Job Discussion Forums

[Jbhughes]

Personally, I am not having a good time of it at the moment, but I'm here at least for the time being. I have my reasons - not least my other half and various assets that would need selling (read: losing a lot compared to what I paid for them )

You! you! You! you! YOU! you! you! WHA A BOW YOU?

Specifically, I'm interested in the motivation to stay, after the time of which everything is new and you once have a vague grip on what life is like for you here not the reason why you came in the first place.

If 'other' - please detail.

[LettersAthruZ]

Honestly??

Back when I first arrived here, I really felt no affection for the place at all....NOT disdain or contempt....just didn't care for it.

I still really don't....

BUT, at that time, there really was nowhere else in the world in which the ratio of amount-of-actual-work-performed-vs.-amount-of-dollars-received-as-salary was tilted this heavily in the teacher's favour....

NOW??

Well, it's not really that way anymore....and it's actually NOW beginning to turn towards the opposite direction with new floods of the Great Unwashed T�y washing up on these shores and driving down salaries and fees by the basic economic principle of supply and demand, over the last twelve months, I have constantly been second-guessing my decision to continue to reside here.....

...we'll see!

[Mattingly]

A thoughtful poll, jbhughes.

I think for me as well as many people it is not one single thing but several things both in Vietnam and back in our home-country.

For me:

I enjoy the job AND I can save a little. Not much, but a little.

Simpler lifestyle than the west.

Back in my home-country things are slow economically, although I came here well before the burst of the bubble. Back home you work lots of hours and are not treated well and at the end of the year you not only have not saved anything, but you are in debt.

It does not matter what your skills or level of education is in the USA anymore.

It's the NINJA generation.

[inhanoi]

I don't know what the time frame is, but it's interesting that the only two responses as I write this are a really positive investment in Vietnam... or "other."

I hope anyone who chooses "other" will come on here and explain.

[sigmoid]

I chose 'other' "because I'm already gone..."

[1st Sgt Welsh]

Interesting topic for a poll Jbhughes.

Although LettersAthruz will say that it's not as good as it used to be [and I don't doubt that is probably the case] I still think the work/life balance for a TEFLer in Vietnam is a very good one. Simply put, even with an entry-level job, you don't have to work that many hours and you can still enjoy a very comfortable lifestyle, travel and you can even save.

If you are going to TEFL, Vietnam, IMHO, is certainly one of the better options out there. Geez, I know teachers who have taught in Thailand, Mexico, Turkey, Czech, Spain, Argentina etc, etc and, although all those countries appeal to me more than Vietnam, the lifestyle of a typical TEFLer there, by the sound of it, sure as hell doesn't! Indeed, it's interesting that all the teachers I've spoken to who have worked in those locales love the respective countries they worked in, but, after a while, they couldn't afford to stay there. Indeed, some of them are saving money in Vietnam so they can afford to go back to their former countries and work.

On the whole, even on my worst days, my feelings on Vietnam is that while I don't love it, I don't mind it either and the good things about being here outweigh the bad.

[Dekadan]

I chose "other" for a variety of reasons. While I'm not living there right now, it is my intent to return (no, I'm not crazy). I'm living back in the west right now and it's difficult to get ahead as an ESL teacher here. You have to either have an incredible connection to get a full-time gig or be really lucky to get one right away. Otherwise, you have to pay your dues for years before that opportunity opens up.

In Viet Nam, you can save more and have more opportunities for full-time work. While things may be slowing down, I don't think it's as bad as the western countries.

Oh... and something about the pursuit of the fairer sex too.

[VietCanada]

I enjoy teaching and living in another country. When I came to Vietnam I discovered I could have a lot more autonomy than other countries I've lived in or looked into.

I see it as a nice comfortable retirement. Good weather, easy going lifestyle, fairly easy work. For now it's perfect.

[Jbhughes]

Interesting responses so far.

I wanted to include some more options, including an option for VK who have come back to the motherland.

I suppose it's always going to be for a mix of reasons why anyone would stay, I'd hoped that perhaps one would override the others. Still, even if the poll will be 90% 'other', the posts describing the reason(s) are interesting.

Sigmoid, I've always wondered, where are you now?

[skarper]

Most of the answers have a negative tone - so that is perhaps why they are not ticked much.

In my case - I'm married and this is the best option for us. It is far from ideal, but better than all other options that remain open.

I don't drink or smoke - or chase women so they don't apply.

It's not a great professional environement, but better than some and no worse than most. I can't think of anywhere that offers the opportunities to live, work and save in such a good balance.

The middle east is obviously far too dangerous now. Korea has similar earning/saving level, but quality of life is very poor and you are tied to one employer for everything. Japan is just starvation wages - 250,000 yen is hard to get and work permits nearly impossible to acquire when I was there.

Europe? No thanks. South America? I'm guessing the same as here or worse for most key issues.

So - it ain't utopia, but it's better than most alternatives.

[I'm With Stupid]

[ExpatLuke]

[isabel]

I've taught in other countries, and I like it here the best. Work isn't bad- pay is good for the cost of living.

I like the frenetic pace and energy of HCMC. I live comfortably and well. I have good friends.

There is a quality of life here I could not expect in my home country, in a lot of ways.

Oh, and I especially like the access to the rest of Asia.

[shanewarne]

I was once known as one of the best spin bowlers of my generation (you can catch me on youtube for those of you who are too young) But since retiring from the greatest sport in the world, which is known as cricket, i've found myself teaching English to little nippers in a Kindergarden. Yes, it's completely different to throwing a good wobbly, but it's honest work and the pay ain't too bad either. In fact, I wish i'd moved here sooner, then I would've avoided a lot of agro from the sheila's back home.

[isabel]