Job Discussion Forums

[william wallace]

nothing to say.

[wOZfromOZ]

This is so true and so real!

I found back in '82 when I took 6 months off and travelled Europe with my 'ex' before starting a family that getting back into the 'hum-drum' 9-3 life a tad difficult.

....then in '92-'93 I had 2 years out of the classroom - came here for a year and went back to do a one year full time post graduate study course

Now, if I go back and I will, it'll be to 3 days/week - no problem! (I hope!)

I really feel for the young ones who get the travel/different culture - language buzz and then go back to the daily grind/struggle of normal
work in the advanced industrailized world. It's hard!

wOZfromOZ

[ESL Guru]

Clich�: You can never go home again

Clich�: You can never go home again
Explanation: 1. Once you make a big change in your life, like leaving your childhood house, things will not be the same.
Country: United States
Origin:

March 2002

You Can Never Go Home Again

The Adage Comes Alive in the Novel "The Guru of Malad"


Nothing is quite as bittersweet as going home again. This is especially true of returning to a small town, where the landscape retains a charm that is firmly ingrained in our memories. Robert Dowland, an esteemed intellectual, gifted musician and world traveler, finds just this, when, in the 1930s, he returns to his hometown of Malad, Georgia. The Guru of Malad (Xlibris; $20.99/trade paperback; 0-7388-3892-6), a novel by Gordon Epperson, chronicles the impact of Dowland�s homecoming on the sleepy village of his childhood

[Seth]

It's definately hard. I've been home for a month. I can't find a job and don't know anyone anymore. I'm here living with my mom with no car, no money, no friends, not a damn thing to do. Needless to say I'm a bit depressed. It's the lifestyle change that hits you the hardest, not really the culture shock. I had a good job, nice apartment, lots of spending cash, lots of friends, colleagues, connections, excitement, etc. Now I have nothing. In China I was on top of things, using my skills in teaching and Mandarin ability to get far. Here in Indiana, I'm just another loser with no job living with his mom. It's horrible.

[Minhang Oz]

When my Australian employer said I had to get back to work after my first two years leave in China, I wasn't thrilled, but it was an economic necessity. On returning, taste bud cravings satisfied after the first week, all I could think about was coming back here. I certainly couldn't get involved in my job, and found the attitude and manner of many of my students quite disturbing. I was just marking time.

Now, I'm in the middle of a three year stint which must only end because our son will need to start school, and we want him to have an English language education, which is free in Australia, but would cost my entire salary in Shanghai. We're comfortably paying off a house back "home", and living a relaxed, very comfortable existence that will be impossible to match. At least we have the knowledge that with friends and family in two Chinese cities, and a six week summer break each year, we know where we'll be spending our holidays!

[ESL Guru]

Minhang Oz -

Reconsider friend, please?

Let your fine prodigy have both! How valuable!

There is a great post in the General Forum about raising bilingual kids. Rogan made a great post. At least have a look.

rogan



Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Posts: 140
Location: Europe
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2003 2:59 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm no expert - just 4 bilingual kids and 3 growing bilingual grandkids.

All we did was use L1 at home L2 was used at school.

For the grandkids
mothers (and their immediate family members) use one language and fathers (and their immediate family members) use the other language. Systematically - questions asked in 1 language can be answered in the other.

My own kids have no L1 or L2 - they see no differences.
Their language of preference depends on who they are talking to, and about what they are talking about.

The youngest two (arrived in country age 2 years) went through a phase from about age 5 to age 8 of asking "Is this word French or English?" when they encountered a new word.
Now they see the differences.

Incidentally, one twin is slightly stronger in French.
The other is slightly stronger in English

Hope that helps - remember I'm no expert and I read no books - I just live the experience.

There are times when there are 4 languages being used around our dinner table (depending on the visitors and family members who are present) . Eng, Fr, Ger and Russian - all of us can use 2, some of us can use 3 and the twins can use 4.

[beerdang]

Minhang, how old is your kid?
Is he/she having an easy time in China?
I am trying to do the same for my boy, who is about 2.

If you are in Minhang, you probably visited the SJTU campus already. I spent some of my best time there.

[Minhang Oz]

Beerdang, and interested others.
James is four. In some ways China is too good to him, and he's got a real case of "little emperor". He's treated like a rock star on campus and in the surrounding streets, where everyone knows him by name. His childcare teachers love him, despite his refusal to conform [for which I'm grateful by the way]. This however provokes some jealousy from the other boys -the girls are fine- such as chanting " Jamie shi waiguoren", which is upsetting him. It's interesting that in Australia he was Chinese, though that was rarely commented on. Here, everyone calls him a foreigner. Despite Guru's encouraging words, I think some time in Australia will let him be a normal kid again, and restore some perspective to his life.
I know there are some kindergarten teachers out there, eg Roger. who may have experiences to share.

ps Beerdand, I've been to Jiao Da, but only as a visitor. It's not far from here.

[ESL Guru]

Best to you and your son. "Father knows best!" (US TV series from 1950s)

[struelle]

[wOZfromOZ]

Iwas 'lucky' and had a job (teaching HS) to go back to .....as I have now if I want it (which I dont).

I didn't have people nagging me to get off my butt and get going but Steve I can really relate to your post and I'm sure many others here do too!@!

wOZfromOZ

[inwanzhou]

I will only spend a year here in China. I couldn't imagine spending more than one year here. I have many things to go home to so I suppose a year is long enough. It's a much needed break from my other job back home. Is it the lack of jobs in the market that keep people here longer than a year, or is it other things that keep people here. I've always wondered.

[beerdang]

Someone mentioned it is the lifestyle change that matters the most. I tend to agree. For someone really wants to teach, the job market in their home country is too small and the pay sucks. It is hard to get a full time job offer. By going to China, you can almost guaranteed to have a job. You will gain a lot more repescts and social mobilty. This is not possible for almost everyone on this forum back home. Imagine how you can afford to live in New York city by teaching english. But you can do that in Shanghai and live quite happily. Chinese market is huge. It will stay active for some time to come. The future for China is not predicatable though.

Also, there is the crowdness of China, the curiosity of Chinese people, the desire to work toward a better life that is till too low for western standards,
and sometimes the humbleness to anything foreign.

If you never have to worry about your retirement and child education, China might be the place for you to stay.

[oprah]

What do teachers who live in China for a long period of time do about retirement or do they not think about it??

[Minhang Oz]

As for retirement Oprah, some posters are spending theirs teaching in China! Not me though, I'll go back to work at home for a few more years and pay off the mortgage. I started a superannuation account when I was young and wasting money - a good move, as that should keep us even if I decide to give up work all together.