It is and should be.

This is an interesting topic. Last year in my 2nd year of overseas I helped to recruit two new teachers straight out of programs in the USA (I had a friendship with a teacher educator there who gave them information about my school) and I helped arrange the interviews. The result? One of them broke contract within two months. The other one is happy and thriving both professionally and seems to love her life there (so far) and it's not an easy country for a westerner to live. That being said, I think that the experience for a new teacher is about an individualized as everything else in life. I think you are in a great position to help explain the unique challenges that will come with going out of country for a new experience (homesickness, added stress of VISA process, opening bank accounts, language, etc.) but at the same time I see new teachers paying off debts in 2/3 years that in TEN years living in USA I couldn't even touch! I also never had enough money to do the traveling that these new teachers are doing. So I'm not sure if expectations have to be unrealistic if the new teachers are willing to go into it with as much pragmatism as possible.

Thank you both for your feedback, and it is a relief to hear from others as well that I have not interpreted this incorrectly. In my job hunt I did not say I had broken contract for this reason and actually had no problem at all getting interviews (and a new job). I just really wanted to make sure I was being 100% honest in my job hunt. I was able to secure a great reference from one of my administrators. I agree it is not a common clause to find and thank the heavens above for this "hail Mary" clause because I had 100% planned to stay two years when I originally signed. And I suppose the clause is there because enough people in fact have asked to leave after year 1 (6 last year I have been told). Wish I had read ISR a year ago! ( : Best wishes.

I haven't lived there but have traveled there and loved it. I applied for a non-teaching job there and would have loved to go- but alas, no luck! I'm not sure how familiar you are with the Middle East or how much of a culture shock it would be in general for you. But as far as nice places to live in the Middle East, this ranks way up there. Not to mention the great travel opportunities.

I'd appreciate some outside input.
I've signed a two year contract, however the contract itself contains a clause for first year staff stating: "at end of first year an employee can negotiate to end contract without penalty with approval of HOS"
Given this clause, I would interpret that "without penalty" and "with approval" to mean that the contract is not considered "broken" in traditional terms since the contract itself allows for termination after one year (for first year only). If you stay after year one and try to leave at any point then there is no "out" clause and at that point I would think you would be "breaking" contract.

I have negotiated with no problem to leave after a year and do not believe I am breaking contract under these terms. Is this up for debate?