Is the iquama the exit visa?

I have noticed many "international" schools have difficulty with the whole visa thing. It was a big reason why I chose not to renew. Sad really.

AICS! That is great, Amsterdam is a great town. They are really cleaning up their act nowadays. Congrats!

I also have a non-teaching spouse and found it to be very difficult to get hired by one of our "choice" schools. Lots of choices, just not what we were looking for. It is good to know there is someone who got what they wanted and deserved.

One question about living in the NL, are they going to help secure some type of employment for you spouse? We understand getting work permits is difficult in the EU when going at it alone. If not, did they express much concern about salary/cost of living in the NL for two on one salary? That was a big factor for us in our search. Having travelled extensively through the EU for the past two years (We live in Istanbul.) we felt like it would be too difficult to do on one salary, after taxes and all. I don't mean to sound neg. I am only looking to see how others have tackled this issue so that we can add the EU to our "list" one day. :D

I am thrilled to think we could manage to live in the NL one day! Please share your thoughts.

In Istanbul Turkey I must say that ENKA OKULLARİ has the best overall package. Salary is competitive (if not the best) as the housing pushes it over the top. Their international teachers live in apartments right on the Bosphorus (Bebek, Yeniköy, Emirgan, etc...) Other schools in the city have you living either on campus or waaay outside the heart of the city, which is where you will spend most of your time. All utilities paid except internet and phone.

I am not extending my contract but it has nothing to with the salary and benefits.

Hope this helps.

All of your examples are better than the doctor/surgery one presented earlier.

Good work.

Now, if you were asking for better ways to deal with workplace depression than I will give some to you (Who knows maybe you are fishing). Seek the help of a professional therapist, talk to friends from home more often, talk to your director/principal about the problem as you see it or if the contract is not being upheld contact the agency (if any) that helped you find the job and report them, then come on to ISR and share these experiences.

And I have "taken up the slack" from a coworker who quit at the start of the year and I don't harbour any ill feelings at all. They did what they felt was right and I respect that.

Comparing a doctor leaving to return home mid surgery and a teacher not fulfilling his/her contract for whatever reason (homesickness, laziness, unethical hiring practices, failure to fulfill contractual obligations, etc...) is a tiny bit flawed wouldn't you say?

Good for a laugh though this AM. :D

Oh and by the way... if a class is being taught by a really unhappy teacher suddenly has that unhappy teacher leave it might in fact be a good thing. As you may or may not agree but an unhappy teacher is not a good or effective teacher. Kids see and understand far more than you think (read: body language).

The idea that "burying" yourself in work might somehow end the depression or general unhappiness one might be experiencing is... well... insensitive.

Well said Traveller1.

I wish I had known about this site prior to my 1st UNI fair. It wouldn't have necessarily made me NOT sign with my current (and soon to be former "school") but it certainly would have prompted more specific questions/investigations prior to and during the interview process. This site also has a wealth of information to help teachers other than the reviews.

I find this site and all of it's opinions whether I agree or not extremely useful.

The question is how to we get the word of this site out to new teachers to the international game who may never not know of it's existence?

Early Friday, get folders, attend pre-interview pow-wow and then... let the cattle call begin. You wait outside the convention hall like you are waiting for a Stones concert in Leeds circa 1968. Doors open, rush in, plan your interviews and chill. Sat, interviews interviews interviews... Sunday Superbowl.
Truely have a plan. Do your research. Know where you want to go, who wants you and who you want to hit for an interview first. Contact prior would help too... I love it. I have everything pretty well mapped out before hand and it is all about execution.
If you are not staying at the Ramada (unless you are at Quality next door) rent a car. The shuttle, from what I have heard from many is not good. Waterloo (ALO) airport has a couple of car rental services on site.
Good luck, see you there.

[quote="ichiro"][quote="samuraiwriter"]How many schools around the world are helping out their USD paid employees through this difficult time? I for one have lost about 25-35 percent of my salary due to the weakening USD and inflation. Ouch! Obviously, no COLA here.[/quote]

How exactly does that work? Are you paid based in US dollars and therefor have less local currency when you convert? If you're paid in local currency, wouldn't that give you more USD since USD are now cheaper to buy?

Our salaries are based on USD dollars then converted to local currency for paychecks, so we're at the mercy of the exchange rate--but only for exchanging. Sending money to the US is always the same because what we receive is based on US dollars to begin with. Of course this doesn't help people without USD bank accounts or those who live, work, invest, own, etc., on the local economy....and yes, we get a hefty COLA, and many live on the COLA alone.[/quote]

Unfortunately, I am paid ın USD and have to convert. I used to be able to save a bit of my USD and not convert. But these days I am afraid that is not the case. Less and less money, more and more private lessons to compensate.

How many schools around the world are helping out their USD paid employees through this difficult time? I for one have lost about 25-35 percent of my salary due to the weakening USD and inflation. Ouch! Obviously, no COLA here.

As UNI looms near I thought it might be useful to start this thread. The aim is to help others prepare, strategize and succeed in Waterloo. Perhaps a little insider trading as well, if you get my drift. :wink: I don't know how many of you are going to be there but there must be a few of us. I attended the XXX fair and found it to be very organized and professional. (At least on UNI's side.)

So fire away! Any questions, concerns, etc... I would be glad to share my experiences.

Relax, it is all behind you now. You're safe and sound at home. ENS can't hurt you anymore. Breathe. You've made your bed, now lie it in and have a good rest... it really, really sounds like you need it.

Not to butt in...

I realize that ENS has some problems to work out, according to posts/reviews here and elsewhere. A lot of schools do.

Now many of you "Western" teachers are not coming back. Despite the fact that you (might) have a contract and the school, students, parents and *gulp* administrators are counting on you to return. You know who suffers for your "protest?"

The school: Will your not returning make it a better place?
The staff: Who will have to pick up the slack.
The students: Who will face being taught by overworked and perhaps unqualified teachers.
The community: Ever think how they might view a bunch of "Western" teachers jumping ship without so much a word? And what will that do to the reputation of "Western" teachers overall?
Your career: Because this will have an impact. I know, you don't care...

Be mature, be honest, do the right thing. Just because someone treated your poorly do not lower yourselves to their level. We are professionals, not fast food employees at the local BK. I couldn't imagine returning to work and having to cover for a bunch of teachers who blindsided everyone and ditched out. Congrats, you just made their lives a living hell as well. You are as bad as the administration in my eyes. But what do I know?

Good luck to you in the future.

There are numerous pages on the net devoted to cost of living, etc... in Dubai. Please keep this post on topic, no hijackers please.

Does anyone have any specific info on ASD housing. location, commute time, transport to/from school, pets, villas vs. apartments?

Thanks in advance,
SW

Does anyone have any info on this schools package for international hires? I am NOT looking for salary info as it is clearly stated on their website. I am curious about the housing. What is it like? Location?Commute times? Do they provide serivce buses like here in Turkey (wishful thinking)? Would indoor cats be tolerated? Etc... Etc...

Any information would be excellent. This forum has been so helpful in the past, thanks in advance.

SW

Still nothing, although promises of paperwork coming in the post continue. When this paperwork does arrive I will then have to turn my passport over for a period of five days while the appropriate visa/residency book work is completed. The big problem now is that this conflicts with my family visiting me in country. We plan to take a long trip to visit different places of interest in relatively rural parts of the country. My director advised me that only a photocopy of the documents pertaining to the visa/residency renewals plus a photocopy of my passport would be fine for my safety. If I didn't believe that than I could not turn in my passport and wait until I return, which would run into August. Oh such fun! I cannot tell you how unhappy this makes me. It has ruined my summer holiday.

An amusing side note is that my director had their visas and residency books straightened out yesterday afternoon and left the country today. (Well a director is far more important than a measly teacher, right?)She felt there was nothing unprofessional about how the school has handled the situation, and eluded to the fact that I was unprofessional in my approach to this "not so serious" problem.

Stay tuned...