One of the things that I am truly grateful for since being in Asia as an educator are the generous holidays. Alec might accuse me of "flexing" (flaunting) but that is not my intent.
Without the holidays our schools have provided we would never have been able to have the TIME to travel as much as we have. What a true gift and blessing of time for balancing work and leisure. This has not been taken for granted, I assure you. It HAS spoiled us, and we know that!
The best kept secret is the usual rhythm of life teaching abroad: fall break (1 week), winter break (2 - 3 weeks), spring break (1 week), summer break (7-8 weeks). I or we have made trips to many of the places mentioned in prior blogs during these holidays: Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hawaii, Paris, Hong Kong, China, Mexico and the United States.
As Alec will be attending his senior year in Green Bay, he will be the one to notice the different rhythm the most. Summer break, winter break (1 week) and spring break (1 week) is far more likely to be his experience this coming year.
In general, Americans work hard and work a lot. It is difficult to maintain work-life balance. According to WorldPopulationReview.com, America was the 10th most overworked country in the world in 2018. Americans tend to work long hours with only 10 days off after working for a year for an employer. Apparently there is no mandatory paid leave in the US either as it is left to the employers discretion.
Of course the Covid health crisis put a screeching halt to any travel ANYONE might do for the past 11-14 months, and we have been no exception. We had hoped to get to a few more places before leaving Asia; the wish list included Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, and Cambodia (as a family). Alas, it was not to be. (Perhaps some day we will need to organize a trip for those interested in see some of these places and more.)
All this to say, I wish everyone had the privilege of time to travel or to do what you love. I am truly grateful we had been given just that.
Photo Credit: Brent Brayko
