You can save.

It is expensive here, especially if you buy imported foods from Europe. Going out to eat in a restaurant will run about $30 USD for a meal and a drink. Eating at a local maquis is much less expensive.

The school is located in a section that does not have much to do but does have a large hypermarket nearby. Getting around is by cab unless you buy a car (expensive, reapirs are a problem) so you need pretty basic French for that. The city itself does not have a ton of things to do. Music venues start late, 8 pm or later.

The city is rebuilding fast. Flights leaving the country are very expensive.

I left Bangkok SA fair without a job and only had a few interviews there that went no where. It was a very stressful and competitive environment overall. I have many years of teaching experience, a masters in my content area, and international experience. I then went to Boston and it was the total opposite. I had many interviews and four offers. It was so different. This is not the first time I attended Boston and my experiences at that fair were consistent. Admin wanted to hire and were giving interview slots. Several of the recruiters said they were hoping to hire the remaining positions during the Boston fair and not have to attend San Fran fair. Boston seems much less stressful and less cut-throat than Bangkok did. I ended up accepting a job offer at a school that had not been on my radar at all, in a section of the world I had not been considering prior to going to the Boston fair. I did what many people say - just interview and be open.

@Dredge
"If you have any questions about it, please let me know. First, check to see if you qualify and your ancestors didn't give up their Italian citizenship before the first person of your family was born in the U.S. (usually grandfather or great grandfather)."

I have dual passports as well, US & Ireland. If a parent or grandparent was born in Ireland, you are automatically considered an Irish citizen. Getting the passport was similar in process to the Italian one, namely birth certs, marriage certs, etc. I was never asked if Irish citizenship was renounced though and they do not care if the relative was on the male or female side.

I am wondering about retirement in Italy. Would the Italian passport be easier? I would qualify for an Italian passport as well.

Do you think the age factor holds true if you are an IB physics teacher?

I live in the states right now. I start my first overseas job in August and plan to finish out my career teaching overseas. I hope I will love it as much as I think I will.

Right now, I hire a wonderful woman to clean my house twice a month here in the states. The money contributes to her income and support of her child as a single mom by cleaning homes. She aspires to become a pharmacist and is taking classes towards that goal. She makes $15/hr which is way above minimum wage. If I could afford to have her come more often, I would.

There are and always will be those that make more money and those that make less money. I see nothing wrong in hiring a person to help with domestic tasks. It frees me up to do things I love rather than chores I dislike doing. I believe that I should pay them a living wage, treat them with respect, appreciate what their work allows me to do instead. I have no issues with this and am glad I will to be able to hire someone to help me in SE Asia.

I did grow up privileged with a full time housekeeper and a full time nanny (we never ever called her a nanny just a babysitter). I dearly loved both of them, they gave to the kids in my family in ways that my parents did or could not. I do not feel that it detracted, I certainly spent time with parents as well. I guess we just though of it as one more person to love us and for us to turn to.

I do not know whatbAsian country you are going to but this is what I have learned for Vietnam.
- you will need your work permit to clear customs if you sea freight
- no work permit needed IF under 250 kg and sent air freight

I obtained quotes from two companies for same service and same shipment. There was a $1200.00 difference. Both companies come very highly referred by my school.

"Let me ask you this, after I get the health check notarized by a local notary and then authenticated by the Secretary of State in my state, do I then have to get it authenticated by the Chinese embassy?"

Yes, this was the process I had to go through for documents for my visa to Vietnam (educational degree and police clearance). It is defined by The Hague Convention.

For more info: http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=te ... lay&tid=37

Thank you, each of you for the replies.

Albert,
What about rinsing vegetables in tap water, washing lettuce for salads and the like. I lived on a well in New York State at one point and even that would make one sick unless the vegetables were cooked after rinsing.

Thanks!

I am moving to Vietnam in July. Is the water safe to drink? To cook with? To bathe with or brush teeth with? I will be in a large city.

I have read that the water is irritating to the skin and showers need filters. Is this true?

I would love to hear your experiences. Thank you!

The United States is quite dog friendly. We have dog parks in most cities where they can run off leash in a fenced area. The downside of these parks are two-fold. The ground in most if not all is loaded with parvo, other viruses and bacterias, and even tapeworm. While most dogs will be fine there, it certainly exposes your dog to more disease vectors. Secondly, the types of dogs, how well behaved they are and even how friendly they are can be an issue. While I have taken my guys to parks such as these and it has been successful, I also have seen dog fights and owners that are less than responsive if there is an issue between the dogs. I know the trainer I use deplores dog parks for the two reasons I have cited and knows of dogs that have died because of these issues.

There are also many many open spaces, streets, and parks here where walking on leash is easy. I have lived all over the US and traveled with my dog too. Having a dog in the US is not hard at all.

I am moving to Vietnam with my dog in July. It took a lot of planning. He is really, really tall so his crate is a 700 series (largest they make) and it does not fit through ANY cargo door on any plane from my hometown flying to LA. I am driving there instead. I had to get an exemption or special permission for him to fly on the airline I am using as excess baggage, again, due only to the size of his crate which is over the limit they usually accept. I am paying for overweight and oversize but at least he is going with me. I also had to obtain a transit permit for Taipei which wasn't hard, just another step. Arranging his travel has been the most stressful part of the process so far.

Started teaching at 40 as a second career. I am about to go overseas and teach for the first time and I am mid-fifties.

Rob - dog food concerns

I have asked about the dog foods and I had reached the conclusion that it is not very high quality. I plan to bring some so I can have it on hand, especially at first. Then I plan to feed raw. I hope duck is cheap and I can use a cleaver to cut it up and feed that along with some fruits and veggies. Maybe some rice too.What do you think of this plan Rob?

Grumpy,

I am going to VN too. Wonder if it is the same school? My school has been great to work with so far. I have been impressed. I will be in Saigon.

My hook has both choices for air fare. They will buy a ticket, with no input from me as to airlines, etc or they will reimburse up to the allotted amount. I chose reimbursement so ican chose my airline and times.

I know people at this school, we have mutual friends. The school has been completely above board and honest in their dealings with staff.

@writer, thanks for the vet's name.