Centaurus, I can relate to brutal teachers. (Having had French and Latin ones when I was aged eight in England.) Fortunately, my family migrated to Adelaide and I applied to join the RAAF as a Radio Technician in 1974. I was required to become an Australian citizen, a decision that I've never regretted. The application then went a bit cold until a FSGT from Recruiting turned up at my parents' home, one night. (They must have been short for Radtechs at that time?) Or perhaps my Dad slipped the guy $50 to get me out of home?