Job Discussion Forums

[ScottishGringo]

Is there anywhere in the world I can go that has a relatively laid back lifestyle, where I won't be over worked, is fairly liberal and fun, I'll be paid enough to live comfortably (if I could save that would be a bonus too but I don't expect this) without having a reserve of savings just to survive?

I want to live abroad and am a travel junkie. I'll admit the teaching English gig doesn't seem like it'll be all that suited to me but I'm willing to give it a try (I might even surprise myself) due to lack of other options to get me in a foreign country long term. Four to six months a year travelling just isn't enough and I can't sustain the lifestyle I have now of quitting a job to go travelling then coming back a few months later and having to start all over again broke and jobless.

I really like the idea of living in a foreign country, getting good at the language and learning about the country, I make new friends easily within every country I travel to and would love to build a new group of buddies somewhere on a longer period of time.

I'm probably dreaming, I reckon I want too much and it doesn't exist but I thought it was worth asking, maybe I could be surprised.

Where on earth can I find this type of work?

[johnslat]

Dear ScottishGringo,

Try Indonesia - I was there for two years and loved it.

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/work/esl/articles/teaching_english_in_indonesia.shtml

Regards,
John

[artemisia]

Well, that sounds just about perfect for you Scottish gringo. Do get your TEFL cert first (which you'll need there anyway) and try it. As you say, you might surprise yourself. People are not always good at the things they think they'll be good at and the reverse is true, too - it was for me. Even if you don't think something is right for you, it doesn't mean you can't give it your best shot and doing some sort of preliminary training is one of the best ways to find out, especially when you're quite young - if you are.

If you find out it's not for you then make sure you don't get stuck with it. Give yourself a exit date and don't be someone who continues to teach while raging about 'lost opportunities'.

[Glenski]

No need to sugarcoat it, ScottishGringo. Here's what you wrote in the Japan thread, just so others see what you really feel like.

[Zero]

Three words for you: China, China and China!

[General Disarray]

[ScottishGringo]

The lifestyle and pay in China is reasonable?

[Captain_Fil]

China is becoming more repressive.

I would suggest the Philippines.

Everything there is cheap (with US dollars or Euros) - food, drinks, transportation, entertainment, clothing, massage, etc.

Go for it!