>
> ==========================================================================

> Mike ... we meet again!

> You mention your just having reached your 42nd birthday. Happy
> Birthday, "youngster!" I, myself, have just hit 67, while
> I'm still hard at it in the ESL biz. WHY? Because I LOVE IT! B-U-T,
> when our dear colleague discusses hardships endured in our field
> because of her color, while you and I because of our age, we must
> make note of ANOTHER malady, namely prejudice, which must be stamped
> out in the international ESL marketplace. But, as you say, an
> employer has a right to hire only that person who exemplifies his/her
> vision of "the perfect instructor." Of course, being so
> uncompromisingly restrictive (hard-headed, if you wish) in one's
> hiring practices most assuredly presents a serious risk of passing
> over the TRUE talent that could help a school grow. Once again, that
> is the employer's prerogative. And, Mike, as you also quite
> appropriately state the case, REJECTION surely pays no homage to
> one's confidence, let alone his/her years of devotion to the field of
> language communication. In view of this reality, it is paramount
> that, with each personal humiliation encountered, one build a
> stronger outer shell which will withstand the injury of
> disappointment while NOT destroying one iota of continued interest in
> teaching. After all, to my knowledge, no one ever experienced life as
> a breeze ... except, possibly, those poor slobs who, by being
> constantly exposed to such "breeze," eventually died of the
> flu!

> Keep the faith, folks, and we'll get through EACH and EVERY
> adversity!

> Love to all,
> Ellis

Excellent, Ellis! You inspire hope and inspiration. There is some truth in what King Lee said about discrimination but, I believe, for every such 'discriminator' there is one who is open-minded - well, almost!
I have been at the receiving end of discrimination long enough (my esl career in China being nearly 3 years long) to agree but at the same time there are those who look beyond my nationality and colour of skin. And that means, there is some hope yet. One can't change the world - at least not easily and there's no point in allowing the ways of the world to get under one's skin - pun unintended.
Though I am a published author, and in China at that, I have had piles of rejection letters and the ignominy of not even receiving a polite 'no, thank you' to my applications that I could drown myself and my readers in vatfuls of ink diluted in tears. My struggle continues as I try to locate a new university for the next term.
The new term / academic year is close and yet I have no acceptable offer in hand. But, Ellis, I know I will be in China (a country I love to experience and write about) by the first week of September, contract in hand, my woes a thing of the past, my tears dried for another year/ six months.
Best wishes to all those who love teaching, who love experiencing a different culture, despite some unpleasant experiences. Best wishes to those whose hearts are full of joy of living, travelling, understanding, giving and receiving!
Jack