Job Discussion Forums

[macandcheese]

Hi everyone,

Newbie here -- this is only my second post, but I've been watching the forums on and off for a couple of years now. I play with the idea of leaving everything and going off to teach English in a foreign country. I've spent four years abroad already, growing up, and LOVE traveling internationally (one of my career goals). I'm just not willing to give up everything I have right now and start over somewhere new.....
.... which brings me to something I'd love to hear from people. DO you start over new every time you move? I know moving is expensive and a pain in the arse, but I couldn't imagine lugging furniture, decorations, etc. behind me if I were to move to a new country every 2-3 years. On the other hand, I also couldn't imagine NOT amassing a collection of funky local "stuff" from each new place. So what do people do?
Thanks!!

[Glenski]

I would think that after having grown up living abroad for 4 years you could answer your own question. Maybe you need to describe your experience a little more.

I don't know why you would ask anyway about starting over as if it would be multiple times. That's how I perceived your post, anyway. You are considering starting over right now, just once. Figure what it would take to pack your belongings (stuff that you know won't rot or be out of style or useless electronically in 2-3 years) and decide how much you really truly absolutely must take with you to live somewhere. That's essentially clothes and a laptop, right?

I have lived in Japan for about 14 years now and moved to 4 different homes in 2 cities. I moved pretty much like I did back in the US, but came here with a suitcase full of clothes, a laptop, and little else aside from what I shipped over in advance in 1 box. Perhaps this is a different situation than you imagine, but it's hard to know what you meant.

[macandcheese]

[toteach]

No, not a dumb question at all. I'm curious what others do as well.

I keep my home in the USA, using it as a base to my teaching travels. (A lot of other teachers I know return to their parents' home). Husband and I travel lightly--like two carry-ons and a small checked backpack--when we go someplace. When we come home we generally leave most of the stuff we brough to teach behind, and instead bring back things we've amassed. Generally 2 carry-ons and two checked pieces each on the return trip.

Never have we sent boxes home.

A few people when we taught in China loved the furniture and purchased shipping containers. Literally a huge box the size of a garage that you fill to the brim and send it on an oceanic voyage. The cost isn't prohibitive for an entire house worth of stuff, but it does literally take months from port to port.

[lucia79]

When I lived for a short time in South Asia I bought a lot of things (fabrics and knick-knacks, NO furniture though) and sent those packages to the US by air and my books by ship. In East Asia, I didn't buy a lot of household things since my apt. was scantily furnished and I knew I wouldn't be spending years there. When I moved I gave the few household things I had away to friends and fellow Teflers. Others whom I know did a 'take away' day where their friends could come to their house and could take whatever they liked. It's a quick way to get rid of your stuff without throwing it away in the garbage.

In Istanbul, I bought a lot of household things (appliances, furniture, dishes/pots etc.). Some Turkish friends lent me furniture, some gave me stuff and other things I bought. When I moved I gave some things back, other things to people in need and some stuff I sold. I did keep a few things. Now, the stuff I collect will stay with me since I'm settled and not moving.

One of my friends was saying how she was getting tired of starting over in a new country every few years. And she's lived in 10 different countries. She was thinking of all the money she has spent over the years buying stuff and then getting rid of it. This last time though she decided to keep all of her things and just ship them. Another friend shipped her stuff from the UK to her new location. That was pretty pricey though, but she's settled now and won't be moving from here to there.

My guess is that most people travel light and don't accumulate too much stuff unless they have a feeling they are going to stick to one place and want to make their home, homey. Some people choose a country, teach English and stay there for years if not decades. If you're moving from one country to another every year then in my opinion, it's a waste of time buying a house-load of furniture and appliances just to turn around and dispose of it.

[nomad-ish]

so far, i've lived in england, korea, and china for a total of almost 5 years. every year or so, i'll go home to visit family and friends and will drop off some souvenirs/stuff that i'll use one day but can't lug around at the moment.

the result of this? yes, i travel lighter and easier, but i also have an unused collection of boxes in my parent's basement.

[contented]

[sparks]

I thought that traveling light was somewhat of a rule for teflers. One guy I knew made the comparison that tourists go somewhere for a week and take 200 pictures whereas teflers go somewhere for a year (or more) and take maybe 20. I know this was true for me. If you know you're moving in a short time it's really not that difficult. Just don't buy a bunch of crap that you probably don't really need anyway.

[liebkuchen]

As Sparks said.

I sent a couple of things back with a family member who was visiting this week since they had extra space in their hold suitcase. However, I've resigned myself to only being able to take stuff back in the suitcase I came with. Some stuff I brought with me originally can me dumped at the end of the year- my boots will be ruined with the snow and I don't need to take Chinese summer gear back to Scotland as it won't get worn. This creates space for the embroidered jacket I just bought... So if you must knick-knak like me, keep to small and light.

Soft toys and lots of books in a language you can't read are a waste of money as you won't take them with you.

The hamsters I have might have proved more tricky to 'dispose of' but I've met a few kids through my friend's tutoring and they're all hamster mad so they'll be well taken care of after I go.

[toteach]

@liebkuchen:

Are you sure that when the kids say "well taken care of" they don't really mean "dinner?!"