Job Discussion Forums

[gringodesh]

What do you say to someone that has lived in a Latin American country teaching English for 9 years and is costantly complaining about the people and the country? They also keep saying how much better their country is than the country they've decided to live in for 9 years. When asked the question of why have they been there so long, the answer is women are more accessible and I like my job. I'm just curious, how do people justify living in places for so long if they're country's so much better? I say either go home or find another country to teach in that's more suitable. The worst of it all is, the pay isn't the greatest compared to other parts of the world.
Just Curious

[distiller]

It's quite simple really. They fell special in a foreign place where they are different than most people. They get respect from locals even if they repeatedly prove themselves to be a total prat and live a cushier life abroad than they could afford at home. I've met so many guys who are total losers back home but are able to pull women abroad because of being western or having a bit more cash. It's the zero to hero factor and some people milk it their whole lives. It's really pathetic but common especially in places like Thailand and SE Asia. It is interesting to note how these are also the "TEFL is not a real career" people.

[denise]

[Will.]

When this kind of teacher does return to their home country they rarely find the transition easy and expect the treatment they are used to, when it doesn't come, or looks like taking more than a week or two to get that cushy number, they often return to their previous country of abode in a similar position but a different area nad call this "needed to move on". The diatribe is then also directed at home country.

[Magoo]

I agree: the type of ex-pat who continually puts down his/her own country rarely fits in abroad. I've met people in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China who have had nothing but bad to say about 'back home'. People (locals and other ex-pats) generally looked upon them as sad tossers to be avoided. Women are, obviously, a big factor, especially in this part of the world.
To answer the OP: I've always been interested in China (fell in love when I was six ), studied Chinese at uni, lived here as a student, got divorced in the U.K. , so returned to escape crappy jobs in a small town/unemployment.
Then I got married. First anniversary, yesterday.

[Girl Scout]

Some people just like to complain. They are never satisfied.

Maybe he is romanticizing the world they left behind. Reality is always harder to face. It's very likely if he did go home he would say the same thing about the country he left.

[biffinbridge]

The one's that really do my nut are those who continually tell everyone how great their 'adoptive country' is because it's got 'K-Mart','Jello' and 'Tofu Bars'.No need to tell y'aaall where they usually come from. Why bother going overseas if all you're looking for is the same present wrapped in different paper?

[zaneth]

change 'tofu bars' to 'pork rinds' and you'd have a more convincing composite.

Are kmart shoppers consuming tofu these days? I'm not sure if I find this encouraging or frightening.

I must admit, I got pretty excited when I found tofu here (Russia, not Kmart). And sometimes I buy these little packets of oiled and salted seaweed at the local hookahs-beads-windchimes-bathoil store. But it would take a lot of tofu to make Russia into West Coast America.

But I do agree with you in spirit. I don't find the opening of a megamart to be cause for celebration. Of course, it's hardly the awesome purchasing power of expat Americans driving the growth in that industry.

You know what's more ridiculous than buying imported goodies? Spending all my time typing in my native language when I could be out talking to local friends or walking in the beautiful snowy forest.

[thelmadatter]

Im inbetween the two extremes. There are things I love and miss about my home country (USA) but there are things I really admire about the country I am living in (Mexico). Each country has its pros and cons. One major plus I see here and I dont hesistant to tell Mexicans who ask me about my opinion about Mexico is this. I see so much potential in this country for the future. It has a vibrancy to it where in the US (and sad to say, in myself) there is a kind of complacency. I think the only think really holding this country back is poltics (corruption) and a sense of "why try to do better?" I think once that changes (how and when I dont know... thats up to the Mexicans), watch out! I hope I can contribute to it at least in some miniscule way.

Im here for 3 reasons. 1) I want to live in a foreign country, 2) I want to be fluent in Spanish and 3) my son can visit me here easily (only 3.5 hours by plane)

[grahamb]

Thelma, having marvelled at your fondness for flirtation on the forum, I think you should add "4) Mexican men" to that list!

[moonraven]

The kind of person the OP described is one of the reasons that I stay the hell away from places with gringos or other foreigners. Folks wo complain about the country where they live and sit around whining and fantasizing about WalMart are the very sorts that I had zero tolerance for when I was living in the US. The bottom line for most of them is that they are either remittance men or they resent that they can't afford to live in their home country--for which they should be camped out on the front lawn of the White House and not here in Latin America.

[XXX]

Why was I there? Good question. Russia- to see what the "other side" was like. Met a heck of a lot of great people coping with hard times. Taught some super students ( Yagoda's grand daughter was one) and did some free lesson for kids who's parents couldn't afford it. Had a blast, and brought home some great memories. Korea- to see just how much it had changed since last I was there in the early 70's. Worked killer hours, met great people and put away a good bit of coin. Poland- this was one last working vacation in an off the beaten path location. Again, I met some great folk and in general had a great time. Now I a semi rooted back here in the US. Did I ever piss and moan about the county I was in? The only time I can recall doing that was in Korea, and that was about the pirate I was working for. And I never, ever yearned for Walmart. I did meet some teachers who complained about where they were at. These were the ones who couldn't hack it and split before the contract ended.

[thelmadatter]

grahamb



I didnt come here looking to get laid or anything. Heck, I thought I wouldnt be able to date, assuming that "all" the men in my age group would be married. Happily that is not true. My dating experiences here have been mostly positive. And Im learning something about myself in the process. Cant beat that with a stick!

[Deconstructor]

It is human nature to complain even under the best of circumstaces. The grass is always greener on the other side.

I remember complaining a lot when I was in Far East. I think I was just homesick and every time there was something that frustrated me, I would start complaining about the country.

I learned from this experience, though. I realized that not so deep down I liked both the people and the place I lived. In fact, as I look back, I miss them a lot.

[Roger]

To me, the problem with these people is that they cannot afford to take holidays abroad and instead ask developing countries to offer them plum temp jobs.
If they had to make the money before going abroad they would arrive with a lot different preconceived ideas and be, perhaps, more relaxed in their tourist destination.
Transplanting yourself from your accustomed home country to another and be fully functional in your host country's social set and economy is a daunting job. I find it deplorable that people flock here with a view of paying off their debts, womanising and boozing. So few of them accept long-term commitments, yet they all comment sarcastically about the lack of job security.