Work and play

So with the Crab's parents living in Bandung, West Java, that becomes an ideal place to start from and lends a certain amount of flexibility. It is an amazing opportunity, staying with people who have lived exactly what I am to be living will make the experience less alien. Indeed Gary, Anja's father, worked as an English teacher initially, when he first moved over. For myself, having studied foreign languages at Univiersity, the idea of teaching English as a foreign language really does appeal. I have applied to do a CELTA course over the summer holidays and I have already begun working in schools in the UK. This will stop during the summer break, allowing time to do the course. 

I have also begun to look at ESL centres in Bandung. English First is apparently the largest language school so it makes sense to contact them first; or does it? Should I look toward to smaller independent schools or stick with the giants? Certainly they would offer more security but what is better for the local economy? Likewise, I don't want to tie myself down in one place if AC is wanting to move about. It would be important to find a job that allows me to have enough time off to see some of the country and that doesn't hold me in one place for too long. Is it possible, for example, to move to other language schools within the same contract? Inside Indonesia? Within southeast Asia? To do so I would benefit from working for someone like EF.

Moving away from the UK or moving to Indonesia?

With a view to move away at the end of the year, a weblog to document plans, outcomes and realizations seems fitting. In 2010 I hope to be living away from the UK. I am under no illusions as to the originality of this idea. To say that the idea of traveling is popular today is a definite understatement; attempting to save for and set off on dream holidays is a seemingly integral part of the British education system for my generation.  Round the world tickets offer an opportunity to see a maximum number of places in a comparitively short amount of time. Also, with a little thought, a little prior planning and an organization such as Raleigh International or a TEFL qualification, one can easily make have a holiday and conjure up some bonus material for a CV.

Living abroad has been always been synonymous with traveling and exploring, with people setting out , not happy with meerly visiting a place, prefering to make an extended stay. At first glance, my own family and friends seem to be quite settled in the UK.
Looking more closely though, my Great-Grandparents managed to live abroad for most of their lives; they lived in China as missionaries. My Dad managed to work for two years in New Guinea after University. That counts as living abroad rather than travelling, surely? Then there's my partner's parents, a German and an American living in Indonesia and having spent time living in each others' countries. Then there's Anja herself, who was raised in Indonesia and Germany before living in the UK for the last five years.