TEFL:

Engelse les geven. Groeiende business:
- ideale manier om landen te leren kennen,
- persoonlijke contacten te maken,
- de taal te leren
- en professioneel te groeien.

Zonder diploma zijn je keuzes beperkt. Dan loop je vaak secundaire arbeidsvoorwaarden mis die je anders wel zou kunnen afdwingen.

Voorbeelden:
- retour vlucht na een jaar,
- de juiste werkvisa,
- posities op overheids scholen. (alleen op private scholen werken)
- Het is bovendien moeilijker om online te solliciteren. Beste optie is om ter plekke langs te gaan, te netwerken via locale vrienden, en goed op de hoogte te zijn van Engelse les geven.

Je kunt eerst een opleiding doen, de zg TEFL. Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
Er zijn een aantal van deze diploma’s en hier een korte toelichting.
Er is TEFL en TESOL. (Teaching English to Speakers of Other languages) die termen zijn om en nabij hetzelfde (TEFL gebruik je meer voor situatie waarin je met leerlingen te maken hebt die compleet geen Engels spreken, en waarbij je dus een bepaalde methode moet hanteren om toch te kunnen doceren) Er zijn toelatingseisen voor elke TEFL opleiding, en je moet zeer goed het Engels beheersen om het met succes te doorlopen.

De belangrijkste diploma’s zijn:
- Cambridge CELTA: DE belangrijkste naam, en het diploma wat het verste gaat. Alleen door bepaalde gecertificeerde scholen gegeven. (waaronder in Amsterdam: Oxford House)
- Trinity TESOL: Dit is de tweede belangrijke naam waar je ver mee komt. Vergelijkbaar met de CELTA.
- Andere TEFL: Zoals the Boland school, TEFL International, International House. Hierbij moet je vaak goed navragen hoe goed de opleidingen zijn, hoe geaccepteerd de diploma’s zijn internationaal gezien, goede/slechte ervaringen op de opleiding. Vraag om met vroegere deelnemers te spreken.
- TEFL online: Vele aanbieders hiervan, maar de kwaliteit is zeer verschillend. Ook hier belangrijk om na te vragen hoe het bevallen is bij deelnemers, en check op het internet over referenties.

Je zou kunnen proberen of je het leuk vindt, zoals ik gedaan heb. Dan simpelweg op reis gaan zoals je normaal zou doen, en lokaal een korte termijn contractje regelen bij een private language school op een plek waar het je bevalt. (bijv. Yangshuo) Als het bevalt ga je verder met een lokale TEFL aanbieder.

- Denk aan wat voor niveau je zou willen lesgeven.
- Kijk op websites voor scholen, namen, telefoon nummers.
- Check de scholen, de reputatie onder de leraren, en geef ze een belletje.
- Dan langskomen, en een sollicitatie gesprek hebben. Wees voorzichtig met je diplomas. Geef niet overal kopieen weg, want die kunnen dan vervalst worden.

Moeilijkheden die je tegen zou kunnen komen ter plekke zijn:

Communicatie moeilijkheden:
- Soms spreken de docenten op school ook geen goed Engels, en ben je afhankelijk van je FAO (Foreign Affairs Officer) Als je geluk hebt spreekt die goed Engels, en anders heb je een klein probleem. Je zult de lokale taal moeten leren. Niet om het vloeiend te spreken natuurlijk, maar zeker wel om jezelf te redden, en om je bewust te zijn van essentiele dingen in je omgeving. Hoe hier wel rekening mee als je naar Japan, China of Rusland vertrekt. (Talen leren bevalt per persoon verschillend, maar Chinees, Japans, Thai, Bahasa en Spaans zijn niet zo moeilijk als je denkt. Russisch, Vietnamees, Hindi en Cantonees zijn echter vreselijk.)
- Culturele verschillen waar je aan zult moeten wennen. Andere eetgewoontes, ongeschreven regels op het werk en prive. Spugen op de grond, verkeerschaos, dringen en gebrek aan privacy, heel soms zelfs vijandigheid, maar zeker zul je worden belazerd met prijzen. Dit zijn dingen die zijn te verwachten, en als je hier niet langere tijd mee om kan gaan moet je er niet aan beginnen.
Je heb wellicht niet meteen de mogelijkheid om over je ervaringen te praten ter plekke, en dat kan wel eens frustrerend zijn.
- Culture shock: dit komt vaak niet als de shock die de naam aankondigt. Het kruipt langzaam naar binnen, en uit zich vaak in een negatieve kijk op het land waar je leeft. Je ziet het rondom je in je collega’s en het is erg aanlokkelijk om er in mee te gaan.
- Reverse culture shock: dit komt als je terug komt. Er is vaak geen forum waar je je hart kunt luchten. Op het internet wel, maar niet in je directe kring. Je bent opeens niet meer interessant, en de mensen weten niet precies waar je het over hebt als je praat over je leven daar. Het hangt er erg vanaf in hoeverre je jezelf zult aanpassen aan het lokale leven daar. Als je op een moment ook noodles voor ontbijt neemt, of je jezelf opeens aan de honden hotpot ziet zitten. Dit komt dubbel terug in eigen land, waar je je geleerde ervaringen niet kunt delen.

Contract moeilijkheden:
- Slechte voorwaarden, dingen die je over het hoofd gezien heb. Zorg er dus voor dat je een kopie hebt, dat je de tijd hebt om alles door te lezen. Zet nergens je handtekening onder als je niet zeker bent van de inhoud van het document.
- Dubieuze voorwaarden, of punten die anders geinterpreteerd kunnen worden. Vb: bonus aan einde van contract periode, als dit met succes is afgesloten. (wie bepaalt dat?) Als het mogelijk is zo gedetailleerd mogelijk de punten zwart op wit hebben. (uitbetalingsdata, accommodatie, lesplanning, visa details.)
- Wees je bewust van je legale situatie. Als je illegaal werkt, is dat je eigen risico. Je kunt dan belazert worden, zonder dat je er iets tegen terug kan doen. Zorg voor zover mogelijk zelf voor je Visum, geef NOOIT je paspoort af (tenzij het is om je visum te regelen, maar dan moet je hem zsm terug krijgen) Je paspoort is het belangrijkste document dat je bij je hebt. Het is illegaal voor derden om dat voor je te bewaren. Je ambassade kan vaak niets voor je doen als je in de shit zit. Alleen als het gaat om paspoort zaken, en dingen die buiten jouw schuld om zorgen dat jij in de gevangenis komt.

Prive moeilijkheden:
- Het zou kunnen dat het allemaal even niet lukt. Heimwee, eenzaamheid, spanning en andere factoren kunnen allemaal ervoor zorgen dat je het niet meer ziet zitten. Ga dan vooral bij jezelf te rade of je dit wel echt wilt / kunt. Waar wordt je zelf het gelukkigst van? Maar bedenk wel dat je als je er eenmaal zit, je niet zomaar meer weg kan. Je hebt een contract, en je kan niet zomaar een ‘midnight run’ plegen. Er zijn erbij die dit wel doen, en ermee wegkomen, maar het is niet netjes, en geeft ons een slechte naam. Bovendien is het zielig voor de studenten die je achterlaat.
- Pas op met lokale romances. Zeker als er leerlingen mee gemoeid zijn. Het is vaak illegaal om een relatie te hebben met een van je leerlingen, om duidelijke redenen lijkt me.
- Alcoholisme is een reeel gevaar.
- Langdurig geen contact met vrienden en familie. Internet heb je overal gelukkig, maar uiteindelijk ben je op jezelf. Zorg dat je er mentaal klaar voor bent.

Before going:

1. Bekijk in welk land je geinteresseerd bent.
2. Welke qualificaties heb je? (BA en TEFL is prima)
3. Kun je legaal werken in het land van je keuze? (Japan is soms moeilijker qua visa om te beginnen / als EU burger kun je overal in de EU werken)
4. Hoe flexibel ben je? Hoe ga je om met onzekerheden? Je zult soms niet weten wat je de week erna doet. Als je werk zoekt moet je soms op pad gaan en ter plekke gaan aankloppen. Het internet is voor ons non-native speakers vaak alleen maar een database en resource, niet een effectief sollicitatie middel.
5. Hoeveel geld breng je mee? Je moet altijd op jezelf terug kunnen vallen. Prima om met een enkeltje ergens heen te gaan, maar zorg ervoor dat je altijd zo’n 500 euro behoudt voor de vlucht naar huis. Je moet jezelf kunnen beheersen als het om geld gaat. Goedkoop leven, budget reizen, sparen voor een volgende dag is erg belangrijk in werken in het buitenland. Bedenkt altijd dat je op jezelf aan gewezen bent. Er is in principe niemand die je helpt als je in de shit zit.

Vragen bij het solliciteren op een school:

1. Op welke dagen werk je? Weekends, avonden, English corners?
2. Wat is je lesrooster? Begin en eind tijden. Ook meteen examen tijdstippen en semester data verifieren.
3. Wie regelt de visa, de juiste visa, resident permit, en visa extensies?
4. Accommodatie inbegrepen in contract? Wat voor accomodatie, afstand, reistijd, extra kosten! Zorg dat je het te zien krijgt voordat je iets tekent.
5. Is er een school curriculum? Wat voor stof behandel je? Wat is je hoofddoel? Oral English? Alle vier skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening)?
6. Wat voor materialen levert de school? Werkboek? Kun je het inzien?
7. Heb je de vrijheid om zelf materialen te verzamelen, maken en te gebruiken? Heb je de vrijheid om met de klasse opstelling te oetelen? Tafels, leerlingen niveau’s, etc. Als je deskundigheid laat zien, dan kom je vaak erg ver met dit onderwerp, en daar zul je geen spijt van krijgen.
8. Zijn er observatie lessen? Aangekondigd of niet?
9. Zijn er dingen buiten de reguliere lessen waar je bij aanwezig moet zijn? Vergaderingen, sociale avonden, English corners, Public relations trips, oudervergaderingen, examens?
10. Hoe zijn de vakanties geregeld? Data, vergoedingen, verzekering (als je die via de school hebt) Summer camps waar je bi jmoet zijn, of kunt helpen?
11. Wat zegt de school over orde handhaving? Spijbelen, orde in klas, coordinatoren, klassementoren, te laat komen, campus regelementen?
12. Hoe zien de details er uit als bijvoorbeeld:
§ Eind bonus
§ Vliegtickets
§ Accommodatie bijdrage (als je buiten de school woont)
§ Internet access op school, thuis.
§ Opslag regels, hoeveel, wanneer.
13. Kun je met een leraar spreken die eerder of op het moment lesgeeft op de school?
14. Moet je registreren bij de lokale politie?

Reisbegeleiden:

Leuk, veelzijdig, spannend, stressvol, sociaal en dat allemaal tegelijk.
Je zult hier niet veel geld mee verdienen (Nog altijd meer dan met lesgeven in ontwikkelings gebieden).

Je ben in principe op pad voor een Nederlands bedrijf, en dus ben je niet in dienst in het land waar je werkt. Je betaalt dus gewoon belasting in Nederland, bent ziekenfonds verzekerd, krijgt geld gestort op je Nederlandse bankrekening, etc. Alleen loop je rond aan de andere kant van de wereld, met 20 man die rechtstreeks van jou afhankelijk zijn.

Ik had destijds mn leeftijd niet mee. Ik was 22, en de groep gemiddeld 40. Maar toch kon de groep niet zonder me. Ik sprak nl de taal, had reiservaring, en wist wat te doen in noodgevallen, wie te bellen, en waarheen te gaan.
Als je dit doet, moet je behoorlijk sociaal zijn aangelegd. Je moet met iedereen kunnen opschieten, dus ook met de mensen die je niet mag. Je moet niet te assertief zijn, maar ook zeker niet te stil. Je moet serieus zijn, maar ook voor ontspanning kunnen zorgen. Je moet een harde stem hebben, en op de een of andere manier de aandacht kunnen trekken. Het is handig als je lang bent, en mensen je makkelijk herkennen.

Bovenal moet je inspelen op onverwachte dingen.
Er gebeurt altijd wel iets. Ik had in m’n eerste reis een ruzie tussen deelnemers, 4 zakken gerold bij deelnemers, en verkeerd gereden met de bus. Verder nog een aantal berovingen gehad, en een ziekenhuis bezoek. En twee keer een zeer slecht hotel.

De kunst is om overal een positieve draai aan te geven. Shit happens, so you’d better enjoy it.
Incidenten die gebeuren geven jou de kans om de groep te laten zien dat je dit voor ze oplost. Je gaat aan het bellen, neemt ondertussen de groep mee, en regelt de excursies, en zorgt voor opvang voor de getroffen deelnemers. Je blijft lachen, en ziet dit terug in de fooi aan het einde van je reis.

Incidenten:
- De bus van Yangshuo die stuk ging,
- De zakkenrollers in Moskou,
- De vliegtuig vertraging in Kunming,
- De ruzie in Rusland,
- De dames van Holland International,
- Het hotel in Sergeiev Posad, en de busreis van Panzihua naar Lijiang,
- De karaoke nacht in Novgorod,
- Zwemmen in Hongkong,
- De rug van Henk in Moskou,
- De traveller’s cheques in Kunming,
- De verjaardagen op reis (taarten kopen),

Dingen die je moet onthouden:
- Blijf bij de groep, no matter what.
- Het belangrijkste is dat de reis soepel verloopt voor het merendeel van de groep.
- Je kunt het niet iedereen altijd naar de zin maken.
- Je bent aan het werk, 24 uur per dag.
- Blijf positief, en wanhoop nooit. Jij weet altijd meer dan de groep.
- Wat er ook gebeurt, het gebeurt niet bij jou. Jij helpt alleen maar de getroffen personen. Blijf op een afstand.

Algemeen:

Opties voor werken in buitenland gevarieerd.
Van film extra’s tot universiteit docent

Eerst doel stellen:
- Werken voor geld of op vrijwillige basis?
- Hoe lang wil je weg? 2 maanden / jaar / onbeperkt?
- Welk land / continent heb je voor ogen?
- Wat zijn je verwachtingen? Ben je realistisch?

Dan informatie zoeken.
De beste manier om informatie op te zoeken is erheen te gaan en rond te kijken op reis. Echter heb je misschien die luxe niet.

Wat zijn je qualificaties?
Wat kan je, en wat voor relevante werk ervaring kun je meebrengen?

Opties:
- Au pair : weet ik helaas niks van.
- WWOOF: is gaaf. Kan je veel veel geld besparen. Is overal ter wereld te doen, dus wordt vooral lid. Je kunt WWOOF international benaderen, en ook WWOOF landenspecifiek.
- Internships: met netwerken kom je hiermee het verst. Op het internet heb je wel eens wat info, maar je moet zeer actief op zoek gaan naar bedrijven en gespecialiseerde searches uitvoeren, waarna je de bedrijven zelf moet benaderen.
- Volunteering : 3 vormen. (Ga vooral checken bij de Joho company voor meer info.)
1. met eigen bijdrage: is soms vrij duur. Maar je kunt wel een sponsorings actie opzetten die het je mogelijk maakt deze projecten te doen. Dit heb ik eens gezien op een website ergens, en is zeker erg leuk.
2. zonder eigen bijdrage:
3. met salaris

Verzekeringen:
Noodzakelijk kwaad. Ik heb zelf Joho special ISIS gehad, en Elvia.
Allebei gebruikt, en zeker de moeite waard geweest. (Rusland ziekenhuis, camera India, en oma Australie)
Als RB-er ben je gewoon ziekenfonds verzekerd, maar als docent niet. Heel soms kan een school je verzekeren, maar ik vertrouw ze voor geen cent. Zeker niet de PICC in China.
Je kunt dit beter doen met verzekerde kwaliteit van Joho of Elvia. Joho is de goedkoopste vooralsnog.

Accommodatie:
Als RB-er of docent hoef je hier nooit druk over te maken.
Accommodatie zit vaak in je contract als docent Engels, op de campus, of dichtbij de school. Zorg er wel voor dat je het inspecteerd voordat je iets tekent. Als RB-er zit je altijd in hotels. Huur is vaak goedkoop, zeker in China, en het is makkelijk om iets in korte tijd te vinden.

Wat mee te nemen?
Zo weinig mogelijk. Standaard dingen als camera, reisboek, muziek, etc. Maar als je weet dat je gaat lesgeven, neem dan vooral tijdschriften mee, zo veel mogelijk boeken (Engels natuurlijk), wat boeken met activiteiten voor ESL, en foto’s van je familie.
Creditcard is handig voor vluchten en noodgevallen (maar pas op voor fraude), Rijbewijs, en internationaal rijbewijs is handig (in China mag je niet rijden zonder apart examen te doen btw).
Verzekeringspolis, en kopien van alles. Je kunt makkelijk een moneybelt meenemen, en daar alle documenten in doen. Kopieen van diploma’s zijn nooit weg, maar laat de originelen maar thuis.
Als je niet weet wat je mee moet nemen raad ik je aan NIET naar reiswinkels toe te gaan, want die smeren je teveel spullen aan. Je hebt echt niet zoveel nodig, en je koopt het meeste toch lokaal.

The Basic Criteria
What It Takes to Live and Work Abroad
by Celeste Heiter

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/
0401/what_it_takes_to_life_and_work_abroad.shtml

Are you tired of the status quo? Bored with the daily grind? Sick of the rat race? Do you picture yourself breaking free of earth’s gravity for a while, and soaring off to live and work in some far-flung destination, perhaps for a year, or even for good? Maybe you imagine yourself teaching English in Bangkok by day, enjoying the sizzle of the city by night, and basking in the laid-back beach scene on the weekends. Or perhaps you’re an IT expert who dreams of consulting for an up-and-coming dot.com in Beijing while perfecting your tai chi forms with a wushu master. Maybe you’re a post-graduate archaeology student with an urge to dig, or a statuesque beauty seeking the allure of international fashion runways, a fluent Spanish translator who wants to run with the bulls, or a wannabe chef (have knives, will travel).

Whatever your dream, now may be the time to go for it, but not without first taking a good, long look at yourself to see if you have what it takes to live and work abroad. Making the decision to relocate to a foreign country is a monumental leap, and having the ‘right stuff’ is crucial. Lots of people dream of doing it, but a significant percentage of them get where they’re going and bomb in the first month or two because they didn’t realize their own shortcomings and weren’t aware of the kinds of obstacles and pitfalls that awaited them.

Unless you’re already a gypsy at heart with a lifestyle to match, the process will undoubtedly require an enormous expenditure of time, energy, effort and money; not to mention the fact that your adventure comes with no guarantee. And although your chosen destination may be a quaint, charming, simple environment, or it may be one of the safest, most sophisticated nations in the world; its culture, language and climate may present unforeseen difficulties for a foreigner in the course of everyday life. Therefore, it is crucial that you take a thorough personal inventory to ensure that you have what it takes before embarking upon such a daring venture. The following questionnaire will help you evaluate your assets and attributes to determine if you are up to the challenge.

Questionnaire:

1. My level of education is:
A Post Graduate Degree and/or TEFL Certificate
B College Graduate
C Some College
D High School graduate

2. I have:
A More than $5000 in savings
B $3500-5000 in savings
C $1000-3500 in savings
D Less than $1000 in savings

3. My physical condition is:
A Excellent in both stamina and overall physical health
B A little out of shape but basically good
C Fairly good but with a few troublesome health conditions
D Lacking stamina and in need of regular medical attention

4. I am someone who
A Can face any challenge without fear
B Can get by on my own in most challenging situations
C Functions best with a companion
D Is easily frightened by unfamiliar settings or unexpected events

5. I am a person who
A Adapts easily to new situations
B Enjoys the unfamiliar, but prefers my routine
C Avoids unfamiliar situations whenever possible
D Must adhere to a strict and familiar routine

6. When faced with a challenge
A I never give up until I succeed
B I work very hard and usually succeed
C I work at things that come easily and produce immediate rewards
D I give up at the first obstacle

7. When it comes to solving problems
A I use my own resources, logic, intuition and imagination until I find a solution
B I research the problem and usually arrive at a solution
C I seek the help of others for solutions
D I’m not very good at solving problems

8. I’m someone who
A Finds lots in common with strangers and makes friends easily
B Gets along well with most everyone but is slow to form friendships
C Works well with other people but keep to myself
D Is shy or prefers to remain a loner

9. In my relationship with my family, I am
A Very independent
B Closely connected but not on a daily basis
C Very closely connected and rely upon them for support
D Still living with my parents and rely on my family for everything

10.Where food is concerned
A I love to try new foods and will eat most anything
B I enjoy a wide variety of foods and am not too picky
C I am very conservative and stick to the basics
D I am on a strict diet

11. When I take a trip
A I travel well and enjoy all kinds of transportation
B I prefer comfort and luxury but can tolerate most any type of vehicle
C I am a little claustrophobic and prone to motion sickness
D I hate to travel

12. Where honesty and integrity are concerned:
A I uphold both at all costs
B I use my judgment and try to be the best person I can whenever possible
C I frequently bend the rules and compromise my integrity
D I don’t really have a code of behaviour for myself

13. When I find myself in a less than ideal situation
A I am always willing to compromise to make the best of a situation
B I hold on to my ideals until I see that a compromise is the only way
C I find it hard to compromise and do so reluctantly
D I do not compromise under any circumstances

14. When life becomes difficult
A I try to see the humour in it and keep a balanced perspective
B I try to solve my problem but not always with the best attitude
C I sink into a bad mood for a while but usually manage to overcome the problem
D I get depressed and discouraged and usually give up

15. When I look back on my life experiences
A I feel that I have lived a rich and rewarding life so far
B Whether good or bad, I learned something from all of them
C I’ve had ups and downs but am still basically optimistic
D Nothing ever seems to work out for me

To score yourself to see if you have what it takes to live and work abroad, give yourself:
3 points for every a),
2 points for every b),
1 point for every c),
and zero for every d).

Bonus Points:
I already have a job awaiting me in my destination: 10 points
I speak the local language: 10 points
I have relatives or friends living there: 5 points
I have travelled extensively in other foreign countries: 3 points

If you scored:
More than 35 – GO FOR IT! You have what it takes!
25-34 – You may encounter some difficulty, but you will probably succeed
15-24 – Take a look at your weak areas and get yourself prepared for the challenge
Less than 15 – Don’t even think about it

The Basic Criteria

At a minimum, the following fifteen assets and attributes are essential for a successful and rewarding experience abroad: a college education, adequate finances, good physical health, courage, adaptability, perseverance, resourcefulness, congeniality, independence, an adventurous palate, a love of travel, a code of integrity, a willingness to compromise, a sense of humour and a genuine desire to live life to its fullest. Each attribute plays a crucial role in your ability to thrive and succeed in unfamiliar and challenging surroundings.

College Education
Although it is possible to find employment abroad without a college degree, your probabilities increase exponentially if you have one. A degree of any kind is better than none at all, and for teaching English, the best credential is a BA or better in English with an ESL certificate. Many employers specifically require that a job candidate meet certain criteria, and those employers who do not insist upon it are still more likely to hire those individuals who do. Of course, many individuals without college degrees earn a perfectly good living as freelancers, but they are the exception to the rule, and they typically have some other means of staying in the country, such as a spouse with a work visa. In general however, freelancing may not meet the country’s government standards for procuring and maintaining a work visa. The bottom line is: If you want to get hired by a reputable establishment, stay in school yourself and get your diploma before you head off on your adventure.

Adequate Finances
For some adventuresome spirits, the idea of relocating to an underdeveloped nation is a tempting way to escape the struggles of making ends meet here at home. A place where a month’s rent for house with a servant costs less than dinner and a movie in the U.S. But remember that underdeveloped economies are commensurate with underdeveloped salaries. So it’s important to set aside some financial reserves for extracurricular travel, or for when your pay check falls short of your monthly bills, and for your return airfare when you’re ready to head home. And for those sojourners headed for cosmopolitan destinations, remember that the cost of living in a large city can be equal to or higher than that of most U.S. cities. So, if your dream job awaits you in someplace like Tokyo, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Berlin, Florence, Cairo, Hong Kong, or Sydney, you’ll need to bring along enough money to sustain yourself until you find work, and to set yourself up in a modest apartment until the pay checks start rolling in. Of course, in a perfect world, you’d have a job, an apartment and a company car awaiting you when you get there. Actually, it’s not unheard of.

Good Health and Stamina
Unless your job includes a company car, you will probably have to rely on public transportation for the daily task of looking for work and for travelling from home to your new job and back. This often requires a great deal of walking to and from the train stations or bus stops in all kinds of weather. Many countries are hot, humid and rainy in the summer, and depending on where you are, it is cold and may even snow in the winter. So, unless you have a generous salary for an apartment in an ideal location, and an expense account for taxi fare or the use of a personal car, you’d best be in good physical shape for walking or bicycling at least part of the way wherever you go. Bicycles are usually quite common and affordable, and provide good basic transportation for errands and commuting to and from the train station. Therefore, the ability to walk or bicycle to and from your local destinations is a minimum requirement. And, of course, if you hope to enjoy any amount of recreational travel, good physical stamina and vigour are a must.

Many countries also have excellent health care systems, with fairly adequate social and cultural support for foreigners. Be advised however, when it comes to health, the local ideology may differ significantly from western medical practices, and the challenge of explaining one’s symptoms and figuring out exactly what ailment you have and what kind of drugs a doctor has prescribed can be somewhat bewildering. There are often a limited number of clinics in the metropolitan areas with native English-speaking doctors who specialize in treating foreigners, but they are few and far between. And those individuals with ongoing health conditions that require medications such as insulin, thyroid supplements, antidepressants, and even women who take oral contraceptives, would be well advised to make special arrangements for them in advance.

Courage
Your chosen destination may be one of the safest and most culturally advanced civilizations on earth, and English speakers may be common. Or it may be a quaint little town where everybody knows each other. But for a first-time visitor, any foreign destination may also be like nothing you ever imagined. Even the most innocuous and commonplace occurrences can be profoundly disturbing if you’re unprepared for the experience.

Adaptability
Most countries have unique lifestyles and customs. And undoubtedly, you will want to familiarize yourself with them before you go. But it doesn’t end there. Once you arrive, you will discover that there are subtleties and protocol that will make it not only possible, but highly likely that an unwitting foreigner will commit a faux pas at almost every turn. Over time, however, with an eye for nuance and an ability to adapt, you can learn how to behave appropriately in most every situation. And then there are the furnishings and paraphernalia of everyday life. Things like bedding, appliances and cooking utensils. In public places, there may be unusual telephones, mailboxes and vending machines. Not to mention that most of the signs will be written in the local language with no English translations. But, if you maintain an open mind and a willingness to adapt to your surroundings, chances are you’ll survive quite nicely.

Perseverance
After a long day of trudging from interview to interview, and looking at one apartment after another, you may find yourself flagging, if not ready to turn tail and flee back to the comfort and familiarity of home. Here is where perseverance pays off and is perhaps the most important element of your quest. In order to succeed, it is imperative that you do your research, talk to the locals, make your phone calls, buy your newspapers, and follow every single lead, no matter how remote or how small. Do this every day, without fail. Keep detailed notes, make yourself a list of all the possibilities you discovered throughout the day: every job opportunity, every agency, every reference, and every available apartment. At the end of each day, take some quiet time to relax and develop a game plan for how you’re going to follow up on them all tomorrow. And then get up the next day and do it all over again until you succeed.

Resourcefulness
Finding a job and a place to live in a foreign country requires a well-rounded repertoire of resources. This may include the prospects you turned up in your research before you left home, as well as any opportunities you may have discovered once you arrive. The best resources are personal contacts and references, guidebooks, newspapers, local residents, and especially the Internet. The secret lies in how fully you explore and utilize those resources. Therefore, it is essential that you do your homework, keep very thorough and organized notes, follow up on every lead, and don’t overlook any possibility.

Congeniality
The best way to thrive in a foreign destination is to develop a strong network of friends and acquaintances. Not only will they provide you with companionship, but also with information on the city and the culture, valuable survival tips, and emotional support through difficult times. And the friendships you form on your travels will last you a lifetime.

Independence
There’s nothing more reassuring than the comfort and support of a close-knit family. But once you’re at large in the world, you’ll need to become more self-reliant. You’ll need to be able to make your own decisions without seeking the advice of your parents or siblings, you’ll need to learn to solve your own problems, and you’ll have to get used to taking care of life’s basic necessities on your own.

An Adventurous Palate
Chances are that once you leave the cocoon of comfort that is the U.S., you’re not very likely to find Skippy Peanut Butter, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese or Campbell’s Tomato Soup. What you will find is lots of new and unusual spices, noodles prepared a thousand different ways, and strange sea creatures you’ve never even heard of, much less imagined yourself eating. But be intrepid. Take the plunge. Try everything…at least once. And remember that every culture has its own version of “bland” food, and no matter where you go… there’s always McDonald’s.

A Love of Travel
Unless you’ve chosen Canada or Mexico, chances are you’re going to have to fly to your destination on a commercial airline. And unless you’ve chosen a major international city, you’ll probably have to take some kind of secondary transportation to get where you’re going, such as a smaller domestic airline, a transit train, a shuttle, a ferry, a bus, or a private car. The trip may take more than a day to go from your home to your destination. It may require extensive layovers and involve transit lines that do not intersect. So you may have to be prepared to arrive jet lagged and exhausted. And depending on where you choose to live, once you’ve settled into your new surroundings, any recreational trips you take to local destinations may require travel on aging vehicles that may be less than punctual, routinely overcrowded, and some may even allow domestic animals to ride in the passenger area. So remember, you’ve got to endure the trip to get to the destination.

Integrity
One of the most important characteristics of living abroad is integrity. Qualities such as a strong work ethic, pride in workmanship, and team effort are imperative. And on a personal level, in everyday life, honour and integrity are the gold standard. Therefore, it is recommended that you conduct yourself with the highest code of behaviour and ethics at all times. It will serve you well and keep you out of trouble.

Willingness To Compromise
While you’re planning your move, it’s easy to dream in Technicolor: the perfect job, the perfect apartment, the perfect experience. Yet, no matter how carefully you plan and prepare, there will always be those elements that don’t meet your expectations. Early on, before you’ve assimilated the culture and explored the opportunities that await you there, it may be tempting to hold on to that unwavering paragon. However, if you are lucky enough to be offered a pleasant job that meets your basic living expenses with a little disposable income left over for fun, by all means, take it. If you find an affordable apartment that feels homey and liveable, go for it. Remember, once you’re settled and employed, you can always trade up.

A Sense of Humour
Despite its sophistication and refinement, or its pastoral beauty and rustic charm, any culture can also be exhausting, bewildering, infuriating, overwhelming, and downright absurd at times. And when the travails and tribulations of your day frazzle your last nerve, sometimes the only antidote is a sense of humour. So, if you didn’t travel with a companion, find yourself a buddy to swap stories with and have a laugh at day’s end. It will help to put the whole crazy circus into perspective, and will provide an outlet for your frustrations, as well as a high-five for your triumphs. English-speaking ex-pats are everywhere, and most are more than happy to meet up with a kindred spirit. In the beginning, or anytime thereafter for that matter, don’t hesitate to strike up a conversation on the train, in a pub, a shop, or even on the street. You have nothing to lose, and may gain a mentor and compatriot for the effort.

A Desire to Live Life to Its Fullest
Living abroad can be one of the most personally enlightening and enriching experiences that life has to offer. But to thrive in a new and unfamiliar culture, and to get the full benefit from the time you spend there, you must have a broad sense of perspective and an unconditional willingness to let go of your expectations and immerse yourself in the experience. Live the lifestyle, eat the food, get to know the people, their history, their language and their culture. Make friends, make money, and yes, make mistakes. But whatever you do, make the most of it!

Celeste Heiter, freelance writer and graphic artist, spent two years living, working and travelling in Japan. Among her many treasured experiences in this paradoxically modern-yet-mystical culture was the birth of her son Will. Celeste and Will live in California’s beautiful Napa Valley. Celeste is the author of Ganbatte Means Go For It! Or…How to Become an English Teacher in Japan, Vignettes of Japan, and Five Seven Five. Her books are available for purchase on Amazon.com. Celeste is also a frequent contributor to ThingsAsian.com, where her archive of articles can be accessed at http://www.thingsasian.com/goto_bio/bio.195.html

The following four articles may also be of particular interest to anyone seeking teaching opportunities in Japan:
Getting Settled in a Brave New World
Which Comes First, the Job or the Apartment?
Eyes on the Prize…….. Immigration Nihon-do (Japanese Style)

This is copied from Transitions abroad (see links on the left).

Build an International Employment Profile

By Jean-Marc Hachey of www.workingoverseas.com

International careers don’t just happen. They are carefully planned and built up over a period of time. International employers insist that you have international experience before sending you to work abroad. The key to gaining international experience is to dive into all things international while you are at university and by taking a gap year off. You need to build up a host of international experiences before you are ready to start applying for professional international jobs. And the great thing about building these experiences is that you can have a blast doing it!

Getting Started

International careers are built on experience in various areas. Here is what you should be doing during your time as a university student to improve your odds of getting a full-time, professional international job after you graduate:

Academic Studies

- An MA is a prerequisite for most international positions. This is especially true in the social sciences, pure sciences, and business. It may be less important in health careers, engineering, and computer science. No matter what your field, include an international component, directly by your choice of courses, or, indirectly in the subjects you choose for major research projects.

- A BA in any field with outside electives broadens your skills inventory. For example, a science student should have four internationally focused social science courses; a history major should have four finance or management courses. Include language skills with all types of disciplines.

- Other academic experience is important. Attend or help organize a conference; participate in a professor-led research project; work as a teaching assistant; write a book review for an academic journal; apply for merit-based scholarships and awards; participate in academic competitions; become a tutor; make public presentations; actively seek to work on team projects and preferably team up with foreign students.

Networking and Cross-Cultural Experience

- Network with at least three international experts in your field of interest. For example, write essays that require you to speak directly to someone working internationally in your field of interest.

- Guide foreigners who are new to your country. You can act as a tour guide for visiting professors; assist with foreign student orientation; work with refugees; or teach English as a second language.

- Befriend foreign students on your campus. Join foreign student social circles on campus; visit with them in their homes; become familiar with their food and social behavior; try to pay a visit to them and their families in their home country; actively participate in foreign student associations.

- Become socially active and knowledgeable in a culture other than your own. Hang out at ethnic social clubs; learn to dance to African or South American music; become knowledgeable in one or more fields of ethnic music; focus on the writing or history from one region or country; learn ethnic cooking; join an Internet club with foreign members.

Overseas Experience

- Work internationally for 2-6 months. As an intern, co-op student or volunteer, preferably in your field of expertise. Try for two professional internships over the course of your six years of study. Strongly consider taking a gap year to gain any manner of international experience. There are thousands of international internships positions available each year, and many of them are paid positions allowing you to live and work in all parts of the world.

- Study abroad for one or more semesters. Study abroad in your field and learn a new language. Almost every university has exchange programs that help you study abroad for credit, and everyone should consider studying for at least one semester, often in your third year, while getting a degree.

- Travel for 2-6 months. Do not underestimate the value of backpacking for six months. Interact closely with people from other countries in order to learn the skills required by international employers. One way to extend your stay abroad is to study, volunteer, or intern. Add onto your experience with a short trip at the end of your placement. Always consider traveling in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, South and Central America rather than the traditional choices of Western Europe, Australia, or New Zealand.

- Be creative. Extend the value of all your international travel by combining two or more objectives while abroad. For example, take four months off and study Spanish full-time in Guatemala while living with a local family and having a full-time one-on-one instructor for less then the cost of going to school in the U.S. or Canada. Extend your stay there by giving computer courses to local charity groups or volunteering to write English language brochures for ecotourism groups. Travel in the region and practice your new Spanish while visiting with professionals in your field of work who are looking for short-term interns.

Hard Skills

- Proficiency in a new language. Be able to speak and read a language other than your mother tongue. First consider learning Spanish since it is accessible and useful in North America. In all cases, be an active listener and learn to pick up at least 20 or 30 words in any country you visit, however briefly.

- Economic and geographic knowledge of the world. Gain a solid knowledge of the political and social forces shaping the planet. Start by regularly reading news magazines such as The Economist.

- Writing and analytical skills. Demonstrate these skills outside of course work by participating in a research project, writing a brochure, publishing an article in a magazine, or writing for a web site.

- Computer skills. Acquire strong word processing skills (can you produce a table of contents, section breaks, footnotes, or use styles?); be comfortable using spreadsheets (can you produce a budget or sort a table of data?); be familiar with databases (can you explain the difference between a flat file and a relational database?); try to develop exceptional Internet research skills (can you find the phone number of a cheap Paris hotel in five minutes? What about the CIA country profile for Bhutan?).

- Business skills. The most sought-after employees are those with multidisciplinary backgrounds, especially business backgrounds that include strong people skills. Employers seek scientists who can understand market research, engineers who can manage research teams and help commercialize products, and political scientists who can work in trade promotion. There is a need to assess the business aspect of almost every field, such as strategic planning, financial management, and systems analysis.

- Other management skills. These include project management, accounting, training, research, report writing, evaluating.

Soft Skills

- Organizing, people, and leadership skills. Demonstrate these through work and volunteer experience, preferably with an international group, organizing an event, or as an executive member of a committee.

- Intercultural communications abilities. Demonstrate these by being conversant in describing patterns of behavior in cross-cultural work and social environments. Learn to professionally describe these real-life experiences.

- Coping and adapting abilities. Demonstrate these with examples of how you coped when living away from your support structure of family and friends.
International Job Hunting Skills

- Essentials for finding international work. Experience has shown that those who are successful at finding international work have all done something extraordinary to land their first job. They have gone out on a limb, acted boldly (but politely), have been entrepreneurial, have sacrificed certainty and taken risks to gain international experience and land that first job. International employers are looking for individuals who are fully committed to international work and living, and your job-hunting methods should reflect this.

Make the Commitment

International jobs require a long-term commitment—you need to invest in yourself to build an international IQ. This process eventually becomes a lifestyle, an outlook on life, a commitment to internationalism and cross-cultural learning. It is an interesting and creative process. Go forth—the world is your teacher. And have fun with the exploration!

Volunteer Resources:

Willing Workers On Organic Farms
http://www.wwoof.org

The Joho company (Dutch and English)
http://www.joho.nl/

Volunteer Service Overseas VSO
http://www.vso.org.uk/

Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organizations
http://www.astro.rug.nl/~grijs/aevso.html

British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
http://www.demon.co.uk/dobx/btcv/inter.html

Earthwatch
http://www.earthwatch.org

Earth Pledge Foundation
http://www.earthpledge.org

EarthWise Research Expeditions
http://www.teleport.com/~earthwyz/volunt.htm

Global Volunteers
http://www.globalvlntrs.org

InterAction
http://www.interaction.org/ia/

International Community Service Resources
http://www.contact.org/comserve.htm

Remote Area Medical
http://www.usit.net/hp/ram/help.html

Trans-Cultural Study Guide
http://www.moon.com/trans.cultural/trans.cultural.html

United Nations Volunteers
http://suna.unv.ch/

Volunteer Opportunities
http://www.gorp.com/gorp/nonprof/main.htm

Volunteers For Peace
http://www.vermontel.com/~vfp/home.htm

Volunteers in Asia
http://www.moon.com/staying.healthy/travel.health/volunteers.html

adventure.online
http://www.adventureonline.com

Australia Internship Programs
http://205.214.89.2:80/internships/

Bennett School of Travel
http://bwtravel.com/overview.html

Centre For Tourism
http://www.scu.edu.au/ressci/tourism/

Council on International Educational Exchange
http://www.ciee.org/ciee.htm

Cruise Ship Employment
http://www.cruisekat.com

Educational and Cultural Exchanges
http://www.usia.gov/usiahome/educatio.html

Explorations In Travel, Inc.
http://www.xensei.com:80/users/explore/

The Graduate Tourism Program Home Page
http://www.monash.edu.au/ncas/tourism/tourism.htm

Hospitality Net
http://www.xxlink.nl/hospitalitynet/job

ISTC
http://www.istc.org/default.htm

Internships
http://www.advc.com/internships

MayaQuest Learning Adventure
http://mayaquest.mecc.com/

National Center For Educational Travel
http://www2.ios.com/~ncet/

Outdoor Recreation Research
http://sfbox.vt.edu:10021/Y/yfleung/recres.html

Peace Corps
http://www.clark.net/pub/peace/PeaceCorps.html

Programs for Americans Going Abroad
http://www.cdsintl.org:80/fromus.html

Recreation and Leisure Studies
http://www.geog.ualberta.ca/als/rlsres.html

Servas Association
http://www.crs4.it/~gavino/SERVAS/

Smoky Mountain Field School
http://web.ce.utk.edu/departments/noncredit/smoky/smoky.html

Study abroad
http://www.studyabroad.com

U.S. National Park Service Employment
http://www.nps.gov/personnel/index.html

Overseas Jobs Express
http://www.overseasjobs.com

Web Travel Resources
http://www.prairienet.org/~dbrown/travel.html

Campus Travel
http://www.campustravel.co.uk

College Travel International
http://www.prairienet.org/rec/travel/homepage.html

Council Travel
http://www.ciee.org/cts/ctshome.htm

Student and Budget Travel Guide
http://asa.ugl.lib.umich.edu/chdocs/travel/travel-guide.html

Travelhouse
http://www.cymfony.com/travelhouse

USIA Educational and Cultural Exchanges.
http://www.usia.gov/homepage.html