Job Discussion Forums

[zaneth]

I feel pretty comfortable in Russia and the Baltics these days. When I read the China forums it reminds me of all the hell I went through getting to this stage of comfort.

Does it transfer? For those of you who've gone on to a completely different region, did you go through all the anger and frustration and loneliness all over again? If I move to China will I be back at square one?

[denise]

Difficult to say what transfers and what doesn't. I started in Central Europe, then went to Asia, and am now in South America. Each country that I've taught in has presented its own challenges and rewards--coping with the locals, getting around with anywhere from zero language skills to decent/high-ish intermediate, socializing with other ex-pats versus actually meeting the locals, etc.

Are you considering going back to the same place you taught in before? Regardless of whether/how the place has changed, you probably have. You've seen more, gotten more experience (teaching and life), etc.

I don't think I would want to go back to a place that I'd lived in before (except California, my beautiful home!). I would constantly compare it to "the good ol' days," even though it would most likely be a new job, a new town, a new social circle, etc. I'm older, wiser, and more trained now than when I lived in Prague, so going back to the days of partying with the other foreigners doesn't really appeal to me; I've gotten used to being able to communicate with folks in South America, so going back to Japan to being basically illiterate doesn't appeal to me; etc.

d

[Super Frank]

"You can't take it with you"
That's what they said about the tiny nail file on my nail clippers as I flew out of Hong Kong, after going from London-Bahrain-Bangkok.
Sorry about that. Ten years ago I gave up travelling after feeling really homesick in Vietnam, I hardly left England for that amount of time. Then I found myself on said plane thinking "what have I done?".
Best desicion I made in those ten years.

[zaneth]

Denise, you answered another question that I'd been thinking about asking: whether anyone ever returned to a region they'd formerly taught in. My guess is that people usually don't.

Yes, I am considering going back to Moscow, though that wasn't what I had in mind when I posted. I have enough contacts there I could probably get set up fairly quickly. But there's a reluctance to go back.

I've been thinking of heading on to China, my original destination when I left home. Seems like getting on with my life post divorce means heading on to a new region, completing my original plan.

But I hope I don't have to go through all the same crap again. A growth experience the first time around, sure, but twice?

I forget, did you already know Spanish or was it just easier after Japanese?

Just interesting to hear from the multi-region vets.

[dmb]

[basiltherat]

The best thing i ever did (besides marrying the greatest woman i've ever known), was to leave the 'hell' of jakarta. I know there are many who like the place but having seen and resided in places such as Malaysia and here in Syria, well ....... .
It's basically more socially civilised, there's very little pretence in the air and there's no sense of threat, anymosity or envy ; which I used to witness a lot of in Jakarta. Maybe its changed but frankly, i doubt it especially when i read comments on the indo forum. So much sounds so familiar. Whats more the money here goes much, much further than it did in Jakarta after the 'troubles' of 98 and 99. When my wife says she wants to go back to jakarta (she;s indonesian) to visit family, she always asks me if i want to join her. I always refuse simply because its a matter of ..... been there and seen/done that. No thanks.
Damascus was a huge sigh of relief for me.
best
basil

[denise]

[tedkarma]

I think your skills do transfer. I've worked/lived in Botswana, Thailand, Korea (twice), Saudi, and Taiwan. Each time gets a little easier. Or, it might just be growing confidence - or increased knowledge of how to get life started in a new place.

I went back to Korea for three years - about ten years after my first job there. No problem - easier. But it was a different job in a different city. Even large bits of the language came back to me.

[ls650]

[nomadder]

I can relate to what Denise says re:Spanish vs. Japanese. Practically fluent from Day 1 of my Latin America trip after 1 year of Spanish in uni and self study and now dabbling in Italian I can understand most of the tapes I've listened to and have hardly studied much of the book. Too easy? After 3 years living in Japan...um -level of a 3 yr old-maybe...

That aside I am returning to Japan with plans to work harder on language learning among other things. Maybe it depends on age or stage but I decided that I'm just not willing to start anew in other lands though I love travelling in them and even staying a few months at a time to work or study. Japan just has a lot of plusses I got used to. Of course I will have to find a way to minimize the minuses.

Then again the grass isn't really greener...

[zaneth]

I could see myself returning to Russia at some point in the future. But it would be nice to try another region for a while, perhaps.

But it sounds like South America might be a better choice than China.

Well, maybe one year in Asia, one in the mideast, and one in South America. One in Africa? That would be one sort of broad coverage.

Then settle in the one I liked best. Or repeat the cycle?