I can only speak for the QSI school that I'm at, but the housing is pretty good and it's a short walk to campus (though some people choose to live downtown). The apartments vary in size, from ridiculously massive to cozy, but they're generally well maintained and the school is incredibly prompt with maintenance issues.

I've heard from other teachers that QSI housing in southern China, Thailand, and Kazakhstan is also pretty decent.

Danda, I know which school you're at, and even though the admins at the other school are acting like the lowlifes they are, I don't think you/your school has anything to worry about.

Is the new school some Chinese start up masquerading as an international school? Non-Chinese parents won't be impressed. Are all the teachers certified? Is the school even accredited? All things that parents looking to send their children to decent universities are going to consider, and it doesn't sound like this school would have any of those things.

Anyway, the school you're at has a decent reputation. There are schools in my area that have tried similar tactics. Those schools are considered jokes and ours is the fastest growing school in town. I think you'll be okay.

I have a friend who teaches there now. Housing is a very small one room studio, but she does have a nice patio. Public transportation isn't good, so she had to buy a car. That being said, she's having a blast. She loves living there, she's enjoying her time at the school, and she's at the beach or traveling around the island every weekend. I have my doubts that she'll ever leave!

You said, "However, if schools were quite firm with their staff early on and strict with their resignations then situations like this would not occur."

That's all well and good for you to say so, but if German employment law states otherwise, then it doesn't matter how strict the schools may care to be.

Either way, we're all being ridiculous. Look how we all jumped into David Getling's usual drama causing antics. He can't get anyone to play along on the TES forums anymore, so he came here. Notice how he hasn't commented since.

But there was NO JOB. He would have gone to Germany for 3 months to sit and do nothing. Yes, the school was protecting their own interests, but they were upfront and honest with him. They told him there was no job.

I don't deny that I would be angry. But I would be much, MUCH angrier if I uprooted my entire life only to be let go three months later. I'd much rather be told in advance, given some money, and then tried to look for a new job.

DCgirl, I hear you. The most we got so far is one head of school saying he was forwarding our resumes to the high school principal. And since then, nothing. I try to remind myself that it's early yet.

PsyGuy, you crack me the hell up. You really, honestly do. I know you're not working for DoDDS, but the fact that you're jumping in and saying so, after your arguments with WeDoDude... well, now I know you're using this forum for entertainment. That's cool though. Not all of your advice is off the mark.

You said: "And as for the comment about completing contracts, it couldn't be more wrong. If you had the patience (and decency) to check, you would see that I just completed one - and have completed many, many more. But, you're the kind of person who ignores facts when they contradict your own cherished views."

I actually did take the time, patience (and decency) to look at your resume. My cherished view stands.

But regardless, even if I did completely agree with everything you've said, you've shot yourself in the foot with your amateurish, over the top website. Yes, I know who the artwork portrays. It's still ridiculous, and any school recruiter that sees this website it likely to think so as well. "Dark atmosphere to portray the nature of the deeds"? Grow the hell up.

Also, the school didn't betray you. Would you have honestly preferred they let you relocate to Germany and THEN let you go? If there was no job, they can't create one out of the air. They let you know and gave you compensation. Do I think it's totally fair that it happened? No, I don't. But what did you honestly expect them to do if there was no job for you?

Do I think it's wrong of you to post about your experiences? No, I don't. But creating ridiculous websites does not make YOU look good. The school will be fine regardless. You still eventually need a job though, don't you?

Don't feed the troll. David Getling is a known poster over at the TES forums and he pulls stuff like this with schools all the time. He hasn't yet completed a contract.

Also, David Getling, whatever point you're trying to make it totally lost with your childish looking website. Who is going to take something like that seriously and NOT believe you're a loose cannon? You've lost sympathy over at the TES forums, so you're bringing your drama over here.

Taken from your website: "Notice the slight smugness in it and the derisory compensation offered, considering I had foregone other employment opportunities."

I don't even have the patience to look at the rest of this amateurish drivel. The school was well rid of you. Perhaps they caught wind of all the other drama and nonsense you've caused at other schools.

Overhere, what do you mean, "wink wink nudge nudge"? As in, no one took your experience seriously at all?

Also, if you don't mind, how many years were you with QSI?

I wonder about that, too...

General questions about QSI, I'm happy to answer here (and hopefully other current/former QSI teachers will chime in). Questions about my specific location, I'll answer through email.

I think QSI is a pretty good place for families, but it also depends on location. I'm not in and will never go to any -stan country. Others feel differently and there are quite a few couples with children at my school that were in one of the -stans last year. Most of them seemed to enjoy it. Each to their own.

There are many teaching couples with young children this year. It's a pretty family friend atmosphere. Last year, not so much. Many singles and childless couples, but the majority moved on to be replaced by couples with children. I suppose it depends on any given year.

QSI has a pretty generous maternity leave policy as well, if you're thinking in that direction.

Autumn, there are a lot of families at my location, many of them with small children. There are some families that stay for quite a while, as they think it's a good place to raise kids. There are a lot of resources here for kids: swimming lessons, soccer Saturdays, ice skating, laser tag. All of the international schools in the city banded together to form a sports/arts association, so there's a lot of cross-school stuff that goes on.

If you want more details, feel free to leave me your email.

Micki, if you give me your email address, I'll be happy to answer any questions you have. We also have a nanny for our child, by the way. She's fantastic.

Autumn, I really think the amount of hours/donation of your mind, body and soul depends an awful lot on where you are. At my location, we're required to stay until 4, but that's it. People can and do stay later if they need to. Meetings tends to run until 4:30, but that's once a week. If you run an ASA for secondary school, then you stay until 4:30 twice a week, but you only have to run an ASA for two out of the five quintiles. The requirements here are pretty reasonable.

Gereja, I think that also depends on where you are. Are you in one of the Stans right now? Because almost any place would likely be better than that. Europe is likely great and China is good for families.

Ugh. Then what's the point of applying at all if they're only building a vague candidate pool? I feel like I'm wasting my time then. Where are all these schools willing to do the much touted skype interviews? Because if we can avoid going to a job fair at all, that would be great. I've been to Cambridge, and it wasn't fun.

Frustrated...