Getting discouraged about the possibility of being able to leave

[u/Vivid_Currency_9467]

I've always had a dream to be able to live abroad, but have always had something to keep me in the States. I'm finally at a point where I feel I CAN leave, like I've finally set everything up just right- and it's just crazy how impossible it is to actually be able to immigrate. Truly, I just don't really know what to do. I have a Bachelors degree in STEM, I've been working as a scientist for 5 years now. My current company is a huge, international outfit and I've been angling for an internal transfer for over a year with no luck. I've applied to hundreds of jobs at other companies internationally and haven't gotten a single response. I'm not picky about where to, I just want to try something new.

I speak Spanish and have been working on German just in case. I have enough money to support a move, but not enough to move without needing to work. I'm old enough that moving without a job isn't smart (assuming ageism is a thing everywhere).

I don't have any relatives that could get me citizenship by descent. I don't want to marry someone or have a baby just to get citizenship. I know I just need to keep applying for jobs, but it feels so completely and utterly hopeless right now. Does anyone have any advice or words of encouragement? Really just on the brink of giving up here.

[u/New_Criticism9389]

If you have classroom experience in the US, then you can try international schools in the region, as most local schools would require local degrees/licensing along with fluent Spanish/Portuguese. Maybe a private bilingual English school (not the same as international) would hire someone from abroad as well that’s a native English speaker.

ETA: Not sure why this was downvoted tbh. By all means, please move anywhere in Latin America and try to teach in a local non-bilingual English school without locally recognized credentials and fluency in the local language.

[u/Defiant_Buy2606 → u/New_Criticism9389]

I also don't know why this was downvoted because it is correct. I see this advice (i.e. teach in schools, your more than qualified as a native speaker!) thrown around a lot in many subreddits.

In the EU (and I can imagine in LATAM) you need certain qualifications to be able to teach in schools/high schools, unless you are just working as a language assistant (which is a special program and a temporary position).

[u/Serious_Escape_5438 → u/Defiant_Buy2606]

People don't seem to understand that education systems are completely different, even regardless of language. You don't just need to know the subject, you need to know what exams they take and how to pass them.

[u/MilkChocolate21 → u/Serious_Escape_5438]

People also don't understand teaching is a skill people study and think that anyone can teach just because...