I went abroad, I taught TEFL, I had a great time and I did many things I wouldn’t otherwise have done. Getting tattooed in a prominent area of the body – on the neck above the collar line – was one of those things (along wit others on other parts of the body, some of which I’d also like to get rid of).
Now, having stayed in the profession and having traveled significantly along the career path, I recognize there are many instances in which tattoo removal would be a good idea. Shedding the skin of your wild youth is sometimes necessary and tattoo removal is on occasion desirable. If you’re even contemplating getting that drunken, post-evening class tattoo removed then my recommendations might just help you out.
Thank you, never again, once enough
First of all, I’d like to play a little game with you. Look at these two scenarios and guess which of them summarizes my tattoo experience:
The DoS of the language school told me I was an idiot for getting the sleeve done. I didn’t give it much thought, even though he said that some of the business classes I’d been teaching in Korea wouldn’t especially like it and that it might cause trouble for me in the future.
Now I’m going for a job interview at a university prep school. Will they discriminate against my ink? I wear a shirt to cover up my arm tattoos. The interview goes really well and they seem to like me. My tattoos show a little as I’m shaking hands at the end of the interview. One of the interviewers goes as far as to actually comment on how much he likes your tattoos and says he’ll let you know the decision you soon. I go home and wait, but the call never comes. Was it because of the tattoos? This is Korea, not America: I’m not in a position to find out.
2) Laser tattoo removal Houston
She was a lovely girl, the type that was one of my main reasons for wanting to live and teach in Japan in the first place. I was over the moon when we got together. It seemed like a fantastic idea to get her name – in her alphabet, of course – tattooed on me. Of course, she decided only a few weeks later to break up with me.
Oh to be young and foolish! Fortunately, it didn’t take me that long to get over her and find a new love. Truth be known, if I were back in the States I could get away with having Japanese tattoo of a girl’s name on my body: who would know what it meant? Trouble is, I’m not. Eventually, she sees the tattoo. Needing a quick fix, I decide to use some tattoo cover up cream for now.
Now, having stayed in the profession and having traveled significantly along the career path, I recognize there are many instances in which tattoo removal would be a good idea.
So did you guess which? Actually, both of these stories make up the story of my TEFL life. Well, having looked at why I myself needed tattoo removal, I guess I should also look at the how.
Laser tattoo removal
To be honest this is an expensive option, but your tattoo removal will definitely happen successfully. Laser tattoo removal costs are not hard to find, so you can see the different options you have. It’s a fine alternative, nevertheless it has certain disadvantages. The removal itself costs aren’t cheap, plus it’s a somewhat painful healing process. If you can get through the price and the pain, this is the method I’d most strongly recommend.
Surgical tattoo removal
This is definitely the most expensive removal method. Furthermore, compared to laser removal, this method is extremely painful, and incredibly costly. The surgical procedure requires replacing the skin in that area. You can imagine!
Over the counter tattoo cover up cream
This works as a short-term solution and it won’t break the bank. Additionally, you actually get to keep your tattoos.
New blog posting, The dangers of getting a tattoo abroad: A TEFLer’s story – http://t.co/ycmg7Ruk