Just remember, every year you are out of the US cost you in state retirement and social security income.
Hope the loss of retirement income was worth it.

You should always have a plan B.
At least they were going to give you some money. With all of your crying it sounds as if they made the right decision. They will probably be better off without you.

Saigon is a great place. Food is dirt cheap.

I would find out about money transfers to your home bank account. I heard that it could be a big problem. Fin out how you wire money to your bank and how much you can wire at any one time.

I find it interesting when reading reviews here on ISR that a teacher, while complaing about their school, will state that the school's salary structure is "LOWER THAN OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE AREA." First, I wonder how they could know this information as schools don't advertise their salary structure? Second, if the salary is lower than other schools in the area, then why did they take the job in the first place????? Intersting.....

I come from California where there are no jobs....
I worked in Aerospace where there were no raise and very few jobs.

No raises at your school......I know a lot of people who would love to have that problem. Be happy you have a job.

So PG are you like a bad dude or something?????

IB has nothing to do with Counseling as far as I am concerned. That is more of a teaching issue. Though there are some admins who will require IB counselors.....whatever that is. My job is to do crisis counseling and academic advisement for students trying to get into US college. I have no idea what IB. However my track record at getting students into US colleges is 100% over the last 2 years. How did that happen? IB.....for teachers only.

There are not a lot of Special Ed jobs out in the world. Most countries don't view Special Ed the way the US does. You would have a better chance of getting a job in the US.

It is possible to do student teaching at your overseas location. We have had 2 teachers do student teaching at our school. Of course your school could still pay you to do your teaching job. Getting a teaching credential while teaching overseas is very possible.

I went to a ISS fair once without being registered.

Worked my in through the front door and had a lot of success.

Of course owners put the money into their own pockets. Da...what a concept...Their country, their business. Their right to do whatever they want to do.

Things are different outside the US. Business is business. All the complaining in the world won't stop things.

The complaining I read here is really sad and funny at the same time. I work for owners who are real idiots. But what to do? I go with the flow, I don't create the flow.

As it is, most teachers only stay at a school for a couple of years and move on. Why would an owner ever want to consider what a visitor has to say about how they run their business?

Turth be told I have been to 45 countries and have many years experience as a counselor and teacher from K-College.

Again I do get the point. Teachers should take certain things into consideration before even going to another country regardless of where the counrty is and what the school is.

I have read a lot of reviews on this site and I have to sometimes wonder the mind set of those who write what they do. I read a lot of reviews before heading out to my current country and school. Nothing written was even close to the truth. But, then again, if it had been the truth it still wouldn't have mattered. Great school or bad school, I was still a guest and had to adjust to the situation.

Teachers should always know that adjustment is key to having a great experience wherever they go.

The great thing about 1 year contracts is that you get a free ticket back to the states every year. At least we do. Every year we get a free ride to the airport, a free trip home, and a free roundtrip ticket back for another year. Plus a free trip from the airport to the school.

Also, if you don't like the school or want to move on, it is easier with a one year contract.

I do get the point. Usually the teachers that complain the most are the ones with the least experience. They go to another country expecting everything to be like the US. When they find out that things are the way they throught they would be they use this site to bash the school.

New teachers need to know that whatever country they are going to, they will be a guest and only a guest in that country. They do need to know that housing may be bad. The owners may be bad. That the admin and resources may be bad.

But they need to know this with the mindset of a guest, not a host. Though we are Americans, not every country is America.

I have read a lot of complaints about for profit schools, bad owners / board, lack of support, bad housing and the list goes on.

Remember, we are GUESTS in another country. GUESTS GUESTS GUESTS

We have no rights nor do we have a right to complain. The country you are in IS NOT your country. The owner, boart, etc.. has a right to do whatever they want to do. If the teacher doesn't like it...well the airport is down the street.

I have a Cambodian friend who is a teach in Cambodia. He makes $100 per month for 9 months. Support??? Resources??? They have no clue what that is. He has to feed his family on $900 per year.

An overseas teacher should always have an open mind and be willing to go with the flow, not create the flow.

Enjoy your location as a GUEST of the country. These are not American schools. They will be different. Don't like different??? Stay home.