Yes, I have.

Old Delhi is a madhouse but New Delhi, where the school is, is ok.

Back to the question: Was the school always paying hardship pay or is this a recent thing? And if recent, WHY is this a hardship post? It's an embassy school. Schools with crazy pollution like IS Beijing - I have been to Beijing many times - aren't hardship schools?

Does anyone know?

Thanks for any serious replies.

This school pays a hardship allowance. Has this always been the case?

If not, what are the reasons for this being a hardship post? It is supposedly a Top Level IS.

Thanks for any replies.

I worked in Malaysia, too.

Has the air in KL gotten that bad? I was there 5 years ago and things were fine.

Ok. But does anyone know if WAB is actually not paying teachers' taxes now?

Jstwatchin,

Can you tell me what city you are in?

I was looking at the Search database and there seems to be a lot of schools - even the good ones - that have much lower stated salaries than last year's. For example, Am. School of Bombay last year posted a salary of 70,000+ USD for Masters and 8 years experience - This year that has dropped to 55,000.

WAB no longer pays taxes - the stated tax rate is 25%!

All of the schools in Malaysia have reduced salaries and allowances.

What gives? Just a reflection of a poor world economy or of so many teachers now wanting to get in on the IE bandwagon?

In my opinion, the only reason to work in Western Europe - due to high taxes, no housing, high cost of living - is the chance to get a pension. If a person does not believe that the pension will not be funded 10+years in the future - due to demographics, government idiocy and short sightedness, etc.- or may not stay in WE long enough to qualify for a pension in any case and has a strong financial motive included in his reasons to continue working overseas - China and Malaysia are two of my past posts where I saved a TON of $$$, wouldn't Western Europe be a HUGE financial mistake - as well as kind of boring?

Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Are there any IB Math exam graders who can answer this question:

Is 264 SL exams the standard allotment at $8.60 per paper? How long do we have to finish the grading?

Any information is always appreciated.

Psyguy,

Since they did not state otherwise, I assumed the 1700 housing allowance was in addition to the base salary, so I added that to the 5366.

Do you know that ISS includes the housing allowance in their salary statement - but does not say so?

Thanks for all the replies.

But look again at my calculations. Even if I spend another 1300/month to get a 3000 apartment, I still will have about 5700 per month. Living like the usual non-elite expat, why wouldn't I be able to save 2000 or more a month?

Even as a tourist to Singapore I remember the local food/groceries were reasonable.

Where am I wrong?

ISS Singapore lists their salary as 70,000+ with 6-8% taxes. 1700 housing allowance (single), and moving allowance about 1000, all USD.

Yet they list savings potential for a single as 7000.

70,000 after 8% tax is 64,400. Divided by 12 gets you 5366 per month plus the 1700 housing allowance = 7066.

Now I know Singapore is expensive, but how could a single person not save at least 2000 - 3000 per month?

Thanks once more for any replies.

Shadowjack and Psyguy,

Why do you get so irritated when senator gives his opinion. I have been on this site a few years and I honestly have to say that his anti-IE comments are as fair and valuable as your pro-IE comments.

He is right in some ways and wrong in others as you are right and wrong. I like to get both sides of any issue.

And Shadowjack, your Wow comment that the moderator removed was a little childish and surprising coming from you. What gives?

Maybe I am being unrealistic. Right now, in the U.S. I save 18,000 on my own with another 7000 in a pension plan.

At both of the China schools - Tier 3 - I worked at I went home with 30,000 - 34,000 per year after paying 22% taxes. Even more with Malaysia - Tier 2.
And I traveled out of country every holiday - about 4-5 per year.

To me, saving 15,000 is peanuts.

Do others think 15,000 USD savings is a good deal?

Thanks for any replies.

Ok, fair enough.

But I did send out 30 resumes/applications to schools ahead of the job fairs and did not mention I was with Search.

Still: Nothing.

I keep hearing that the main reason to go to Kuwait is the money. Yet I see that the salaries do not seem that high - mid to high 30's to low 40's. Is the cost of living so low that you can save a lot on that mediocre salary?

Thanks for any replies.