|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
ScottishGringo
Joined: 08 Apr 2011
Posts: 45
|
 Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 7:55 pm Post subject: Good lifestyle and reasonable money....where? |
 |
|
Is there anywhere in the world I can go that has a relatively laid back lifestyle, where I won't be over worked, is fairly liberal and fun, I'll be paid enough to live comfortably (if I could save that would be a bonus too but I don't expect this) without having a reserve of savings just to survive?
I want to live abroad and am a travel junkie. I'll admit the teaching English gig doesn't seem like it'll be all that suited to me but I'm willing to give it a try (I might even surprise myself) due to lack of other options to get me in a foreign country long term. Four to six months a year travelling just isn't enough and I can't sustain the lifestyle I have now of quitting a job to go travelling then coming back a few months later and having to start all over again broke and jobless.
I really like the idea of living in a foreign country, getting good at the language and learning about the country, I make new friends easily within every country I travel to and would love to build a new group of buddies somewhere on a longer period of time.
I'm probably dreaming, I reckon I want too much and it doesn't exist but I thought it was worth asking, maybe I could be surprised. 
Where on earth can I find this type of work? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
artemisia
Joined: 04 Nov 2008
Posts: 875
Location: the world
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 10:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Well, that sounds just about perfect for you Scottish gringo. Do get your TEFL cert first (which you'll need there anyway) and try it. As you say, you might surprise yourself. People are not always good at the things they think they'll be good at and the reverse is true, too - it was for me. Even if you don't think something is right for you, it doesn't mean you can't give it your best shot and doing some sort of preliminary training is one of the best ways to find out, especially when you're quite young - if you are.
If you find out it's not for you then make sure you don't get stuck with it. Give yourself a exit date and don't be someone who continues to teach while raging about 'lost opportunities'. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
No need to sugarcoat it, ScottishGringo. Here's what you wrote in the Japan thread, just so others see what you really feel like.
| Quote: |
really I have no interest in teaching, none.
I didn't plan to tell my employers in the interview that I didn't give a shit about the job I was applying for.
As for the lifestyle I want, something that has a good balance of work and play - not working 9-5 five days a week at minimum wage to get 2 days off.
Of course I don't WANT to work, very few people do but i HAVE to work in order to make money and do thing things I enjoy in life, doesn't mean I'm going to pretend I like work. If I could get paid just to enjoy myself of course I would. I've worked since I was 16 and still at school (bar the year I made money from online gambling - just a different type of 'work' really) so we'll have no more assumptions on that please.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=90034&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Zero
Joined: 08 Sep 2004
Posts: 1402
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Three words for you: China, China and China! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
General Disarray
Joined: 23 Jun 2010
Posts: 58
Location: Kent
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 1:55 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Four words for you: China, China and China! |
Too easy  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ScottishGringo
Joined: 08 Apr 2011
Posts: 45
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 11:41 am Post subject: |
|
|
| The lifestyle and pay in China is reasonable? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Captain_Fil
Joined: 06 Jan 2011
Posts: 604
Location: California - the land of fruits and nuts
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 12:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
China is becoming more repressive.
I would suggest the Philippines.
Everything there is cheap (with US dollars or Euros) - food, drinks, transportation, entertainment, clothing, massage, etc.
Go for it!
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 1:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I've heard good things about Thailand. If you can get a good job you can afford to liove well and save: a bit. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 1:43 pm Post subject: Re: Good lifestyle and reasonable money....where? |
|
|
| ScottishGringo wrote: |
Four to six months a year travelling just isn't enough and I can't sustain the lifestyle I have now of quitting a job to go travelling then coming back a few months later and having to start all over again broke and jobless.
Where on earth can I find this type of work? |
What job do you have now that affords you 4 to 6 months of hols?
Have you looked into travel writing? That might be what you're looking for. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 1:46 pm Post subject: Re: Good lifestyle and reasonable money....where? |
|
|
| ScottishGringo wrote: |
Is there anywhere in the world I can go that has a relatively laid back lifestyle, where I won't be over worked, is fairly liberal and fun, I'll be paid enough to live comfortably (if I could save that would be a bonus too but I don't expect this) without having a reserve of savings just to survive?
I want to live abroad and am a travel junkie. I'll admit the teaching English gig doesn't seem like it'll be all that suited to me but I'm willing to give it a try (I might even surprise myself) due to lack of other options to get me in a foreign country long term. Four to six months a year travelling just isn't enough and I can't sustain the lifestyle I have now of quitting a job to go travelling then coming back a few months later and having to start all over again broke and jobless.
I really like the idea of living in a foreign country, getting good at the language and learning about the country, I make new friends easily within every country I travel to and would love to build a new group of buddies somewhere on a longer period of time.
I'm probably dreaming, I reckon I want too much and it doesn't exist but I thought it was worth asking, maybe I could be surprised.
Where on earth can I find this type of work? |
This is the internet age and you can work online from locations around the world. The only thing to consider is sorting out a visa. You can work as a writer, programer, salesperson, etc. online. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Zero
Joined: 08 Sep 2004
Posts: 1402
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 2:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Zero wrote: |
| Three words for you: China, China and China! |
A lot of people think so. The pay is low by world standards but more than covers your expenses, in a university job. Nubile females are very fond of gringos. Workload is low. Alcohol is cheap. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nickpellatt
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 1522
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 2:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
@captain fil - Your only experience of China is reading on the forums here isnt it? I can assure you that many FTs in China feel far freer in China than they do in the home countries.
@ScottishGringo - If you were in China you would probaby get all that you are looking for ... a low cost of living, relatively few work hours, and new experiences and adventures by the bucketload.
HOWEVER .... Your attitude to working in TEFL isnt the greatest, and the 'dont give a sh*t about the job' attitude isnt likely to win you any friends in the classroom, the forum, and in the teachers room. I wouldnt recommend you for any jobs or pass you any contacts with that kind of attitude.
To be honest....it can be a great job and lots of people in it take it very seriously. We invest time, money and take qualifications to enable us to do a better job. By the same token, many of us work with students who depend on us, rely on us, and may pay lots of their hard earned money for the benefit of our classes. Im sure lots of people do use it as a way of visiting and staying in a country, but you should take it more seriously than some of the comments above suggest. Your prospective students deserve it, and if you do view it as more than just a meal ticket to get to stay in a country, you may find the job is enjoyable too. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 3:44 pm Post subject: Re: Good lifestyle and reasonable money....where? |
|
|
| ScottishGringo wrote: |
Is there anywhere in the world I can go that has a relatively laid back lifestyle, where I won't be over worked, is fairly liberal and fun, I'll be paid enough to live comfortably (if I could save that would be a bonus too but I don't expect this) without having a reserve of savings just to survive?
I want to live abroad and am a travel junkie. I'll admit the teaching English gig doesn't seem like it'll be all that suited to me but I'm willing to give it a try (I might even surprise myself) due to lack of other options to get me in a foreign country long term. Four to six months a year travelling just isn't enough and I can't sustain the lifestyle I have now of quitting a job to go travelling then coming back a few months later and having to start all over again broke and jobless.
I really like the idea of living in a foreign country, getting good at the language and learning about the country, I make new friends easily within every country I travel to and would love to build a new group of buddies somewhere on a longer period of time.
I'm probably dreaming, I reckon I want too much and it doesn't exist but I thought it was worth asking, maybe I could be surprised.
Where on earth can I find this type of work? |
Scottish Gringo,
You don't actually need to teach. Start looking for a job online or build skills that will help you land a job online.
Then find a country that offers one year stays without a job. I know that you can live in Palau and a few other countries without a visa. Or you can do visa runs every three months in South America. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ScottishGringo
Joined: 08 Apr 2011
Posts: 45
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 4:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| I've heard good things about Thailand. If you can get a good job you can afford to liove well and save: a bit. |
Thailand would probably be one of my first choices actually for somewhere to live, love the country but I've read a lot of bad things about teaching there. Money isn't too bad but average starting wage is about half of what Korea for example appears to offer plus flight allowance and apartments don't seem to be the norm. I have a bit of bank debt at the moment so might struggle on a Thai wage once I deduct my debts, pay rent etc. If I went to Thailand can't see me living anywhere other than BKK which is more expensive than the rest of the country and offers a lot of expensive distractions. 
| Quote: |
What job do you have now that affords you 4 to 6 months of hols?
Have you looked into travel writing? That might be what you're looking for. |
Right now I work in a call centre and in the past have done admin, office, marketing etc. I have to find a new job everytime I come home but at times I've made a really good living from online ventures such as gambling and other stuff. Unfortunately they are short term money makers and are no longer profitable. Shame too as they certainly beat having to get up at 6am every day and spending all day in an office you don't want to be in.
There's not much money to be made from travel writing as far as I know AND I'm not any good at writing, no creative spark!
| Quote: |
| This is the internet age and you can work online from locations around the world. The only thing to consider is sorting out a visa. You can work as a writer, programer, salesperson, etc. online. |
I either have no interest in those sort of jobs or don't possess the skills needed. I can't sell for shit, a small part of my job is trying to get sales and I never get any leads. Me and computers don't get on especially programming. As mentioned already I'm not a strong writer.
| Quote: |
| A lot of people think so. The pay is low by world standards but more than covers your expenses, in a university job. Nubile females are very fond of gringos. Workload is low. Alcohol is cheap. |
I'm guessing being a complete newbie to this and having no experience teaching I wouldn't land a uni job though?
| Quote: |
@ScottishGringo - If you were in China you would probaby get all that you are looking for ... a low cost of living, relatively few work hours, and new experiences and adventures by the bucketload.
HOWEVER .... Your attitude to working in TEFL isnt the greatest, and the 'dont give a sh*t about the job' attitude isnt likely to win you any friends in the classroom, the forum, and in the teachers room. I wouldnt recommend you for any jobs or pass you any contacts with that kind of attitude.
To be honest....it can be a great job and lots of people in it take it very seriously. We invest time, money and take qualifications to enable us to do a better job. By the same token, many of us work with students who depend on us, rely on us, and may pay lots of their hard earned money for the benefit of our classes. Im sure lots of people do use it as a way of visiting and staying in a country, but you should take it more seriously than some of the comments above suggest. Your prospective students deserve it, and if you do view it as more than just a meal ticket to get to stay in a country, you may find the job is enjoyable too. |
Right OK, we've been over this already many times. I get it. Let's just concentrate on the topic at hand.
| Quote: |
Scottish Gringo,
You don't actually need to teach. Start looking for a job online or build skills that will help you land a job online.
Then find a country that offers one year stays without a job. I know that you can live in Palau and a few other countries without a visa. Or you can do visa runs every three months in South America. |
If I could find that job then I'd be doing it, I've looked into so many different options and can find nothing that is actually viable for me to do, like I mentioned above I've had a few online ventures in the past but they were all short term ways to make decent money, not long term or sustainable. If I could live abroad / travel whilst making money from online income then trust me I would. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
