I need to vent. Feel free to share your advice.
I don't think I'm a person who is never satisfied. I think I'm a realist, there is good and bad, trials and tribulations in every event in one's life. But I do find it frustrating that I can't seem to find the good in any job I have. Maybe I need to work for myself? I know there are frustrations in everything but it's getting ridiculous. Looking on the positive side, at least I have no one "telling" me what to do or dictating my future opportunities in this field, and at this company. In fact, they like me, a lot. Which is causing the problem of too much work and responsibility. Along with the fact that this organization is soo not organized, and I feel that what I say is usually taken in vain. I truly feel I'd be more effective and comfortable and have more fun talking to students/young designers that speak English, for one, and two, speak with African American kids that have probably never seen a Black teacher a day in their life, and three, not doing it professionally, but as an after school extra-curricular activity for students that actually WANT my advice. Obvious frustrations were to be expected from this international teaching experience, but the frustrations are becoming unwelcoming. It is getting old and tiresome. I do not feel effective. It is irresponsible for this school to allow students with no design skill into the design program. No person and no thing can make you a great designer (not me, not Adobe Creative Suite, not Steve Jobs and his fleet of high polished titanium) you either have it or you don't. It is irresponsible for the school to hire lecturers with no Vietnamese language competency. Yes this is an international school, but 99.9% of our students are Vietnamese. Are staff 85% Vietnamese. Would it really cost that much to provide a language course to your lecturers whom you have recruited from all over the world except Vietnam?
I hear your pain. I think students in general don't really figure out if something is right for them until they actually do it for real. International Schools like many for-profits in the states are about the business of putting bodies in seats (unfortunately). In order to maintain your sanity with the bigger picture, you'll want to focus on what you can change/control with the circumstances around you and by all means if they are going to give you the work, ask for extra help/staff to get it done. Even if its a student intern or something.
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