I (might) have a choice!
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lightstays
- Posts: 116
- Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:07 am
- Location: Americas
You make these choices the way you make all big decisions in life. Weigh the pro's and con's very carefully. Do you want a megalopolis of 19 million inhabitants in a country with massive wealth inequalities, Orwellian internet controls and crippling air pollution, or would you prefer a country known for its strong social welfare system, adherence to human rights, and general honoring of the liberal tradition.
How badly do you need the money?
How do the schools' reputations compare?
Are you more interested in Asia culture or European culture?
Do you enjoy being outside, or are you indifferent?
With whom did you connect better while interviewing?
Which school appears to take better care of its employees?
Which position will get you closest to your career goals?
Where can you live most comfortably?
I was faced with a similar decision a few days ago and I asked myself all of these questions. I imagined myself coming home after a long day of work, fixing something for dinner, and looking out my window. I saw Beijing.
How do the schools' reputations compare?
Are you more interested in Asia culture or European culture?
Do you enjoy being outside, or are you indifferent?
With whom did you connect better while interviewing?
Which school appears to take better care of its employees?
Which position will get you closest to your career goals?
Where can you live most comfortably?
I was faced with a similar decision a few days ago and I asked myself all of these questions. I imagined myself coming home after a long day of work, fixing something for dinner, and looking out my window. I saw Beijing.
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wrldtrvlr123
- Posts: 1173
- Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 10:59 am
- Location: Japan
Re: I (might) have a choice!
[quote="krdking"]I have an offer in-hand from a school in Beijing. It's a unique opportunity in a fairly new program. I can save a lot of $ per year (I will net $51k/year) and will be a College Counselor for US universities. The down-side is a potentially difficult department head.
On the other hand, I MIGHT have an offer in Europe where I would be a 9-12 school counselor including US, UK and European colleges. I will learn about the UK and European systems university systems (making me more marketable in the future), but will save nothing. (I will net $46k/year) The location is great for travel through eastern and western europe, assuming I can afford it.
I need to tell Beijing soon (like today). They really, really want me and have been patient in giving me extra days to think. Munich wants me to hang on until tomorrow.
How do people make these choices???[/quote]
Beijing is great and (I think) there are only a few schools which would let you net 51K and they are all fine schools.
If the Europe offer is there, it (or another/similar/better one) will be there in a few years, after you have lived in a great city, have another good school on your CV AND have saved enough money that you could actually afford to take advantage of the great travel opportunities in Europe. Take the Beijing job, unless it just feels really wrong for you.
On the other hand, I MIGHT have an offer in Europe where I would be a 9-12 school counselor including US, UK and European colleges. I will learn about the UK and European systems university systems (making me more marketable in the future), but will save nothing. (I will net $46k/year) The location is great for travel through eastern and western europe, assuming I can afford it.
I need to tell Beijing soon (like today). They really, really want me and have been patient in giving me extra days to think. Munich wants me to hang on until tomorrow.
How do people make these choices???[/quote]
Beijing is great and (I think) there are only a few schools which would let you net 51K and they are all fine schools.
If the Europe offer is there, it (or another/similar/better one) will be there in a few years, after you have lived in a great city, have another good school on your CV AND have saved enough money that you could actually afford to take advantage of the great travel opportunities in Europe. Take the Beijing job, unless it just feels really wrong for you.
I have experience in both China and Europe and if getting into the great outofdoors is important, then I would take Europe. China has been great for padding the bank account but I have to admit I get rather uneasy when I think about what I am breathing, whats in the water and when I read the stories about what is put into the food.
Easy
Who wants you most, I mean really, really wants you?
Thats the school thats going to give you the better experience and strongest opportunity to advance your professional and personal growth, because I know you dont see it, but really all those other factors are equal, they just arent identical.
(For all practical purposes, Europe always leaves you broke and Asia always lets you bank.)
Thats the school thats going to give you the better experience and strongest opportunity to advance your professional and personal growth, because I know you dont see it, but really all those other factors are equal, they just arent identical.
(For all practical purposes, Europe always leaves you broke and Asia always lets you bank.)