Job Discussion Forums

[Antaraaaa]

Quote:

Hi everyone:) Just wanted to say hello (after many, many months of devouring pretty much every post on this site) and thanks to those who take the time to share their experiences. I have really learned so much! I am a 33 year old Canadian woman, single, no kids.....no degree, no esl teaching experience( but lots with faciliating healing groups, public speaking, counselling etc) and I got my TESOL in December with specializations in Teaching Children and Tuturing. I had my own music column in a local mag for a year and have done some writing, but do not really consider myself a "pro" in any fashion, just something I like to do when i feel like it:) I am now ready to take a job somehwere.....I know having no degree can be a drag, but i hope to obtain one over the coming years, even if i have to do it online, etc. I also have an EU passport (irish) so thats a bonus as I know having dual citizenship is helpful. Now.....As it stands, I have had a bazillion job offers, most from china, of course, but also a few from Ecuador and Mexico. I am a broke-ass right now, haha, so I am trying for the cheapest place to get to from Vancouver. Where would you go? It will be my first actual teaching position....so I am willing to take a job somehwere thats not great money per se, but that will give a good experience, and perhaps even learn at least a bit of another language. I have been offered a job in Harbin, where the school will pay my flight (VERY attractive given my lack-o-funds) but they are telling me that a visitors visa is fine, that i don't need the "Z"....kinda makes me feel weird.... and Offer in Ecuador is for a year, but they pay 400. USD for 120 hours a month.......and that includes weekends and having to travel betwen classes....etc. Seems like i may be a sort of slave..... Would anyone in their right mind just go to say Mexico ( i can get there for 125 canadian on the greyhound) and and just wing it? Vietnam ILA emailed me back with a refusal saying i had to have a degree, but after reading posts here, i thought that wasn;t true.... so.... Just as i said, saying hi, saying thanks, and if ya have any advice, I am willing to listen. Oh....I also wanna get going soon, lol:) Cheers Antara Ps.....I am pretty willing to go anywhere really.

[ls650]

With a TEFL certificate but no degree you can find work in some Asian countries: China and Indonesia have plenty of jobs for an inexperienced beginner teacher....

I think you should take a look at the information journals and make a decision as to which country you want to work in, then start looking at the postings.

[khmerhit]

cambodia. try it and see.

[Antaraaaa]

HAHA!
I love your devotion to Cambodia, really.
Its inspired me to read up on it for hours and visit all the cambodia sites, but..... as I tried to convey, I am POOR and need airfare so I don't have to cash in RRSP's etc, haha.
So, I am taking the offer for Harbin.

They seem like funny and nice folks so far, are going to pay my airfare over before they even meet me (which, from what i gather is uncommon for china), and have sent me a ton of emails about the kids, the school, the apartment...etc.
I get 5000 rmb per month, free food, free accomodation, maid service, and there is access to a pool and karoke!

YAAAA!!! (lol)

I , in my immense newbieness, think this may be ok for someone like me...degreeless, first timer, etc. I am excited:)

I had some "come on down"!! from some mexican schools, and Ecuador....but i seem to think i would need a month to really get settled down there...and i just don't have the cash, courage or patience to land in mexico city that unprepared (i know NO spanish either, lol)

So......Here i come Harbin.
I will post all i can to help any other bottom-feeder newbies like meself:)

Thanks.

[khmerhit]

Can we call you Harbin Harriet? It would be easier than Antaraaaaa!
OK--have a good one in China. Let us know how it goes will you?

Best of luck

khmerhit

[Gordon]

Good for you, finding a job. You also figured out how to use the quote buttons too, I see.

[ilunga]

That sounds like a great offer. Can you put a word in good word for me
Apart from the freezing cold winters it seems perfect.

Good Luck!

[scot47]

5000 RMB and they house and feed you and give you a ticket home ?
Sounds good !

How do you fancy Scot47 as a colleague ?

I was offered a job in Qiqihar which is TRULY provincial and makes Harbin look cosmopolitan.

But for the meantime filthy lucre is keeping me in Saudi Arabia.

[Sevarem]

Antaraaaa, you wouldn't be talking about Harbin Deqiang School, would you? That's more than likely where my friend and I will be going in late August. We'll look forward to meeting you.

And if it's not Deqiang School and you're just in Harbin, well then, we'll look forward to meeting up with you.

[Antaraaaa]

Quote:

Hey I want to thank everyone for posting, lol, it so new to be actually talking TO the people i have just been reading ABOUT all these months. I feel good knowing i can share my adventures somewhere ....cuz i am a bit of a freak at times... example: I hadn't heard back from the school re plane ticket all day, after a barrage of 23 emails from my boss with pics, stories, and photos of the school (i am getting attached, lol) etc...so, i immediately assumed they had closed down........were a fly by night operation....and that I was now forced to take the greyhound to guadalajara and beg for jobs I am a bit of a chaos addict......(oh Ye of little faith) So, turns out its all good (my boss had a good laugh, realizes my nervousness) he was just in transit from Harbin to Daxinganling and I will be flying out May 17th. He even got me a phone for 24 USD, lol (he tells me this is awesome as most are 124 USD..i of course, have no clue) So, to all the Harbin-ites, or those about to be, I truly look forward to meeting you too.....we can watch our frozen limbs fall off while we chat I will now prepare my bags....what to take, what to leave..anyone in Harbin need a special delivery?(legal please) Maybe i can help. Anyways.....I have been reading a lot about Harbin's history and it is pretty interesting. Plus, that ice festival is simply amazing. Cheers Ant.

[ilunga]

Great stuff Ant.

Hey, if any jobs come up there can you get in touch. The boss sounds great!
What age students are you teaching?
I might stop where I am for another year but after that a stint in Harbin would definitely appeal.

[Antaraaaa]

I promise to fill in any and all details of how this opportunity pans out. I am truly looking forward to meeting my new boss and the other teachers.

I am also scared shitless (first job) but i guess that another topic
I leave May 17th....a week left to imagine every scenario under the sun!

I will be more than happy to put a good word in for anyone that wants to join me in the wilds of Harbin....

Funny how all this time i kept picturing Harbin as a fairly small sized town- then read today the population is over 9.3 MILLION people

aaaah........the end of the innocence, lol.

Thanks for the great welcome to Dave's

Antaraaaa:)

[lagerlout2006]

Can you really go from Canada to Mexico for 125 bucks? I seem to recall paying more than that to go to NYC from Toronto.

I'd be....

[Antaraaaa]

yes actually!

Greyhound Canada has a deal called the "go anywhere" pass, and for 125.00, you can go anywhere they do in North America provided you don't stop....like, take a night for a rest, etc.

I left Toronto Dec. 31st and took the Greyhound all the way to San Francisco for 125.00 Canadian It was great actually....even getting re-routed and adding 12 hours to the ride was awesome because we ended up going right through Colarado in a snow storm....beautiful.

It took 4 days total by the time we got there....long, crazy journey, but I loved it.

Cheers,

Ant.

[lagerlout2006]

Cool.

It's rare for Chinese to prepay a flight...Almost unheard of. My school -and they are huge--refused to pay 100 bucks to bring over a teacher already in Asia. Maybe they should have called Greyhound. Are you getting the Z first? How many classes...Anyway good luck---and bring books.