I "think" I want to quit my job. Anxious, sad, lonely, but I'm scared of quitting...?

Question

I teach abroad. No one speaks English here. I've been here 6 months and have 6 more months to go. I wanted to quit 2-4 months into it, but somehow my company convinced me not to. I went back home for 1 month, now I am back. The guy I was kinda seeing wants nothing to do with me so we had a falling out. Other foreigners and I just dont click. I feel so alone and lonely. I cannot go out and joing a club or try to make friends bcuz NO1 speaks English and I live in a small town. I feel so down. I LOVE the people I work with (they dont speak Eng.) and the kids I teach but the job I do-I was not trained well and I have major anxiety. I feel so nervous teaching, I feel sick a lot (literally). Sometimes before work I feel so sick and dread going to work. I've had jobs I dread but it's really hard bcuz I don't have anyone here. I am so lonely and I want to go back. I want to quit..I'm nervous. I don't want ppl to think I am quitting bcuz I just got dumped. How do I quit? Just do it today? help

Answer 1

What's there to be scared of? Just do what's right for you. But have a game plan for when you go home, if you do go home early. You don't want to go home and be bored. Depression and anxiety only gets worse when you have nothing to do. Set a list of goals for when you go home and keep working at it. You went overseas for the experience! Most people I know don't plan on doing it forever. Now you know it's not for you so there's nothing to be ashamed of! At least you had the balls to do it in the first place!

Answer 2

I have been teaching abroad for more than 4 years in Korea and China.

I also know lots of local people who have returned from places like Australia, the UK and so on and have advised students on how to live abroad.

Some people love it and others really hate the experience.

So here are some things.

1. Make local friends. Sometimes it is hard, some places are more friendly than others. Some places have more people that speak English (small towns have less English but people are more friendly).

2. Learn the local language. If your school refused to arrange a teacher and give you books then quit immediately.

3. Foriegn friends can help, but don't just hang out with foreigners (I know chinese people in Australia who can only say hello and goodbye).

4. There are more jobs than teachers, so change your job if you want to stay abroad, even change countries.

5. Know what you want, what is your goal. If you have a goal then it is easier to endure minor problems, if you have no goal minor problems become too much to bear.

6. Get out, have adventures, meet people. If you sit at home you won't make friends. But in many cased you can make friends at bus stops, walking up mountains and so on. I carry a business card and so I can give it to people when i meet them, then they can decide to meet me later.

7. Relax, the worst thing that can happen is you are fired, and forced out of the country on short notice. Just make sure you have enough money to be safe.

8. Don't expect everything to be ok. It is ok to quit and return home, it is not a failure, rather it is just a setback. Sometimes retreat lets you fight another day.

Answer 3

This sounds like one of those life expierences where you have to stick with it no matter what. There has to be a purpose for you to be teaching in another country. Try approaching this in a different point of view. How much do the children need you? All you can do is your best. Try teaching in a way you find comfortable. Teach with music and song. Teach with prose. Teach by example.
Try a new approach, this is a learning experience for you too. Don't quit-you might regret it. Years from now you will see how much you have grown as a person because of this. Quitting would be a mistake.

Answer 4

I think you have to finish your term first - then quit. If you can quit now - then you may go ahead before you go cookoo head.

And then next time ask your self when you apply for another job, if you really like to work that job - because you are wasting too much of your time. You have to focus so that you can have good future and that's the most important thing in life. Ask your self what is it really that you are aiming for?