American Heading Abroad to Find New Opportunities

By ⋅ December 6, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment
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Tina Sawaya (Photo: @tinasawaya/Twitter)

Tina Sawaya (Photo: @tinasawaya/Twitter)

For the Geo Quiz, we’re zeroing in on China’s biggest city.

It looks out over the East China Sea, from about halfway between Beijing and Hong Kong.

An estimated 23 million people live in this mega-city.

23 million plus one: an American woman is planning on taking a job there.

And she’s heading for Shanghai. 27-year-old American Tina Sawaya is leaving next year for a new teaching job. She tells anchor Marco Werman that moving to Shanghai is a chance to move beyond juggling part-time teaching jobs and waiting tables to make ends meet in the US.

Shanghai skyline (Photo: Dawvon/Wiki Commons)

Shanghai skyline (Photo: Dawvon/Wiki Commons)


Discussion

8 comments for “American Heading Abroad to Find New Opportunities”

  • Anonymous

    Here’s some advice from an old man – you always start with an entry level job after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree unless your uncle is a hedge fund manager. Absolutely!

  • http://twitter.com/thunderbop mr. henry

    good luck tina!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=519185284 Casey Rich

    Having taught in China and Shanghai for 4 years the idea of their ‘dedication’ and ‘discipline’ are very different than what we might think.  Students hope to rote learn information and don’t feel comfortable participating in class – they just want a teacher to talk at them and that makes them feel like they are learning.

    Not sure what English teaching job is offered to someone with a BA(S?) in Business – but I know our English Department HoD would wonder about that hire.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=519185284 Casey Rich

    Having taught in China and Shanghai for 4 years the idea of their ‘dedication’ and ‘discipline’ are very different than what we might think.  Students hope to rote learn information and don’t feel comfortable participating in class – they just want a teacher to talk at them and that makes them feel like they are learning.

    Not sure what English teaching job is offered to someone with a BA(S?) in Business – but I know our English Department HoD would wonder about that hire.

  • Alexander Argentina

    Are you ever coming back Tina? We’ll miss you.

  • http://www.facebook.com/maxiewawa Max Roberts

    I spent 5 years teaching in Shanghai, it was great fun. I came back to Australia in 2009, older and wiser, fluent in Chinese, and with the woman who is now my wife.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Andy-Tam/685211948 Andy Tam

    Surprising how this makes news after people have been escaping America to each English overseas for years…

    What really interests me is how Tina expects to enjoy life, travel, pay back student debts and save on an English teacher salary. Even as a foreigner, you aren’t paid much — she might make more seeing as Shanghai is a first-tier (ie, expensive) city…but that higher salary is meant to offset the cost of living there. And knowing that she wants to find an apartment overlooking the river, housing is going to be a BIG cost.

    And don’t think people will be impressed that you’ve learned to speak Chinese. Everyone is doing it nowadays. It’s the “in” thing, so “in” that it’s now commonplace.

  • Anonymous

    My daughter, recent grad in International Relations and TESOL certified, took a job teaching English in a large city near Shanghai. Based on her income & expenses thus far, Tina’s plan for a nice apartment, pay back loans and save money to travel strike me as not realistic. However, my daughter is having the adventure of a lifetime, learning about Chinese culture and language and loves her new Chinese friends. She is especially grateful to have a good job while many of her fellow grads are struggling to find anything back in the US.
    Wishing her the best of luck and a great adventure.