Job Discussion Forums

[jaj]

So after you've taught abroad for a year or more and are ready to return to the States, besides being financially prepared to start over, what are the steps?

There's a site called Middle Kingdom that warns folks who teach in China, for example, that they may find themselves stranded in Asia and unable to return to the U.S.

Wondering how to have an apartment ready to return to. Is it possible to rent an apartment in New York or another American city while abroad? What about finding a job before landing?

What have been the experiences of those who have left and returned? I have no family or friends who would want to put me up or who I would feel comfortable imposing on...if you have no support system in place in the States for your return, does that make you a bad candidate for teaching overseas?

[hollysuel]

My experience:

Returning after 1 year in an Asian country:
A friend and former roommate found a place for me to live and picked me up from the airport and took me straight to my new apartment. I got a job the next day as I received a referral from a colleague in that Asian country. I didn't like the job, so ended up working as a temp in a company until I found another job in Asia.

Returning after the 2nd year in the same Asian country:
I met someone in that Asian country (not to be named *grin) and she had just received her MA TESOL and encouraged me to apply to the university and attend there. After I was accepted to the university, this friend called her former landlord and I had a place all set up before I returned to the states. I was moving to the Midwest and I had never been there before so didn't know anyone when I arrived. It took me a couple months to find a job, but I had savings so it wasn't a problem.

Returning to the USA after 11 years in northern Europe:
This was a bit more tricky because I had been away so long. I decided that once my home was sold, I would return to the USA and my realtor sold my home in two days. I made money as well, which gave me 'starting out' money. I had a Skype-In telephone number so when I made inquiries, people called an Idaho number and didn't realize I was in Finland. I talked to a banker and several realtors before deciding that it was best for me to rent for the first few years so that I learn the area. It had been 22 years since I had lived there... Anyway, when I applied for a small house to rent, I was automatically denied because I had absolutely no credit! I ended up using family connections to rent a house. My other choice would have been to fly back to Idaho and stay with family until I found something, which is something I didn't want to do. In this situation, I already had a company I had started in Finland and moved it to the USA, so I didn't need to look for a job.

So, based solely on my experience, if you have only been gone a short time and still have a credit rating in the USA--you will have no problem renting a place from abroad. You can also set up a Skype-In number for telephone interviews for jobs. The longer you are away, the more difficult it is, but you said one or two years--you would have no problem getting reestablished. I networked my way into jobs/homes before I left that Asian country so it is doable.

[Glenski]

There is also the issue of reverse culture shock. Many are not prepared for it, even on short return visits. I suggest reading The Art of Coming Home before you go.
http://www.amazon.com/Art-Coming-Home-Craig-Storti/dp/1877864471

[denise]

I've just returned after several years abroad. The key to an easy re-entry is to keep connections open while you're away--fairly easy if you're only gone for a year, I'd say. Keep a bank account with funds in it; keep a credit card; keep a permanent address somewhere. I was looking for apartments the day after I arrived (I came back to my parents' town, so at least had the benefit of somewhere to stay while I was looking!). On the rental application forms, you need to give the names of previous landlords. Well, on paper I couldn't do that, having lived abroad in university-provided housing for so many years, but when I called/met with the managers in person and explained, it was no problem. I also had an offer letter from the university in town to prove that I would have an income.

Finding a place before you land might be harder, and would you really want to sign on to a lease for a place that you hadn't seen? It might work for temporary housing (I would check craigslist, etc., for temporary listings), but you might find yourself moving again.

What sort of job do you hope to have lined up? Are you a career teacher, looking to settle in back home and teach, or were you just teaching for a year-ish and now planning to go into a different field? There are jobs that will do phone interviews, as mine did, but they're not that common.

d

[jaj]

Thanks for the responses!

I currently teach English online to students in South Korea and am seriously considering a real teaching gig in SK. The transitioning seems really impossible at the front end as well as exiting.

I currently rent an apartment and don't know how to time leaving -- if I'm offered a job -- with the end date of my lease. Seems like the schools give you two three months to get over there, huh? How much time do you sanely need to negotiate a contract, get a visa, put your whole life in storage and whatever else I'm forgetting!

The trip back home also seems impossible. Have a fear I wouldn't be able to pick up where I left off in the States without a humiliating transitional period where I'm jobless and homeless and on some relative's couch...

[Glenski]

If you want to ask questions specific to Korea, you have to register separately for that forum and ask there.

[Zero]

[Captain_Fil]

[naturegirl321]

[smithrn1983]

The hardest thing for me to overcome when I went back to the U.S. a few years ago was the lack of a credit history. Maintain credit cards when you're abroad, and if you have any other debts (like a car loan), keep making regular monthly payments on them. This is what I'm currently doing now that I'm overseas again. I'm not sure when, or even if, I will return home, but I want to be prepared if that day comes, with a clean credit record, and a car that's mostly (if not completely) paid off when I go back.

Without any support, I'd suggest moving into a long-term hotel at first. Some cities also have companies that rent furnished apartments on a month-to-month, or even week-to-week basis if you have the cash to afford them.

[hollysuel]

[jaj]

Zero, when you say you may not come back, I'm curious...what country are you that has inspired you to stay?

To be specific, I'm 48. A son about to graduate from college. I'll soon be paying about $1,200 a month in his student loan debt. My reasoning is it will be easier to pay back debt if I don't have to pay rent and utilities -- thus my interest in a teaching gig where the housing is provided.

I'm fully aware I'm not an ideal age for recruiters and schools, but I'm healthy, have a decent resume and references and believe I'll get around this. I've lived in Europe and spent a little time in North Africa and know what it's like to return to the U.S. and have to emotionally re- adjust...not an issue for me...

I'm aware that there are countries where housing for ESL teachers is provided or partially paid for -- so I'm interested in them in particular. I'm even open to not coming back to the U.S. if there's a way. How common is it for English teachers these days to bail out of the U.S. for good? What locations worldwide best accomodate this? (I have a friend who couldn't afford living in London and relocated to Phuket, Thailand where his cost of living is lower so he's now able to pay bills he couldn't manage before)...

[naturegirl321]

I'm not sure how common it is. I'm sure some people never do go home, but others say they won't but then do. Due to aging parents, kids, health, etc.

[Zero]

[Perilla]