The Poker Project (playing and writing about poker in the U.S.)
01-03-2015
, 06:11 PM
My Struggle: Book 1, by Karl Ove Knausgaard (Farrar, Strauss & Giroux, 2012)
"As I sit here writing this, I recognize that more than thirty years have passed. In the window before me I can vaguely make out the reflection of my face. Apart from one eye, which is glistening, and the area immediately beneath, which dimly reflects a little light, the whole of the left side is in shadow. Two deep furrows divide my forehead, one deep furrow intersects each cheek, all of them as if filled with darkness, and with the eyes staring and serious, and the corners of the mouth drooping, it is impossible not to consider this face gloomy.
What has engraved itself in my face?" (25)
After hearing about how great this book was over and over I gave up and read it. And by "it" I mean merely book 1 out of 6, a puny 435 pages of thousands. To say this book has been much-discussed is an understatement, here's two good starting points.
Bookworm podcast interview: http://www.kcrw.com/news-culture/sho...truggle-part-i
New Yorker review by James Woods: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/20...3/total-recall
My Thoughts on My Struggle
What's "the struggle?" Could be:
1) coming to grips with his father's terrible life and gruesome death
2) being a good father/husband
3) writing something exceptional
4) living an authentic life
5) battling death
My vote would be for (1).
The book has an interesting structure. It begins with a detached, eloquent meditation about death and moves to a scene from young Knausgaard's childhood. This scene, we learn from an older Knausgaard, is a flashback, and much of the book is about old Knausgaard making sense of his past. The book culminates in a trip to his grandparents' house in the late nineties, where his father drank himself to death, and where Karl Ove, with the help of his brother, cleans the disgusting (and I mean disgusting) house and dwells upon family, memory, life, and, above all, death.
Death, Honesty:"A fair amount of contemporary prose seems to have been written by people who, like Tolstoy’s Ivan Ilyich, refuse to accept that they will die; there is a puerile or evasive quality in many new novels (not to mention movies), especially in America, where infinite information promises to outlive us, and dazzle down the terminality of existence. Are there serious contemporary writers who remind us of our mortality? The forty-three-year-old Norwegian novelist Karl Ove Knausgaard is certainly one" (James Woods)
Style (the book's really "readable"): "Where many contemporary writers would reflexively turn to irony, Knausgaard is intense and utterly honest, unafraid to voice universal anxieties, unafraid to appear naïve or awkward. Although his sentences are long and loose, they are not cutely or aimlessly digressive: truth is repeatedly being struck at, not chatted up" (James Woods)
Quotes I like:
"After a while I picked up the teapot and poured. Dark brown, almost like wood, the tea rose inside the white cup. A few leaves swirled and floated up, the others lay like a black mat at the bottom. I added milk, three teaspoons of sugar, stirred, waited until the leaves had settled on the bottom, and drank.
Mmm."
"Writing is drawing the essence of what we know out of the shadows. That is what writing is about. Not what happens there, not what actions are played out there, but the there itself. There, that is writing's location and aim. But how to get there?" (192)
"But what you noticed when you saw my grandmother, what struck you first about her, was her eyes. They were light blue and crystal clear, and whether it was because of their unusual color or because it contrasted with her otherwise dark appearance, they seemed almost artificial, as if they were made of stone" (104).
"A scream rent the air.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH! (217)"
the Day of Judgment (237)
"Grandma had sunk into herself again, stared down at the table. She sat bowed in the chair, shoulders slumped, rocking back and forth.
What could she be thinking?
Nothing. There was nothing inside her mind. Couldn't be. It was just cold and dark inside" (290).
"Now I saw his lifeless state. And that there was no longer any difference between what once had been my father and the table he was lying on, or the floor on which the table stood, or the wall socket beneath the window, or the cable running to the lamp beside him. For humans are merely one form among many, which the world produces over and over again, not only in everything that lives but also in everything that does not live, drawn in sand, stone, and water. And death, which I have always regarded as the greatest dimension of life, dark, compelling, was no more than a pipe that springs a leak, a branch that cracks in the wind, a jacket that slips off a clothes hanger and falls to the floor" (441).
Cliffs
Parts of My Struggle: Book 1 I enjoyed immensely; other parts seemed tedious and seemingly pointless. Will I read the whole thing? Probably not, but I could see myself dipping into Book 2 to see how things progress.
The best story about death (and how to live) is still Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilyich."
Happy New Year Rehab!
"As I sit here writing this, I recognize that more than thirty years have passed. In the window before me I can vaguely make out the reflection of my face. Apart from one eye, which is glistening, and the area immediately beneath, which dimly reflects a little light, the whole of the left side is in shadow. Two deep furrows divide my forehead, one deep furrow intersects each cheek, all of them as if filled with darkness, and with the eyes staring and serious, and the corners of the mouth drooping, it is impossible not to consider this face gloomy.
What has engraved itself in my face?" (25)
After hearing about how great this book was over and over I gave up and read it. And by "it" I mean merely book 1 out of 6, a puny 435 pages of thousands. To say this book has been much-discussed is an understatement, here's two good starting points.
Bookworm podcast interview: http://www.kcrw.com/news-culture/sho...truggle-part-i
New Yorker review by James Woods: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/20...3/total-recall
My Thoughts on My Struggle
What's "the struggle?" Could be:
1) coming to grips with his father's terrible life and gruesome death
2) being a good father/husband
3) writing something exceptional
4) living an authentic life
5) battling death
My vote would be for (1).
The book has an interesting structure. It begins with a detached, eloquent meditation about death and moves to a scene from young Knausgaard's childhood. This scene, we learn from an older Knausgaard, is a flashback, and much of the book is about old Knausgaard making sense of his past. The book culminates in a trip to his grandparents' house in the late nineties, where his father drank himself to death, and where Karl Ove, with the help of his brother, cleans the disgusting (and I mean disgusting) house and dwells upon family, memory, life, and, above all, death.
Death, Honesty:"A fair amount of contemporary prose seems to have been written by people who, like Tolstoy’s Ivan Ilyich, refuse to accept that they will die; there is a puerile or evasive quality in many new novels (not to mention movies), especially in America, where infinite information promises to outlive us, and dazzle down the terminality of existence. Are there serious contemporary writers who remind us of our mortality? The forty-three-year-old Norwegian novelist Karl Ove Knausgaard is certainly one" (James Woods)
Style (the book's really "readable"): "Where many contemporary writers would reflexively turn to irony, Knausgaard is intense and utterly honest, unafraid to voice universal anxieties, unafraid to appear naïve or awkward. Although his sentences are long and loose, they are not cutely or aimlessly digressive: truth is repeatedly being struck at, not chatted up" (James Woods)
Quotes I like:
"After a while I picked up the teapot and poured. Dark brown, almost like wood, the tea rose inside the white cup. A few leaves swirled and floated up, the others lay like a black mat at the bottom. I added milk, three teaspoons of sugar, stirred, waited until the leaves had settled on the bottom, and drank.
Mmm."
"Writing is drawing the essence of what we know out of the shadows. That is what writing is about. Not what happens there, not what actions are played out there, but the there itself. There, that is writing's location and aim. But how to get there?" (192)
"But what you noticed when you saw my grandmother, what struck you first about her, was her eyes. They were light blue and crystal clear, and whether it was because of their unusual color or because it contrasted with her otherwise dark appearance, they seemed almost artificial, as if they were made of stone" (104).
"A scream rent the air.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH! (217)"
the Day of Judgment (237)
"Grandma had sunk into herself again, stared down at the table. She sat bowed in the chair, shoulders slumped, rocking back and forth.
What could she be thinking?
Nothing. There was nothing inside her mind. Couldn't be. It was just cold and dark inside" (290).
"Now I saw his lifeless state. And that there was no longer any difference between what once had been my father and the table he was lying on, or the floor on which the table stood, or the wall socket beneath the window, or the cable running to the lamp beside him. For humans are merely one form among many, which the world produces over and over again, not only in everything that lives but also in everything that does not live, drawn in sand, stone, and water. And death, which I have always regarded as the greatest dimension of life, dark, compelling, was no more than a pipe that springs a leak, a branch that cracks in the wind, a jacket that slips off a clothes hanger and falls to the floor" (441).
Cliffs
Parts of My Struggle: Book 1 I enjoyed immensely; other parts seemed tedious and seemingly pointless. Will I read the whole thing? Probably not, but I could see myself dipping into Book 2 to see how things progress.
The best story about death (and how to live) is still Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilyich."
Happy New Year Rehab!
01-12-2015
, 12:19 AM
Funny you should ask Rehab 
I write from an internet cafe in Chiang Mai, where I'm surrounded by Starcraft wizards. I finished the first leg of my trip late last night. Here's a brief recap.
Hong Kong
Flew into the Hong Kong from San Francisco. Thankfully everything was smooth with connecting flights. I spent Thursday exploring the mountainous area near The University of Hong Kong. Don't have much sense of the city yet, but I'll spend 2-3 days there at the end of the trip. Most of my time's been spent in the glorious gambling city of Macau:
The Venetian and City of Dreams, two of the three locations where you can play poker
Dudes on bikes
The city's glitzy like Vegas. Some parts of the city, esp Cotai, are underdeveloped, with lots of massive casino complexes sprouting up wherever you look.
I spent a lot of time working on a reporting piece about the state of poker in Macau. The consensus is that poker is not nearly as popular as other games, esp baccarat, but there's reason for optimism about poker's growth in both Macau and Asia.
I went to the Wynn, the Venetian, and City of Dreams--the only places to play--and was surprised by how small the rooms were. I played briefly at the Wynn and the play was atrocious. The higher games, depending on whom you talk to, are either difficult or juicy--even with the high rake.
The Wynn
By Saturday night I was exhausted. I love walking around cities but I overdid it this time (prob 25-30 miles I'm guessing). I also ate something funky so my stomach has been a little weird, but after a travel day yesterday and some rest I'm feeling better. Things will slow down considerably in Chiang Mai. Taking it easy today to recoup and plan out the rest of the week. If anyone has tips on things to do in Chiang Mai or Bangkok, I'm all ears!
I write from an internet cafe in Chiang Mai, where I'm surrounded by Starcraft wizards. I finished the first leg of my trip late last night. Here's a brief recap.
Hong Kong
Flew into the Hong Kong from San Francisco. Thankfully everything was smooth with connecting flights. I spent Thursday exploring the mountainous area near The University of Hong Kong. Don't have much sense of the city yet, but I'll spend 2-3 days there at the end of the trip. Most of my time's been spent in the glorious gambling city of Macau:
The Venetian and City of Dreams, two of the three locations where you can play poker
Dudes on bikes
The city's glitzy like Vegas. Some parts of the city, esp Cotai, are underdeveloped, with lots of massive casino complexes sprouting up wherever you look.
I spent a lot of time working on a reporting piece about the state of poker in Macau. The consensus is that poker is not nearly as popular as other games, esp baccarat, but there's reason for optimism about poker's growth in both Macau and Asia.
I went to the Wynn, the Venetian, and City of Dreams--the only places to play--and was surprised by how small the rooms were. I played briefly at the Wynn and the play was atrocious. The higher games, depending on whom you talk to, are either difficult or juicy--even with the high rake.
The Wynn
By Saturday night I was exhausted. I love walking around cities but I overdid it this time (prob 25-30 miles I'm guessing). I also ate something funky so my stomach has been a little weird, but after a travel day yesterday and some rest I'm feeling better. Things will slow down considerably in Chiang Mai. Taking it easy today to recoup and plan out the rest of the week. If anyone has tips on things to do in Chiang Mai or Bangkok, I'm all ears!
01-14-2015
, 05:59 AM
Nice first poast!
01-14-2015
, 07:25 AM
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield (Black Irish Entertainment, 2002, 165 pages)
Amazon blurb: "A succinct, engaging, and practical guide for succeeding in any creative sphere, The War of Art is nothing less than Sun-Tzu for the soul. hat keeps so many of us from doing what we long to do? Why is there a naysayer within? How can we avoid the roadblocks of any creative endeavor—be it starting up a dream business venture, writing a novel, or painting a masterpiece? Bestselling novelist Steven Pressfield identifies the enemy that every one of us must face, outlines a battle plan to conquer this internal foe, then pinpoints just how to achieve the greatest success."
The War of Art and Poker
The first part of this book, "Resistance,"is overlong and, at times, insensitive (to people suffering from addiction and mental illness). The third part, "Beyond Resistance: Invoking the Muse," is kooky. But the middle section, "Turning Pro," is filled with excellent observations about breaking through creative boundaries and could be very useful for poker players specifically.
Why? Because the middle section's aim--offering concrete strategies for shifting from an amateur to a professional mindset--addresses a huge hurdle for would-be poker pros. Part of the difficulty has to do with "pro" and "amateur" status. What do you need to do to "turn poker pro?" Losing or quitting your job is a good start. Calling yourself a pro helps. How about wearing a hoodie and shades? There's aren't many trustworthy signs, in other words, that separate pros from amateurs.
Poker culture also encourages slippage between professional and amateur mentalities. Viewing poker as an avocation, as something to do "for fun," is easy:
poker is a game, you play games duh;
poker is played in a casino, a place with music and blinking lights and dancing and beer;
poker can be played any time, anywhere, in any outfit;
poker lacks (older, mature, well-balanced) role models to mentor the younger generation.
The problem, of course, is that an amateur mindset breeds laziness, self-deception, and complacency. It's a recipe for going busto.
Thematic subheadings introduce each short (2-3 page) chapter. These subheading are, by themselves, abstract and cliche. A professional Endures Diversity? A professional is Patient? A professional Does Not Show Off? Sure buddy, tell me something I don't know. But Pressfield weaves his own story of failure and rejection into the book, and he does it well. I winced more than once reading about the humiliations he endured, over and over, for years. Fortunately, Pressfield made it to the other side and wrote this book.
Quotes
"The acquisition of a condition lends significance to one's existence. An illness, a cross to bear...Some people go from condition to condition; they cure one, and another pops up to take its place. The condition becomes a work of art in itself, a shadow version of the real creative act the victim is avoiding by expending so much care cultivating his condition" (27)
"The professional tackles the project that will make him stretch. He takes on the assignment that will bear him into uncharted waters, compel him to explore unconscious parts of himself" (40).
"What better way of avoiding work than going to a workshop?" (51)
"The amateur believes he must first overcome his fear; then he can do his work. The professional knows that fear can never be overcome. He knows there is no such thing as a fearless warrior or a dread-free artist" (79).
Cliffs:
The War of Art offers practical advice for motivation, discipline, and accountability--in short, the crucial qualities that poker players (and other self-employed people) need for success.Despite some shortcomings, I think that it's a worthwhile read.
Amazon blurb: "A succinct, engaging, and practical guide for succeeding in any creative sphere, The War of Art is nothing less than Sun-Tzu for the soul. hat keeps so many of us from doing what we long to do? Why is there a naysayer within? How can we avoid the roadblocks of any creative endeavor—be it starting up a dream business venture, writing a novel, or painting a masterpiece? Bestselling novelist Steven Pressfield identifies the enemy that every one of us must face, outlines a battle plan to conquer this internal foe, then pinpoints just how to achieve the greatest success."
The War of Art and Poker
The first part of this book, "Resistance,"is overlong and, at times, insensitive (to people suffering from addiction and mental illness). The third part, "Beyond Resistance: Invoking the Muse," is kooky. But the middle section, "Turning Pro," is filled with excellent observations about breaking through creative boundaries and could be very useful for poker players specifically.
Why? Because the middle section's aim--offering concrete strategies for shifting from an amateur to a professional mindset--addresses a huge hurdle for would-be poker pros. Part of the difficulty has to do with "pro" and "amateur" status. What do you need to do to "turn poker pro?" Losing or quitting your job is a good start. Calling yourself a pro helps. How about wearing a hoodie and shades? There's aren't many trustworthy signs, in other words, that separate pros from amateurs.
Poker culture also encourages slippage between professional and amateur mentalities. Viewing poker as an avocation, as something to do "for fun," is easy:
poker is a game, you play games duh;
poker is played in a casino, a place with music and blinking lights and dancing and beer;
poker can be played any time, anywhere, in any outfit;
poker lacks (older, mature, well-balanced) role models to mentor the younger generation.
The problem, of course, is that an amateur mindset breeds laziness, self-deception, and complacency. It's a recipe for going busto.
Thematic subheadings introduce each short (2-3 page) chapter. These subheading are, by themselves, abstract and cliche. A professional Endures Diversity? A professional is Patient? A professional Does Not Show Off? Sure buddy, tell me something I don't know. But Pressfield weaves his own story of failure and rejection into the book, and he does it well. I winced more than once reading about the humiliations he endured, over and over, for years. Fortunately, Pressfield made it to the other side and wrote this book.
Quotes
"The acquisition of a condition lends significance to one's existence. An illness, a cross to bear...Some people go from condition to condition; they cure one, and another pops up to take its place. The condition becomes a work of art in itself, a shadow version of the real creative act the victim is avoiding by expending so much care cultivating his condition" (27)
"The professional tackles the project that will make him stretch. He takes on the assignment that will bear him into uncharted waters, compel him to explore unconscious parts of himself" (40).
"What better way of avoiding work than going to a workshop?" (51)
"The amateur believes he must first overcome his fear; then he can do his work. The professional knows that fear can never be overcome. He knows there is no such thing as a fearless warrior or a dread-free artist" (79).
Cliffs:
The War of Art offers practical advice for motivation, discipline, and accountability--in short, the crucial qualities that poker players (and other self-employed people) need for success.Despite some shortcomings, I think that it's a worthwhile read.
01-15-2015
, 07:01 AM
01-16-2015
, 01:50 AM
Chllin in Chiang Mai
After trekking across two bustling cities, Hong Kong and Macau, I was ready to relax in the northern Thai town of Chiang Mai. Stayed at a great hostel thanks to the rec of a 2+2er and met a ton of cool people. One young Aussie had been living in a poker house with 4-5 grinders, paying like 150USD a month for a sick pad. Was fun to hear about the expat grinding lifestyle.
It only took me about two days to recover my appetite and energy; by day three it was time to bicycle to Doi Suthep: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_Suthep. I was on the road by about 6:30 to beat the heat, tourists, and ridiculous traffic. After stopping at the base of the mountain to buy some water, I noticed a dog eyeing me from the corner.
"Heading up the mountain?" he asked.
"Yeah," I said. "Is it worth the trip?"
His tail quivered. "Wruff! Wruff!"
The ride was hard. Took about 1.5 hours of slow pedaling up hill but I made it. Like many parts of town, tourism has overrun the summit, which includes a lovely temple and panoramic views of the city. Fortunately it was still early enough to beat the rush.
Here's a temple on the ride down:
Basketball, anyone? I think not:
Wanted to pet a tiger but decided not to. Found a good place to ride elephants, though:
Yep, going very well so far. I'm taking an overnight train to Bangkok today, where I'll spend four days before heading back to Hong Kong.
Yeah, a bunch. I have enough to keep me occupied for a long time! A few poker-related pieces are coming out soon; I'll let you know when they do.
Congrats again on acceptance to the MS program. Do you know what your focus will be in the program (like which literary period etc)? Where will you be studying in Australia? I spent a semester at MacQuarie and had a great time.
After trekking across two bustling cities, Hong Kong and Macau, I was ready to relax in the northern Thai town of Chiang Mai. Stayed at a great hostel thanks to the rec of a 2+2er and met a ton of cool people. One young Aussie had been living in a poker house with 4-5 grinders, paying like 150USD a month for a sick pad. Was fun to hear about the expat grinding lifestyle.
It only took me about two days to recover my appetite and energy; by day three it was time to bicycle to Doi Suthep: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_Suthep. I was on the road by about 6:30 to beat the heat, tourists, and ridiculous traffic. After stopping at the base of the mountain to buy some water, I noticed a dog eyeing me from the corner.
"Heading up the mountain?" he asked.
"Yeah," I said. "Is it worth the trip?"
His tail quivered. "Wruff! Wruff!"
The ride was hard. Took about 1.5 hours of slow pedaling up hill but I made it. Like many parts of town, tourism has overrun the summit, which includes a lovely temple and panoramic views of the city. Fortunately it was still early enough to beat the rush.
Here's a temple on the ride down:
Spoiler:
Basketball, anyone? I think not:
Spoiler:
Wanted to pet a tiger but decided not to. Found a good place to ride elephants, though:
Spoiler:
Yeah, a bunch. I have enough to keep me occupied for a long time! A few poker-related pieces are coming out soon; I'll let you know when they do.
Congrats again on acceptance to the MS program. Do you know what your focus will be in the program (like which literary period etc)? Where will you be studying in Australia? I spent a semester at MacQuarie and had a great time.
01-20-2015
, 12:18 AM
As for the tigers, I had heard too many negative things about the industry (drugging them, etc), so I decided to pass. I talked to a few people who went and they enjoyed it.
don't believe the tabloids imo
01-20-2015
, 12:32 AM
Dogs of Thailand
Festive
(won four-way allin with 65ss)
Confrontational
(raise pre, pot flop, shove turn for 1.5x pot)
Beleaguered
(couldn't fade one-outer)
Content
(gave Helmuth a devastating bad beat)
Apathetic
(Sunday promotional tourney? Meh)
Indomitable
(AA < KK, AK < A3o, KK < 72ss, RELOADS FOR THE MAX)
Festive
(won four-way allin with 65ss)
Spoiler:
Confrontational
(raise pre, pot flop, shove turn for 1.5x pot)
Spoiler:
Beleaguered
(couldn't fade one-outer)
Spoiler:
Content
(gave Helmuth a devastating bad beat)
Spoiler:
Apathetic
(Sunday promotional tourney? Meh)
Spoiler:
Indomitable
(AA < KK, AK < A3o, KK < 72ss, RELOADS FOR THE MAX)
Spoiler:
01-20-2015
, 01:17 AM
01-26-2015
, 01:11 AM
Bangkok
After hopping on the overnight train in Chiang Mai, I rode down to Bangkok and spent four days in the city. Of the four cities that I visited, it was probably my least favorite.
Obligatory pic of sleeping buddha:
One of the highlights was a day trip to Ayutthaya, an ancient Siamese city about an hour outside Bangkok. It's common to rent bikes and ride around to the ruins, which I did. Rather than following the beaten path, I went way off the grid and found a bunch of sites that weren't listed on the map that I was given.
An ancient temple:
tree-face:
I had a chance to explore Hong Kong as well, spending a few days there before my flight back to the states. Parts of the city reminded me of NYC (there's an area called "Times Square" with glossy billboards and trendy shops); other parts reminded me of SF (the mountainous areas). Here's pic that I took from Victoria Peak:
Overall, the trip went really well. I've already started thinking about where to go next! At this point Vietnam seems the most appealing.
Spending about a week in Arizona before I head east, to Houston, and then, finally, to nola.
After hopping on the overnight train in Chiang Mai, I rode down to Bangkok and spent four days in the city. Of the four cities that I visited, it was probably my least favorite.
Obligatory pic of sleeping buddha:
Spoiler:
One of the highlights was a day trip to Ayutthaya, an ancient Siamese city about an hour outside Bangkok. It's common to rent bikes and ride around to the ruins, which I did. Rather than following the beaten path, I went way off the grid and found a bunch of sites that weren't listed on the map that I was given.
An ancient temple:
Spoiler:
tree-face:
Spoiler:
I had a chance to explore Hong Kong as well, spending a few days there before my flight back to the states. Parts of the city reminded me of NYC (there's an area called "Times Square" with glossy billboards and trendy shops); other parts reminded me of SF (the mountainous areas). Here's pic that I took from Victoria Peak:
Spoiler:
Overall, the trip went really well. I've already started thinking about where to go next! At this point Vietnam seems the most appealing.
Spending about a week in Arizona before I head east, to Houston, and then, finally, to nola.
01-26-2015
, 09:46 PM
Cool, hoping to make it happen as I need a vacation!
I was an athletic director, PE and history teacher for 13 years, with 6 of those in Latin America and Asia at international schools. I gave it up a few years ago when I founded a print and digital publishing start-up in Colombia. I'm still in the game on the project that needs a little more time for an interesting product launch.
Ill PM you in a month or so when I know my plans for travel.
I was an athletic director, PE and history teacher for 13 years, with 6 of those in Latin America and Asia at international schools. I gave it up a few years ago when I founded a print and digital publishing start-up in Colombia. I'm still in the game on the project that needs a little more time for an interesting product launch
.Ill PM you in a month or so when I know my plans for travel.
01-29-2015
, 12:39 PM
Teaching and coaching is pretty awesome and congrats if that is the direction you head.
If you have a credential you should look into international schools. The conditions are so much better over US public schools and they are mostly 100% tax free with everything free from housing, utilities and yearly flights. The big downside is there are no pensions and if you have medical issues it can be a grind dealing with lame medical systems.
I often I wish I didn't leave the field as it was so nice to have those paychecks, vacations, travel and stability, but I lost the passion and decided it was better to move along. I still have my credential and can go back, but really want to avoid that.
Gotta love the San Diego weather
.
If you have a credential you should look into international schools. The conditions are so much better over US public schools and they are mostly 100% tax free with everything free from housing, utilities and yearly flights. The big downside is there are no pensions and if you have medical issues it can be a grind dealing with lame medical systems.
I often I wish I didn't leave the field as it was so nice to have those paychecks, vacations, travel and stability, but I lost the passion and decided it was better to move along. I still have my credential and can go back, but really want to avoid that
.Gotta love the San Diego weather
.