ESL Podcast 904 - Working Overseas
posting - a job; a position that one has been assigned to work in, especially for a defined period of times
When will the consulate announce the new postings?
overseas - in another country; in a foreign country
Some college students study overseas for one semester or one year to improve their language skills.
abroad - in or to another country
Have you ever traveled abroad?
expat - expatriate; a person who lives in a foreign country; a person who chooses to live in a country other than the one where he or she was born/raised
When you lived in Namibia, did you spend a lot of time with the locals, or did you mostly spend time with other expats?
adjustment - the process of adapting to a new environment or new conditions, especially when beginning to live in another country or culture
The adjustment to different types of foods was one of the most challenging parts of living overseas.
work permit - official, legal permission to work in another country and receive money for one's work
How many work permits does the country issue to non-citizens each year?
vaccination - an injection that provides protection against getting a very dangerous disease, like polio or mumps
The Center for Disease Control recommends that babies get a vaccination against Hepatitis B at birth.
to relocate - to move to a new place with plans to live and/or work there
Chelsea grew up in New York, but decided to relocate to California after college.
culture shock - the feeling of confusion and unhappiness that happens when one has spent a period of time in another country and is having difficulty adapting to a different culture, lifestyle, and values
When people move overseas, they often love everything for the first few days, but then they experience culture shock for a few months.
cost of living - the average total cost of the normal items one buys in a certain city or area, especially for housing, food, and transportation
The cost of living is generally higher in big cities than in rural areas.
housing allowance - money paid to an individual by an employer to help that person pay for a place to live, especially in another country, in addition to what that person normally earns for his or her work
If the company didn't give me a housing allowance, there would be no way I'd be able to live here on my regular salary.
offset - counterbalance; counteract; have an opposite impact or effect
You're going to have to do a lot of exercise to offset all the calories in that cake!
living expenses - the costs needed to provide a normal or basic standard of living, especially for housing, food, and transportation
When you're comparing the cost of different colleges, don't forget to include living expenses in your budget.
pace of life - a description of how rushed, stressed, worried, and anxious people are in a particular place
Quentin spend 35 years as an attorney in Chicago, and when he retired, he decided he wanted a slower pace of life, so he bought a house in Nebraska.
facet - aspect; part; feature; characteristic
Have you considered all the facets of the issue before making a decision?
euphoria - an overwhelming feeling of extreme happiness and excitement
Falling in love gave Karen a sense of euphoria.
bumps in the road - challenges or obstacles that make it more difficult for one to reach a goal and/or that slow one down
We had several bumps in the road the first year we were in business, but now, 10 years later, everything is stable and predictable.
smooth sailing - progress without any problems, challenges, obstacles, or disruptions; a process that is advancing well and as planned
No matter how much you plan and prepare, there's no guarantee that the conference will be smooth sailing.