Hey I've been lurking in these forums for a long time now. My name is Jake, I'm 19 and I'm leaving for Cambodia in the beginning of February. I'll be attempting to take the English Teaching route which should prove to be very interesting. I'm at the stage where I am trying to get rid of most of my possessions or find places to put them for a long while, while a sense of impending change looms. That aside the reason for this post was really just to thank the Khmer440 for providing so much first hand information about Cambodia, you guys (and girls) are partially responsible for my deciding to leave for Cambodia. Hopefully we'll meet in person soon.
Thanks,
Jake Wallin
well here it goes
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- 440 newbie - handle with care
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- I Am Losing It All to the Internet
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I disagree, Logos
I made my first solo trip to Asia at 18. I went to Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Best thing I could have done for myself. I didn't try to teach, but I expanded my horizons. We don't all go to college at 18 or 19. I didn't finish school until I was 32 years old. The average age of the undergrads at my school in California was 29, grad students in their early-mid 30s. It's never to late to reinvent yourself, and a year or two in Cambodia is a good education in itself.
I made my first solo trip to Asia at 18. I went to Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Best thing I could have done for myself. I didn't try to teach, but I expanded my horizons. We don't all go to college at 18 or 19. I didn't finish school until I was 32 years old. The average age of the undergrads at my school in California was 29, grad students in their early-mid 30s. It's never to late to reinvent yourself, and a year or two in Cambodia is a good education in itself.
hey, a wake up call, even in the form of a cold shower, is better than none at all.
I've met my share of young foolish glassy eyed idealists and if I can slap one of them into reality every now and then, I am glad to oblige. Short term pain for long term gain.
I didn't tell the guy off the board. Besides if he has such a thin skin he cannot take in a bit of reality check (as Admin implicitely assumes) he's surely better off at home.
I've met my share of young foolish glassy eyed idealists and if I can slap one of them into reality every now and then, I am glad to oblige. Short term pain for long term gain.
I didn't tell the guy off the board. Besides if he has such a thin skin he cannot take in a bit of reality check (as Admin implicitely assumes) he's surely better off at home.
Quite a step to take at 19. You´ll probably end up liking it, making it hard for you to fit back in to american society. But as nohgoot said, there are things to be learned you cannot learn anywhere else (at least not as fast).theloganmiles wrote:Hey I've been lurking in these forums for a long time now. My name is Jake, I'm 19 and I'm leaving for Cambodia in the beginning of February. I'll be attempting to take the English Teaching route which should prove to be very interesting. I'm at the stage where I am trying to get rid of most of my possessions or find places to put them for a long while, while a sense of impending change looms. That aside the reason for this post was really just to thank the Khmer440 for providing so much first hand information about Cambodia, you guys (and girls) are partially responsible for my deciding to leave for Cambodia. Hopefully we'll meet in person soon.
Thanks,
Jake Wallin
good luck to you and don´t bring any expectations
amos
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To the board: thanks for replying so quickly and for so earnestly jumping to my defense. I am 19 thats true, but that is not reason enough to keep me from going to Cambodia. If I decided to wait until i was 25 to leave for Cambodia i would be so much more tied down by the invisible cords that all adults seem to tie. A real job, student loans, lease agreements, these things would make my life too heavy to pick up and and carry all the way to Asia.
Sure, I am scared. But who reading this can tell me that they weren't scared to travel halfway around the world with no friends or family, and probably not that much money.
To Logos (and any one else who cares): You are like so many people here in the states that are shocked and appalled when I tell them what I plan on doing this coming Feburary. I understand that you have probably seen a good number of "young foolish glassy eyed idealists" but I've seen a lot of old close minded sad people. So, while thanks for your concern for my long term gain, I'm going to have to tell you to screw yourself and not to be angry at me because you're mad at yourself.
I have a very full life, As an American, I am lucky to have been born into society that can take things for granted. But teaching English in a country in a country where that where knowing English means so much, is a little different than wasting my life wherever I may live. (Sacramento CA)
Sure, I am scared. But who reading this can tell me that they weren't scared to travel halfway around the world with no friends or family, and probably not that much money.
To Logos (and any one else who cares): You are like so many people here in the states that are shocked and appalled when I tell them what I plan on doing this coming Feburary. I understand that you have probably seen a good number of "young foolish glassy eyed idealists" but I've seen a lot of old close minded sad people. So, while thanks for your concern for my long term gain, I'm going to have to tell you to screw yourself and not to be angry at me because you're mad at yourself.
I have a very full life, As an American, I am lucky to have been born into society that can take things for granted. But teaching English in a country in a country where that where knowing English means so much, is a little different than wasting my life wherever I may live. (Sacramento CA)
theloganmiles
Logos, isn't a bad person but he can be a cynical stupid twerp at times.
Here's my advice kiddo - just follow your dreams. Perhaps get some sort of teaching qualaification first because Khmers often make real financial sacrifices to go to English school and please, please do your best for them. They deserve it.
I'm out of teaching now, but I'll say this.....if you find a good school and if you put your heart and soul into teaching for a year or two, then you'll achieve far far more for this country and its people than any number of cynical careersist NGO types with their noses in the $5-$10k a month money trough.
You'll also meet some fine people and have a lot of fun.
Go Well.
Logos, isn't a bad person but he can be a cynical stupid twerp at times.
Here's my advice kiddo - just follow your dreams. Perhaps get some sort of teaching qualaification first because Khmers often make real financial sacrifices to go to English school and please, please do your best for them. They deserve it.
I'm out of teaching now, but I'll say this.....if you find a good school and if you put your heart and soul into teaching for a year or two, then you'll achieve far far more for this country and its people than any number of cynical careersist NGO types with their noses in the $5-$10k a month money trough.
You'll also meet some fine people and have a lot of fun.
Go Well.
You will have an interesting time and will learn a lot here or anywhere else in Asia. Make sure you get your vaccinations and some good health insurance with evacuation coverage.theloganmiles wrote:Hey I've been lurking in these forums for a long time now. My name is Jake, I'm 19 and I'm leaving for Cambodia in the beginning of February. I'll be attempting to take the English Teaching route which should prove to be very interesting. I'm at the stage where I am trying to get rid of most of my possessions or find places to put them for a long while, while a sense of impending change looms. That aside the reason for this post was really just to thank the Khmer440 for providing so much first hand information about Cambodia, you guys (and girls) are partially responsible for my deciding to leave for Cambodia. Hopefully we'll meet in person soon.
Thanks,
Jake Wallin
Good luck!
Wow man, i'd forgotten what a bunch of cynical twats you were for a second. Theloganmiles: Just do it man. I was 17 when i came here and got my first english teaching job, i was directing the school by my 18th birthday, and am still having a wicked time 4 years on (times got more wicked once i stopped with the school stuff).
The best advice for suceeding in PP is to ignore wankers like logo's. If you listen to people like that, you'll never end up doing anything.
The best advice for suceeding in PP is to ignore wankers like logo's. If you listen to people like that, you'll never end up doing anything.