The Lounge seems to die down at this time of night...

[Van Helsing]

am I the only one who's like a vampire around here??? (by that I mean that I stay up late until almost daybreak.)

[xultar]

1. They are all asleep since the Porn Industry is down for 60 days..n/t

[BlondieK143]

2. You're not the only one!

Trust me, I'm anything BUT asleep!

[jcldragon]

3. West Coast

people often feel that way, when most of their online friends live on the East Coast...

[vajraroshana]

4. you are not alone Van Helsing

serious night owl here.

my SO has the computer rigged so that it does all kinds of diagnostics and anti-viral stuff at 4:00 am.

so my posts stop always stop a little before then.

otherwise my favorite time is about 3:30 am. That's usually the time the vibes are really great for meditating or just thinking and the time when a single robin starts singing.

I told an indian (from south india) friend about my late night habits and the one bird singing. he told me there was a name for that exact time when that one bird starts singing. it's a word in Tamil, i've got it somewhere, but can't find it....

oh well, beautiful lovely late night.

[drhilarius]

5. The worst is at three a.m...

hardly any new posts, everyone seems to be typing out of sheer boredom.

[AskAlice]

6. They say the darkest hour

is right before the dawn

[JaySherman]

7. I'm here.

2:30 p.m. Tokyo time. Laying a bit low because I'm in such a rotten mood (for a variety of reasons) I feel tempted to start up a flame war out of sheer spite. Waiting to get out of work at 5, but there's nothing for me to do until then. Meantime I'm busying myself with studying some Japanese and sticking to the Lounge. I'll stay outta trouble here.

[Van Helsing]

9. Japan, eh?

How's that going? Are you from there or just visiting? (If you don't mind me asking)

[JaySherman]

11. I'm teaching ESL.

Been here seven months, probably be here at least another year. Great gig for the money. But today is dragging on s o o o s l o o o w.

[Van Helsing]

14. Sweet.

I've always wanted to visit Japan. It seems pretty cool over there, from what I've read and seen.

I know what you mean by today dragging by. I got up at around 8 this morning, went to lecture all day, and sat around my apartment doing homework. SSDD. :(

Summer's coming up, though, so I can't wait. :)

[JaySherman]

16. Up at 6:30

At school by 8. Taught my morning classes. Now I'm finished for the week (It's Friday), but as per the rules I have to stick around until 5. Nothing like getting paid to do nothing, even if the boredom can be a killer sometimes.

Japan is cool. The weather is finally warming up now. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Beautiful day today. Can't wait to get out.

You're at college, I take it. What are you studying?

[Van Helsing]

17. I'm a geology major...

and I'll possibly take chemistry as another major. I'm hoping to work in the field of volcanology someday.

It was really nice here in Minnesota today. It actually got up to 75 degrees. I think it was a record or something. I got out and played some frisbee. It was nice. Got a nice tan too.

[2Design]

18. how does one get a ESL job in other countries

How do you get ESL job in other countries? Who pays? Where do you stay? Are there other countries besides Japan? Do you have to know Japanese?

Sorry I am a fountain of questions.

[JaySherman]

21. I got it through a friend who was already here.

But there are lots of other ways. Often the only requirement is a college degree. There's ESL teachers in Japan, China, Thailand, Korea, and most Asian countries. Japan is probably the best gig overall because it's so modern. You usually either work for a private company or you teach at a public school as a local government employee (which is what I do). The privates tend to get a bit more freedom in terms of teaching, but the ELT job is much less demanding. I work 8 hour days, but I'm usually only actually doing work for half that time. The rest of the time I sit here and post on DU :D. On the other hand some of my friends at the private schools literally work 10 hours a day, but they get to design and teach their own lessons. ELT's have to work within the public school curriculum and team-teach with a Japanese teacher (more difficult than it sounds). Apartments are provided and you're responsible for paying rent, which tends to be fairly cheap depending where you are. Knowing the local language helps you get around, but in most cases it's not required and a lot of schools prefer you to teach only in English. There are plenty of jobs available over the Internet. I'll pm you with some links later, cause I'm leaving work shortly. I'll also tell you more about it then. Or you can pm me with any other questions.

[SOteric]

13. We love starting empty flamewars in the Lounge.

Go for it. It can be fun and cathartic. Ya big poopy-head.

[DS1]

15. get to bed, you!

[LDS Jock]

8. I'm here too

I'm normally here til almost dawn too. Total night owl.

[FDRrocks]

10. If you are a vampire

then Hugh Jackman is about to f your s up, mf! :)

[Van Helsing]

12. Nope, not a vampire here...

but I would love to be a vampire hunter. :)

[Zinfandel]

19. I'm still here.

[vajraroshana]

20. you still up Van Helsing?

very nice evening here....

hope yours is going well