Greetings from whatever planet I'm from!

Post Reply New Topic

Well,

I'm a woman of 28 years old, going on 29. That's too close to thirty as far as I'm concerned. I'm super intelligent, especially for words, grammar, and language nuances and found that even though my childhood was not so great, adult world is a little more forgiving, and that tendency to hyper-focus on my interests has really helped me go beyond my peers. I'm learning the hard way, though, that social skills are necessary for just about any job one could hope to hold down, and since I followed my desires and didn't use "common sense" when choosing a major, I wound up in a highly social profession, teaching kids. It really takes a lot of my energy just to appear "normal" for everyone so that I can properly do my job. After I got my teaching license, I could only find substitute teaching positions, but they at least paid the bills.

I have found a niche teaching ESL (English as a Second Language), though. I've always felt like a visitor in this country, but now I'm in a situation where that is working to my advantage. I may not be able to tell you what the latest styles and fashions are, but I can at least teach people the words for "pants," "coats," "blouses," etc. I eat with chopsticks and wear them in my hair! I sometimes dress like I'm from the 80s, even though I was too young to remember anything about that era. I'm a hopeless fan of crazy pop culture stuff, even though they are speaking a foreign language. Speaking of foreign languages, learning them is also one of my hobbies. I love just jumping in to new things and then screeching and quickly jumping back if I feel like the water is too cold. I feel like I need a general script for every new activity, and I feel like the queen of the socially awkward girls, sometimes, although I think my quirky professors are good competition.

Teaching and having my mom pass away has made me consider getting a social life outside of close friends and family. I've realized that family just won't always be there, and I should probably start looking for a life partner of some kind. As I'm sure you can imagine, the idea of actually going on a date scares me a little.

I have always gravitated to making friends with immigrant people who are ESL. They are so much less likely to reject you, I suppose because they feel weird and out of place also. Perhaps they also don't have any friends aside from family. It's also a great way to learn a new language and how to cook foreign foods!

Hey kmb501 welcome.

Hi , welcome, and I like your style.
I've given up pretending to be normal now, but that's only in the situations where I aready tried and it got too much. Ha. Only place I try to maintain some (pretend) sanity is my childrens school. Only out of fear people will think im not capable to be a parent.
You don't have to have witnessed the 80s to know that their dress sense back then is pretty cool!
I'm 26, not diagnosed yet, but was diagnosed with a persoanlity disorder, queried rapid cycling bipolar, and now being assessed for aspergers.
Welcome anyhow x

I was a substitute teacher as well, but the system I taught at did not require a teaching degree. I have an intercultural studied degree though with a TESOL certificate.

I did subbing for over 2 years and it was so tough because it was the inner city with many kids who come from very very rough backgrounds. Lots of gangs and drugs and violence. Also I am white and it was 905% black and then some hispanic kids and they never had any white teachers and always made fun of me and the way i talked. It was so hard and every day I dreaded going to a school. But little kids were the best to teach but some were very bad.

I am thinking about going overseas to teach ESL bc I cant seem to get a job in the USA and I am 33 and feel like an incredible loser. No job no friends no nothing and I live at home still.

I wish I could learn languages easy like you. You seem to have a very good outlook on your life and I think you will go far.

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Welcome