Job Discussion Forums

new horizons · Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 8

Background: We are a husband and wife looking for teaching positions in the East. Most likely Korea but, we are keeping our options open. I would like to teach English and my husband, who has an MBA and a CPA plus myriad other certifications, would ultimately like to teach something finance related at a university. I have a BFA, have worked with kids in the past, have been published, and have spent the last several years analyzing contracts for a living.
We have traveled extensively throughout North America, been through much of Western Europe and have spent a good deal of time in Latin America. My husband has spent some time in Asia, though I have not. We are used to dealing with other cultures but, we have never *lived* in a foreign country- a dream of ours. We are a mixed race couple (I am Black, he is White) from the States who are in our early thirties. We have been informed that these last items may make it more difficult to find positions. Our question is: How difficult and, if we do find a school, what will life be like for us?

zaneth · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2004 8:44 am Post subject:

You might want to retitle your thread something like "Mixed race couple in Asia" as that seems to be the biggest question for you. You sound like you have excellent credentials. I haven't been to Asia but business and English are the hot items. I think if I'd had your credentials either in Germany or here in Russia I'd be sitty pretty.

Try the Newbie Forum and the General Asia Forum, too.

How hard life will be for you is a rather subjective question, but from where I sit, sounds like you're pretty much set.

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

What's a BFA?

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

waxwing · Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 719 Location: China

As opposed to a SweetFA, a credential which many people on this forum seem to be in possession of Smile

Lanza-Armonia · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2004 11:45 am Post subject:

Like the others have already said, you're all set, creds wise, and it wouldn't be hard to find 'good' jobs with said creds however, in certain places I believe people have had problems getting hired when they are black. It's an Asian thing I think. But hey, It's just what I've been told, maybe you guys will fly straight through...

Wish you all the best

LA

new horizons · Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 8

We feel very optimistic about our chances.
I think I will repost in the newbie forum. While one of my main concerns is being the black half of a mixed race couple we were also wondering how being from the States might affect our experience. Last year when people in Brazil found out our nationality they did not turn hostile but, things became noticeably cooler. This year we were in Greece when it was discovered that the government sanctioned torture at Abu Graib. Again, there was not overt hostility towards us individually. Although there was a lot towards the USA. We did get lots of demands that we personally explain how this could happen. (We couldn't, of course. Except to say that nothing the Bush administration does surprises us anymore. Scares the *etc.* out of us, sickens us, angers us but, surprise? No.) What can we expect in the East?

Ludwig