Job Discussion Forums

parrothead · Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 342 Location: Japan

Well said, Marco. If I had believed everything written about my former employer in Japan, I never would have worked there. It wasn't perfect by any means, but I approached it open-mindedly and sure got a lot out of it. Luckily we all make our own experiences. Certain countries/jobs/regions are better for some than others, and vary depending on age, qualifications, etc. Unfortunately, at least on these forums, people who are disgruntled are more likely to post their negative feelings and experiences than those who are.....umm, gruntled.

fluffyhamster · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 2:18 am Post subject:

Well, a horror story or veiled rant can be as instructive as it might be offputting. For example, my posts about my experiences of Japan aren't designed to put people off coming, but rather to just make them realistic, realize how things have been and still are changing here (generally slightly for the worse as time goes on!), and thus help prepare them if they do come.

Regarding Korea, it isn't so much the stories (I haven't read many) but rather the fact that the employer has control over your visa that must be a concern right away, in comparison to Japan (all a person need do in Japan is bring or save enough money that they can change jobs if and when an employer becomes unreasonable), plus I read somewhere that Korea was going to tighten up even more, with criminal background checks, health checks etc to get a visa.

All that being said, I haven't ever been averse to taking a chance (is any TEFL veteran?), have generally enjoyed myself wherever I've gone, and plan to embark on yet another journey sometime soon! So yes, people shouldn't let what they hear or read here or elsewhere dampen their sense of adventure too much! Teaching can be a noble profession, and travel broadens the mind still further. There are some great experiences to be had in TEFL!

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

I agree!

I think that many of us (at least on the Italy forum) try hard to depict the reality of working in Italy. It would be misleading to paint the economic and political situation here as being positive, but that doesn't mean that some teacher won't land the perfect job. In the end, you take the risk, and try to make the best of what happens.

I suppose that looking at a poster's past form is a good indication of what is a baseless rant, or what is reasonable advice. I would hope that if someone with a fair amount of posts under their belt warned against a particular place, the post would be taken seriously. On the other hand, there used to be a prolific poster called Ghost who did nothing but moan.

zeke0606 · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:49 am Post subject: what?

I can agree with the OP and all the rest of you.

I have seen more than my share of evil nasty posts - aimed at me and at others - I've been in Russia for eight years (but far far away from Moscow and St Pete's), three and a bit in Saudi Arabia, one in Colombia, Qatar and a few others for less than a year.

parrothead will agree, I think, "...changes in lattitude, changes in attitude..." - "...if we wern't all crazy, we'd just go insane!..."

I think that YOUR risk factor and level of tolerability to intolerable situations is the key. After twenty-three years of ESLing here and there, I've learned that Jimmy Buffett's songs are the key to remaining somewhat sane! Wink

parrothead · Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 342 Location: Japan

Well put, Zeke Wink

We've all had good days, bad days, and goin' half mad days. And everyone handles the different challenges in their own way.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Agreed, I was pleasantly surprised by Korea. HOpe that I haven't put people off Peru, it's nice, but just like every place, it starts to get to you after a while.

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

I agree that making such a choice isn't easy. My wife and I finally decided on Spain - and have bought a small house there, but it's still difficult to put the idea into practice and we're some way off yet. Difficulties include the lack of work in Spain (especially in the area we've chosen) and the problem of what to do with our stuff in HK if/when we head over there. Ideally we'd buy property here too, but then we'd have two mortgages to pay and would have no chance of escaping our jobs here!