Brock University teachers, however, these rewards had to go even beyond the boundaries of their teaching careers.
30-year-old Eric McKay M.A., and 22-year-old Rachel Adair are travelling to some of the poorest areas in South-East Asia to do humanitarian work. The self proclaimed "Port Colborne hicks" will be teaching English for free in some of the poorest regions in the world, while creating a documentary to raise poverty awareness. McKay has already had experience in six Asian countries, while Adair will be entering the field for the first time.
The word "poor" does not quite do justice to the state of McKay and Adair's destinations. In their press release, they give an example of one school having a, "drunk teacher in Laos taking home a girl on an elephant-taxi from the bowling-disco-karaoke-brothel, who unfortunately likes him only because he is a 'rich Caucasian.'" The places documented by the two teachers will be some the poorest imaginable.
There seems to be more than physical wealth involved with the word poor for McKay and Adair. The teachers intend to change the popular definition and bring awareness to different kinds of poverty. After all, there are plenty of people with little to no money who live happy and healthy lives.
Jacqueline Spalding, Associate Director, ESL Services at Brock explained that many ESL teachers train and then travel abroad to get a different teaching experience.
"This is what ESL teachers do. Many teachers go overseas to teach," she said. "My first teaching experience [overseas] was in Africa."
This may be a calling to unemployed undergraduates, or fresh graduates who are panicking for work. McKay and Adair wish to make others aware that there are exciting and interesting business opportunities available. Altruism, risk, and a healthy dose of adventure-lust may send more students down a similar path of the previous Brock students (especially if the concurrent education student population continues to rise and the teacher retirement level remains low).
Although not specified, one can only imagine the amount of unconventional practice needed to film a documentary of this magnitude. The press release described the teachers would have to utilize their adaptability, altruism and flare for mischief in order for success.
Of course, more will be revealed as the pair delves deeper into their new commitment and completes the final product.
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