ADVICE PLEASE!!!!

Matt brought up the subject of teaching English abroad--the company he works for is currently looking for their next batch of Americans to send to Shanghai and Taiwan to teach English.

It's a tempting proposition. Perhaps a year abroad would give me the momentum I need? I've never left the country, let alone spent a year overseas. Perhaps it would teach me some of the crucial life lessons that I seem to be missing while living here. I would have the golden opportunities to learn about another culture, my own culture (nothing says understanding like comparative analysis), and to pick up another language(s).

I know that some of you have lived (are living overseas)--any advice you might offer me? Does anyone have any horror stories about these "Teach English Abroad" Programs (I'm sure they exist)? Any caveats to offer? I'm relying on your experience as former or current ex-pats to help me here.

I'm content to sound like a jerk.

*LOL*

One of my younger brother's friends just had a fit because I called Eric a "mediocre mind" who can attribute all of this achievements to his hard work.

"How can you talk that sort of shit about your family?" he screeched.

Because it's true (and hell, let's be honest, pretty generous). Just because someone is family doesn't make them brilliant. Jaysus.