The voices in my head have returned!!

[Zap_Rowsdower]

Yes, that little voice in the back of my head has returned, only this time it is much louder.

It all started back in the winter of 1991. The Berlin wall was toppled, the USSR dissolved and I had just received two useless Bachelor of Arts degrees (History/Sociology). I was lost and did not know what I wanted to do with my life (or facsimile thereof). Then I had a thought (which usually leads to trouble), why don’t I go to the former USSR and teach English. What better way to see a different part of the world, meet different people and get rid of the spoiled, insolated “Ugly Americanism” that I and most of my fellow citizens suffer from. I could learn a new language and learn more about the world.

Then I met a woman (another thing that usually gets me into trouble). She was in graduate school earning a MLS degree (Masters of Library Science). It sounded perfect, I always liked the library, doing research etc.

I have now been in that field for about 5 years. The pay and respect is not there, but I enjoy it and make a decent living. I originally was going to work in a law library, but my internship with a law library cured me of that. So now I work for the city. I do enjoy it, but do not know if I want to keep at it for 30 or so more years. Moving to another city would just be a cosmetic change, I think. Also, pretty much the only chance for moving up is in administration. The administrators where I work generally have there heads up there butts, with no idea what it is like in a library and what we have to put up with. They are stuck 20 years in the past. refuse to change some areas because “it has always been that way” and in order to justify the ever growing adminstration (while cutting back on those who actually work and provide a service) innitiate major changes in the system that does nothing to help the library users, causes lots of headaches for staff and does not alleviate the major problems that it is supposedly addressing. There putting a bandaid on a severed limb. Many of them also think it is a matter of pride that we have thrown out a large part of our collection because of age. Granted we can’t collect everything, but reducing materials in our stacks by a third just because it is old is not a good thing. Some is necessary, but doing it willy nilly is just disgracful and another sign that they are out of touch. Also, with the internet the job has changed drastically, so I am not able to do nearly enough of what I got into the profession for. Also, we have to deal with segments of the population that I am not trained, experienced or want to deal with, primarily homeless and mentally ill. I do not mind helping less fortunate people who are trying to improve themselves or condition,Thats part of the reason I got into it, but I am tired of the bums who just come in and waste time, play games or chat all day on computers and annoy other patrons or try to find a place just to sleep. I try to be sympathetic, but they scare other people, take up tables and smell really bad, and in many instances ought to be institutionalized.

I am now re-considering going overseas and to teach english and learn another language and culture. There is nothing really tying me down. I am not married, not in a relationship and no prospects any time soon. I rent and my pet lizard (Torgo) has long since shuffled off his mortal coil.

This feeling has increased after Sept. 11. Life is to be experienced, not just finding a nice rut and repeating it over and over until death. I want to do something, not just stay here and “win” by collecting the most “stuff”. I am tired of this consumer culture we live in. We spend and spend, get bigger and shinier things, and yet we are generally less happy. There is no connection to our world and the people around us any longer. And unfortunately, it looks like the rest of the world is trying to become like us.

The places I am looking at are Thailand, Vietnam, Russia, Mexico, possibly even China. I must admit I am very nervous about jumping into this, however, I will investigate this more, but right now, I may follow the advice from those Nike commercials and “just do it”.

[El_Kabong]

Sounds like you’ve at least got the mental attitude to make a go of it.

I spent ten years in France, and although I finally chose to go back to the States, I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. I would, however, allow at least 6 months (and probably longer) to really get the measure of whatever place you settle in. A few comments:

1. Building a life overseas takes months, if not years. Have you already spent any time in any of the places you mentioned? Any pre-existing contacts? If at all possible, you may want to visit one or two of your target countries before cutting all ties here. If you pull up stakes and after a couple of months decide you can’t stand another minute without, say, access to Entertainment Weekly, you’re sunk.

2. It’s doubtful that you will be able to work legally anywhere under a tourist entry visa, and requirements for working papers vary widely from country to country. Before you go, carefully examine what documentation you may need to work there, and make absolutely certain that the paperwork is at least underway and is likely to be successfully concluded.

3. Despite many superficial similarities, getting to understand French culture and social behavior took quite a while. For several of the countries listed by the OP, the differences are far more marked. Just something to think about.

4. If, after a year or so, you find you have several local friends, enjoy your accomodations, and look forward to having fun on the weekend, you’re golden. If, OTOH, you find that after a year you are mainly hanging out in bars with disaffected expats and bitching about the poor state of everything around you, it’s time to go home (well, duh).

5. All things considered, I would not agree that the presence or absence of a strong consumer culture has that much to do with one’s personal happiness. If anything, for long-term happiness I’d lean towards the social mobility and relative freedom of self-expression that tend to associate with a consumer culture. But, everyone should determine that for themselves, I guess.

Hope I’m not just stating the painfully obvious with the above, and none of this is to say that there are any great negatives to an expat life. No matter what happens, it’ll be interesting and mainly beneficial experience.