Job Discussion Forums

mister tom · Joined: 20 May 2009 Posts: 49 Location: ireland

i heard from another forum that the origin of the term 'gringo' was from hearing people singing the song 'green grow the rushes o'

ESL Hobo · Joined: 23 Oct 2008 Posts: 262

I have really enjoyed reading all the posts in response to the OP.
For me, my two cents worth; I was born into a military family. My dad got stationed to a new location every year or two. We always lived off-base, so we were more like gypsies than military brats. Even though we lived in one state for a year or two we often moved within those states to avoid bill collectors as my daddy was a gambler and often lost his money.

So for me moving became a way of life. If I don't get up and re-root myself somewhere different at least every few years I get really anxious. It's a cycle thats hard to break. I have always loved that feeling of starting life all over again with fresh and new experiences. Also, for me, divesting myself of almost all my material possessions once in while, also gives me a feeling of freedom.

My brother on the other hand loves to stay in one place, it gives him a sense of stability and security. I guess to each his own.

cks · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 144

It is so interesting Hobo how we react to our childhood. Your brother rebelled against the nomad lifestyle while you embraced it. I am from a small, boring, predictable town and I guess I had to rebel and see the world. I can never bring myself to live anywhere under a population of 500,000 again. I like to have choices and not be limited to only one type of job, one type of friend, and one type of environment. Or perhaps I am escaping from responsibility. Not sure.

But yes I am also confused with the point that someone made earlier. I am not sure if I am a free and adventurous spirit like most TEFLers(is that the correct term) or if I suffer from the GIGOTOS disease. Or a bit of both. Is there a cure for this disease?

johnslat · Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 2:35 pm Post subject:

Dear cks,
The only known cure is - to quote Blake - "the lineaments of gratified Desire."
If the desire remains ungratified, then another, much more serious, disease develops: the "what-ifs."
Regards,
John

ESL Hobo · Joined: 23 Oct 2008 Posts: 262

I watched, "It's a Wonderful Life" with my 6 year old last night.
Harry Bailey never got his chance to see the world, but he did a lot of good.

Perhaps they should make a movie where someone travels the world and does a lot of good that makes everyone's life he touches improve, and how if he had stayed at home he may have ruined life for everyone around him, hahahaha. Laughing

cks · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 144

I have thought the same thing about the movie! It is true that if we stayed home, we would have suffered the "what if" disease. I think we are quite brave to do something different regardless of our reasons.

jibbs · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 452

[quote="Mexicobound"]

johnslat · Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:41 pm Post subject:

The idea - if not the exact words - goes back even further:

Heraclitus the Ephesian) (ca. 535�475 BC): You cannot step twice into the same river

Regards,
John

BocaNY · Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 131

ESL Hobo · Joined: 23 Oct 2008 Posts: 262

I love words. One of my favorites relating to this topic is:

WYRD

Quote from Wikipedia:

"In a simple sense, Wyrd refers to how past actions continually affect the condition of the future, but also how the future affects the past."

Now that's weird! Shocked

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 2:26 am Post subject:

Dear ESL Hobo,
Yup, it does - if you really believe that time's arrow flies only forward. But I'd say the jury's still out on that one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrow_of_time

Regards,
John

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

ESL Hobo · Joined: 23 Oct 2008 Posts: 262

Nice link johnslat
Jzer,
I think the happiest people are the ones who are genetically predisposed to it.

Sometimes people ask me, "Why don't you like it where you are, a person should be able to be content anywhere."

The problem with that theory is I have lived other places that were much more suitable to my character. I KNOW the grass is greener on the other side because I have pastured there.

I am miserable in TW, I don't see it as being anyone's fault, some people love it here but it's just not my cup of tea.
On the other hand I have lived in Thailand 3 different times and love it almost everything about it, yet I have known people who were miserable in Thailand.

I would move to Thailand in a Taipei heartbeat if I could and never leave! But for now I'll just make money here and enjoy my vacations there.

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:54 pm Post subject:

Dear JZer,

"Recently there was some new book about the happiest people are the people who have realistic expectations."

The problem with that is most, maybe all, people, even those with way outsize expectations, believe those expectations ARE realistic. I think all of us, cock-eyed optimists and dyed-in-the-wool pessimists, believe that we're actually "realists."
And maybe that's OK because, if someone who wanted to be, say, some sort of artist, Hollywood star, or president of the USA viewed her/his ambition "realistically", he/she would likely give up immediately. I mean, what are the odds?
So, I tend to agree with ESL Hobo in that a predisposition towards "happiness" (or at least contentment) depends to some degree upon one's genetic predisposition. However, I also think that happiness/contentment
is also often the product of experience becoming wisdom. When we're young(er), we tend to have "unrealistic" anticipations of all the good things life can offer: money, love (or sex), fame, power. As our lives progress and we get to actually experience some of these, we often find that realization seldom, if ever, matches anticipation. I guess the resulting feeling could be called the "Is this all there is" syndrome.
It can be depressing and discouraging, but many, once they get past that, discover (or perhaps rediscover) how what we often dismiss as "the simple things" - e.g. a walk along a forest trail, sitting in the backyard watching the birds and butterflies, playing with the dog, etc. - are really what provide us with our "happiest/most content" moments. And once we realize that and attain an appreciation of simplicity, well, happiness becomes much easier to achieve. We can find it all around us.
Regards,
John

ESL Hobo · Joined: 23 Oct 2008 Posts: 262

Thanks John,
Very true.
Yet there are so many examples of unhappy people who never gave up on their dreams/expectations and are never recognized during their life times, (or even at all). The most well known example being Vincent Van Gogh.
So I say screw the expectations, why struggle to be happy, what's wrong with enjoying ones blue periods, what's wrong with continually reaching for the stars even when we realize what we do may never amount to anything in the eyes of anyone.