Hi Indogal.
Are there schools you recommend accepting a contract and those you would advise not to? Which ones? Pollution? Crime? Nightlife? Activities? Cost of living?

Does anyone have any info on life in Sao Paulo and which schools would be nice to work at?

edited.

What about single expat guys wanting to meet single expat women from North America, UK, Australia, New Zealand?

Are there many expats there to socialise with? Especially from English speaking countries?

I don't think it's lazy. It's just kind of bizarre. Maybe one could get one's mother to write a confidential reference too!
I think if a colleague wrote that you were helpful, offering resources, supplies, sharing, ready to take a duty or swap if they were ill, helping them fit into the a new country, culture, school, etc. It could be acceptable in some way. But all that should come from admin who would be probably observing or hearing about such help anyway. And actually, often admin are friends or buddies with teachers too so even their confidential references should be taken with at least a small grain of salt.

I definitely thought it was strange when a coworker told me they had confidential references from colleagues. But it's true!

I have confidential references from administrators and parents of my students. I hear some people are also using teaching colleagues. Any opinions on this?

There are a few schools in Cairo. The only one I know worth working at is Cairo American College. There may be one other. There are some Al Choueifat schools that should be avoided in my opinion at all costs. Do an interview for the experience but unless it's CAC I would pass.

Got it. :)

It reads like that to me. What am I missing here? What do you think is meant by it.

Briz.
Why do you think ISManila is 3rd tier? I thought I heard it was second or first.

Sid. My reason would be because I wanted to be in that city in that country and that was the only school that gave me the opportunity. I guess some militant PYPers would not accept that answer. We'll see what happens.

I've been teaching PYP for about 7 years but I'm thinking of taking a teaching contract for 2 years that is not PYP. Will that hurt me if I try to get into a PYP school after only 2 or possibly 3 years not teaching it?

I'm an experienced PYP teacher but thinking of putting off applying to jobs I see posted at SA until late Dec. early Jan. for various reasons. Will I miss out or will good schools still hold off on offering contracts until then for the most part?