teaching overseas - then returning years later

alyth

Hopefully this is the right board as it concerns familes. I'm almost 43, just gained my degree, am TEFL qualified and have gained a really good job working in China on a 9 month contract. I went to uni specifically to get my degree to teach in China.

I leave in 6 weeks' time on a one way ticket. I'm planning on getting rid of 90% of my life and the rest will go in my parents' attic. However I've been having a little wobble this weekend. My plan is to spend the next 10/15 years travelling and teaching, but then I don't really know what to do after that - I'll be in my mid 50s, I am single, no children and only a few close friends. I had a vague idea to come back to Scotland and then do freelance teaching but having spend the weekend on a very quiet checkout I've had time to think.

Does anyone know anyone who has been in my situation? Even what to do over the summer periods is worrying me slightly - I don't want to be crashing at my parents for 3 months a year, 2 days before I leave for China is going to be tough enough (they have their own lives, I'm used to being very much on my own). I know you can teach English at summer schools in the UK so that's an option for me, but it's more the 10/15 year ahead timeframe that suddenly caught me unawares today.

Brighton_belle

Your fears are entirely natural. But I just think you really can't plan for 15 years time, other than financially, pensions etc. I would say save as much as you can, as being old and poor is not looking to be getting any easier in this country.

So many things can happen in that time. New experiences and new people. Who know who you might connect with, what opportunities will arise.

Have you heard of wwoofing (willing workers on organic farms)- it's where you get to work on organic farms all over the world in exchange for your keep. Would that interest you at all in your summer breaks?
Well done on achieving your degree by the way:T

Funky_Bold_Ribena

You have absolutely no idea who you are going to meet along the way...any 15 year plan can change at a moment's notice. After all, it's just a plan. And the good thing about plans is that they can change.

alyth

thanks - I suppose I just had a quiet afternoon thanks to the tennis and an empty supermarket to think about things. I do plan to be sort of itinerant for the next 10 years or so, travelling, teaching, woofing - thanks for that, I have checked it out before. I guess it's just a massive step I'm taking so wobbles are inevitable I guess. Throwing caution to the wind is not me, I do like things planned out to the last detail, but I have a great opportunity to do whatever I want as financially I'm good so as long as I get my Chinese visa (the regulations suddenly changed last month) then I'm off to the other side of the world - and then who knows. Thanks for your posts and for reassuring me.

Violetta_2

Good luck Alyth, seen a few of your post's over the years, glad Uni has gone well, sounds like you are fulfilling your dreams & your life is going to be as wonderful as you deserve. blimey being all gushy, sorry. No one knows what is going to happen next week/year etc but you have a chance at happiness seize it & don't worry what's gonna happen 15 years from now. As for the summer periods, isn't travel & living expenses cheaper over that side of the world? I'm sure you may be able to do private teaching if you need the money or just go exploring. I know I don't need to say it but have fun.

alyth

Violetta wrote: »

Good luck Alyth, seen a few of your post's over the years, glad Uni has gone well, sounds like you are fulfilling your dreams & your life is going to be as wonderful as you deserve. blimey being all gushy, sorry. No one knows what is going to happen next week/year etc but you have a chance at happiness seize it & don't worry what's gonna happen 15 years from now. As for the summer periods, isn't travel & living expenses cheaper over that side of the world? I'm sure you may be able to do private teaching if you need the money or just go exploring. I know I don't need to say it but have fun.

thanks Violetta, I've seen a few posts of yours as well - we should meet up for a coffee as we're fairly close to each other ;-) I guess I just had too much time on my hands today, and worried a bit. Yeah I achieved my goal - or I will do in two weeks time when I get the all important letter from China in order to apply for my visa. I have my degree certificate and I still keep pulling it out and looking at it - I actually did it!

paddedjohn

No-one can see into the future, in 15 years you could be married and living quite happily on the other side of the world with no thoughts of returning or you could return and get refused entry due to new immigration laws brought in by a UKip government. Grab what chances you are getting now and take the future as it happens.

zagubov

Check out the other threads on here about legally staying on the electoral roll in the UK so you're not treated as a non-EEA citizen on return and keep all your rights re: benefits, NHS etc. Could be important.
If you have kids abroad, make sure they're back here three years before they start higher education.
Doesn't seem to be anybody's job to warn you about this but some posters seem to have been through all this and spotted the pitfalls so a bit of research won't hurt.
My mate's doing TEFL in China and loving it! Enjoy yourself!

pollypenny

Wow! This sounds so exciting! I remember you posting s out going to uni and being cross because an NOWorld offer hadn't materialised! I was slated for advising a potential student to read a better paper!

As others have said, 15 years is a long time. By the time you return teachers of Chinese mat well be needed in the UK, as they take us over.

Very good luck. :T

TopQuark

Good luck alyth. A wobble is only natural, but don't let it stop you - carry on and don't look back (for too long). There is no worse regret than that of a missed opportunity, a 'what might of been'. If it all goes belly up then you can always return - you have a one-way ticket, but you can always buy another in the reverse direction if it doesn't work out! Nothing is forever, except the final destination.

I moved from the UK to the far east 7 years ago for my career and I'm now in Switzerland. It was the best thing I ever did and I have no plans to return to the UK. Have a wonderful time - it will change your life. :T

angelil

Have a wonderful time! Anything can happen. My uncle packed up and left his life in the UK when he was in his late 30s, thanks to a transfer to China being offered to him by his company. Now in his early 40s he is married to a lovely Chinese lady and they have a young daughter together

Check out the "teaching overseas" forum on the TES to find more people in your situation.