Job Discussion Forums

[schminken]

Oh, I'm not saying Foreigner-Austrian love doesn't florish. I live in a very conservative part of Austria that's even more conservative than the average Austrian (which is saying a lot). I'm sure it would be much better in a place like Vienna but it would still wouldn't be like my "normal" dating situation at home.

The people in my area are very traditional preferring to do things like their grandmother's grandmother did it. That's the only way and any other behaviour is considered suspect. Titles and hierarcy are very important. Foreigners don't make it very high up on this list.

[Rin]

[serenitee]

Do you all think it's wrong to go off and teach abroad if you do have a significant other in your home country?

I've had a hard time convincing my boyfriend to be ok with me leaving, but I couldn't rationalize giving up my dream of seeing the world and working with children... maybe I'm being selfish, but I'm 23 years old and don't want to look back years later with regrets.

He can't go with me right now as he is still in school... he doesn't have any interest in teaching anyways as he will be an electrical engineer. I'm willing to compromise and help pay for him to visit me in whatever country I'm in when he has time off from school and work. At first he was against it completely... now he's supportive, but I guess only time will tell if the relationship will survive.

[kait]

Back in college, I realized that I couldn't count on ever finding a life partner. I decided that the only thing slightly in my control was that I could live an interesting life. So, I studied TESOL. Of course, with true cosmic irony, I did find a partner. I lived for a year in Japan, but, ultimately, I did have to choose between travel and love. I chose love, and lived in Montana for 8 years, believing I was creating our life together. Unfortunately, that relationship ended, and once again I chose travel. I lived in Taiwan for 1 1/2 years. Now, a different love has won out. My mother has become ill, so I find myself back in the US in order to take care of her. It seems that I've had to repeatedly choose between relationship and travel. Once the situation with my mother changes, I expect to travel again. That is, of course, unless I'm blindsided by love again. Then, I'll have to choose once more.

[Perpetual Traveller]

My situation is a little different from yours as I met my current partner after I had already accepted a job in Japan. However I think you have absolutely made the right decision. As you say you are still young and if you don't take these opportunities when they are presented you may never get another chance. I am a firm believer in 'If it's meant to be, it will be'. Of course I miss my boyfriend but I know that if I hadn't decided to come here I would regret it forever. Also just imagine if you rejected the opportunity because of your boyfriend and then broke up with him not too long afterwards. "To thine own self be true"!

PT

[serenitee]

Exactly, PT! I actually did that with a boyfriend all through college... he was most definitely undeserving and I still regret the opportunities I missed out on to study abroad. So now my philosophy is that if he is the one for me, it will only strengthen us... and if it doesn't work out, at least I will have followed my dreams.