honest! And I'm American!)

I mean, I'm actually pretty new to this, and I'd be interested to hear if people who've been doing this a long time feel trapped or unhappy. That's not the sense I get.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

It certainly is possible to make a career out of this. That's certainly my intention--although I'm just getting started... ask me again in 10 years!

There's more to this job than part-time contracts with little/no benefits, no room for advancement, etc. Getting past those hurdles will probably require either a) getting and MA and/or b) deciding where to go based on the available jobs, not based on which country you want to live in.

d

Capergirl · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 10:26 pm Post subject:

Lanza-Armonia · Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2004 4:23 am Post subject:

I don't think I'd wanna stop. I get to see so much of the world, languages and cultures. Settle down in an Exotic country, on a great local salary with a gorgeous lass. I know a guy who's touching sixty and he's loving it.

People may get fed up with it but I can honestly say, I'm not stopping anytime soon!

LA Wink

Joachim · Joined: 01 Oct 2003 Posts: 311 Location: Brighton, UK

Actually, I only really know Asia in terms of living, and I would never want to raise children here, my students are so dull, with so few interests outside their own existence, which is untrue of European children.

but hwo knows, maybe South America or somewhere would be a great place to start a family. I just know that I'd want them to be educated in English and have the opportunities I had, and in Europe we have better economies, fewer problems with population contral and health and a higher life expentancy. Who wouldn't want that for their children?