How to become an expat? Anyone? (fit in, student loans, find a job)

[mackinac81]

Hi! I have a question for any expats out there.

I'm a 27 year old college graduate (English/History teaching) who is considering moving out of the country. My top regions are Australia/NZ, Europe (Not UK) Canada, South Africa and South America. The only thing that I'm worried about is my 25k in student loans. Other than that I'm very stable financially. So...

1. Would moving out of the U.S. be a good move at this point? Should I get a job in the states and pay off all my student loans first?

2. How easy (or difficult) was it for you to move overseas, logistically? Is it hard for an American to find work?

3. I've found a couple of good sites for international teaching, but if anyone knows any other ones, that would be great!

Thanks
Mackinac

[angela828]

Teaching in other countries typically does not pay that well..

And I think moving out of the US at this point and going to any other country, is pretty much the worse thing you can do . If america is suffering now, what other countries are not?

[BlueWillowPlate]

Mac, do a search of this forum. This has been discussed before.
Getting a job overseas is not IMHO a terrible idea, but it is not easily accomplished, especially in the European Union. There are many hurdles, not the least of which is getting a work visa.
Do you speak any other languages? What skills can you offer?

[Huckleberry3911948]

sounds like you are on your way. been there done that.
you dont know what you've got til its gone.--- (joni mitchell)

[fjtee]

I did the expat thing for a while. I taught English and then I worked for the US government, because I was bilingual. Nothing glamorous, but it paid the bills. My English teaching job was under the table, so I was over on a student visa. It was not in one of the countries in which you expressed interest. Others are correct in that it will be very difficult to get a work visa for Europe and Canada. It might be easier for Australia and NZ, but that may no longer be true and I believe it was only true if you had technical skills. Do you have any of those? South America might be an easier target than the others. You could always try the Peace Corps. Logistically, it was easy to move overseas, because I took nothing I couldn't fit in my suitcases. Everything else I either sold or left in storage. As for my student loans, I put those on hold for a year. They only amounted to roughly $4,000, so I was able to resume payment from overseas within a year. That was only because I got the government job, otherwise I would have had to defer more or beg my parents to pay them for me. Finally, if you're going to live as an expat (be it temporarily or forever), the younger, the better. The older you get, the more commitments you accumulate.

[mackinac81]

hmmm...sounds like it's pretty difficult to do, although I did find out that I qualify for Canadian immigration. My main reason for doing it was for the adventure aspect, experiencing a different culture, but maybe I'll just travel there (when the dollar is worth more!) and get some experience in the states first.

[azoria]

The easiest way to be an expat is to buy property in a foreign country. Not all countries allow foreigners to own property outright. But the ownership of property usually entitles you some kind of temporary/permanent residence visa.

The hardest way to become an expat is to try to find work in a foreign country. Almost all countries have very protective policies in place to prohibit foreigners from taking domestic jobs. This very much includes the US.

Teaching is rather a bright spot for becoming an expat. There is a worldwide demand for teachers of EFL. If you have the appropriate training and certificates for teaching English as a foreign language, you can find a job overseas. The pay isn't usually very stunning, but the schools will offer visa and housing support. But not in Europe. The Brits as EU citizens have EFL over there pretty much sewn up.

[talktobrent]

i think there are 4 at least somewhat plausible paths to becoming an expat (minus the teaching english/volunteering/student quasi methods)

1 - work for an international company that eventually places you overseas or moves you around
2 - learn a technical trade to gain a work visa. i know australia had a shortage of electricians, plumbers, or something along that line. I heard nurses also. that's just an example though.
3 - start your own business venture and expand internationally
4 - simply pack up, move, find any job you can, and try to work things work out (that is hope you can work the system and not get deported eventually)

it's not for everybody but the military offers lots of overseas opportunities, although you won't have much control over where you go.

[fjtee]

Originally Posted by mackinac81

hmmm...sounds like it's pretty difficult to do, although I did find out that I qualify for Canadian immigration. My main reason for doing it was for the adventure aspect, experiencing a different culture, but maybe I'll just travel there (when the dollar is worth more!) and get some experience in the states first.

You sound discouraged. That certainly wasn't my intention. Basically, it's not easy to do, but it's not impossible. It just takes some work and planning. Or, like many, you can do it on a wing and a prayer. Depends on your personality type. I loved the years I spent overseas and intend to live the expat lifestyle again some day, probably in retirement.

[mackinac81]

Originally posted by fjtee
You sound discouraged. That certainly wasn't my intention. Basically, it's not easy to do, but it's not impossible. It just takes some work and planning. Or, like many, you can do it on a wing and a prayer. Depends on your personality type. I loved the years I spent overseas and intend to live the expat lifestyle again some day, probably in retirement.

Oh, I know it wasn't your intention, but I was kind of hoping to use my degree for something like an international school. I'm very well versed in world history and literature, and speak four languages (French, Spanish German and Italian), so I'd definitely be qualified in a lot of international jobs.

By biggest concern, though, is my student loans . I was hoping to be able continue paying on them without deferment, and since mine are much higher than yours were, I don't know if I'd be able to make any headway.

What kinds of overseas jobs can you get with the government, I wonder?