A year ago, I moved to England to accept a teaching position at the University of Nottingham. I came as an American historian at midcareer with a family in tow. Those in other academic fields, or who are single, or looking at a position in, say, China, will very likely face circumstances quite different from my own. Nevertheless, I will try to share what general pearls of advice I have for American academics contemplating relocation abroad.
As any scholar of immigration can tell you, both "push" and "pull" factors explain transnational migration. In my case, institution, not country, was decisive. The push was that I had been teaching on a small regional campus for 10 years and had lost my two best friends on the faculty, one to cancer, the other to transfer. The pull was that I was excited by the chance to teach graduate students in a top-tier program at a world-class research university. When I made my move, Nottingham was ranked 86th in the world by Times Higher Education (the rank has fallen since then after the ratings criteria were changed), and the university's faculty members in American and Canadian studies had received the highest possible distinction in a British research assessment.
Given my political leanings, it did not hurt that Nottingham's local folk hero took from the rich to give to the poor. But intellectual exchange was the chief draw. On my former campus, I was the only full-time scholar of American history. In my new program, there are four other scholars in my intellectual-history subfield alone, and other Americanists at work on such topics as slavery, civil rights, literature, and foreign policy.
Moving abroad has proven intellectually justified, but it has not been without challenges—some more severe than anticipated. My family and I were not strangers to life abroad, since I had had previous teaching stints in Canada, Hungary, and Poland (the latter two on Fulbrights). But permanent relocation is a more decisive process. Here are some working notes:
The transition will be complex logistically. In any long-distance move, you can expect many headaches. When moving abroad, expect a multiplication of hassles, large and small.
The visa process was surprisingly daunting. Even for a professional with a job offer in hand, the British government has made the process exceptionally unwieldy. After I filled out countless forms and supplied endless documentation, the process stalled. A few days before we were to depart, I sent a desperate e-mail, and a British consulate staffer in Chicago worked miracles. We now hold three-year, renewable visas. I would take renewal for granted except that debates over immigration have intensified since we arrived.
Once we got here, we had to decide where to live. We would have preferred to live in Nottingham, a bustling city, so I could walk to work, but a check with other faculty members with children indicated that the best primary and secondary schools were overfilled. Our three children would almost surely be bumped into weak schools.
So we settled in a village 18 miles away from the city, renting a converted carriage house behind a large Edwardian house where our landlords live. Directly across the street is an immense stone cathedral, built in the 12th century. The village is picturesque, with butcher shops, bakeries, cafes, and a secondhand bookstore.
It is a storybook setting, but getting our children (ages 9, 10, and 12) into the schools did prove taxing, particularly in the case of our oldest daughter. Residency does not guarantee school enrollment, and our daughter's case dragged out on appeal for four months, during which time she was in our daily care. Now all three children are ensconced in the schools, which we find excellent.
What would be a short commute in the United States takes longer in Britain, given lower speed limits and circular roundabouts. The university is on the other side of the city, so the journey to work is 90 minutes by bus or 50 minutes by car. That practically obligates driving, so we have taken tests, written and practical, to obtain drivers' licenses, a process that requires more time and energy than one would have thought.
Such transitional issues—housing, schools, transportation—diminish with each one ticked off. But for the first year, at least, arrangement-making combined with unpacking can seem all-consuming.
Your finances will transpire in two currencies. I did not move for money. Based upon currency conversion, I anticipated a near-identical level of salary, but that turned out to be meaningless because the cost of living in Britain is, in many respects, higher. We therefore took a hit to our income.
In the spring, my wife, a credentialed university reference librarian, managed to obtain a one-year position in the main humanities library at Nottingham. She did so on her own, since British universities do not practice spousal hiring. Her extra income has made all the difference, and we hope the job will lead to something permanent.
Living abroad adds layers of financial complexity to life. We have been unable to use our American savings to put a down payment on a house in England, because to transfer the money here would result in its being taxed at a very high rate. What's more, despite an excellent credit rating in the United States, I was unable to get a line of credit for more than 300 pounds on any British card—including ones branded American Express, Visa, or MasterCard, companies that know my track record.
Above all, know this: American citizens living abroad must file income taxes in both the host country and the United States. Naturally, the accountants who specialize in expatriate issues charge prime rates.
There will be ups and downs. We have had glimpses of the sublime, as when scaling a mountain in Wales at Christmastime, discovering hot lamb-and-mint pasties at the bakery, happening upon remote castle ruins in Northumberland, or listening to the choir sing Thomas Tallis in the cathedral across the way.
But we have also had days of gloom, wondering whether we will ever belong in this culture, with all of its inscrutable differences. For me the moments of greatest doubt have come when I have held one daughter or the other on my lap as she cries. (Fortunately, that has not happened very often, or I'd have packed it in long ago.)
Technology makes communication easier than ever before, but being at trans-Atlantic distance can still make one feel remote from family, friends, and country, especially at holidays or—I admit, this may just be me—elections.
Kind colleagues have gone out of their way to welcome us. One took me to a professional cricket game. Another, an American, invited us over for Thanksgiving. Still, you find yourself missing home in the strangest moments, as when you need drain-clog remover at 8 p.m. and realize that because you are no longer in a 24/7 society, all the shops are closed.
Words will differ. Living in a non-English speaking country presents challenges, of course, but difficulties arise even when you supposedly share a language with your adopted country. Few people in England talk in the polished tones of the BBC, but the British do have a vocabulary of their own. A variant lexicon of academic life must be learned. Prepare to experience moments of infantilization as you ask for explanations of things that everyone else considers obvious.
Fortunately, you will absorb much of the terminology by osmosis. What we call a dissertation, they call a thesis, and vice versa. A course to us is a module here; a course here is what we would call a major. When we say "class," we mean a single teaching session; they mean primarily a grade cohort, as in "the second-year class." Service duties become "admin" tasks. And so on, into the more technical.
The vocabulary can suggest different cultural norms. "Staff," for example, applies to faculty members here, unlike in the United States, where the word tends to be shorthand for administrative employees. That would seem to indicate an egalitarian sensibility: We are all staff.
In other ways, however, British terminology reflects a more pronounced sense of hierarchy. I, for example, hold two titles: senior lecturer and associate professor, British and American ways of expressing an equivalent rank. At first I thought that in granting both designations to me, the university had extended to me a remarkable courtesy. But when, without giving it thought, I selected "Prof." on a human-resources form as the designation I prefer before my surname, I learned that I was not to do so, since that designation is appropriate only for those with full professorships. Curiouser and curiouser.
One completely unexpected and delightful advantage of a considerate culture is that, for the first time in my life, almost everyone is calling me by my actual name rather than truncating it in assumed familiarity, as if every Elizabeth must be a Betsy and every Robert a Bob. I had given up on that entirely in the United States.
Higher education will be structured differently. Rather than being compelled to master a broad spectrum of knowledge, the British-university student specializes intensively, taking but a single subject area—such as American and Canadian history and culture—for three years (not four, as in America). Some of my students choose "joint honors" degrees, or double majors, hence complete additional work in politics or English literature. But that's it—no math, science, psychology, or French.
In our program, the performance of incoming students in the first year does not count toward their cumulative grade-point average. The marks count in the second year for 20 percent and in the third and final year for 80 percent of the final grade. At the end of every year, there is an exam review board, where for several days the entire faculty assembles, with outside observers on hand, to review every single student's performance. Yearly marks that fall just shy of a given grade may be rounded up.
Instructors here act as "personal tutors" to a number of students. That may bring to mind visions of sherry-sipping sessions discussing Montesquieu in oak-paneled offices, but it is more mundane. You hand them their marks at the end of term and chat about how things are going. Once in a while, a student comes and sees you out of the blue, and it is very nice.
Nottingham's expansive green lawns set it apart from many European universities, attracting not only locals but also students from all over Britain, especially wealthy southern England, as well as from Europe and Asia. Apart from a generally higher level of fashion sensibility—skinny-legged jeans, scarves, and other accoutrements abound—and a generally greater degree of politeness, students here seem to me to occupy the same range as Americans, from apathetic to brilliant, although the best here are among the best I've ever taught. The actual hours spent in the classroom here are fewer (two hours a week, typically) than stateside, so the reading you can assign is less. More emphasis is placed upon lengthy independent research papers as opposed to small, assigned-topic essays.
The Ph.D. is purely a research degree here. Writing the thesis is the rub. Doctoral students don't have seminars, except when candidates present their research to one another. In our program, each Ph.D. candidate has two advisers, not one.
National policy intrudes upon academic life more directly when higher education is state-provided. A severe budgetary restructuring by the British government, with outsized tuition hikes forthcoming, has introduced major unknowns and righteous student rebellions this year. The Research Excellence Framework—a tool that measures faculty performance, and by which budgets are set—is defined at the national level, with goalposts sometimes moved in the midst of a given cycle.
Despite the myriad differences, however, the elemental life of a university scholar remains largely the same under the British and American systems: dominated by teaching and research.
It may change your scholarship. Being in a more research-driven setting has prodded me to submit more articles to topmost journals. I also find myself writing more for British publications, such as Times Higher Education and the Journal of American Studies.
But the main effect on my scholarship of living abroad has been that in explaining the American past to an international audience across the Atlantic and reading more British history, I am thinking more consistently about transnational and comparative themes in American studies. There is nothing like a move to put things in perspective—particularly if it takes you far away from the country you study.
Comments
1. seadle - January 03, 2011 at 05:39 am
I am delighted that Christopher Phelps shared his story so that other Americans can be prepared for the complications of working abroad.
Four years ago I took up a professorship at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. It was easier for me in many ways, since I had family and friends in Berlin and no visa problems, but even so things like finding permanent housing and getting properly registered took time and effort.
Those thinking of working abroad should not be discouraged from doing so, but I do recommend contacting others from the US who are already there before going, if only to reduce the number of surprises.
2. msehphdjd - January 03, 2011 at 09:11 am
Thanks for the interesting piece! As someone who has been living in Canada (but continuing to teach online for my US university and teaching as an adjunct here), it was interesting to see the contrasts. Not surprisingly, why it had its own challenges, moving to Canada was much less complex!
3. lolabn - January 03, 2011 at 09:26 am
Thanks for this useful article.
My own experience in academia abroad has given me great sympathy for foreign students negotiating life and studies in the U.S., which is why I will make a point of volunteering my services to my university's international studies department when I return next year.
In addition to giving one fresh perspective on one's homeland from across the ocean, as Dr Phelps mentions, being a foreigner abroad is also a great opportunity to be a "diplomat" of sorts. We are in a unique position to teach locals about our country and perhaps change some attitudes that might have been formed solely based on U.S. politics or what they see on TV.
4. bizdean - January 03, 2011 at 09:34 am
In these economically tough and somewhat anti-intellectual times in the US, there can be more opportunities and more prestige if one goes outside the country for academic work. International experience is now also more valued in US universities than in the past. So, I recommend it and I have done it, and I may do so again despite the really frustrating logistical problems.
The growth of English-language degree programs in China, the Netherlands, and many other countries increase the chances that you can work in a country where you don't speak the language.
Before you go, notify your Congressperson that you have become part of the brain drain from the US, and help him/her understand the implications of poorer US higher education for the country's future.
5. dbates01 - January 03, 2011 at 09:53 am
Diffculties on teaching abroad
6. azfaculty - January 03, 2011 at 11:21 am
This sounds wonderful, sign me up!
7. christopherphelps - January 03, 2011 at 11:24 am
Just a grateful acknowledgement for the comments, which I've only now been able to read, at end of afternoon in Britain. I taught in Canada too, loved it; visited Berlin last month, loved it; and appreciate the points made by others about international students and brain drains. Often these Chronicle boards are a rough and tumble rodeo ride, so I am pleased by the tenor and substance, both. (Clearly #5 got cut short but hopefully will make their points later.)
8. daro1405 - January 03, 2011 at 11:59 am
Having taught and studied in England, Scotland, Wales, and 4 states in the US, I can identify with the challenges described in this article. As with all generalizations, there are individual exceptions - for example, from my experiences teaching mostly in the southern US, I have found American students much more friendly and respectful than students in the UK - and harder workers! The "matey" greetings of UK students take some getting used to, after years of being called "Doctor" by American students.
Higher education in the UK is in for some tough, interesting times ahead. Despite the economic challenges in the States, most states seem to be continuing high levels of economic support for state universities - and of course the support of alums in the US is at a far greater level than here in the UK.
Thanks for an article that had me smiling and nodding my head in agreement (for the most part!)
9. biglinc - January 03, 2011 at 05:41 pm
I have been planning on relocating the family to another country for many years, this article provided me with many good insights into making it easier. Thanks, I never thought of many of the challenges I would face...
10. rickinchina09 - January 03, 2011 at 08:18 pm
Phelps cautions the prospective overseas scholar that teaching in China will present quite different circumstances--an understatement if there ever was one. Everything he notes--most of which falls in the realm of common sense expectation--is magnified in a developing country where English is not the means of communication. China, for instance, still does not have a convertible currency nor do its banks operate by the same regulations one would demand in the West.
The author further notes that "given my political leanings, it did not hurt that Nottingham's local folk hero took from the rich to give to the poor." Translated from doublespeak, he means to say that his socially progressive (re: social justice on socialist lines) agenda dovetails with their own. Paradoxically, one might be surprised to discover, however, that one's ability to convey contrary views is often easier than on increasingly politically correct Western campuses.
I would add this advice to Phelps' list: avoid the temptation to dwell on the negative, i.e. the shortcomings of one's own country as so many expatriates are prone to do. Strive to eschew binary thinking, though some is inevitable and even a necessary expedient. Finally, tease out what is societal from what is culture--though they of course overlap. When confronted with the insistent question of what I really thought of mainland China, I was quick to say I admired the deeply rooted culture while uncomfortable with aspects of the current society (re: regime). That always got my students' attention and approval.
11. rickinchina09 - January 03, 2011 at 08:21 pm
correction: insert "on Chinese campuses" in the phrase "convey contrary views _____ is often easier...."
12. rickinchina09 - January 03, 2011 at 08:26 pm
lolabn wrote: "We are in a unique position to teach locals about our country and perhaps change some attitudes that might have been formed solely based on U.S. politics or what they see on TV."
Perhaps so, but we shouldn't appoint ourselves the arbiters of truth in relation to our home country, either. Nor should we assume a paternalistic stance: many college students are as discerning as we are though they lack firsthand experience in our society.
13. gloriawalker - January 04, 2011 at 02:25 am
Good article. My experiences were the same except once other Americans come they often create more problems sometimes causing their fellow Americans difficulties. WHY?
14. lolabn - January 04, 2011 at 03:41 am
Re: rickinchina: I wasn't referring to being an "arbiter of truth" but instead meant that a chance for our host country locals to talk to an american about politics or cultural issues gives them a chance to see another side of the story that they see on the news. Or to see that all americans abroad aren't loud, boisterous and obnoxious (we do have that reputation).
An addition to bizdean's comment on the number of english-language programs available: yes, but if you don't speak the language, once you leave the workplace, you are helpless in everyday life. What once was easy (e.g., setting up a bank account, going to the doctor) becomes a big challenge. Everyone in the world does *not* speak english.
15. christopherphelps - January 04, 2011 at 09:11 am
Gloriawalker: Cannot really answer the question since I'm the sole American in our program, but sounds intriguing!
Rickinchina: I appreciate your perspective, since I've thought of teaching in China at some point. The main thing stopping me is the air pollution reports that I read; not sure I could last a year there. I'm interested in the currency question which sounds complex to negotiate. What is the practical effect for you of that? I suppose some scholars in China are paid in Chinese currency, others in British or U.S. currency?
Many of the comments speak to what we might call the existential state of life abroad. Inevitably one reflects on one's own nation, one's host nation, personalities of colleagues and students and to what extent they exhibit unique or national traits -- all of which leads to reflection on oneself. Part of adjusting to the new circumstance is keeping eyes and ears open to circumstance.
Certainly American culture is on the whole more assertive and more direct, though there are exceptions in all directions; this is even evident in respective national political styles. Ultimately a self-awareness is healthy, but adaptability will have its limits. In a way that's the point: part of the value we add to our universities is that students can get to know face to face, over time, an American or two -- as much a part of their immersion in American studies, or the global university as the case may be, as the more formal study of texts provides.
Thanks again for all the comments, which I appreciate.
Christopher Phelps
16. parispundit - January 05, 2011 at 08:58 am
Mr. Phelps was not new to living overseas for a year at a time as a Fulbright. Why was he so surprised by his experience in England?
17. christopherphelps - January 05, 2011 at 09:43 am
Surprise was not the dominant theme, rather the article is more in the lines of sharing with others a glimpse of what to expect, but insofar as unexpected aspects did arise--and they did--it is because every country presents unique challenges, because stages of family life differ greatly, and because a permanent relocation makes for challenges one simply does not confront in a temporary one.
18. christopherphelps - January 05, 2011 at 09:50 am
I want to add a final note in case someone in years future reads this article, namely that I have had some communication with British tax authorities after my piece was printed. It appears the information I was provided (by a London tax accountant) was incorrect, and that to bring over one's cumulative equity will not subject the principal to taxation, though any interest earned on it once it is in Britain will be taxed. These rules are, of course, subject to change. I suppose the long and short of it is that any tax statements I have made should not be taken at face value but confirmed by studying the regulations of HMRC as they apply to migrants. Christopher Phelps
19. expat_scand - January 05, 2011 at 10:27 am
Nice article, which points out some of the many practical realities of moving abroad. In response to parispundit, going abroad for a year is not anything like moving abroad. As Christopher Phelps points out, it is practically a zeroing out of all previous experience you have acquired - driver's license, bank credit and the ability to take a loan, putting children into schools that will work for more than just a year away, new bank accounts, new retirement accounts, etc. These things are not easy, and can be extremely frustrating. For a one year visit no of these things matter - you can drive on a foreign licence for one year, retirement accounts don't matter, and so forth. Do it in a second language it is twice as complicated.
However, if you can get through all of that and just resign yourself to having to deal with these practical hurdles, it can be very much worth it. Thanks for the article, Christopher.
20. christopherphelps - January 05, 2011 at 11:48 am
Appreciate that, expat_scand.
21. walkerst - January 05, 2011 at 04:52 pm
Conversely, as a Canadian who moved to the US 5 years ago to accept a senior academic position, and even between countries that are such close neighbors, there are many differences. American banks also do not accept credit ratings from other countries - even Canada, and even if they are 'related' institutions (TD Bank has branches in the US and Canada). But the US branches and Canadian branches don't "speak" to each other, due to banking regulations. A stellar credit rating in Canada is useless in the US. I had a Citibank Canada Mastercard for over a decade but that had no effect on getting a Citibank Mastercard. It took about a year to get credit. Even establishing a bank account was challenging - if my employer hadn't 'vouched' for me at a nearby bank branch where they were well-known, I would have had to go through a lot more hoops. Transferring a car is very difficult and can be costly - often it's not worth the trouble and expense. There are tax treaties between Canada and the US, so you don't have to file in both countries, unless you still have income in Canada from some source, such as a rental property. You can leave retirement accounts and pensions untouched in Canada - you can't transfer them. You would have to withdraw the money in Canada, pay huge penalties and taxes, and then set up new accounts in the US. Most Canadians in the US choose to leave their Canadian retirement accounts as they are. Drivers' licenses are a state-by-state thing - some states accept Canadian licenses, and will simply issue you a US license, and some will not. There are more, but you get the general idea.
22. daro1405 - January 05, 2011 at 05:53 pm
Och, Point #18 reminds me that I meant to make that correction about tax on money brought into the country. I also was wrongly advised that I would have to pay tax on any money I brought over from the States .... only after looking further into it myself did I realize that it is only subsequent income/interest on the money that is taxed (i.e., just like most countries!). This miscommunication was in both my case and that of christoperphelps (in my opinion) probably more a case of poor communication by financial advisors than any US/British English conflict.
23. daro1405 - January 05, 2011 at 05:56 pm
I don't know if external sites are allowed on here, but the following online community (of Americans living in the UK) is an interesting, informative, and amusing insight into the foibles of being an American visitor residing among the British, separated only be a common langauge. (Apologies to Twain for the paraphrase!)
http://www.uk-yankee.com/
24. cosmos1138 - January 05, 2011 at 07:22 pm
FYI - as Americans expats we are required to pay tax only after we make certain amount (think its 84,000) -I am an expat living in Asia for more then 11 yrs and have not filed US tax because I don't make that EVER - I once ask a regional IRS director if that would get me in trouble and he said you are required to file ...however" we can only fine you if you owe and the fine is based on what you owe". Since I never make more then 25k a year I guess they can be upset but since I don't owe oh well?? The other fact is the last year I was in the US the IRS owed my $250 in refund which I never received so if anyone is in default of their duties it would be the US government...yea like they care about my $250 ; P The director did advice me that if I planned to return to the States or wanted a government job it would be wise to file even if I don't owe. Since I am a lifer expat I guess I'll file once a decade and see were that gets me.
25. cosmos1138 - January 05, 2011 at 08:07 pm
FYI Part 2: I found this on the IRS web site
If you are a U.S. citizen or a resident alien of the United States and you live abroad, you are taxed on your worldwide income. However, you may qualify to exclude from income up to an amount of your foreign earnings that is now adjusted for inflation ($91,400 for 2009, $91,500 for 2010, $92,900 for 2011). In addition, you can exclude or deduct certain foreign housing amounts.
URL:
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=97130,00.html
26. christopherphelps - January 06, 2011 at 01:15 am
walkerst -- Fascinating. There is something strange about talk about "globalization" given how meaningful these borders and states remain.
cosmos -- Personally, I would file even if you don't have tax to pay, on the principle that it keeps you in good stead to qualify for Medicare, Social Security, etc., down the line should you want it. (I have expat friends who draw down Social Security from abroad.) The tax issues are one huge hassle of moving abroad. The U.S. tax year is the calendar year (i.e., 2010). The British tax year is April 6-April 6, which is, well, crazy in itself but is also a very difficult thing. It essentially entails two completely separate calculations of taxes.
27. katerwriter - January 06, 2011 at 03:36 am
I enjoyed the article very much as it brought back many memories of my move to Wales as a student at UWA for the 2009-2010 program.
Even with some advance info from the uni, some advanced planning, and advice via the UK Yankee website, I still encountered a few perplexing surprises, including facing an awkward school crisis for my then 15-year-old daughter that was kindly and swiftly handled by a local comprehensive school. The awkward reception of hard-copy student loan checks in dollars was one of the more problematic issues, but my last one was wired in, and I've heard that's now the norm, so things will be easier for foreign students in the UK (from the US, at least - there still may be banking issues for students from other locations.)
My two children and I can't say enough good things about our sojourn in Wales - it has enriched and expanded our lives forever. I highly recommend the experience of living abroad to anyone considering entering a university as a student or teacher.
28. christopherphelps - January 06, 2011 at 09:21 am
Thanks, a very nice way to round it out.
29. knittingprof - January 06, 2011 at 10:14 am
So incredibly helpful to read this! Thank you!
As an academic who has accepted a job in Ireland and will be moving this summer, my husband and I are simultaneously thrilled, anxious, and confused, emotions we manage as we go through the daily motions of living our lives here and now. Navigating the intricacies of another health care system, banking, taxes, moving our 3 pets, not to mention moving to a country that is economic turmoil...I haven't even had time or energy to think about the intellectual and academic changes that this will all bring about.
30. wowie - January 06, 2011 at 02:33 pm
As a professor considering finding a position abroad (Asia), I did not find this article very helpful. Many, if not most, of the difficulties the writer encountered in England, finding schools for the children, the communte and whatnot are problems anyone, academic or otherwise, who moves to another state would encounter. The other challenges, visas, currency and language, etc., again are in no way specific to academics but more in the way of dealing with foreign bureacracy and cultural shock. What I would like to know is how does teaching abroad affect one professionally? If the academic expat wants to return to teach in the US, how does that tenure abroad affect her standing with prospective search committees? Does it detract or augment? And what about staying in the research loop while abroad? How does one stay up with current discourse? Is conferencing similar? Is publishing that important? Living "abroad" in the UK as the author does,I suspect these issues may not be of especial concern as our educational system is similar to theirs. But what if one is considering a position abroad in India, China or South America, where most of the job openings are? I think the difficulties of adjustment in these and other countries will be quite different.
31. christopherphelps - January 06, 2011 at 02:49 pm
Wowie - A few of the questions you ask are actually answered above (i.e., is publishing important), but many aren't covered, true. I cannot speak to relocation to Asia, as I've never taught there. I do know of vernacular stories of people from abroad moving back to the U.S., but I would not undertake a permanent relocation in the expectation that one would necessarily be able to find such a position. One thing that is important--and in some ways, a challenge --is to accept that the move will likely be permanent. One's ability to return to the U.S. and keep up on literature will depend on the library resources, your pay level, your research allowance if any, your other expenses, etc. Maybe I'll come back someday with a piece that tries to address these and the rest of the issues you raise, which are good questions. In the meantime obviously just sounding out people teaching in the countries you are considering would go a long way. (You can usually figure out a few likely people to ask through professional networks and the Internet, I've found.)
KnittingProf - So glad it was of use. I spent a week on the Dingle Penninsula (very far to the southern tip of Ireland) and a few days in Dublin in the year 2000, and loved it all. Ireland of course has now very serious economic problems but it's a fantastically beautiful country.
32. jmcn5195 - January 06, 2011 at 03:25 pm
You may also want to look at American Universities abroad for teaching and/or administrative experience and they use the same semester/gpa/major/minor destinctions, etc. They also teach all courses in English as well so that helps ease some transition issues. I have worked at 1 private, technical college and a large, state R1 in the US before financial difficulties (among other factors) got me to accept a position in the Middle East. Now I work in Afghanistan...hell of an experience! These American Universities are not in any way affiliated with any American universities back in the US. I have heard the American University of Nigeria may have some agreements with the AU in DC. I teach first-year freshman success courses here, academically advise freshman, and will soon take over student conduct. Please email me with any questions or comments...jmcn5195@yahoo.com.
33. softshellcrab - January 06, 2011 at 04:18 pm
This was interesting to read. Good article.
I will probably never do anything like that, but it was still interesting.
34. hkacademic - January 08, 2011 at 08:43 am
relocation to Asia is not dissimilar to what Prof (!) Phelps discusses, only just much more difficult in the same ways (plus others like the language).
perhaps though the biggest difference is institutional. where I work (in hk) not only are the cultural differences much stronger and so forth but working conditions, contracts, expectations, tenure requirements and etc can be opaque, inchoate, ever changing and so forth. in short difficult and unpleasant. but it can be worth it for the opportunity to live abroad and the pay can be worth it too if you get lucky
35. expat_scand - January 08, 2011 at 09:58 am
To add to Christopher's response to Wowie "...One thing that is important--and in some ways, a challenge --is to accept that the move will likely be permanent."
This is valuable advice, and doubly important if one moves to a non-English speaking country. I have seen quite a number of people who make the assumption their move is just for a few years, and they fail to make an effort to learn the language of their host country and deal with a number of other practical matters. For some, the time abroad is intended as finite; while it is unfortunate to not have spent time properly getting to know the country, while unfortunate it is understandable. But for those who discover a few years later that they will in fact be staying permanently, they have created some serious hurdles for themselves that take a bit more work to overcome. It is important to integrate into the community early on. While this is certainly true of any move, as wowie writes, it is much more complicated when that move is abroad. At least when you move from one state to another your past experiences are acknowledged; moving abroad you cannot take this for granted - a classic example is getting a new driver's license, when you will find that there is little interest in your 10 or 20 years of previous experience in the US. Start over!
36. jsmgphd11 - January 22, 2011 at 05:55 am
There are other E.U. countries that are developing and the often naive university in those take often our U.S. credentials at their face value although our "jump-in" faculty members tend to use their
level of ethics as well as the too frequent misunderstandings of the essential terminology.
Example: Ph.D. means a title that post-graduates work on for years, spend multiple research functions and publish while I have to attest that is came to my attention that several of our U.S. faculty
members who barely published one-two articles do not hesitate to abuse the new post-graduates, promise to translate their work while presenting research of someone else by adding their names without any conscience issues. As senior researchers, we had recently a misfortunate experience when we said we were U.S. university educators. Many of those who came to the USA abused the priviledge of political issues in th educational differences, and by abusing both systems they cheaoen our U.S. credentials and prestige in paticular abroad. What can be done about those who keepabusing the higher edu system on both sides, thus accepted only with uncertainty?