Busy or Not?
Posted by Stuart at 11:06 AM on August 19, 2003I haven't posted anything in the last few days mostly because not much has been happening. I'm not saying I haven't been busy -- I have been. But I think this website has been boring lately, simply because I haven't gone on any trips lately. At least that's what I find most interesting.
That may change soon though. Piyawat and I have been talking about a weekend trip to Kao Yai National Park in a few weeks. Plus, Mark has been threatening to drag me back to Ko Samet next month.
In the meantime I have been spending most of my time getting organized for teaching this semester. It's the second time around for one of my courses, so that definitely makes life easier. My free time has been spent on the Internet reading about grad school programs and researching future paths for myself. Going back to the US for grad school is still looking very appealing. It is just going to take me a while to find the perfect place for me.
Doesn't bother me at all, that you're not traveling and therefore the seemingly boring posts ... I like them all, because it keeps me up with you!!! and that makes me happy!!!
The grad school path will work itself out. I think that is fascinating. Mom forwarded me your email to her about what you are thinking and pondering .... so you see - you can take all aspects that you have found intersesting and challenging in your life and combine them into one solid career!!!! Keep it up!!!
Love you!!
Charles, I don't know what the situation is like in the US. My friends say that it is getting better. Besides, I'm not suggesting I go back to the corporate world, but instead the academic world which is often sheltered from the usual "quagmires" :)
I haven't considered the UK, but I have looked at Australia. ANU in Canberra is probably at the top of the list. I am, however, always open to other suggestions for places to study "Educational Technology" and "SE Asian Studies". (At least those are the fields I am currently considering.)
[Caution slight rant ahead]
I've not seen too much evidence that the job market is improving. Massive layoffs in many sectors still continue. In my industry (technology) I see a rather rapid escalation in outsourcing to other countries with stories of veteran tech workers having to train their offshore or L2 Visa replacement workers. (now in the big scheme of things this isn't all bad, its just painful for Americans and is creating a understandable anger) There have been in excess of 3.2 million jobs lost in the last 2.5 years, much of them middle and upper income jobs. Many people have given up looking which accounts for a lower than actual jobless rate.
This is compounded by massive budget imbalances in local and state governments caused in part by the sudden change in the economy and a huge cadre of unfunded mandates passed to them by the current federal administration.
Most school districts are now in dissarray dealing with the "no child left behind" law among other things.
The information given to the public leading up to the war turned out not to be true and it has many folks wondering what we got ourselves into. Just about every other country in the world is mad at us.
So, if I were in your shoes, I'm not sure I'd want to "come home" just yet.
Given all that, I have a friend in New York who is an adjunct professor at Teachers College at Columbia University who had studied exactly that -- Educational Technology and Asian Studies.
I'll see if I can hook you two up to consult about the field.
Charles, interesting analysis there. With such a big fast buildup, a big fall was bound to happen. Let's hope that we have reached (will reach) the bottom soon.
And yes, of course I would love to talk to your friend in NY. Please send him/her my contact information. Thanks!
Hi Stuart,
I don't know what the view of the USA is from there, but here, I think its really rather crazy. Do you really want to come back to this quagmire?
Btw, what are you interested in studying? Have you considered other places like Australia or UK?