I suppose it’s about time to let my readers know that I’m 99% sure to return to the US. I did not teach this term and instead took the opportunity to travel a bit, and provided that I don’t have a major change of heart [in which case I will return and delete this post!], or become a victim of abduction [believe me, I meet all sorts; this could happen!], I will be returning to the US during the second week of November.
I won’t really be keeping a running tally of what’s going on, but a logical question that many might wonder is, “what will you be doing?”. In fact…I don’t know! I’m not sure how well regular readers feel they know me; if it needs to be said, while I do find it fairly horrifying to return to the US without a job, it’s nothing new for me to fly by the seat of my pants a little.
In any case, to put my mind at ease a bit, I generated a list of what I am looking forward to in the US. And my evil twin added a bit about what I will miss.
What I’m looking forward to:
- Going to Borders, Barnes&Noble, or other excellent bookstores where I can just buy a coffee and then sit and read for quite some time, without buying any book. Also more generally, bookstores with several floors of English language books.
- Big-ass cups of coffee which take me about 7 minutes to swill, as opposed to the 45-60 seconds it takes me to deal with the higher-quality but considerably smaller European variety. Being able to order that coffee just how I like it, as in, tall with room two-pump cinnamon dolce Americano.
- Netflix.
- Yes, yes, friends and relatives I haven’t seen for a while as well as my beautiful and charming dog.
- Mexican food. And somehow I think the diversity of what’s on offer as far as foreign food in large US cities will make up for the expected period of Bosnian food withdrawal.
Things I will not be looking forward to:
- Being constantly distracted on public transport when I am able to understand ever single conversation around me.
- Paying to receive calls on my cell phone. Really, I attribute the fact that Americans put up with this to the most profitable conspiracy theory ever.
Things I will miss:
- Sarajevo people. For example, the random young guy who asks me to watch his laptop for five minutes while he goes across the store from the café to the shop to buy a few things…and asks me if I need anything. Or, this kind of behavior from landlords.
- Being able to get out of situations by saying, “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.” Then again, this may work at home too if I speak Bosnian.
{ 5 comments }
Hope the move back goes well. I also am mystified as to why North America is the only place where you pay to recieve a call on your cell phone.
Wow! So does TEFL Logue continue? Take it from me…Don’t come home!!! Actually, I guess that only applies if you are going to stay in ESL.
Where in the US do you hail from?
Thanks for the comments! I\’d like to keep the TEFL Logue going as I doubt I will ever run out of ideas, comments and opinions on EFL, so I hope it will. This depends on many factors. I do know the EFL market is pretty depressing in the US – I can imagine being quite happy with a non-profit, teaching immigrants and refugees or something, but I doubt I\’ll be particularly competitive without an MA…time will tell!
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I hope you continue posting from home. A lot of us out in the Great Abroad worry and wonder what it’s like to go back after a long spell.
Reverse culture shock? I hope you can write about this if you experience it.
The job market in ESL back home…do let us know.
Mexican food…ok, you’re not going to Mexico but I suppose the US version is better than what’s on offer en el Sarajevo.
Thanks, Guy, and I think you are spot on with your Mexican food insight. For all I love Sarajevo, you really cannot buy tortillas at the supermarket… maybe if you’re a diplomat and shop in your home currency at a PX, but not us English teachers!
I have avoided going into my job history too much so as not to shock readers too much, but I did spend almost a year in the US already after teaching abroad. Yeah. That influences my opinion about going back this time … arg! We will see….
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