Author Topic: Repatriation... gulp  (Read 3301 times)

CientoUno

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Repatriation... gulp
« on: November 12, 2015, 06:34:10 AM »
Hey guys! New Mustachian-in-training here. Just wanted to throw something out there and see if anyone else has been in this situation-- going back to your home country after many years out of it. Here's my story in a brief nutshell:

-Graduated university at 22
-Moved to Spain for a gap year to teach English
-Became 2 years
-Moved to Thailand (more teaching)
-2 more years later...

I'm almost 26 and planning on making my way back to the US. Now, one awesome thing about Thailand is the cost of living is SUPER cheap. I only get paid about $1,200/month but of that, I'm easily saving 75%. Here, I'm basically already rich. (I'll make another post highlighting the awesomeness of a plan such as this later on) But now, I'll be heading back with about $15,000 or so to my name.

I suppose my biggest concern is being able to land any work at all. I have an advertising degree but have done absolutely nothing relevant to that during my 4 years traveling. I am fluent in Spanish and have intermediate Thai, if that's any help...

And I also wonder what kind of salary I'm gonna be looking at when I'm back. Seems like so many folks around here are already at such high salaries, and I'm trying to gather my 'stache soon. I wanna travel more, indefinitely, and work random jobs without ever needing to worry about money. I plan on dropping 10K into VTSAX when I land, and I guess just job search like a damn fiend.

Any other repatriation stories? Anybody know of some sort of decent communications position with a nice salary for a language nerd and aspiring Mustachian? =P I'm excited and terrified at the same time.

zephyr911

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Re: Repatriation... gulp
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2015, 07:28:58 AM »
Not a repatriation story, but when my Argentinean wife finished grad school and got her green card, she pretty much walked into a contract interpreting gig (primarily medical, but also DHS, etc) based on her willingness to get med-certified. She was getting $25/hr for 5-15hrs a week. Within a few months a full-time spot opened up at $19/hr, and a raise to $20/hr after a year.

Certification ran her close to $1K but was worth it, and some companies help with the testing and other costs.

Moustachienne

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Re: Repatriation... gulp
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2015, 11:03:07 AM »
For very effective job searching advice, check out the Ask A Manager blog and archives on cover letters, resumes, interviewing, and best of all, handling the emotions of the application/rejection cycle.   http://www.askamanager.org/

Good luck!  You have some great skills to offer.

Sibley

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Re: Repatriation... gulp
« Reply #3 on: November 12, 2015, 12:50:32 PM »
Your language skills would be an asset in many industries. Health care and related fields for one, maybe ESL? Don't lock yourself into advertising.

+1 on Ask a Manager.

AZDude

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Re: Repatriation... gulp
« Reply #4 on: November 12, 2015, 12:54:49 PM »
You could also easily get a teaching cert and teach here in the US. Pay is not great, but the Spanish fluency will definitely help, plus you would have two months every summer to travel wherever you want.  Certification depends on the state, and some states and locations pay more than others. You are obviously open to different locations, so choose carefully if you go this route. An example, Riverside county in California pays ~$50K to start, while the same job a little farther south pays $35K.


thingamabobs

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Re: Repatriation... gulp
« Reply #5 on: November 13, 2015, 04:05:43 PM »
Not a repatriation story, but when my Argentinean wife finished grad school and got her green card, she pretty much walked into a contract interpreting gig (primarily medical, but also DHS, etc) based on her willingness to get med-certified. She was getting $25/hr for 5-15hrs a week. Within a few months a full-time spot opened up at $19/hr, and a raise to $20/hr after a year.

Certification ran her close to $1K but was worth it, and some companies help with the testing and other costs.

Sorry to threadjack, but I had a question for zephyr911: I was wondering which organization your wife was certified with, Certification Commission of Healthcare Interpreters or National Board of certification for Medical Interpreters, and if she had any opinion of one over the other?

Bearded Man

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Re: Repatriation... gulp
« Reply #6 on: November 13, 2015, 05:02:04 PM »
Congrats on being smart and responsible enough to save that money.

I'm curious, for living that cheaply in Thailand, what is the quality of life? Are you living in the ghetto with crime and seedy looking people everywhere or are you in a decent area that is safe?

I've looked at Cambodia, because of the business Visa, and the videos I've seen on youtube look nice. At least the night life areas. It almost looks like you are in America. The people there seem mostly American. The music playing is even American.

Looked at Thailand as well but heard Cambodia is cheaper.

Tom Bri

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Re: Repatriation... gulp
« Reply #7 on: November 13, 2015, 05:11:35 PM »
Similar to my story. I taught 15 years in Japan, and then brought my family back home. I ended up retraining to become an RN because I wasn't able to find a job that used my skills, and I was tired of teaching. However, I am not the aggressive, go-getter type who might have used the experience differently. I speak very good Spanish and decent Japanese. These skills might have more value in a large urban area, but in small-town where I am are only an added perk, not a money-enhancer to any great degree.