Job Discussion Forums

[returner]

For those of you living and working abroad, what did you give up to do so? E.g. job, house, relationship etc. How do you feel now about the life you left behind? Or maybe you don't think about it in terms of giving things up?

Why am I asking this? Just wanting to compare experiences. I went abroad to teach in 2005 and am now back in the UK. I have a very well paid job (for UK teaching), a mortgage, a nice flat in central London. However I'm not happy with my life here and I really want to go abroad again to travel/teach. Sometimes I feel I'm mad to want to give up all the nice things I have here in the UK. But I just seem to have a calling to go abroad again!

[Glenski]

I took a 50% pay cut and started a whole new career.

[quoi_de_neuf?]

I gave up a decent salary, job security, my mates and rain.

I gained a low-paid, part-time job, new friends, sunshine, new cultural experiences and a boyfriend (note: not listed in order of importance!)

My current dilemma is the opposite of yours - I'm considering heading back to the UK, as I am skint beyond belief and loathe the fact that my working hours change from week to week (never reaching more than 15 hours a week), thus resulting in a monthly salary that is a) never the same and b) never very high.

What are your thoughts on your/my situation?

Cheers,

Quoi de neuf

[Gordon]

Something I have discovered over the years, is that "stuff" doesn't make you happy. I sold but mostly gave away everything I owned, when I left and i don't miss it at all. Not even sure what I even had.

I had a good job, lived in a nice place, had a new baby, but left for Japan anyways. Sometimes I think about what I left, but I wouldn't change it for the adventure the past 5 years have brought. We have been to Vietnam, the Philippines, Bali, Hawaii, travelled all over Japan, had the time to do a masters degree which never would have happened "back home", had 2 boys born here, made dozens of great friends..... I'll never regret it.

[jammish]

I gave up constantly being broke (but in a steady yet boring job that was sucking the life out of me), crap weather, good cinema, being able to get any cuisine under the sun, summer festivals, being able to have a laugh with people on a regular basis, being worried about ever being able to afford a half decent place to live, being able to obtain decent music legally, every type of beer one can imagine at my fingertips, and the pitfalls and tribulations of meeting decent single women in London.

I swapped it for having great flats to live in, crap weather at first but now much better since I've moved (although winters are still v.cold), being able to afford to eat out at fantastic Chinese restaurants all the time that I would never ever be able to afford to eat at in the UK, but losing that great range of cuisine and cinema that I had in London, beer that frequently tastes like water, a job I enjoy, and the beautiful Mrs Jammish and Jammish Jr.



So, pluses and minuses to both. Would be great to have the best of both worlds... Hong Kong beckons one day, when I get qualified...

[Gordon]

You know, I have met few people over the years who have regretted coming overseas to teach. Certainly far fewer than those who wish they had the nerve to do it.

[jammish]

Yes, I especially enjoy not getting to the last week of the month and wondering how I am going to make my salary last until payday. My ESL salary isn't much in real terms, but it goes a long way in China.

[naturegirl321]

YOu have to have a balance between pay and lifestyle. Some prefer to get paid less, but only work 10 hours a week. That's something that you can't do in places like the UK

[MELEE]

I didn't give up anything. I starting doing this right out of college when I had nothing. Some of us saw the merry-go-round for what it really is and decided to never get on in the first place.

[Justin Trullinger]

I was a jobbing actor in a major metropolitan area...

I gave up:

Financial insecurity

Unstable housing situation

Shared housing. (I'm too old to live with roomates all the time, but sometimes you don't have a choice.)

Depression

Changing jobs every few months, or sometimes weeks

Working for, and with, people who didn't value me

Doing jobs I didn't like, because I needed the dosh




I'd do it again in a heartbeat, if you can't tell.

Best,
Justin

[returner]

Wow, thanks for all the positive responses. Especially like the bit about "stuff" not making you happy.

[Sonnet]

[John Hall]

You can also count me as one who never got on the merry-go-round to begin with. At least in my own country. But I spent three and a half years in Japan, and then chose Costa Rica. For me, Japan was materialistic, workaholic, and spiritually void. (Teacher: "What is your hobby?" Student: "Sleeping.") Here in Costa Rica, I make one tenth of my Japanese salary, but am never bored, and have a wife and family. I've found love, and I wouldn't trade that for anything!

[SueH]

Distance you travel makes a big difference. I gave up friends, my little house and garden, being by the sea, decent beer, going to footie.

But I'm driving back next week for family medical reasons but will manage to see friends and footie, talk and listen without effort for hours, stock up on books, beer and clothes/shoes that fit!

Friends from the UK have visited here during the ski season, and I retain contact with others via the internet. Here I'm making new Italian friends, so all in all a very positive experience.

[danielita]

I gave up my house, my pretty mind numbing job, my car and my air conditioning...

What I got in return is an amazing new life, travel, adventure, all the fresh seafood I can handle, 5 beaches within 30 minutes of my house and a different car. I can say my only regret right now is giving up the air conditioner. It was 35C at 8PM last night

I would do it all over again in a heartbeat! My only regret is not doing it sooner.

D