|
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 |
RJLatrans
Joined: 19 Jan 2012
Posts: 10
|
 Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 4:13 am Post subject: Savings and Socializing? |
 |
|
Hello everyone! I have some questions that fall into two different categories, so any help would be wonderful.
First off, the basic info; I am a 23 year old girl with a BA in English and six months experience volunteering as a teacher's aid in a TEFL class (where I sometimes teach the classes myself). I currently work two part-time jobs- one as a Page at a Library, the other as a Kennel Tech at the local SPCA. That's right, around 40 hours a week and I'm making about about 1k a month in the US of A. I plan to have a year of experience in teaching and roughly 2500 saved before I head out (maybe more, depending on how long I can juggle both jobs without them crashing into each other). The places I am currently looking at to teach in are Chile, Colombia, and Peru. However I am open to any suggestions!
Now, onto the questions. I have read a lot about what you get paid in different countries, but that doesn't concern me too much. I am looking at how much I can save. As a cheapskate, I am pretty good at not spending money. I usually spend about 300 dollars per month on things (gas, car insurance, food, etc), and save the rest as I currently live with my parents and don't pay rent. I don't go out drinking that often, which saves a lot. Which areas would I be able to rent a one bedroom apartment in a decent area of town and still save some? (Decent meaning that even if gunshots could be heard at night, it's fairly safe. What? I live southside in a high-crime city. I can handle stuff.) Mind, I will be taking public transport or walking, so I won't be spending money on the Car front.
I am not looking to save gobs of money, just enough where I could possibly travel a small bit once or twice a year, and maybe save for a CELTA or a MA (after a couple of years, as I am looking long-term).
The SECOND question is a bit more complicated. See, I have high-functioning autism. I can adapt great to new circumstances, but social situations have always been difficult for me. I'm nice, cheerful, and all that... I just tend to ramble on way to long and show my nerdy facts often. (I used to be a lot worse, but have improved over time thanks to family and practicing reading people.) So my question is which areas are fairly kind socially? I can handle blunt statements (in fact, I love these because my good gravy it's great to know what people actually think), and I am a very laid-back person about differing views, so I am mostly looking for a place that won't put a black mark on me if I am not quite on-the-ball in most social situations as long as I'm polite and nice. To use a USA equivalent of what didn't work for me- Huntsville, Alabama was hell as I could not play the social games and because I didn't fit in was constantly butted out of the circle when people were standing around talking. In other places, not nearly as bad and I can often gather groups of friends.
Thank you for your time! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
CarolinaTHeels
Joined: 03 May 2011
Posts: 130
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 11:52 am Post subject: |
|
|
People that are "worried" or "concerned" with saving money prob need to head to Asia.
ESL in Latin America is more for the experience. You will get paid enough to live, eat, and go out a few times a week. But that is about it.
I guess you could save ALITTLE/SOME money if you lived liked a hermit and ate cheap food 24/7. But what fun would that be? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BadBeagleBad
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
Posts: 1186
Location: 24.18105,-103.25185
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| CarolinaTHeels wrote: |
People that are "worried" or "concerned" with saving money prob need to head to Asia.
ESL in Latin America is more for the experience. You will get paid enough to live, eat, and go out a few times a week. But that is about it.
I guess you could save ALITTLE/SOME money if you lived liked a hermit and ate cheap food 24/7. But what fun would that be? |
I disagree that ESL in Latin America can't be able money. No, maybe not major money like in Asia or the Middle East. And your first year can be tough, but once you settle into a job and make friends, learn to spend like a local, not a tourist, you can have a middle class lifestyle, and with perks you likely would NOT have in your home country like household help. I find that most people with this opinion fall into one of two camps - people who want to travel from place to place every 6 months or so and expect to find a fantastic job in each new place right off the bat, or, people who really don't have any qualifications to actually teach, but think that because they speak English schools should be honored to have them.
From what I understand of Asian cultures they are very rejecting of people that are in any way different. However, the way you explained your level of Autism, many people might just chalk it up to cultural differences.
I do have to say that people in Mexico, at least, just seem to be more accepting of people who are different, and just take it into stride. I have a neighbor with a mentally disabled son, and he is far more included in everyone's lives, parties, neighborhood outings, etc. then I saw similar people being accepted in the US. Everyone just accepts that he is what he is and moves on. He is a neighbor and so is invited to whatever parties, baptisms, soccer games everyone else in the neighborhood is invited too. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
EFLeducator
Joined: 16 Dec 2011
Posts: 595
Location: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 6:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| CarolinaTHeels wrote: |
| People that are "worried" or "concerned" with saving money prob need to head to Asia. |
I second that.
| CarolinaTHeels wrote: |
| ESL in Latin America is more for the experience. You will get paid enough to live, eat, and go out a few times a week. But that is about it. |
That was my experience.
| CarolinaTHeels wrote: |
| I guess you could save ALITTLE/SOME money if you lived liked a hermit and ate cheap food 24/7. But what fun would that be? |
Thanks for the insight, CarolinaTHeels. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
RJLatrans
Joined: 19 Jan 2012
Posts: 10
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 9:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| CarolinaTHeels wrote: |
People that are "worried" or "concerned" with saving money prob need to head to Asia.
ESL in Latin America is more for the experience. You will get paid enough to live, eat, and go out a few times a week. But that is about it.
I guess you could save ALITTLE/SOME money if you lived liked a hermit and ate cheap food 24/7. But what fun would that be? |
Well, right now I only go out once a week and I am a very thrifty shopper. I grew up budgeting, which is why I included how much I spend a month here in the USA (because in general things are more expensive here). And although I do spend up to 300 here, that includes gas and car insurance which I won't have down there, and I do plan to live in a fairly local residence (AKA- not a westernized community which from my understanding costs more rent).
And I'm not so much worried about savings, because if in two years I still am grinding teeth trying to make ends meet, then I will probably head to Asia for a year or two and save there. As I said, in this for the long haul! (With emergency money in case things don't work out.) But I definitely want the Latin American experience first, thanks to some of my Spanish teachers and the way they described the world.
| BadBeagleBad wrote: |
I disagree that ESL in Latin America can't be able money. No, maybe not major money like in Asia or the Middle East. And your first year can be tough, but once you settle into a job and make friends, learn to spend like a local, not a tourist, you can have a middle class lifestyle, and with perks you likely would NOT have in your home country like household help. I find that most people with this opinion fall into one of two camps - people who want to travel from place to place every 6 months or so and expect to find a fantastic job in each new place right off the bat, or, people who really don't have any qualifications to actually teach, but think that because they speak English schools should be honored to have them.
From what I understand of Asian cultures they are very rejecting of people that are in any way different. However, the way you explained your level of Autism, many people might just chalk it up to cultural differences.
I do have to say that people in Mexico, at least, just seem to be more accepting of people who are different, and just take it into stride. I have a neighbor with a mentally disabled son, and he is far more included in everyone's lives, parties, neighborhood outings, etc. then I saw similar people being accepted in the US. Everyone just accepts that he is what he is and moves on. He is a neighbor and so is invited to whatever parties, baptisms, soccer games everyone else in the neighborhood is invited too. |
Yeah, I definitely don't plan to get a housekeeper! (Not that I think ill of people who do, but I can barely go to get a pedicure without my sensibilities squirming.) My current plan is to stay one place at least a year, and only that short a time if I end up despising the place. I am incredibly flexible and have lived here in the USA in places I have hated for five or more years, so I know how to muscle through for the purpose of money!
And that definitely sounds great. What cities would you recommend in Mexico that have a good ESL market? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 9:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| RJLatrans wrote: |
| What cities would you recommend in Mexico that have a good ESL market? |
For starters, Mexico City. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
EFLeducator
Joined: 16 Dec 2011
Posts: 595
Location: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 9:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| RJLatrans wrote: |
| What cities would you recommend in Mexico that have a good ESL market? |
Mexico City. Hands down. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
RJLatrans
Joined: 19 Jan 2012
Posts: 10
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'm glad you all told me about Mexico City! I was originally nixing Mexico because I believed the heat would be too much for me and my cat (I didn't want to leave the air conditioner running 24/7 while I was away), but looking into it more it looks lovely and doable.
Also, looking at some CELTA courses there makes me consider saving enough for cushion + taking a course before I start working there. With a BA in English and experience, would having a CELTA over a online TEFL certificate make much difference in payment? (I know that many people don't suggest the online courses as they don't make much difference, but I figured for 265 I could get some more knowledge on tips and tricks to teach, and I imagine it couldn't hurt to have it on a resume!) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 12:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
| |
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
