| Letters to the Author | | | | can all experience discrimination in some form or other. |
| According to many of the letters to the author that I | | | | You can however, prepare for it and take steps to |
| regularly receive, there are more than a few | | | | circumvent or avoid it. It's much harder (but not |
| misconceptions about what life is or is not supposed to | | | | impossible) to get an EFL teaching position if you're |
| be like when living abroad. In keeping with the | | | | over 50 or so, are black or of certain religious groups. |
| increasing trend towards people moving abroad to | | | | The importance of having good, well-recognized |
| retire, change their lifestyle, experience new cultures, | | | | credentials cannot be over-emphasized in this regard. |
| get closer to their "roots", and in general to improve | | | | 7. Start Learning the Local Language |
| their overall living conditions. As mentioned previously, | | | | Start learning the local language NOW, even before |
| such a move, while having a number of benefits, can | | | | you get any further along towards your prospective |
| be the proverbial double-edged sword. These are | | | | destination or new home. Use dictionaries, language |
| more of a few "Caveat Emptors" to be reckoned | | | | guides, a community college or language institute short |
| with. | | | | course. Try video and audio tape series and whatever |
| 5. Don't Expect a Perfect World Abroad | | | | else you can dig up. Practice something in the language |
| Don't expect a perfect world abroad because we | | | | everyday from now on. Listen to local radio stations |
| don't live in one. You shouldn't need me to tell you that, | | | | from your target country on the internet if need be. |
| but just in case, there it is in black and white. In many | | | | Get a private tutor for a short intensive series of |
| countries you would expect to have well-provided | | | | practical language lessons. Make no mistake, you WILL |
| services, you're in for a surprise. Power fails and stays | | | | need it. |
| off for days. Water outages can occur. Water that is | | | | This is Not to Discourage You |
| available may not always be potable with additional | | | | This is not to discourage you from considering, then |
| steps on your part. Phone service may be sporadic or | | | | acting upon a deep-seated desire to live, work or |
| unavailable. Also expect it to be more expensive than | | | | travel abroad. You should be as well-informed as |
| you're accustomed to. Traffic may be a nightmare | | | | possible before the move. Take a short "pilot trip" if |
| with traffic and insurance laws usually being | | | | you can. Sniff around, meet people, check out the local |
| unenforceable. | | | | and regional newspapers and telephone directories for |
| 6. If You're a Minority, You WILL Be Discriminated | | | | leads and information. Get a local cell phone number. |
| Against | | | | Don't give up, just don't be anymore of a "victim" than |
| As I mentioned earlier, as if you didn't already know, | | | | you might have to be otherwise. Have fun, enjoy and |
| we don't live in a perfect world. | | | | good luck in your new destination, wherever that might |
| Blacks, women, nationalities from certain countries, | | | | be. |
| religious and ethnic group members and "senior citizens | | | | |