You wrote a poignant and solid post. I really liked it. I admit, I was one of those arrogant.comers and guilty of helping develop software to throw a few out of work. Thats why Im now an unemployed software engineer.

I got what I deserved, Ive learned my lesson, and Im willing to fight against the big greedy multinationals. Yes, the very ones that I helped shipped my job to Bangalore, India. Am I a loser? NO! You are right that things are beyond bad in the economy, thanks to rampant corruption from Enron to WorldCom to little ol Martha Stewart in the house for a few months.

Yes, I didnt want to teach ESL but I had to. But, Im beginning to enjoy most of it, even though its not my talent. According to a survey by my school of my 120 weekly students, Im batting above 80% for being liked and delivering good lessons. For an ex-engineer and science grad, I guess thats not too shabby.

Though, I dont plan to do this long, I hope, I have gained invaluable experience. In fact, I might want to teach science or mathematics in the future. Im not far from that career path. So, ESL teaching isnt ONLY English, its about knowing how to manage a classroom and organize the delivery of new knowledge. You know, to teach in a university, you only need a PhD or MS/MA. You dont need to know how to explain and deliver information. Thats why so many profs in university SUX. They have NO real teaching skills, only research skills. Ive learned more from this ESL stuff than many of my professors. Ill take this experience as a positive one and definitely NOT a negative one.

So, it was the economy that drove me into this profession, but that was probably not so bad after all. Of course, I dont want to do this for more than a couple of years. For that, I hope the economy changes. If not, I see a revolution on the horizon because multinationals have gone too far too long. Anyway, yes I plan to change my career, yet again. I also Im going back to school, again. But thank goodness Im from a Western society that will allow me to enter back into the workforce at middle age. Asia would just send me to the streets!!! So at least ageism isnt rampant in North America.

Anyway, good post.thanks