Job Discussion Forums

[Stephen Jones]

A slow death; the death of a thousand cuts

[johnslat]

Dear Stephen,
Ah, but that was the unkindest cut of all. If I can be serious for a moment, though ( very doubtful, admittedly ), can any job that a person's enjoyed doing for over 20 years be called " career suicide "? I feel very fortunate because I know there are a lot of people going to work every day who think of their jobs as necessary drudgery. On the other hand, I still find it a little hard to believe that they'll pay me for doing something I like so much, and so . . .

Suicide is painless

It brings on many changes

and I can take or leave it if I please.

I try to find a way to make

all our little joys relate

without that ever-present hate

but now I know that it's too late, and...

[REFRAIN]

The game of life is hard to play

I'm gonna lose it anyway

The losing card I'll someday lay

so this is all I have to say.

[REFRAIN]

The only way to win is cheat

And lay it down before I'm beat

and to another give my seat

for that's the only painless feat.

[REFRAIN]

The sword of time will pierce our skins

It doesn't hurt when it begins

But as it works its way on in

The pain grows stronger...watch it grin, but...

[REFRAIN]

A brave man once requested me

to answer questions that are key

is it to be or not to be

and I replied 'oh why ask me?'

[REFRAIN]

'Cause suicide is painless

it brings on many changes

and I can take or leave it if I please.

...and you can do the same thing if you please.

Regards,
John

[scot47]

johnslat !

The somg from M*A*S*H* !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Composed by ?
Sung by ?

[johnslat]

Dear scot47,
Composed and sung by Mike Altman ( lyrics ) and Johnny Mandel ( music ). If you have audio and want to hear it - without the lyrics, go to:

http://employees.oneonta.edu/mih/midipage.html

Regards,
John

[Rose Gurley]

I'm very pleased to have found this forum - I hope to be "one of you" within the next few years!
My husband and I are planning to leave our professional lives early. We will move to Latin America somewhere (most interested in Mexico, Panama, and Ecuador). We will take a 4-week TEFL class; with this and our 4-year college degrees (I actually have a Master's too - in nutrition), we hope to become middle-aged English teachers.
I am optimistic that with our passion to do what we do well, our interest in a long-term commitment to our new expatriate life and employment, and our love of our fellow human and desire for a world view - we will be able to find a place to work and share our expertise EVEN THOUGH we will be in our early- to mid-fifties when we do so.
What are our chances of working at a University setting? My ultimate dream would be able to teach English at University level, study and become fluent in Spanish, and ultimately be able to also offer to (also)teach nutrition and share my skills as a diabetes educator. I will definitely volunteer with my healthcare expertise and am hoping that I might be able to teach with my Master's Degree.
I excitedly await any comments, ideas that anyone might be willing to share.
Rose

[woza17]

once that seed is there, how can you stop it from growing, or more like once that grain of sand is there in your shell irritating you until you cover it with some beautiful pearly stuff that is worth a lot on the market especially if its black (well actually on the esl market, better to be pearly white) I digress, getting back to the metaphor, we try to lessen the pain of our existence by taking the safe road, insuring ourselves from any pain by keeping that job, taking out that policy, but we get eaten up from the inside, you have the chance now so go for it ,do you want to just end up a good looking corpse .
Cheers Carol

[Ben Round de Bloc]

Dear Rose,

Your age may or may not be a factor when seeking a job teaching EFL at university level in Mexico. It would be helplful, of course, if your MA were in a field related to EFL. That said, what you're looking for isn't impossible to find.

In this part of Mexico, you could possibly "teach" nutrition in a volunteer capacity, but it's unlikely that you could get a work visa to do so. The local state university produces lots of graduates each year with degrees in nutrition, so there's no shortage of qualified local nutritionists or people to teach courses in nutrition.

I'd suggest that you get as good of a start as possible learning Spanish before starting your adventure. Once you begin teaching EFL at a language school (probably even more the case at a university,) you'll most likely find the job so demandning and time-consuming that you won't have the time or the energy to seriously study Spanish (or to spend a lot of time volunteering.)

Best of luck to you in your new expatriate life and employment.

[JDYoung]

I'm taking a crack at it at 55. Haven't got a job yet and have had some rejections due to age. I think they're missing out, not me.

GO FOR IT!

[Albulbul]

One of the pluses about EFL is that serious employers in this game regard age as an asset. I have two colleagues here who are over 70. And only one (out of more than 100) is under 40 ! Not a Ken in sight. (Barbies are not employed because of gender segregation !)

[biffinbridge]

It's not your age it's the way you use it fnaa fnaaa.

[Stephen Jones]

Dear Albubul,
If you are in Saudi, the geriatric profile of your staff is not because "serious players only want experience", but because many Saudi employers can't attract anybody under 40 because young people's ideas of fun are different from doing pressups all day and posting to Dave's cafe. Add to that the fact that the salary in government insitiutions only becomes competitive when you have a fair number of incremental points, many people do not want to bring their family over here, and you have the result. Also factor in the effect of ageism in the Emirates in increasing the pool of quaiified elder candidates for Saudi.

[scot47]

My family is coming to have a look and I am fairly certain that the response will be "No thanks". After the fleshpots of Jeddah, the Las Vegas of the Hejaz, Dhahran is a bit like some hick town in the Midwest.

[johnslat]

Dear Stephen Jones,
" because young people's ideas of fun are different from doing pressups all day and posting to Dave's cafe. "
Ah, foolish youth - some day, perhaps, they, too will gain wisdom with the advancing years ( or maybe they'll just get tired ). Either way, unless they check out, it's a one-way street to Geezerville.
Regards,
John

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[Stephen Jones]

--". . . is a bit like some hick town in the Midwest."---

Help! It's where people in Jubail go for excitement at weekends!