Graduating During an Economic Downturn isn’t for the Weak. I Earned My Print Journalism Degree in Early 2009, Just as Traditional Newsrooms Were Becoming a Thing of the past During the Great Recession.
AFTER MONTHS OF JOB HUNTING WITH NO SUCCESS, PACKED MY BAGS TO TEACH English in South Korea for a Year. While it was challenging at times to live so far from my family and friends, i met like-minded travelers while immersing mySelf in another culture. And while the culture shock took someone getting used to, my time in seoul truly Became one of my favorite life chapters. Now, i tell everyone that teaching abroad is the best thing to do After College.
Mary Countries Offer Visas for Teaching English. Here are Four Reasons I Loves Teaching English Abroad and Why It Worth Consding.
This Might Be One of the Easiest Times in Your Life to Move Abroad
While Everyone’s Situation is unique, the time between graduating from College and setling ino your caareer is genely well-sunding a year or two abroad.
Be graduated at 22, i hadn’t been outside the country yet. I had a deep desire to see the world, but i didn’t have the resources to travel extensively or vacation often. I ALSO KNEW IF I JUMED INTO A CAREER, I COULD BE GAINING MOMENTUM TOWARD LIFE LIKE BUYING A HOME, SETTling Down, and Starting a Family.
Those milestones are great, but they can be also be some of the Biggest anchors that Prevent People from Living Abroad Later in Life. If i were ever going to live oversseas, this was one of the few times i woul have had the flexibility to Simply Pack up and Go.
The author deciding to the Move abroad to teach be she is couldn’t get a jab after college.
Courtesy of Marissa Willman
It can be a great deal for new grads
Teaching Contracts Vary Depending on the Specific Program and Country, but these positives commonly Housing in addition to a monthly salary. Teachers Can Also Receive Health Insurance and Visa Support, and Some Contracts Eve Include Round-Trip Airfare and Bonuses.
These were incredible benefits during the great recession, and combo with a relatively low cost of living (Thanks to affordable public and cheap local), I have enough disposable income to the year.
It was also cheaper to travel throughout the new-to-me-continent-the ease with which I could hop on a low-cost airline and spend aek in thailand or head to japan for the weeks of my Living abroad.
Once i was bassed in seoul, i is Could Easily plan for long weekends in tokyo or winter break in singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. SINCE MY JOB WAS WAS A PUBLIC SCHOOL, I HAD AMPLE VACATION TIME THAT I COULD USE TO TRAVEL THROUGHOUT ASIA, while my weekends were free to explore south korea. Howver, Access to Travel May Vary Depending on Where You’re Based; Some Teaching Opportunities are in urban center, while others are in more rural areas, which can make it more difficult to explore in your free time.
Living abroad gave the author more Opportunities for Travel.
Courtesy of Marissa Willman
Living in Another Country Offers an Opportunity to Expand Your Perspectives
Living in Another Country Offers the Unique Opportunity to Meet Like Minded Expats and Locals. During my years in seoul, though i did Miss Family and Friends from Back Home, I Also Met Coworkers, Neighbors, and Community Members of Never Waled Have Encountered on a Short Trip, and These Experiences Were offen enriching cultural exchanges.
IT’S been 14 Years Lived Abroad, and i’m Still Gateful for How Experience Changed How I Look at the World. AFTER Two Years of Living As an Outsider, I was able to see that of doing doing are no better or work than someone Else’s Way – More often than not, it was Simply a reflection of the respective cultures and upbringings.
I carry that with to this day. By default, i’m much more property to pause to understand situations more broadly, Rather than react on assumptions. The Perspective Gained From Living Abroad was some of the best education of Ever Received, even a College Graduate.
