What country is abbreviated AN?

What do you do if you're American but have your heart set on teaching English in a Hispanic country?

• Please, no rude or mean comments... I need honest answers but this is something very serious. I'm an American and EFL teacher and I have my heart set on teaching in a Spanish speaking country. I have decided that I'm going to Mexico to teach EFL... yes, I've seen the news but I've also done research and talked to teachers down there. We all know there are problems there but I think that they have been blown out of proportion and that there are areas in Mexico a million times safer than the border. I've been accused of denying that there are problems in Mexico but these people misunderstood me... I'm aware that there are problems. To tell the truth, it's breaking my heart. I studied abroad in Mexico and have decided to go there to teach EFL down there, and NOTHING will convince me to change my mind. In spite of all that, I'm very sad. I don't think anything will happen to me but there's no denything that things have changed there! I am really fearful for the future there and worry that the whole country will become like the border and don't see any end to the drug war. I feel depressed because the Mexico I fell in love with as an exchange student is changing, disappearing forever. I'm still going back there but I know it won't be the same as it was when I was in school there. My reasons for feeling sad are kinda selfish, I know, but I can't help it. I've always been unhappy in the USA. I don't hate Americans but I know in my heart I don't belong here and I can't bear to live the rest of my life in USA. I have the heart and soul of a Hispanic person and need to be in a Hispanic country. I studied abroad in Mexico and for the first time in my life, felt accepted and felt a sense of belonging. I studied abroad in Spain too, and fell in love with it and had very similar feelings. I look at all this stuff in Mexico now and it breaks my heart because Mexico was the safe haven I had to escape to and the one place in the world I felt accepted. I love Spain so much and met some really kind and friendly people there, and would like to live and work there but the European Union discriminates against Americans... it makes me really angry. In Spain a lot of doors closed to me as an American EFL teacher and it was a huge disappointment. I look at my British friends and how they have no problem finding work in Spain and honestly it's completely unfair. I contrast that with Mexico, where they receive people like me with open arms. Naturally I want to go where I'm wanted. Just a series of disappointments... I never was happy in USA... in Spain it's almost impossible for Americans to work... I'm in love with Mexico and determined to go and teach EFL there but the violence is destroying the entire country. I feel like there's not gonna be much of a world for me to live in. I know that my reasons for feeling sad are so selfish... but I can't help how I feel. I never really fit in anywhere and finally found a place where my heart is and now I worry that it will be destroyed. It's like I was given flowers and then fate just took them away. I've been accused of sugar coating the situation in Mexico but with all respect I wouldn't do that. Everyone understands that there is a drug war going on there and it's affected the whole country. In spite of that I also know that every area of Mexico is different. The border is extremely dangerous right now, but it's a big country and not every single area of Mexico is like the border! I don't think that Querétaro, Puebla, etc. are unreasonably dangerous; I've done research and talked to people about this. I have a hard time organizing my thoughts when I'm feeling sad or something is bugging me... now, for example. I wouldn't kill myself or anything like that. I'm just feeling really depressed! I'm still going to Mexico to teach EFL this fall, hopefully by the end of next month. Please don't try to talk me out of it because I've looked into this and decided it's the best choice. I'm just not sure that I am going to live my life there, the way I once was. I just feel sort of lost again. I've tried to accept that I'll have to live in USA forever but I just don't want to! I'm not happy here. What do you do if you're an American EFL teacher and have your heart set on living in a Hispanic country? I've been told that I should just stay in the USA and teach here but it would be boring to spend your life in one place and never see the world! I know there are Hispanic communities here but it's not the same. I want to be in a Hispanic country and not here. So... sorry this is long. Thanks if you can help.

• Answer:

  Check into it a little more. I applied to go and teach English in Korea. I fell in love with the idea. All my friends were going and thought why can't I? Once you apply, they will ask you for the basics, name address phone, etc. You will then get a phone interview. You may not get the country you are looking for. You will be placed where they need you most. After one year you can always ask to be transferred elsewhere, depending on company. All you can do is check into different companies that do EFL/ESL placements and go from there. Find a place in Mexico that you would LOVE to go to and just ask to see if they need teachers. It may help you if you take Spanish classes beforehand, if you don't already speak Spanish to give yourself an edge. Also, get an idea of what age range you would like to deal with. When I applied to Korea, I chose the 1st to 2nd grade range. Don't settle for the USA if you want to go elsewhere. The sky is the limit. Just takes some patience. Save your money, just in case, get a passport (they are good for 10 years) and start the process now. That way if something comes up that you want, you'll have a headstart. Good luck to you!