Interview With A Soon-To-Be TEFLer, Part 2

As for time, Derek’s intention is to make this move a permanent one. He allows for the possibility that he may not like it, but he has taught before and points out that the worst aspect of teaching for him is just that you can’t just switch off when you have a bad day. You still have to go out there and do it.

The hardest part so far has been mentally detaching himself from the town he lives in. “The hoping and yearning for it is all there, but the actual mechanics of getting rid of everything you own” is a different story.

After recently being called upon to help out a family member in need, Derek’s funds took a temporary dip, but he sees this in a relatively positive light for two reasons. First of all, he feels necessity has compelled him to develop more of a plan – had he left with more in the bank, he might not have been as well organized about it. Second – and from personal experience I feel this to be true about myself as well : “I do a lot better when I don’t have a fall back.”

Ultimately, Derek would like to try to pursue an experience. “At the end of the line, some people want to die knowing that they got everything they wanted: house, car, kids, dog, Playstation….None of that means shit to me. But I’d like to be able to say that I saw the inside of as many things as I could.”

If you missed the first part of Derek’s interview, read Part 1 here.

Check out the TEFL Logue’s Interview Table of Contents to read other interviews from across the globe.