Job Discussion Forums

Madame J · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 6:16 pm Post subject:

A mentoring scheme is something that does sadly seem to be lacking from many schools. A few other teachers and I were talking about ways to get our school to improve things a while ago. For example, when I arrived I was picked up in the evening by the school's driver who, whilst being very friendly, ended up dropping me off at an empty house. As you would, I sort of sat there for a bit getting progressively hungrier. This being an EF, nearly all the teachers finished at nine and of course a great deal of them went out straight after work, so there could have been a good chance of me ending up being alone in the house (apart from a non English speaking maid who didn't cook) for the rest of the night! Fortunately one of my housemates arrived home an hour or so later and took pity on me by cooking for me, but that first night could easily have turned out very differently. I really don't think it would have taken much for the driver to have, if not taken me out for dinner, at least to stop at a warung and pick up a simple meal for me. Ah well.

Flicka · Joined: 22 Mar 2010 Posts: 68

Well judging from some of the posts on here, I've been extraordinarily lucky with my 'EF introductory year', EF Lampung, though. I was met at the airport by the driver and the DofS and we went to meet the owner of the place, then we went to meet the teachers at the EF and I met my future housemate, who came with DofS and I and we went to have lunch and they sorted me out with take-out for the evening. Then I had some time at home alone to unpack and chill a bit, then my housemate came home and it went from there. Everyone was super friendly and helpful and that's always been the case ever since. They can't do enough to help, if you ever need something you just have to ask and they will help you get hold of it. I've been worked very hard, as one is at EF, but on the whole it's been a very positive experience and I couldn't ask for a nicer set of colleagues! Unfortunately my housemate I mentioned (a local teacher) has moved to JKT but we are still close friends and maybe I'll hook up with her again to live together if I get the job in JKT in September. Anyway it does get a bit lonely because the local teachers (the majority of the staff) have their own families, lives etc and the one other bule is male and has himself sorted. I was sorted too until my best buddy moved away tho haha!

Anyway, I guess my point is, there are some good EF's out there if you are lucky! And I'm sorry the OP hasn't been lucky. I hope you manage to stick it out and find a better gig next time around. Just think how strong you'll be by the time you leave--get through this and you can get through anything? Be strong Smile

Madame J · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 1:50 pm Post subject:

Your EF provides local teachers with housing too? That sounds like a fantastic deal. If our local teachers had been given the option of a room in an EF house too then I think there would have been far less of a local/bule divide.

Flicka · Joined: 22 Mar 2010 Posts: 68

Not generally, but this one had been working there 9 years and as far as I know she asked the DofS (who she was now close with after so long of working together in various guises) if she could share the house with me and DofS said yes if I was in agreement, I was emailed and asked if I would mind and I said of course I won't mind, I'd be happy for it. So we became housemates and she became my best friend here! Shame she had to move to JKT but it was for the sake of her career...

travelNteach · Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Posts: 222

really madam j? i would think expats living with their indo counterparts would make the divide even greater. first the differece in pay would become even more apparant. also the difference in lifestyle, drinking/partying and sexual flings/relationships would definately offend them culturally. also teachers differences in religion could also lead to some uncomfortabliitly on both sides. additionally, many of the local teachers are married.

i think that with extremely open-minded and flexible teachers, both expat and local, that it could be a wonderful experience, but i think majority of time that it would be disasersous. when are u coming back to indo?
i like the part on the other post about tour guides, there are no professionls. just men looking to dupe bules out of some money. best to avoid them

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

Here's a response to lulugirl's primary concerns:

Any school or employer that you list on your resume can be contacted as a "reference." You might not have picked that employer specifically as a reference, but it's still a source for potential employers to contact for information.

So be cautious about listing a place with which you've broken a contract. There's always a possibility that future employers will contact them.

Madame J · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 4:24 pm Post subject:

Flicka · Joined: 22 Mar 2010 Posts: 68

In the EF here, there are only 2 bule teachers, the rest are locals. When I came, I was the only bule (So no chance of any expat bubble syndrome!!). I can say, I've not worked in a friendlier place. The atmosphere in the teachers' room is great. Everyone has a laugh, supports each other, helps each other. I think we're all just people and teachers before we are bules or locals, I mean I think that is the general mindset.