Everyone, I mean everyone, has a mobile phone--including the Masai car park attendants that are all over Dar. Phones are cheap and you do pay as you go for phone credit. Most people use it to text, as calls can be pricey.

If you are moving to Lusaka, then the internet should be ok. Most places are wireless now. Internet is fairly good. Not fast--but again, you get used to how slow it is. I don't even realize how slow it is until I go back to the US over the summer and see how fast it is there!

Lusaka is nice, but pretty limited with entertainment. If you are at the American school, it is a nice campus and my current principal will be the director there next year and he is great! I imagine it is difficult to travel (by air) from Lusaka, as it is in most places in Africa except for Nairobi and Joburg. You may have to connect through either place to get where you want to go and the plane ticket costs are high. Lusaka has a small airport and likely the flight schedule is like Dar's where flights in certain airlines are only a few times a week.

I am sure you get a car loan there, and will need a car to get around. It is very difficult to drive around Africa, as many road are bad and some countries only have a few roads. But there are many safari companies you can use. I have been lucky enough to see most of Southern and Eastern Africa at this point, and if you are willing to use backpacker places (they are all quite nice in Eastern and Southern africa) then you can do it on the cheap. Look at www.coastingafrica.com

You will have a fantastic time. And I am sure you will get paid enough to have a housekeeper and possibly a cook too. Labor is cheap and easy to find. You will likely get a bit sick from time to time, but your belly will adjust. It is no big deal. The things you see on a daily basis will be amazing and the travel will make you addicted to Africa. Just remember the expression TIA--meaning "this is Africa". There is NO logic here, so don't even ask why something is happening--just think TIA and you will be just fine.

I hope this helps. =)

tgrear2008--I will be one of the HS counselors at AISE. I have 2 co-workers now who have worked there in the past--they are a couple that actually met when they worked there. They both really liked it a lot. One actually worked there 2 times. They LOVED Cairo and are hoping to make it back there someday. I also was in touch with a woman who just left the school after 10 years and she said that is was a good school and she loved Cairo. My current principal said it has a good reputation and he just interviewed a couple who said the admin there is very good and have a lot of integrity. I actually went to the school to interview and it is very nice. The only problem is the location and traffic, so the morning and afternoon commutes will likely suck, but I am sure we will get used to it.

I have no desire to have a roomie--too old for that! And I agree that if you are with school folks you tend to talk about school stuff. I think Cairo has a real opportunity to meet a lot of non-school expats and locals. I am for sure looking forward to it!

tgrear2008--it sounds like we will be working at the same school next year. I have been to Cairo a few times and really like it. I know a lot of people who have worked in Cairo and they just have loved it. The location is great and the cost of living is low. Maadi is a nice expat area but still has some grit to it so you know for sure that you are in Egypt! It is my understanding that the expat community is large and there is a lot to do. I have a place in the Maadi area already lined up through a friend.

There is an active Couchsurfing group there--they meet on Tuesday evenings and do a lot of events together. There is a mix of locals and expats in the group. There is also Internations--which has meet ups as well. I have asked the school to connect me with a single female teacher so that I can get her advise and perspective. She has been great!

I am very much looking forward to living in Cairo--I think it will be great!

I have been in Africa for 5 years--3 in South Africa and 2 in Tanzania. It is a wonderful experience, but you must be very flexible and have a fantastic sense of adventure and humor. Africa offers so many amazing things and the travel is tremendous. There are some hardships though--mosquitos, high cost of living in some areas, lack of electricity at times--but it is all worth the experiences that you will have. Nothing usually works quite right, but you just get used to that. I have had people visit, but many are afraid to come to Africa. There is nothing to be afraid of! I LOVE Africa and feel lucky to have been able to see as much as I have and can't even tell you the how wonderful it has been. There are many trying days, but it is all so worth it! If you have the chance, then go for it!

There is the American Int school and a British school. The British one has a bad reputation. The American one is going through a lot of changes, but is good.

Been there just this year. They go to ISS fairs, not Search. The openings are posted on the website.

I work in Joburg. It is a great school and the package is good. There should be some elementary openings this year. I am very happy here.

The school in Cape Town is small--cape town is great, but I do not know much about the school.

I actually accepted a post elsewhere, but thanks for the info!

I am signed up with Search Associates, but just got a job that was advertised on JoyJobs (and not with Search). I was also offered 2 jobs last year though JoyJobs. I agree that it was the best $40 I ever spent! I would recommend it to anyone looking for an international job.

beenthereseenthat~

I am assuming you work at the school. Are you planning to stay? Is it a good place for a single female to live? Is there an active social life outside of school? Is the salary good for the cost of living there? Thanks so much!

Thanks--what a great website!

Does anyone have any info on AIS Johannasburg South Africa? Any safety concerns? THanks!

Does anyone have any comments about working at the JKF School in Berlin? Thanks!!!