Job Discussion Forums

[Dr.J]

I'm thinking of moving to another country in the recent future, and I was wondering what kinds of things I should focus on. I'm pretty sure I've missed something really important, so I am seeking the wisdom of more experienced teachers and travellers.

When you have changed jobs, what were your reasons for moving? What did you find was important/not important as you got to know yourself better? If you have stayed or are staying long-term in a particular country, what 'sealed the deal' for you? What would make you move?

Thanks

dammit

[Wolf]

Country #1. (Japan)

Reasons for moving: -Escape North Amercia
-Earn enough to pay off student loan
-Experience other culture
-Experience teaching
-Study another language

Lack of Wisdom factor:

-I only had a BA so only qualified for "entry level" jobs that are almost always exploitive and stressful.
-Work/study schedule lead to several stress related illnesses.
-Personal financial goals meant I lead a rather monastic lifestyle.
-Admittedly choosy last year during most recent job hunt.

Country #2 (China)

Reasons for moving: -Desire to work at a job stable enough to let me do an MA par time, without having to switch jobs half a dozen times during my studies.
-Friends who encouraged me to go to China
- Backlash/negative feelings of being in Japan so long without a break.
- Desire to see more of Asia somehow.

Lack of Wisdom factor:

-Inability to adapt to unforseen hardships (the forseen ones were fewer creature comforts, difficult teaching envoirnment, inability to use langauge etc. Unforseen ones were the difficluty I had "fitting in" to any degree at all.)
- Taking a job that barely covers my expenses (when MA is factored in).
-Taking a job in the countryside of a place where I do not speak the local langauge (mind you I was told this would not be the case, but there you have it.)

What's important now:

-A job that lets me teach.
-A job that pays the bills.
-A job with a reasonable amount of security (I'll probably never get this, but it goes on the list).
- A community where fitting in is only a matter of effort and time.
-A job stable enough to let me finish my studies (if I haven't).

There you have it. Hope it helps, for it didn't help me much.

[denise]

The first country that I taught in was the Czech Republic. I did my TEFL course there (in Prague), and I thought it would be easier to stay there and look for a job than to pack up and roam around aimlessly. I sometimes work backwards with my goals: I decide to do something, and then I find reasons to back up my decisions. With Prague, once I decided to do the TEFL course there, I started looking into the culture, attractions, surrounding countryside, etc., etc. (I'm not saying I recommend this backwards approach to decision making, but it has served me well somehow...)

I left Prague after two years and went back to the States to get an MA. Now that I am basically indebted until the day I die, and the Czech Republic will soon be an EU member, it would be considerably harder to get a job there, and impossible to support myself and pay back my loans. I feel fortunate that I was able to go there when I had the chance. I guess the "advice" in this bit would be to anticipate future circumstances that could prevent you from going to certain places, and to consider going to those places now, while you still can. (I used this same reasoning when I went to China for a summer job last year--I knew that once I finished my MA, China would also not pay enough to pay back my loans, so I went while I was still in school & still had the chance to go.)

I am now in Japan, and, though I am somewhat ashamed to admit it (should I be?!?!?), money was the main lure. I needed to be somewhere where my salary would cover my loan repayments.

d