Our first experience was pretty terrible.

However, most recent experience was fantastic. We had a lot of contact with admin HR, and other teachers prior to arriving. They organized our shipping from Canada, too. Once we landed, we were taken to our new home by the superintendent (although some people were taken by other admin at the school). There was a welcome package of a variety of food, as well as any and all appliances we could need. There was also a basket filled with maps, directories, etc. Our condo is wonderful, and we receive a generous housing allowance. They cover the utilities too.We receive a very generous settling-in allowance too, which ended up being difficult to spend entirely.During the first two weeks there several welcome parties/mixers to help us get to know everyone (it is a large school and I still see faculty that I swear I have never seen before).

We had a week of touring around with the other newbies that was very well organized and it really helped us to get situated in the city, and it allowed us to make some connections with other new faculty.

Once at the school, we had a week long orientation to the school, its programs, and its mission. It was exceptional. They went through everything you could expect, and they gave us a lot of time to ask questions, socialize with other faculty (old and new). They made it very easy to get everything set up with the banks and cell phone providers. Our school is particularly great at helping out whenever it is needed. They detailed our health insurance and benefits. We received amazing support when we had our first child rather suddenly here this year. It is a very family friendly atmosphere. We do work hard, but there is a real sense of community that has been built here.

The other faculty have been outstanding, and my wife and I always felt like we had a group of mentors we could ask questions, give suggestions, or vent.

My wife and I didn't really like Kuwait either, for many of the reasons just posted. In general, the schools seemed pretty bad (mine was, and I've heard from friends about the others).

The principal that was held in Kuwait was working for Al Bayan.

Good luck!

I'd love to read some too now that the pressure is off of me. Ha.

[quote="Bellarex"]I've only had a screening interview with a smaller school, but not even a nibble otherwise.. elementary teaching couple with 2 years international and 2 years American public experience. Thought we'd have heard back from more schools by now. Have applied to 20 or so so far..[/quote]

My wife and I were in a similar boat last year. We applied and applied and applied, but only had one real bite. We went to the London fair, and that all changed. My suggestion is to get to a fair (that SA one was great). The school we are at now is a dream. Funny enough, though, we applied to them prior to the fair and didn't hear boo.

My school has a set amount they give to each teacher, and extra for dependents (very generous amounts - business class amounts). We submit our tickets and they refund us the money assuming it is under the set amount. My wife and I aren't going home this summer, but we are allowed to use the mid contract allowance for travel within that school year.

My wife and I sent out piles of resumes last year, and barely received any replies. We went to the London fair in January and we were very lucky. I think the benefit of going to the fairs is that recruiters want to hire someone. We were hired at a top school with only a couple of years experience. This was due to a combination first impressions, luck, our ability to sell ourselves on the spot, the fact that we are a couple, and the experience we did have fit the open positions.

My wife and I went to the first London fair last year, and we were very successful. Granted we are a teaching couple, so that has an added benefit. My wife took a position in the elementary school and I took one in middle.

There were a ton of schools from places outside of Europe. In fact, we had about 9 or so interviews lined up (with many great schools) and only one was a school in Europe.

Ours is pretty colorful. I honestly don't mind sharing what we did, but I don't want to post it here (it has our names on it as well as the names of some administrators). If you leave your e-mail I can share it with you.

Essentially, we made a very bright and colorful one that had a lot of big, bold lettering. It included several pictures of stuff we did in the classroom (The Daily 5 or classroom management techniques as some examples). We also threw on some quotes from reference letters we have.

One..and when you go to a fair, make sure you print it on good quality paper front and back. I recommend making it colorful (search ichiro on this forum). My wife and I did this for the January SA London fair, and we ended up having schools (very good ones) approach us despite us not applying to them, because of our "ichiro".

I've never had to pay upfront. I've worked in two places (going to third) and all of them have paid for the flight. I'd be very hesitant to pay out of pocket from the get go.

Thanks for posting that!

[quote="Buzzkill"]The final straw for me at a former school was when I learned some colleagues, who I knew were less qualified, were making about the same as I was earning. I left that year. I won't work for a school that does not have a salary scale.[/quote]

I agree wholeheartedly. I know of a 'teacher' at my school who makes more than I do, and he doesn't even have post secondary. I have Bachelor of Arts (honours) and my B.ed as well as some additional qualifications. He is an admin's son and was brought in to fill a vacant position (a position they made vacant when the previous teacher was sent home). He is barely functioning, because he doesn't have the training or knowledge base. It drives me nuts.

My wife and I spent a year in Korea (we met there actually) and then we returned back to Canada while I completed my B.ED. We initially decided to go overseas because the job situation in Ontario is horrendous. We figured we would spend four years overseas, travel, and pay off our debts. We are just about to finish up our first contract and will be heading to SEAsia shortly for our new one, and we can no longer imagine moving back to Canada. We love being overseas, and the opportunities for us are much brighter than anything in Canada.

We are planning to start a family soon, and we both feel that doing so overseas is a much better option than back home. The biggest problem is not having our immediate families and friends in close proximity, but they will visit and so will we. We are both very excited for what the future holds!

I know people that work at ABS and they hate it. Their turnover this year was crazy (something like 8 teachers left in September and October), and I don't think many are staying. They often place unreasonable and odd demands on teachers, and they don't get a lot of love from the teachers that work there. One teacher told me that they have to take screenshots of them uploading their lessons (after said lessons have been seen by three other people), and then they send those screenshots to their leader. This is done so that everyone is accountable, I guess, but I was told it was a way of 'sticking it' to the teachers. Just a simple, yet silly administrative thing that requires a lot of time not used for teaching/planning.

Two teachers at my school (which isn't great either) fled that school a few years ago, because of the administration, demands on teachers, school population, and general discontent. I don't want to say much more, but I would steer clear.