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[prytania3]

Plenty of people started off their college studies at a CC.  I did.  My three kids did.  Yeah, it's a different student population than at the 4-year schools but just having attended a CC won't really give you any "street cred" in terms of getting a job at one. 

I disagree. I think most cc's would like the fact that he got a GED and started at a cc.

[1bourbon1scotch1beer]

Apparently what everyone else (re: you) are saying is that multiple disciplines is meaningless when they are online.

Pretty much.  Online degrees are generally looked down upon.  The only exception might be certain programs connected with well-established US universities which also offer the same program (with the same course requirements) as an on-campus MA.  An on-campus MA typically takes about two years to complete (including writing a thesis).  Yet, many online MAs are doable in about a year.  Right away that should tell you something. 

Having multiple degrees in multiple disciplines would generally be good but two MAs don't add up to one Ph.D.  Now if you had a Ph.D. and also an MA in a second related field that would give you a leg up. 

That in history there are so many unemployed phD's that the nature of my online degree puts me absolutely at the bottom of the list and thus I have no hope. 

Yep.  Well, you can still hope, but if I were you I wouldn't count on the CC thing as a way to get back to the US. 

Also that being from the cc system gives me no advantage because it's really not about connecting to students it's about being the most academically qualified which seems to me to go against the grain of cc's across the states.  Most people who go to cc don't graduate and go on to get higher degrees so I also considered that I put the time and effort into such would set me apart. 

Plenty of people started off their college studies at a CC.  I did.  My three kids did.  Yeah, it's a different student population than at the 4-year schools but just having attended a CC won't really give you any "street cred" in terms of getting a job at one. 

I'm a bit disheartened and I feel like all my education was for not.  I guess my student loans don't have to be paid if I live the rest of my life overseas :P  Hmmm.  I guess teaching university overseas isn't such a bad gig afterall.

Education is never wasted even if it doesn't immediately result in a job.  My career path to a university position (in Japan) was certainly non-traditional.  After doing some low-level ESL in the US, I finished my MA and took a job in the Arabian Gulf and ended working there for 12 years.  Then I took a chance a wrangled a job in the linguistics department at a Mexican university that paid almost nothing but gave me some great experience teaching academic subjects.  That then led to the job in Japan, which then allowed me the time and money to pursue a Ph.D. (through a university in the UK).  The Ph.D. work led to a sabbatical in the US, during which time I "communed with the Gods" of my field and taught a few classes as an adjunct in the Cal State system. 

Now 13 years after coming to Japan, I'm a much different person both professionally and personally that I was when I was hired.  It would still be a 1-in-500 shot at best to land a tt job in the US.  But then at the moment, particularly with the dollar-yen exchange rate, I earn about $20,000 more a year in Japan that I would at a tt job in the humanities in the US. 

In total I've lived abroad for almost 26 years.  It's been a great life. 

Those of us living in Korea are envious of the yen to dollar relationship lately.  I've lost about 30 percent of my salary due to the won tanking.  I would probably be content to live overseas the rest of my life.  I would like to return to the U.S. in order to spend more time with family before making a more permanent break.  I met my wife while studying in the U.S. after my first divorce.  She is a Filipina so I have rights to own land in the Phils with her.  So I'm in the process of building a beach house to retire in eventually on some property there.  I'll also facilitate a couple of business ventures there for reliable but not entirely impressive income.

I've been fortunate that I've saved a lot in the last four or five years so I can afford to adjunct and be near family or in striking distance at least.  I just want to occupy some of my time with teaching at a cc a couple of years or perhaps in the public school system as a last resort.  Granted, that is not to say my time overseas teaching is not as meaninful.  I just prefer teaching history over English. 

Ultimately my end goal is a teaching position at one of the Philippine universities.  They pay low wages but with a couple of businesses and a house paid off and a nice beach off-time alternative it sounds like the good life to me.

[wanderer]

I also think that many of these fields are a crapshoot, and it depends a lot on who you know and where you live.  Never underestimate nepotism or localism.  If you have some CC networks and they'd set you up adjuncting for a while, you might be able to move up or over.  My sense is that at many local schools a big name or publications actually hurt you.

I'd think long and hard about what you really love doing.  You might want to do a library degree, if you enjoy working one on one with people, or a degree that will help you where you are.  I would go for whatever sounds like the most fun.  If you have copious hours and can do a poly sci ma for cheap, why not?  

[baka_janai]

Those of us living in Korea are envious of the yen to dollar relationship lately.  I've lost about 30 percent of my salary due to the won tanking. 

I certainly understand that end of things!  I moved to Mexico just prior to the peso collapse in the early 90's which meant I was suddenly earning about 10% of my prior salary in the Gulf.  It was tough times for sure.

I would probably be content to live overseas the rest of my life.  I would like to return to the U.S. in order to spend more time with family before making a more permanent break. 

Ah, but there's the rub, you almost certainly wouldn't be able to find a CC job close to wherever family is.  You might be able to pick up a few classes as an adjunct just to slow the speed at which you burn through savings, but that's probably it.

I met my wife while studying in the U.S. after my first divorce.  She is a Filipina so I have rights to own land in the Phils with her.  So I'm in the process of building a beach house to retire in eventually on some property there.  I'll also facilitate a couple of business ventures there for reliable but not entirely impressive income.

For years my Mexican wife and I imagined ourselves retiring to Mexico (where she could own land) but more recently she has decided that she's "never moving back to Mexico."  So plans change.  Over the years I've heard my share of expat dreams.  Sometimes they come true but more often they don't.  A house on the beach in the Philippines and a basic teaching job sounds wonderful. 

But, I'll say that I've never worked as hard in my life as I worked in Mexico.  Everyone there was scrambling all the time just to keep their heads above water.  Most of my ("full-time") university colleagues had at least two jobs.  Most had less than 2 weeks of vacation per year.  The only expat I knew who had it good was a guy with a little rancho outside Guadalajara who would work for a year or two in Saudi, save up a bundle and then come back to Mexico and not work for two or three years.  When the money ran out, he'd take another short-term gig in Saudi.

I just want to occupy some of my time with teaching at a cc a couple of years or perhaps in the public school system as a last resort.  Granted, that is not to say my time overseas teaching is not as meaninful.  I just prefer teaching history over English. 

You certainly wouldn't want any potential employer to get the message that you're only interested in teaching for a few years until you can retire in leisure.

Ultimately my end goal is a teaching position at one of the Philippine universities.  They pay low wages but with a couple of businesses and a house paid off and a nice beach off-time alternative it sounds like the good life to me.

Good luck with that.  I'd say that to get any sort of job at a Philippine university, particularly any one where you'd be in competition with home-grown Filipinos, you'll need to have almost twice the qualifications and/or teaching experience.  That's pretty much the case here in Japan.  The only way I was able to get the job at the Mexican university was because I had for several years been a freelance writer/photographer for a Mexican magazine, spoke excellent Spanish and personally had a chat with the head of department during a visit to Mexico. 

I don't mean to be raining on your beach cabana here but I've just heard too many of these sorts of dreams over the years.   They almost start falling into well-defined categories.  And "divorced US male marries Asian female and moves into 3rd world bliss" is one of them.  I think there's a lot to be said for "opting out" of the system and I think that with modest expectations a life in the Philippines (or Mexico or Thailand or Indonesia or...) could be much more satisfying than the rat race (and particularly the academic rat race) in the US.

But it's important to go into these things with your eyes wide open.  That you're discussing this with us here is a very good sign. 

[1bourbon1scotch1beer]

Those of us living in Korea are envious of the yen to dollar relationship lately.  I've lost about 30 percent of my salary due to the won tanking. 

I certainly understand that end of things!  I moved to Mexico just prior to the peso collapse in the early 90's which meant I was suddenly earning about 10% of my prior salary in the Gulf.  It was tough times for sure.

I would probably be content to live overseas the rest of my life.  I would like to return to the U.S. in order to spend more time with family before making a more permanent break. 

Ah, but there's the rub, you almost certainly wouldn't be able to find a CC job close to wherever family is.  You might be able to pick up a few classes as an adjunct just to slow the speed at which you burn through savings, but that's probably it.

I met my wife while studying in the U.S. after my first divorce.  She is a Filipina so I have rights to own land in the Phils with her.  So I'm in the process of building a beach house to retire in eventually on some property there.  I'll also facilitate a couple of business ventures there for reliable but not entirely impressive income.

For years my Mexican wife and I imagined ourselves retiring to Mexico (where she could own land) but more recently she has decided that she's "never moving back to Mexico."  So plans change.  Over the years I've heard my share of expat dreams.  Sometimes they come true but more often they don't.  A house on the beach in the Philippines and a basic teaching job sounds wonderful. 

But, I'll say that I've never worked as hard in my life as I worked in Mexico.  Everyone there was scrambling all the time just to keep their heads above water.  Most of my ("full-time") university colleagues had at least two jobs.  Most had less than 2 weeks of vacation per year.  The only expat I knew who had it good was a guy with a little rancho outside Guadalajara who would work for a year or two in Saudi, save up a bundle and then come back to Mexico and not work for two or three years.  When the money ran out, he'd take another short-term gig in Saudi.

I just want to occupy some of my time with teaching at a cc a couple of years or perhaps in the public school system as a last resort.  Granted, that is not to say my time overseas teaching is not as meaninful.  I just prefer teaching history over English. 

You certainly wouldn't want any potential employer to get the message that you're only interested in teaching for a few years until you can retire in leisure.

Ultimately my end goal is a teaching position at one of the Philippine universities.  They pay low wages but with a couple of businesses and a house paid off and a nice beach off-time alternative it sounds like the good life to me.

Good luck with that.  I'd say that to get any sort of job at a Philippine university, particularly any one where you'd be in competition with home-grown Filipinos, you'll need to have almost twice the qualifications and/or teaching experience.  That's pretty much the case here in Japan.  The only way I was able to get the job at the Mexican university was because I had for several years been a freelance writer/photographer for a Mexican magazine, spoke excellent Spanish and personally had a chat with the head of department during a visit to Mexico. 

I don't mean to be raining on your beach cabana here but I've just heard too many of these sorts of dreams over the years.   They almost start falling into well-defined categories.  And "divorced US male marries Asian female and moves into 3rd world bliss" is one of them.  I think there's a lot to be said for "opting out" of the system and I think that with modest expectations a life in the Philippines (or Mexico or Thailand or Indonesia or...) could be much more satisfying than the rat race (and particularly the academic rat race) in the US.

But it's important to go into these things with your eyes wide open.  That you're discussing this with us here is a very good sign. 

Ah, I know what it sound like.  My wife's family has a president and two faculty members at the university I would teach at.  The job is there for me whenever I decide to take it.  Granted it is not a top university by any means and the wage would be tiny by comparison but liveable for the region.  Thus it is in the plans for further down the road.  I wouldn't be doing it for the money.  Again, the thing is I would like to spend time with my family in the U.S. and the rub for me is there as you put it.  My wife's family isn't the typical lot.  They are a bit fortunate given that poverty situation faced by the rest of the country and she was fortunate enough to study in America.

[spork]

Without a graduate degree in a specific discipline, obtained in the U.S. from an on-campus program, you're better off staying where you are.  At least you've got access to Korean babes.

[bacardiandlime]

Without a graduate degree in a specific discipline, obtained in the U.S. from an on-campus program, you're better off staying where you are.  At least you've got access to Korean babes.

I'm sure his WIFE appreciates that.

[baka_janai]

Ah, I know what it sound like.  My wife's family has a president and two faculty members at the university I would teach at.  The job is there for me whenever I decide to take it.  Granted it is not a top university by any means and the wage would be tiny by comparison but liveable for the region.  Thus it is in the plans for further down the road.  I wouldn't be doing it for the money.  Again, the thing is I would like to spend time with my family in the U.S. and the rub for me is there as you put it.  My wife's family isn't the typical lot.  They are a bit fortunate given that poverty situation faced by the rest of the country and she was fortunate enough to study in America.

I apologize for the stereotyping but, well, you know.  Expat stories (including mine) tend to run down familiar paths.  BTW, when we were in the Middle East EVERYONE assumed that my wife was Filipino -- even the other Filipinos who would speak to her in Tagolog and then act insulted because my wife wouldn't answer them. 

As I said my prior post, living life in the Philippines (or Mexico or Thailand or...) really wouldn't be bad at all.  Of course it's somehow always different to live "as a foreigner in country X" as opposed to being a native of country X.  And this conflict between identities (and economic futures) tends to play itself out in real life if there are children.

Anyway, I do wish you the best. 

[spork]

Without a graduate degree in a specific discipline, obtained in the U.S. from an on-campus program, you're better off staying where you are.  At least you've got access to Korean babes.

I'm sure his WIFE appreciates that.

Isn't his wife a Korean babe? Or is she some other nationality?  Or is she just not a babe?

Why would he want to give up a guaranteed full-time job at a university where he's got family connections for a part-time adjuncting gig in the USA? 

[baka_janai]

Isn't his wife a Korean babe? Or is she some other nationality?  Or is she just not a babe?

Why would he want to give up a guaranteed full-time job at a university where he's got family connections for a part-time adjuncting gig in the USA? 

Your reading skills seem to be in need of repair.  Wife=Filipino.  Current full-time job=Korea.  Wants to hang with (his) family in US=a couple years of adjuncting in the US.  Family connections (which is just the way things work there)=Philippines.

[spork]

Isn't his wife a Korean babe? Or is she some other nationality?  Or is she just not a babe?

Why would he want to give up a guaranteed full-time job at a university where he's got family connections for a part-time adjuncting gig in the USA? 

Your reading skills seem to be in need of repair.  Wife=Filipino.  Current full-time job=Korea.  Wants to hang with (his) family in US=a couple years of adjuncting in the US.  Family connections (which is just the way things work there)=Philippines.

I'm sorry, I haven't been paying close attention.  Also all Asia-based ESL teachers look alike to me.

If the OP and his wife are in SK, and he has an opportunity to get a full time job in his wife's homeland that will provide a standard of living that is equal or better than what they have now, then he should jump on it if that's what his wife wants.

[1bourbon1scotch1beer]

Isn't his wife a Korean babe? Or is she some other nationality?  Or is she just not a babe?

Why would he want to give up a guaranteed full-time job at a university where he's got family connections for a part-time adjuncting gig in the USA? 

Your reading skills seem to be in need of repair.  Wife=Filipino.  Current full-time job=Korea.  Wants to hang with (his) family in US=a couple years of adjuncting in the US.  Family connections (which is just the way things work there)=Philippines.

I'm sorry, I haven't been paying close attention.  Also all Asia-based ESL teachers look alike to me.

If the OP and his wife are in SK, and he has an opportunity to get a full time job in his wife's homeland that will provide a standard of living that is equal or better than what they have now, then he should jump on it if that's what his wife wants.

The standard of living is not equal in the Philippines.  It is the Philippines after all.  I am currently building a house there.  The expense in minimal compared to most other non-impoverished countries.  I can by all means live a simple life.  The job there would likely pay only 500 dollars a month.  That is a wage I can live on there.  my wife would also teach also but probably receive another 300 a month.  Since the province isn't in Manila or Cebu the expense are minimal.  I would own my own home and land.  So I would only be responsible for already cheap utilities.  We already have land with rice and a mango farm that generates a little more income.  I'll probably after a few years of saving buy an apartment building near the university and rent it out to students.  Again, rent is dramatically cheaper there so it will all help out with living above and beyond the standard in the Philippines for most.

My wife likes her job (and I love mine) in Korea.  We are able to save a lot of money here.  My father passed though and before my mother does I would like to spend time in America with her.  I have enough savings to do such a couple of years.  I would like to adjunct or teach history while I do so.  My wife would enjoy it as well and she can get her dual citizenship during that period. 

While my retirement is in the Philippines I am only nearing 30.  I have a few years of living and thigns to do first.

[jackalope]

You know if the economy were better I would say roll the dice and move to the states right now. Pick up a couple of courses at a CC near your mom and get the lay of the land and see what happens.

But I just attended the emergency budget meeting at my university and the good news is that we are not laying off anyone--except all the adjuncts. You should hang on to that lucrative job you love in Korea and ride out the recession. Try to adjunct some onlne courses and enjoy life. When the economy improves your opportunities will expand.

[baka_janai]

You should hang on to that lucrative job you love in [Foreign Country] and ride out the recession. Try to adjunct some onlne courses and enjoy life. When the economy improves your opportunities will expand.

This is exactly the thinking which led me to abandon my obsession with moving to the "tt-track big leagues" in the US.  The more I looked into the harsh realities of US jobs, the more I realized I had it great here in "the minor leagues" and that dozens of US professors would be more than happy to trade places (and salaries).  Actually, it's too bad that there aren't more possibilities for one or two year faculty exchanges. 

BTW, how would one get in on online teaching gigs?

[spork]

Standard of living is not the same as cost of living, which I think is what you may have been describing.  Maybe I'm still not paying close enough attention, but are you a native of the Philippines, like your wife?  It sounds like you've got a great plan for retirement in the Philippines -- rice paddies, mangoes, a water buffalo or two, and rental property.  If you and your wife are currently saving money by working in SK, I'd stay there.  The food is better there than in the USA, and there's a national health care system, which I assume you have access to by working in SK.