Job Discussion Forums

Perilla · Joined: 09 Jul 2010 Posts: 792 Location: Hong Kong

This subject may seem morbid, but I wonder how many TEFLers have condidered the possibility of dying while overseas. For example, who would take responsibility for getting you back home? Would your employer help? Does your insurance cover the costs involved? Most of us don't bother thinking about it.

A friend of mine died in his sleep a few years ago - he was working on the Korean EPIK programme at the time. His body was discovered by his school, who sent someone round to his apartment after he didn't show up for work.

EPIK paid for the cost of flying him home, but it was a traumatic business for his family, who received a very perfunctory call in the middle of the night US time informing them that he had died, but without giving any details. They then had to wait for an extended period while the authorities in Korea ascertained the cause of death.

Anyway, at least his family didn't have to foot the bill for getting him back, but I imagine that sometimes it can be a messy and expensive affair. Best to go home in a vase, perhaps?

mimi_intheworld · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 167 Location: UAE

Perilla, I was actually discussing this very issue with my sister just yesterday. And we agreed - don't bother about flying my body back to the US should I die elsewhere. Bury/cremate/mummify me wherever I shuffle off this mortal coil, and spend the money better on a nice, slightly raucous, Irish wake.

All kidding aside, I have made provision to just...not bother much. Funerals and the like are so expensive in the US, and my family doesn't have the money to fly my body back from wherever just to have it disposed of in the US. So unless my employers do as your friend's did, I'll probably end up in a pauper's grave in some other corner of the planet. I'm not bothered by this at all.

artemisia · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 875 Location: the world

That's sad about your friend, Perilla. It's an issue that is obviously going to affect those left behind the most and that's a horrible way to find out. I think it is the reality though of being in a foreign country without family or close friends you live with, or an arrangement to ring regularly. Without that it's most likely that it will be someone at work who investigates.

Mini_in the world:

80daze · Joined: 15 Oct 2008 Posts: 118 Location: China

I have insurance, if i pass away they foot the bill for flying my body back and I have a life insurance policy that I pay into that will take care of any burial.

If you are working abroad without any insurance then you are taking a big risk, anything can happen out here.

TeacherTim · Joined: 10 May 2005 Posts: 89 Location: Deep undercover

Perilla, like you, I'm also based in HK. I have two very young kids, so insurance is a priority. I currently pay 3,380 HK Dollars a month into a whole life plan. When I turn sixty, I'll get the premiums back as well as getting cover for 1.5 million (death). I'm also covered for accident/serious illness at a lower level.

Just a thought, we all think of death at some time, but how many of us think about what it would be like if we were unable to work? In my case, I have savings but they wouldn't last forever. I think many teachers avoid the subject or in some places, just can't afford to think about it.

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

If you were working in the U.S., you would probably be eligible for disability benefits. They aren't much, but far better than nothing. Would that still apply if you become disabled while overseas? I don't know the answer.

What about other countries? Would you get a benefit?

Madame J · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 12:01 am Post subject:

Sorry to hear that, Perilla. That sounds like a dreadful way for the school to have handled that.

Three teachers I knew whilst working in Indonesia died within eight months, two whilst still teaching in Indo and one shortly after finishing his contract and changing countries. It made me wonder whether the risk of an early death does increase when you go into this profession, at least when you go into it in a poor country without a US dollar salay. (Two out of the three died in motorbike accidents., which I'd imagine would be significantly less likely to happen in regions such as Japan.)

bdbarnett1 · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:26 am Post subject:

Cremation.

hollysuel · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 225 Location: Connecticut, USA

I thought about this when I was living in Finland and decided that if I were to die over there that I would want my body donated to the local medical school. I told my family and friends as I didn't want anyone footing the bill to get my body back to the states. Thankfully it didn't happen and now I'm back in the states...

Serious_Fun · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 1171 Location: terra incognita

I heard about a TEFLer who was dead for 2 months before his students realized it.

Perilla · Joined: 09 Jul 2010 Posts: 792 Location: Hong Kong

posh · Joined: 22 Oct 2010 Posts: 430

There was a teacher in Saudi who got drunk then went on the roof to sunbathe and fell asleep. They brought him down two days later burnt to a cinder. Somebody said "Like a piece of pork you put in the oven and forgot about."

I'm sure that at some point during his 'incineration' he must have woken up and thought 'holy cow!'

Steinmann · Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 10:12 am Post subject:

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Why ship the corpse back to another country ? Except in Saudi where they will not permit the burial of a non-Muslim. Smart way is to ship the cadaver to Bahrain and have it cremated, then post the ashes back to Mom and Pop.

johnslat · Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 8:29 pm Post subject:

Dear scot47,

" . . . then post the ashes back to Mom and Pop."

With, of course, a note attached - something like,

"Hi, Mom and Pop - I'm home" - brief but tasteful.

Regards,
John