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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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 Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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Left the U.S.of A. in 1990 and have never looked back. Lessee:
1958- I'm a jerk! (Born on 9/11)
1963-5- I'm an Air Force brat in the middle of nowhere! (Ernest Harmon AFB, The "Rock", Canada)
1968-71- I'm an Air Force brat in the Land o' th' Rising Sun before being impolitely asked to leave by an ungrateful defeated people! (Itazuke AB [Fukuoka Kuuko], Japan)
1990-93- I'm a JET! (Kumamoto, Japan)
1994- I'm depressed and annoyed! (Cheonan, Korea)
1994-5- I'm an idiot! (King Faisal School- riyadh)
1995-6- I'm NOT British! (King Fahad AB, Taif, saudi arabia)
1996-2000- I'm being managed by an idiot Scot who loves American Sycophants! (riyadh AB...and...I'm NOT one)
2000-02- I'm a student! (Fukuoka, Japan for 16 month for my M. Ed. in TESOL and where I first saw the original "Planet of the Apes" AND the remake so many years later)
2002-04- I'm a target! (Jeddah & Taif-working with a crew of morons)
2004- I'm a genius absent landlord! (Bought a house with my saudi winnings)
2004-Present- I'm in Paradise! (Place of the Gazelles)
Why not go back? Why go back? Until Uncle Sam stops writing blank checks for Israel, stops going around the world picking fights and stops picking people's pockets to pay for wars that I don't support, welfare cheats that I don't support and stops bailing out major corporations with taxpayer's money...which I DEFINITELY don't support, I think that I'll jes' keep packing it away.
Like VS wuz, I'm eyeing Costa Rica as an end-of-life location...but alas, I'm afraid that I am going to face the same scenario.
But, then again, I'm thankful for every time I talk to the folks...and NOT thru a Ouiji Board!
Expected retirement date...sometime in 2024... 
NCTBA |
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stevie76
Joined: 26 Jan 2006
Posts: 4
Location: Czech republic
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| Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 12:48 pm Post subject: |
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I've been teaching for 11 years : Italy, Poland, China, Czech Republic and UK. Now I feel like I'm trapped in a TEFL vortex! Help!
Then again, seeing the world and experiencing other cultures beats slaving away in a crappy office admin job and all that. As for saving, there are ways to do it in various countries. You could get a self employment license like I did in Czech Republic, you work for different schools and pay minimal tax. You have to work really hard to save money in TEFL but I suppose it can be done...
As for home, I wouldn't mind teaching in the UK, but schools in England offer such laughable salaries that I just couldn't bring myself to  |
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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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| Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 12:58 pm Post subject: |
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| stevie76 wrote: |
I've been teaching for 11 years : Italy, Poland, China, Czech Republic and UK. Now I feel like I'm trapped in a TEFL vortex! Help!
Then again, seeing the world and experiencing other cultures beats slaving away in a crappy office admin job and all that. As for saving, there are ways to do it in various countries. You could get a self employment license like I did in Czech Republic, you work for different schools and pay minimal tax. You have to work really hard to save money in TEFL but I suppose it can be done...
As for home, I wouldn't mind teaching in the UK, but schools in England offer such laughable salaries that I just couldn't bring myself to |
The ME pays rather well but most people can't endure it for the 20 years it would take to have a secure retirement.
Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/ |
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TeacherTim
Joined: 10 May 2005
Posts: 89
Location: Deep undercover
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| Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 1:05 pm Post subject: |
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5 years in total:
One year in Taiwan.
Six months in South Korea.
Three years in Hong Kong.
Six months in the Philippines (to live, not work). |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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Been abroad or traveling for work most of my adult life.
15 years as an ERP / SAP consultant (45 weeks per year on the road/abroad). Left that in the mid 90s.
Teaching in Asia since then.
China
Korea
(consulting in Macau (ERP) for a year)
Korea
Philippines
Thailand.
I have a small farm 5 hectares of mixed rice, bananas, coconuts, and mangos, with a nice house in the Philippines.
Why NOT return home?
Better question would be "why would I want to?"
Here I have work in abundance, no mortgage, no debt, low stress and good weather (most of the time).
Home is freezing for 1/2 the year, high taxes, and high cost of living. I like my low stress comforts.
Might go back to the home country when my daughter reaches university age for a few years (while she attends college) but retirement will be in Asia.
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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First EFL job was in West Berlin in 1968/9. First time in Saudi was 1970. I tried to settle back in Scotland in the late 70's and early 80'sbut could not hack it. Now approaching Retirement (or Death) and I am still standing there doing my chalk and talk.
Main reason for continuing to work ? Well a man has to do SOMETHING ! |
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sweeney66
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 147
Location: "home"
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| Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 2:07 am Post subject: how long |
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| Was abroad 6 years, the last 4 in Mexico. Home 1year and 4 months. I'm not adjusting to living in the USA again. Gaining credentials to get the bleep back out. |
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JLL
Joined: 18 May 2010
Posts: 36
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| Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 3:44 am Post subject: Re: how long |
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| sweeney66 wrote: |
| Was abroad 6 years, the last 4 in Mexico. Home 1year and 4 months. I'm not adjusting to living in the USA again. Gaining credentials to get the bleep back out. |
It is hard to get used to again isn't it? Do you think if more Americans spent a while abroad that the whole country would be fundamentally changed? |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 9:54 am Post subject: |
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| I wonder about that too. With the current recession, maybe we'll see more graduates coming outside so to speak. I know there has been an uptick, not sure if many are coming to Japan. |
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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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| Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 12:06 pm Post subject: Re: how long |
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| JLL wrote: |
| sweeney66 wrote: |
| Was abroad 6 years, the last 4 in Mexico. Home 1year and 4 months. I'm not adjusting to living in the USA again. Gaining credentials to get the bleep back out. |
It is hard to get used to again isn't it? Do you think if more Americans spent a while abroad that the whole country would be fundamentally changed? |
I think you're correct on this point. If more people could live in other countries and see the injustices that the local population must endure, they would be more appreciative of their lives in America. They would fight to preserve the laws, values and overall culture that made this country great. However, being an EFLer does not afford this opportunity because we live in an artificial bubble and don't really see what the locals must endure on a daily basis. To truly understand, we would need to live like the indigenous population.
Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/ |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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Anyone else remember the old Peace Corps slogan?
Discover America; Leave It.
Regards,
John |
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MsDooLittle
Joined: 25 Jan 2009
Posts: 63
Location: somewhere else
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| Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Eight years in SLovakia. Seeking an escape via gaining an MA then onwards somewhere else....no desire to return to an English speaking country... for the same reasons as everyone else has already stated... |
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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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| Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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| MsDooLittle wrote: |
| Eight years in SLovakia. Seeking an escape via gaining an MA then onwards somewhere else....no desire to return to an English speaking country... for the same reasons as everyone else has already stated... |
Slovakia!!! Which city? I lived in Presov for five months on TDY with the government. It's really an amazing country although I imagine the teaching situation is not so good.
Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/ |
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MsDooLittle
Joined: 25 Jan 2009
Posts: 63
Location: somewhere else
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| Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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Bratislava... it's been a great life. Lovely climate, nice people, easy living. The teaching has been the best - with a zivnostensky (license to work as a freelance) I've had my pick of corporate clients, doctors, government ministers.... really interesting and so much more lucrative than being employed.
Why leave? Bored. Need new challenges... dare I say... |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 11:58 pm Post subject: |
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Sadebugo posted
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| However, being an EFLer does not afford this opportunity because we live in an artificial bubble and don't really see what the locals must endure on a daily basis. To truly understand, we would need to live like the indigenous population. |
You mean I should be living like the Ainu in Japan?
As to living like the locals; let's see...
have a mortgage
pay taxes
help wife's elderly parents
don't beat my students often(only with a softcover textbook, not a dumbell)
and try not to let a megametropolis like Tokyo wear me down.
And I say excuse me on the trains when departing, except many of the 'enlightened' locals don't usually do that.
So, I'm wondering, what am I missing  ? |
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