If you want to work or live in another country, make sure you do it before you have too many things to give up where you are. Starting over is much easier before you become "pot committed" and every new opportunity requires too much sacrifice on your part to make it a reality. Family obligations, a job where you have autonomy, and extracurricular professional development opportunities through people you know or a strong local reputation make it nearly impossible to leave. So, if you have dreams of working in another part of the world, get out while you can.
I had a friend who left Korea several years ago to work in the Middle East. He had been in Korea over ten years, had a great job, and was starting to make a name for himself professionally. I couldn't understand why he would want to leave. Looking back, I can see now that he sensed he was approaching the point of no return. If he had stayed and gotten married, he would have most likely become a lifer and he still wanted to try different parts of the world. Luckily for him, he is now happy where he is, engaged, and has a lucrative job. I'm not sure the term "golden handcuffs" applies to him but we did discuss how challenging it would be to move on to a job that paid half what he is making now (or less).
I met some friends at a conference recently who left Korea for Vietnam. They had to start over when it came to part-time job opportunities but there was more room for growth at their main job. This made it a fair trade and since they were both teachers, leaving together didn't mean that one of them would have to give up their career to make the move. That's an important thing to consider when you are married to someone who is working. Can they work where you will be moving to if they want to? That might be a deal breaker.
Attending the TESOL Arabia conference in Dubai this year helped me to remind me that I have a very good job and life in Korea. I have passed the point where I could pack up my things and accept a high-paying job in the Middle East. It's great to know interesting, high-paying jobs are over there but it's also satisfying to know that pursuing one of them won't make my life better. I would have to give up too much.
I had a friend who left Korea several years ago to work in the Middle East. He had been in Korea over ten years, had a great job, and was starting to make a name for himself professionally. I couldn't understand why he would want to leave. Looking back, I can see now that he sensed he was approaching the point of no return. If he had stayed and gotten married, he would have most likely become a lifer and he still wanted to try different parts of the world. Luckily for him, he is now happy where he is, engaged, and has a lucrative job. I'm not sure the term "golden handcuffs" applies to him but we did discuss how challenging it would be to move on to a job that paid half what he is making now (or less).
I met some friends at a conference recently who left Korea for Vietnam. They had to start over when it came to part-time job opportunities but there was more room for growth at their main job. This made it a fair trade and since they were both teachers, leaving together didn't mean that one of them would have to give up their career to make the move. That's an important thing to consider when you are married to someone who is working. Can they work where you will be moving to if they want to? That might be a deal breaker.
Attending the TESOL Arabia conference in Dubai this year helped me to remind me that I have a very good job and life in Korea. I have passed the point where I could pack up my things and accept a high-paying job in the Middle East. It's great to know interesting, high-paying jobs are over there but it's also satisfying to know that pursuing one of them won't make my life better. I would have to give up too much.
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