Have you ever thought about the way we ask people what their profession is? What allows them to eat and put clothes on their back? 4 simple words - What do you do? You know exactly what they mean when they say it. They're not asking you if you take showers or baths, if you grocery shop twice a week or once a month, if you spend your weekends playing or watching sports. Do you remember when people used to add (for a living?) at the end of the question? But that has been phased out. Because this definition of DO is society's most important. No specification is required.
Your WOTD is:
trabajo [trah-bah’ho] : job, work Listen
And you can also relate to the verb:
trabajar [trah-bah-har'] : to work Listen
I do many things. But as a trabajo, I teach English. Specifically to Castellano-speaking Argentines in international companies and private classes. There are a few other freelance trabajos I have been able to add to the list, but teaching is my day-to-day trabajo.
Teaching EFL (English as a Foreign Language) is not for everyone. It's the same as someone saying that teaching, in general, is not for everyone. For many years in my young(er) life, I wanted to be a 3rd grade teacher. Mrs. Burr, her 247 stuffed bears, and her compliments (with stickers!) on my creative writing had really gone to my head. Later, when I realized I despised babysitting, I had a change of heart. When I discovered the idea of traveling to another country to teach adults, I was thrilled.
http://www.baexpats.org/ is a forum for expats living here, some who used to live here, those who are daring to move here, and anyone else interested in the ins and outs of daily life in Buenos Aires for an expat. You can find everything from questions about where to find peanut butter and maple syrup (latter impossible) to the detailed explanation of the 37-step process to receive a residency permit (that is, after you qualify).
Recently, a fellow expat vented his consternation at not being able to find a job teaching English. Most responses were helpful, but the one that made me "type" up is the following:
"Stanexpat" I am sympathetic to any person having trouble finding work, but in this case I would have to say I am in agreement with steveinBsas. I assume most of the people trying this are young early to mid 20's. What on earth are they doing in Argentina? Shouldn't these people be a home getting a real job and starting their adult lives? Isn't a lot of this just people trying to extend their adolescense years. Maybe I'm old fashioned but I believe other people see this the same way.
He was hit with a lot of arguments and, I'm sure, cold shoulders. The thing is, any one trabajo has many different levels of dedication, and in TEFL the level fluctuates wildly. This guy is focusing on one end of the spectrum while I strive trabajar at the other. I'll leave you with this comment in response to his opinion:
What on earth are they doing? Heaven forbid that they are getting to know another part of the world and trying to make a peso while doing it. Shouldn't they be waiting in line back home to become a part of the rat race, you ask? Yeah, sounds thrilling. Jumping right on the bandwagon.
I also think many come to learn and/or improve their Spanish in hopes of using it in their future "real job." Some of them don't achieve that since they end up spending all their time with other English-speaking expats, but there are many exceptions. And there's no way they leave without learning something...even if that is "Sí, una copa de vino tinto por favor."
Mind you that it is possible to make a "real job" out of this ridiculous English teaching gig. One can take it as seriously or as light-heartedly as one likes. What is a "real job" anyway? A 9 to 6? With benefits? A 30 minute lunch break? A cubicle? Deadlines? Maybe even a corporate car someday?
"Real" or not, a job that pays the bills, leaves some money left over for life's simple pleasures, and allows that I do not leave my house with a "cara de culo" on Monday morning is a job for me.