Job Discussion Forums

spanglish · Joined: 21 May 2009 Posts: 742 Location: working on that

Globo-hobo - I think you'll have a good time in Colombia. If you can handle a bit of pollution and traffic, Bogota will be great for you. Problem is, unless you get lucky it will probably take you at least 6 months to a year to find a really well paying teaching job.

posh · Joined: 22 Oct 2010 Posts: 430

Know exactly what the OP means. I might have slowed down if it hadn't been for Google Earth, on which I spend hours exploring. I was also thinking of next stop Colombia as the chances of getting kidnapped seem to have abated, but then I find myself perusing Hamburg, Kosice, Palermo, and thinking 'Hmmm, now that would be cool.'

To me marriage seems to be the daftest idea man has ever dreamed up and meeting women never seems to be a problem, other than Saudi, where I am now. In this case I just take a sabattical and make up for it when on extended vacations.

At some point you'll have to put aside some money - get a small private pension and buy a cheap apartment somewhere you enjoy chilling out.

Perilla · Joined: 09 Jul 2010 Posts: 792 Location: Hong Kong

All countries have many different layers. If you're constantly moving you're only experiencing the outer, most superficial layer. I agree that's where the most immediate and visual stimulae are, but there's plenty more to discover in a place if you stick around.

PC Parrot · Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 4:29 am Post subject:

"A man who thinks the same aged 50 as he did aged 30 has wasted the last 20 years of his life."

Life isn't going to be much fun if you get to 45 and decide that you want more stability in your life .. or if your heightened aesthetic sensibilities no longer find your type of living quarters acceptable ...

ScottishGringo · Joined: 08 Apr 2011 Posts: 45

I like the idea of your lifestyle, I became addicted to travel a few years back and have made sure I travel for at least 4 months every year. It's not easy though, I have to quit jobs to go away and then come back and start all over again. I've made money online from various different methods but none are long term and have all fizzled out eventually. Need something more long term which is why I'm currently going down the TEFL route, see how I find that and use it as a means to go abroad and work and live for a while and try and enjoy the country in my time off.

The thing I love the most though is the travelling, the constantly discovering new places, having new experiences and meeting new people. I don't really have a desire to teach it's just I'm running out of options and want to get away from home more long term, 4-6 months at a time just isn't enough. It's soul destroying having to come back broke and start all over again.

If I could only somehow figure out how to make consistent income online or win the lotto I'd be sorted. Rolling Eyes

Captain_Fil · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 12:32 pm Post subject:

Global Hobo and Scottish Gringo - you are both my kind of people.

I also love to travel. I rather envy Global Hobo's lifestyle. I once dreamed of just trekking around the world when I was in college. Of course, the reality of money dashed those youthful fantasies of wanderlust.

To me, culture shock can be a wondrous thing. The sights, sounds and smells of new places can be so exciting and intoxicating. That's why traveling is so much fun.

And ESL teaching is simply a means for travel. Ideally, it should be one of several sources of income.

Good luck to both of you.

Cool

ScottishGringo · Joined: 08 Apr 2011 Posts: 45

My only problem with the TEFL thing is having to commit to 6-12 month contracts. I don't even know if I like teaching yet, I'm pretty sure I won't, so signing up for 12 months of it is daunting.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 5:14 pm Post subject:

ScottishGringo · Joined: 08 Apr 2011 Posts: 45

Life is too short to be spending a year of your time doing something you don't like. Maybe I'll surprise myself and find out that I actually like teaching but if it's not working for me I certainly wouldn't want to commit 12 months to it, would feel like a lifetime if there as no enjoyment from it.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 11:20 pm Post subject:

I wish you luck in working things out to your satisfaction. Maybe you should look into finding work in Never-never-land Wink

!

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

ScottishGringo · Joined: 08 Apr 2011 Posts: 45

Short term jobs would suit me better, I haven't seen many advertised though. Tends to be 12 month contracts that I've seen. Suppose there's nothing to stop me doing a runner though, right? Laughing

As for being location independent that takes a certain type of person with set skills to do that. Not everyone can work online and make money, it's a difficult gig. I'm no sales person (part of my current job involves trying to get sales leads - I fail miserably!), I'm not a very writer (no creativity), me and computers don't get on so web designer or programmer is out. There aren't that many other online, location independent jobs out there that I know of.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

No problem with doing a runner, except that you obviously won't get a reference for your next potential employer to check up on. Eventually such things catch up with people. Doing it once might be overlooked, but repeatedly starts to create a very noticeable gap in one's CV - those of us on hiring committees do look for such things.

artemisia · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 875 Location: the world

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 6:53 pm Post subject:

Or look for a career that pays you to engage in constant travel as a part of your work... Best of both worlds! Surprised