I interviewed with the American INternational School of Bucharest in Romania. RW and WW is something they are working towards. In the interview I chatted a lot to the Elem Prin about Lucy Calkins etc.

Any Australian teachers looking into this?

I have read Andrew Hallam's book and have contacted Vanguard Australia, but they told me that because I am a non-resident for tax purposes that they cannot open an account for me:

"Vanguard Investments Australia Ltd and its Funds are registered in Australia and are operated to comply with Australian laws.

We regret to inform you that unfortunately Vanguard Australia can no longer accept applications from non-Australian residents which includes Australian citizens currently residing overseas.

This policy is as a result of the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and similar expected legislative changes in Canada, Europe and elsewhere which increases our compliance burden from accepting non-residents."

I am currently looking into investing via Singapore (DBS Vickers or Standard Chartered) as per the advice on Andrew Hallam's website.

Long line based on previous reputation perhaps, also they did have a long long list of jobs available. I don't remember there being a line at the fair for this school, though I also didn't take much notice because I'd only heard bad things since Cognita took over.

Perhaps with a whole new staff who don't know how good it used to be morale will improve.

[quote="lifeisnotsobad"] Incidentally, the Director of NIST is an Aussie from Melbourne who has previously worked in Geelong, so having a prestigious independent school in Melbourne on your CV will certainly do you no harm.[/quote]

Is he the one that is moving to ISHCMC next year?

I'd like some advice on Hong Kong schools as I would like to work in Hong Kong for my next post.

I have been reading through the forum and review sections and I'm wanting advice on which are the best international schools.

From reading through it seems:

- HKIS used to be great, but now perhaps not so good.
- CIS is highly recommended, but the one review talks about curriculum issues.
- Hong Kong Academy is the only salary scale I could find and I'd be on around US$45,000-$47,000 (4-5 years experience), not sure if this is before or after tax.

I would be looking for jobs in the primary/elementary section of the school. I am PYP trained and experienced and would prefer to work in a PYP school, but that will depend on the school.

Which schools should I be looking at applying at in terms of it being a 'good school' and package (housing especially I'm thinking since that part is expensive in HK)?

Thanks

Thanks to both of you for the advice.

I'll check out both areas once I arrive in July. I must admit though Binh Thanh is sounding more my style.

Thanks for the specific building names. I have seen places in all three of these advertised. I was also going to keep my options open and look at some houses too, not just apartments based on advice I have received.

I'm heading to HCMC in August. The campus of the school I will be working at is in the expat area in Thao Dien, District 2, next to many of the other international schools. I get a housing allowance, so I get to choose my own apartment.

My school has given me a list of websites to give me an idea of what's available and where. I'm wondering what area I should look in. I've been given some advice that Binh Thanh is a good compromise as it's halfway between the centre of Saigon and where the school is.

I'd love to hear some thoughts on this from people living in HCMC already?

Does anybody know anything about this school? There's nothing in the paid review section. I found a few mentions of their other campuses in China, but nothing for Singapore.

Thanks for all the info, feeling very positive about it. I'm waiting on an offer from the school at the moment. Hopefully I'll have a choice between HCMC and a school Beijing, but happy with either school.

Thanks frees1spirit. Great to know that the housing allowance would get me a 2-3 bedroom place. I want that so people can come and stay.

Is it a difficult process finding apartments? The reason I ask is the school puts me up in a hotel for two weeks, but in that time I'm expected to find my own accommodation.

Also, one last thing that concerns me a little. The school says I should get a tourist visa to enter the country, then the HR department gets me a work visa once I'm here. I've read in these forums and the review section that this is perhaps not the best way to go about it. Anybody experienced this with Vietnam?

Thanks Mathgym.

What do you think of the housing allowance? I'd be wanting somewhere in the Thao Dien district near the international schools I guess.

I'm just wondering if anybody could help me with a package I'm looking at from a school in Ho Chi Minh.

I'm looking at US$30,000-US$35,000 net, with a housing allowance somewhere between US$700-900 per month.

How would I go living on this? I realise that depending on lifestyle you can save different amounts, but what would be my realistic savings potential? I'm not a big drinker, I'm happy to eat from vendors in the street and I'm very happy to eat local food.

Thanks

Does anyone have any update info for this school? The last review is from a few years ago.

Can anybody living/lived in Hong Kong tell me how the money part of the package sounds:

* Our teacher Basic Salary pay scale ranges from HK$373,843 to HK$520,662 per year
* An annual gratuity payment equal to 20% of the Basic Salary is payable at the end of each contract period
* In addition, a cash allowance of HK$7,000 is paid monthly. This allowance is not included in the calculation of gratuity payment

I'm guessing the monthly cash allowance is a housing allowance which the review in the other section say the school didn't pay before?

Thanks for the info and advice wrldtrvlr123.

Does anyone have any recent experience with this school? There's nothing in the review section and the last forum mention was in 2008.

I'm looking at a Primary position here.

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