Then don't go overseas. Are you actively doing something to "make sure [your] communication and organization problems are a thing of the past"? Do you have good reason to believe you are almost to that point? Like, within months? If not, then this probably isn't the right path for you, because you need to do something about your situation now, not two years from now when you've had more therapy and whatever else you do. If, in two years, you are at that point, you can reconsider. Until then you need to find a plan you can start now. It sounds like overseas is not that plan. Fine. So cross it off your list, don't look back, and move forward toward something else. You are still just spitballing various option on the internet. You could easily do that for decades. And you'll still be right where you are, geographically, financially, emotionally, and in all other ways.
Also, as someone who has moved overseas and who struggles with social anxiety, I'd say that my experience was a bit different and that in same ways I think think being in a new environment with those kinds of issues can be harder, not easier. I still feel a deep sense of... shame, I guess... every time I can't figure out a parking meter and I need to ask a stranger for help and hope that our limited language skills and our charades are enough, or when I don't quite know the etiquette associated with something and I'm worried I am going to offend, or whatever. The alien environment and resulting lack of cultural literacies has really, really challenged my anxieties.
And again, since you aren't at the point where you are ready to tackle that anyway, it's probably not the right choice for you. (Does it even appeal to you, outside of the money?) So move on to the things that are. If it interests you, keep it on the back burner as an option for the future. But right now, you need to focus on the getting a meal started on the front burner so you can feed yourself. Pick an option you can begin executing today. You aren't there for overseas teaching, and you don't know if/when you will be. Nothing wrong with that. But you can begin executing a plan to get a much better teaching job in the US today.
You need to start making decisions, and taking actions. You've been chewing over options for months, or longer. Enough. Decide, and act!
Okay, here's what I would like to do:
1. Start a private tutoring business. Right now, I'm not sure I have the skills for it. I've worked as a volunteer tutor, but I'm not sure the parents would be as thrilled about my services if they had to pay for them. I'm not sure I measure up to the competition in this small area. I would like to try to get something started, though. It could be a decent side income or even a full-time profession, and it would be a good safe test for my shyness and disorganization. This is my first choice, and it would take the least amount of work to complete. I don't want to go in cold, though. Even though I've taken lots of Education classes and have a master's degree in it, I feel like I need to "look like a tutor," have official looking contracts, learning plans, and assessment tests. I also need to learn a lot more about kids with special needs, as so far my training has only covered regular and ESL students.
2. Apply for a teaching job in a neighboring area. Louisiana and Florida aren't too far from here. Although I would be a little reluctant to pick up and move to Nevada or a place where I wouldn't have ready support from friends or family if things didn't pan out, I could convince myself to move a state or two away. Perhaps I should look for opportunities in these areas? This would be my second choice.
3. Call schools several states away, explain my credentials and communication problems, and move several states away after checking on the area and making sure it's somewhere I might like to live and work. Even though I wouldn't be as close to friends and family, it would be less challenging than living overseas.
4. Contact a recruiter or language school overseas, explain my issues with shyness, and see if they have a place for me in spite of it. I would thrive in an environment where (1) other English speakers were working in the building with me, (2) many of the teachers spoke my language, and (3) the curriculum and lesson plans were pre-prepared for me just in case I forget something.
Okay, so I am going to make a number of points, most of which echo others:
First off, there is actually a lot of good news in your situation. Your expenses are not crazy. You may not be quite the badass mustachian as some others here, but you're keeping expenses in reasonable bounds. And that's great! Because that means you are setting yourself up to be a financial winner with the right attitude. Kudos!
You are well-credentialed with your Master's degree. There are a couple of good things about that. It shows that you were able to function in a context that required you to meet goals similar in nature to what you might have to do as a worker (show up on time, complete assigned work, demonstrate a reasonable level of intelligence and analytical ability). Also, as numerous others have observed, your credentials are the necessary qualification for jobs that pay more than twice what you currently receive. And the fact that you received this degreee means that your teachers believed you can do that work. You should believe it too!
I can see that you worry a lot about being able to actually do the job in an acceptable professional way. Well, let me let you in on a little secret: The average worker/employee is remarkably unimpressive. Most employers would be happy just to get an employee who shows up, works diligently and is polite. And I hope I am not insulting anyone here when I note that, in my experience, K-12 teachers are not generally rocket scientists. The qualifications for most things are
lower than you think!
About moving: You seem pretty reluctant to pull the trigger on a move. It seems that fear of moving away from your support structure may play a role in that. My advice, like that of others in this thread is "Take the plunge," though, personally, I would not suggest going overseas at this point. There are multiple good reasons for this. I have lived in various parts of the U.S., and, while the states each have their own character, they are far more alike than different, in these days of national media. Life overseas can still be quite different, and I think that much adventure right now might be a bit much---It's not uncommon for people to have culture shock issues, and I think moving within the U.S. is probably a safer choice. As others have pointed out, there are many states you could move to that would enormously boost your income---And yes, you
definitely are underpaid!
About applying/presenting yourself: Do
not point out your deficiencies (real or imagined) when applying or interviewing. No one else does, so why should
you? The interviewer will always assume that you're not perfect, anyway.
And now, let's imagine possible outcomes:
1. You apply for various jobs, but no one offers one to you: Materially, you are no worse off, but now you have something you can iterate on. You ask yourself, "
Why didn't I get an offer? Did I not apply to enough places? Was my resume bad? Did I present myself poorly in any interviews?" When you understand enough, you try again. [You are better off for this]
2. You get a job offer at a decent pay rate (yay!) You move and go to work, but you do poorly at the job: You are better off by virtue of having earned an elevated salary for some period of time, a history that will also help you to get a similar or better salary at your next job, since employers generally have a good idea of your prior earnings. You iterate on understanding what went wrong with the job and strive to improve, or to find a job that more closely matches your skills/talents. [You are better off for this]
3. You get a job offer at a decent pay rate (yay!) You move and go to work, and you do well at the job: And, do I need to say it? [You are better off for this]
It is, of course, possible that you will totally homesick for where you live now, and (even after giving it a couple of years) want to move back. Or maybe you just don't like the new location, but think things might be better in some third place. In any case, you are a new person, stronger for your experiences and (you guessed it!) [You are better off for this]
There is
no plausible scenario under which you are not better off either financially, or in terms of your personal development---and most likely both.
I am a procrastinator of long-standing, and I can tell you that the anticipation of what might happen or what people may think of you, if you "just go for it" is
way worse than the actuality. Let me put this another way. Say you apply for a job, get it and then fail so
miserably that people are laughing, shaking their heads and using you as a cautionary tale---Well, guess what? Your life is not about what
they think of you. It's about what
you think of yourself. And as long as you can say, "I tried my best, and I will keep doing so," then you are doing all that any person can---and a lot more than most.
