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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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 Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 11:10 pm Post subject: |
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I changed careers at 32 because I hated my first one. I then began teaching with no qualifications except a BA in a foreign language and a non-related graduate degree. After discovering I had a knack for teaching and really enjoying the work/travel, I got an MA in the field. I've sort of gone full circle though because I'm now back working in the US albeit teaching ESL/EFL and traveling for extended periods every year. Actually, I have the best of both worlds I guess. I have the security of a government job but the lifestyle of a freewheeling EFL instructor. Life has been good to me!
Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/ |
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idiggs
Joined: 04 Feb 2010
Posts: 47
Location: Ecuador La Costa
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| Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 3:10 am Post subject: |
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| AjarnIam wrote: |
| I think too many people complicate their lives far too much with material items, and constantly worry about financial security, meanwhile forgetting to live. I had a reunion with my friends from that material world about 4 years ago, and I was amazed that I used to be apart of it. All these comparisons of cars and houses, and speed boats, and lake side cabins...I just sat back and smiled. Saying that, there's a few life luxuries I refuse to give up, especially my computer. |
I absolutely agree. At first, I was starting to think that I was the only person that had such a mentality.
Most of these teachers (on this forum) got their eye focused on money, prestige, and luxuries. Nothing else matters to them. And a lot of them forget why they are there in the first place. Only, time will teach them.
It is good to see people that share the same philosophy as I.
"Success will appear when complete happiness has manifested." |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 3:18 am Post subject: |
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And, I changed careers around 40. Cut my salary in half by coming to teach (that has gone up considerably by now, years later), and the lifestyle was noticeably different. When I came, I still lived alone, but...
1) The apartment was far smaller, older, and colder.
2) I learned to sleep on tatami.
3) I learned to adapt to a tiny fridge, a space heater for warmth, cold water in the bathroom sink, lack of a clothes dryer (hang them only), loud election trucks that everyone ignores, and direct deposit/transfers for paycheck and most bills.
4) My hours changed from 9-5 to 1-9.
5) I had no Internet at work anymore (that has changed).
6) I lost weight due to more walking, especially to the trains.
7) I struggled with simple tasks, like reading food labels or telling the barber how to cut my hair.
 Taking a paid vacation was a totally different experience in choosing when to do it, and for how long.
9) Driving on the other side of the road became a new experience.
10)Buying clothes that fit was / is hard, and finding English books to thumb through before buying is much harder. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 5:30 am Post subject: |
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| AjarnIam wrote: |
| I wouldn't say it's a success story, I'd call it a different story. I think too many people complicate their lives far too much with material items, and constantly worry about financial security, meanwhile forgetting to live. I had a reunion with my friends from that material world about 4 years ago, and I was amazed that I used to be apart of it. All these comparisons of cars and houses, and speed boats, and lake side cabins...I just sat back and smiled. Saying that, there's a few life luxuries I refuse to give up, especially my computer. |
Congrats on your double success, money and enjoying your profession. Not everyone can say they have those.
On another note. I can-t people how much STUFF people back home have. My parents house is bursting with stuff. I mean, how many shampoos do you need? And people can-t figure out why they-re in debt.
Personally, I can't stand to have so much. It's stressful. Seriously. I just moved from Peru to Korea and the fact that you can take two suitcases and a carry/on makes you prioritise. I think that if people would move more, they-d have less stuff. Maybe this is why it-s so hard to go back "home". Reverse culture shock is tough. It-ll be nice to get back to Asia in a couple of days.
I-m not above money. Don-t get my wrong. I-m not greedy. But Social Security in the US is scheduled to run out in 2041. Before I hit retirement age. Not my words, but the Soc Sec. My dad has received this info from Uncle Sam himself. Guess they send it to people who are heading towards retirement age.
Which means that I have to take care of myself. Never having worked in the US means taht I have no 401K. So I-ll be working and trying to buy a couple of flats. And hopefully make enough on rent to live when I retire.
But that means that other sacrifices have to be made, like not buying new clothes that much, or going out, etc. Lucky for me, I-m a pretty boring person  and spent about 100 bucks here at thrift stores and have a whole new wardrobe (Why buy stuff at retail prices, when the stores just donate the unsold stuff to charity and you can get it for 2 bucks?)
While the job I recently accept IS prestigious, one of the best unis in the country, I-ve learned that that doesn-t necessarily mean that you get the best salary or benefits. One thing I do like is the low work hours and long vacations. Which means that my husband and I can start a family, which is one of our priorities. We-ve been married so long and don-t have kids that his mom thinks he might have a "problem"  |
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AjarnIam
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 95
Location: Thailand
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| Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 5:57 am Post subject: |
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I love my family to bits, but they do have a funny way of following their paths through life, and even though they've "supported" my decision to leave my cushy lifestyle, I'm sure they question it equally as much. My family truly believes that life is about making huge sacrifices basically your entire life, for the opportunity of getting on a senior citizen tour bus and "discovering the world" at about 70. I am thankful that they still have their health, and can still crawl on that bus, but it's certainly made me realize that I made a great life decision. Unfortunately, now I see my older siblings following in the same path as my parents, working themselves crazy for a ticket to get on that bus. Their last "world adventure" was to Georgia and Turkey. I asked them about their "adventure" to Georgia because I'm very interested to someday work there. They decided not to get off the boat that day (they were on a luxury cruise) because there was a good film in the boat's cinema..... 
Each to their own..... |
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