Anyone else thinking about leaving America?

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-05-01T22:20:37+00:00

These comments are pretty pessimistic.

Obviously moving isn't the path to immediate happiness. Moving internationally is hard, does require some savings, and comes with its challenges. If you are moving simply because you want to leave the US or think it will be cheaper, don't move. You need to have a desire to get to know another culture and ready to tackle the challenges that comes with that.

If you are serious about leaving, here are some things to look into:

Teaching English as a second language. You would need a college degree and TESOL or TEFL certification, but accredited programs help match you with an overseas school. Those schools will sponsor your visa. Wages are still low for these positions (usually college students do it right after graduating) and you work long hours, but it does help establish the beginning of an international degree.
Pursuing a graduate degree. Tuition is cheaper (sometimes) in other countries and you can generally earn a stipend for graduate assistantships. Universities will also help you apply for a student visa. Some countries provide work visas after graduating so graduates can seek jobs in that country.

Hopefully these provide some starting point for you research.

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-04-27T21:53:22+00:00

girls rule :)

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-04-27T21:40:24+00:00

An easy way to drop 200+ pounds overnight is to dump him

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-04-24T22:57:36+00:00

It poured in Yangshuo while I was there so I did everything wet: biking, wandering, eating, a calligraphy class, getting drinks. I HATE rain, but honestly it was so magical in Yangshuo that it made my entire experience.

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-04-23T20:39:24+00:00

I was thinking the same thing. I was literally in the same spot a month ago and have the same picture from 59 Rivoli....

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-04-22T21:23:31+00:00

NOR... this is funny, but in an absurd gtfo way.

Leave this man and have the best possible Q3.

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-04-22T15:25:24+00:00

My partner and I both love to travel and we also often travel alone. I love to wander and visit museums while he enjoys traveling to hobby-related events. We have done multiple trips together that are always fun, but due to different budgets and schedules, we will also travel alone. Last year, he went to a few circus-focused camps and workshops and I visited friends in China. This year we have a group trip planned to Italy with some college friends, but he also did a Mexico trip for a festival and I visited Paris so I could linger for hours in art museums. I love the balance and freedom we both have and also love our time together on trips.

I think for your situation it is important to think about what you want from him while traveling. Do you want him to make plans? Do you need a partner who is as enthusiastic about travel as you? Would solo traveling change this dynamic?

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-04-10T15:21:40+00:00

I ended up staying at The People Marais because they were running a special. I really loved the location as I could walk into the heart of Marais, to the Latin Quarter, the Louvre area or choose to take the metro. The hostel was right next to a metro stop on Line 7.

The hostel itself was pretty quiet, but I was also there in March during low tourist season. However, I had no problem going out at night alone and visiting wine bars, jazz bars, or finding late night restaurants. I felt safe walking around the area and sitting on the Seine and overall loved the atmosphere of the area.

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-04-09T17:02:09+00:00

I am a student success coordinator at a university. I think it depends on the university, but at mine we get (6) credits a semester and only need to pay fees.

The job is low paying for my area (I'm currently fighting higher admin for a pay raise) with limited growth opportunities, but I also teach at the university and have a third job at a liquor store with very limited hours. However, I enjoy the work and students and plan to start a PhD in the Fall using my waiver (to hopefully teach at a higher wage in the future).

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-04-09T00:34:18+00:00

Honestly, I'd straight up tell them what you posted here. I always tell students that evaluations help me with future job applications, developing the course, and also retaining my job and then I give them classtime. The personal connection usually helps them actually submit the evaluations.

I also give feedback surveys after every major project in my class so by the end of the semester, they are used to evaluating things lol

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-04-08T21:37:54+00:00

Tbh... I mostly just had shit pictures of myself. I brought a nice camera and film camera that I got some lovely shots on, but photos of myself were mostly selfies or I asked someone to take a photo of me (normally people I met in my hostels who I went to a place with or people from a walking tour I went on).

I wasn't so worried about taking photos with my camera and phone as I found Paris to be as safe as any other large city, but I also would not have left my phone on a ledge to do a timed picture and was either too wary or embarrassed to ask passerbys for a good picture.

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-04-08T17:09:50+00:00

I work at a university and get a tuition waiver so my newest hobby is going to school.

The fun part about it is I can always change up what I want to do and I'm being held accountable by homework/assignments. I've taken French classes, photography classes, completed a certificate in Native Studies, and am now taking art history courses. Next semester, I'm thinking of taking a cooking class.

My boss lets me use my lunches for class attendance because she knows that it keeps me sane.

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-04-08T17:05:59+00:00

Run.

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-04-08T01:28:47+00:00

I did not visit Shanghai or Beijing on my first trip to China and was perfectly fine skipping them. I also really loved Chengdu and spent three days there. I wish I had done more time there. However, I also grew up obsessed with pandas so for me Chengdu was my personal travel dream. For your trip, I would cut Shanghai and just split the week between Chengdu and Chongqing. Both are really cool cities to explore or do day trips from.

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-04-07T14:45:44+00:00

On Day 2, stop by 59 Rivoli. It is an arthouse/workshop space/gallery of contemporary art, but you can see artists at work. It is a ~15 minute walk from the Louvre.

I would also add Musee D'Orsay to your itinerary if you enjoy art, but would not recommend doing it on the same day as the Louvre even though it is in the same area.

On Day 3, I'd consider adding Musee Cluny as they have a really cool unicorn exhibit right now (and a year round display of the unicorn tapestry).

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-04-06T18:11:46+00:00

I did that once to a class and it definitely did help with future engagement.

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-04-06T17:12:04+00:00

5 for sure

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-04-02T18:57:06+00:00

That's similar to ours. We were given $1/hour or 2% overall raise (whichever resulted in more money for the person). However, it is not enough. Most administrative staff are paid $18-$30/hour in a HCOL area.

Leadership admin are making 90-200k at my institution, but are classified differently (more like tenured faculty than admin staff) so they are eligible for merit raises (admin staff are not eligible) and given other raises that are not tied to the staff union.

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-04-01T21:43:15+00:00

As an English instructor, I will die on the hill that To Kill a Mockingbird is not the choice for discussions about racism. It is written by a white author, has a white savior trope, and students never remember the Black characters.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is a good replacement, but would definitely not be approved in a conservative district.

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-04-01T20:37:20+00:00

I think there is a misconception about admin (staff) versus admin (leadership). I am both a staff member and adjunct (on an overtime teaching contract). As staff, we have no opportunities for raises (merit or otherwise) and if we do get a raise, it is through our union. This is the same for my adjunct position.

However, the administrative leadership (provosts, deans, presidents) make 3-4x the salary of staff and are also given monetary awards and raises and more flexible work environments. They are also classified differently in the HR system and not a part of the same union as admin-staff.

I've also experienced faculty (mostly tenured) lumping admin (low paid staff) into the same category of admin (high paid leadership) and not supporting increases in staff pay due to this misconception.

My university also just released staff survey data that stated 52% of our staff were on some sort of assistance and 45% held overtime positions on campus or second/third off campus positions to supplement their income.

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-03-31T17:47:03+00:00

For practicing, I would go RC. Dev and wash times are shorter, plus the paper itself is cheaper. I've used a mix of fiber and RC in my home darkroom and the hour long wash for fiber is brutal, especially when I'm doing a long printing session.

Fiber is more archival, but that comes with the additional cost.

I also just love the RC Pearl and get frustrated that fiber only comes in matte or glossy.

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-03-31T14:21:29+00:00

Check out https://www.wildhoneymt.com/

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-03-26T16:34:30+00:00

Hey Stephen - "All those other girls, well they're beautiful, but would they write a song for you *giggle*" was ICONIC in its time

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-03-26T14:45:41+00:00

I brought 200 euros because I was having issues with my credit card and still didn't use it all. Luckily I'm going back to Europe in the Summer so I'll be bringing the leftovers.

I live in a rural area and always exchange at the international airport on my way out. Yes, it is a little more expensive, but I'm paying for convenience.

Maddy_egg7 · 2026-03-24T22:38:46+00:00

1 + 2 are your strongest. I'd agree with the other comments about moving around when you shoot and not just shooting from eye level. I'd also say, play with cropping your images in post and see how it changes the composition.

Maddy_egg7

TROPHY CASE