Job Discussion Forums

Taurus · Joined: 22 May 2004 Posts: 54 Location: Canada

Hello. I am an experienced and qualified Canadian ESL teacher who is looking to teach and travel abroad this August/September. I have lived in Brazil and Venezuela and both experiences were awesome. My objective this time is to experience somewhere new but to also come home with some money I have sent resumes to 3 continents, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Europe is out as most good jobs require a Euopean passport. China was my first choice in Asia as when compared to the other countries, it is the least explored and has the least amount of Esl teachers but the problem there is that most decent salaries seem to be in overpopulated, polluted cities like Shanghai and Guanghou. Everyone and their grandma seems to be going to Taiwan but I hear that Taipei is a concrete, polluted city and given my qualifications, I worry that I will just be another foreign teacher lost in the crowd.

To my surprise and to add to the confusion, I am in the process of being interviewed for the opportunity to teach in Guardalajara, Mexico making an excellent monthly salary (almost the same as I get here working for a school board) at a private school. My past expereinces in South AMerica were awesome and I always said that if the salary was good, I would have to consider returning. I love the Latin culture and would be able to continue to improve my Spanish and make useful contacts for the future, but my problem is I have already been to Latin America and feel like I should go to Asia for a new experience. At the same time I think that the Asia I imagine in my head will not be the reality. I imagine waking up at sunset to Thai Chi on the side of a mountain and having a spiritual buddihist experience. In reality I will probally be in a big, crowded, concrete jungle, devoid of nature. I wonder if Asia is a great place to explore and travel through, but not so great to live.?

SOrry to blab on and on. If anyone has any insight or personal experiences to help me decide it would be greatly appreciated.

khmerhit · Posted: Mon May 24, 2004 1:20 am Post subject:

You might try Phnom penh, Cambodia! It is small and manageable compared to other cities in Asia, with no pollution. It's like Bangkok was fifty years ago, which is why you will find numerous expats there who used to live in Thailand before it went haywire. It is easy to get out of the city, and you can even find work in the provinces if you look, although they might not pay as much. Thre is also Vietnam, a hugely underrated destination clamouring for experienced Effelers.

Whatever you do, dont forget your toothbrush!

all best

khmer Wink

Louis · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Posts: 275 Location: Beautiful Taiyuan

If you're looking at money, don't think China. An average salary is around 3000-4000 RMB (1 RMB = 1/8 USD, 1/6 CAD.) You do have good qualifications: these do not mean a higher salary, unless you are in a big city. More remote (scenic) locations can't pay the higher wages and don't care as much about actual teaching experience/ability.

Somebody is certainly going to fire off a post here saying I'm all wet, but high-paying jobs in beautiful Chinese cities are few and far between.

isabel · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 510 Location: God's green earth

Well, for me this would not even be a question. I am in Korea, making good money and not complaining. But I left Mexico City to come here, and if the same, or even close, to what I make here were offered to me in Mexico, well, there would be no looking back.

I love Mexico, and would love to get back there. If you have a good job offer in Guadalajara, I would say take it. You will be the envy of many of us.

anthyp · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 1320 Location: Chicago, IL USA

Yeah, stay in Mexico! As you say, you always wanted to go back and improve your Spanish, immerse yourself in the Latin culture ... and if the money's good, there really shouldn't be too much doubt about it. The good jobs in Europe are almost impossible to get if you're non - EU, and honestly I think the only reasons to work here in China are because of the relatively high salaries (relative to the locals), and small class loads. Well that and the food. But the food in Mexico is just as good (or better).

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Sounds like you would do well in Mexico, you've been to South America already and have a grip on the language, so go to Mexico.

nomadder · Posted: Mon May 24, 2004 1:14 pm Post subject:

Go to Asia. YOu talk about money and it can be made there in certain countries. Probably time for a new culture by the sounds of it. Asia is huge-of course there are areas that are not cities. You probably need to go to Korea or Japan for money and countryside opportunities.

Of the travellers I�ve met who have been to Latin America and Asia so far, all say Asia is more interesting and they want to go back. I didn�t like Guadalajara though there are some nice colonial cities that aren�t too far away.

thelmadatter · Posted: Mon May 24, 2004 6:51 pm Post subject: coin

Flip a coin!

lagerlout2006 · Joined: 17 Sep 2003 Posts: 985

Working on the Spanish sounds reasonable...I always think of Mexico as dangerous but that's me.

Reasons to come to China--I think--are to learn some Chinese and see the country...A lot of nearby places like Vietnam Japan Philipines etc etc..
As for pollution you don't need to go to Guangdong-it's everywhere. You can enjoy a laid back lifestyle here---lots of free time and long holidays..If you want to hustle and save money I don't think China makes sense-not even Shanghai-but again that's me.

ClaudeRains · Joined: 30 Jun 2003 Posts: 54

Hello Taurus

I've been pondering the same thing for a while. We have similar quals. Here's where I'm currently at:

Latin--if you're sympatico and speak the language, your day-to-day experience will be paradise compared to places like Japan, Korea, or Taiwan. All that's usually missing is the money. You say you have that too. Seems clear. Go to Mexico! Unless...

You want new, exotic, and in many ways better...then consider Vietnam, Cambodia, or Indonesia. Great food. Diving there far surpasses anything the Caribbean can offer. But you will never fit in. In Mexico or South America you will. On the other hand...

Alas, I'm running out of time and I still can't decide. You might try a PM to Ben Round de Bloc on Mexico, Khmerhit on Cambodia, or Ajarn Miquk for Vietnam. All of them seem to provide good advice.

Good luck--and if you decide, tell me. I'm still scratching the hair left on my head...

Taurus · Joined: 22 May 2004 Posts: 54 Location: Canada

Thanks to everyone for their input, although I am still very confused. I had my long interview with Mexico and I am pretty sure I will be offered the job but I am still looking in Asia. Please keep the input coming as I really appreciate your opinions. AHHHHHHHHHHHH

zaneth · Posted: Fri May 28, 2004 5:34 pm Post subject:

Well I was headed to Asia for a spiritual experience on two seperate occasions. Never made it there. First time got hung up in Canada. Second time in Russia. I did make it to India at one point, but no TEFL there to speak of.

As for the spiritual experience: I know of at least one tradition giving excellent meditation retreats in Mexico. Buddha wasn't Chinese after all.

As for the new experience: There's no way you've seen everything there is to see in Mexico. You can get a lot of mileage out of Spanish. Man I've kicked myself so many times that I took FRENCH in High School.

If you take the good job in Mexico you can always fly to SE Asia for a vacation.

Eijse · Joined: 17 Dec 2003 Posts: 119 Location: Yemen (Aden)

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

inmexico · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 110 Location: The twilight zone

I am curious as to what you think is a good salary in Guadalajara. it is not easy to save money in Mexico, especially in places like Guadalajara and Monterrey. This being said, I am in a similar situation. I am trying to decide whether to return to Mexico or accept a rather attractive offer in China.
It has been my experience that decent paying jobs do exist in Mexico, but you can expect to have a full work load per week (40 hours). I think one of the reasons that China is attractive is because of the 20-25 hour work week for the same salary. Something to keep in mind, Mexico is obviously not as expensive to live in as Canada, but it is definitely more expensive than China.