Working Abroad...

Many of you reading this are either working abroad or thinking about working abroad. My hat is off to you. Way to be.

I've been doing a little research into the subject myself and would like to share some of my findings. The following is taken from "The Lazy Person's Guide to Success on the Job":

"Sometimes it feels like there are no high-paying, relaxing jobs left in the United States. In which case you might consider working overseas, especially if you already have some foreign language skills. Here is a brief summary of a few overseas places.

Japan: Stay away. The work ethic in Japan has evolved into a truly pathological state. Fourteen-hour workdays and two-hour commutes are the norm. In Japan, your work is your life. Even the skimpy vacations afforded to its citizens are often spoiled by having to spend them with co-workers. Worse still, there is supposed to be some sort of "honor" in simply not taking vacations, even if they are available.

Other Places in the Pacific Rim: Bad and getting worse. Most of the economies in Asia model themselves after Japan. Did you ever stop to wonder why you can buy a decent pair of leather sneakers for $19.95? Best to avoid working in the Pacific Rim entirely.

Western Europe: Worth considering. Europeans have a more "civilized" approach to work. Six weeks of vacation per year is fairly standard, along with a strict nine to five mentality and loads of holidays. Countries like Italy and France virtually shut down for the entire month of August except for tourist attractions and nightclubs. In Spain, meanwhile, siestas institutionalize on a daily basis the very naps you would have otherwise had to sneak in.

Eastern Europe: Worth a look. The work ethic in these countries has been dulled after a half century of communism. They have the same liberal work hours and vacation as their counterparts in Western Europe, but aren't expected to make it up by being particulary productive during regular work hours. An entire subcontinent filled with US postal workers.

Mexico/Latin America: Not bad, though getting worse. Most of these countries still have siestas. However, with NAFTA, Mexican workplaces are starting to mimic those in the United States. And with talk of this agreement being extended to include all of the Americas, this attitude may soon pervade the entire hemisphere.

Other Developing Countries: Stay away. These people have to work hard just to provide for the basic human necessities. Clearly laziness is not a part of these cultures or they would have developed a whole bunch of shortcuts by now.

The Caribbean: Excellent conditions. Island nations never seem to develop much of a work ethic. Which brings us to that largest of island nations...

Australia: The tops. Australians are the laziest people on the face of the planet. Having even more liberal work ethic, hours, and vacation time than Europeans, Australians are keen to get the unpleasantness of work out of the way ASAP so they can get on to more important things like loafing around, traveling, and drinking beer. It would be challenge for even an exceptionally lazy American to be labeled as such in Australia (though feel free to prove this to yourself).


Well, that settles it. Movin' to Oz. Thoughts anyone?