are you talking about Al Bayan Bilingual School?

Do you want to work for a school where they are so behind the times, judgemental and autocratic that they would not honour your contract because of mental health medication? Isnt that the same thing as not hiring a diabetic? or someone who needs blood pressure meds? or wears a cast? Now, that being said--it happens in the western world too--guess that's why there are laws against that kind of discrimination now.

Or you can go to a school in Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Egypt and enjoy it. ;)

YAY! Congrats!

Debt is always a good thing to pay off, no? Less time on the debt, less interest, less cost in the long run.
Why not wait until you get a job, see what you are bringing home, and see if you can afford to pay more into the debt. Even an extra 100$ or so a month makes a difference.

Thats fabulous Journey61!! YAY!!

Migrating bird--just nosey and curious here...do you feel that his nationality was more of a factor than the fact that you are not married? Do some schools ( not including the middle east) care about the "not married" part? I am single, with no partner so again--just being nosey. :)

I think its brilliant that there are so many different view points on this question. It just goes to show you that there is NO right or wrong answer, and it would totally depend on the context, the recruiter, the way the question is asked--or not etc etc etc.
The fact that there ARE differing opinions out there, must give comfort to all that ' you just never know' and to go with your gut.
In some cases it would be fine to ask, in others perhaps not! Dont sweat it if you ask, and dont sweat it if you dont ask. It all depends.

Interesting discussion. There are some ppl who would not want to work at a school if they HAD to get their tattoo removed.
So I think that is the bigger question...would you want to work at school if you had to get your tattoo removed? Does that signify a certain conservative-ness that would transcend into other areas as well? Would you be comfortable there? Are you sacrificing your principles? etc etc etc.
It seems to me, that you are pretty flexible about that, and dont see this as a big Moral Issue. :)
Until you know where you stand, and where the school stands....the band-aid idea is a great idea, IMO.

I am not making a judgement call on the OP or the OPosters friend. I have no idea of whether or not she will be a good teacher. I dont know her, so who am I to make that call?
My point is this-- I got my degree the old fashioned way--going to University for my undergrad, then teachers college....it was tough to get into teachers college back then. In fact, at any reputable teachers college in Canada it is STILL pretty tough--in fact MORE tough to get in
Does getting a degree the old fashioned way, achieved in about 4 or 5 years make that person a better teacher? Nope. But going through the hoops to get in, and putting in the work required indicates a certain passion for the sport.
At any school I work at, I can pick out the truly good teachers who are meant to BE teachers in a heartbeat. The others, who are there for the pay cheque--and yes July and August...are pretty miserable, hate the job, hate the kids and really have a tough go. Teaching is not for everyone. Today's teenagers can be a pretty frightening lot. ( take a look at the most recent blog posting) http://internationalschoolsreviewdiscus ... do-part-2/ Getting certified, just to get a job, without wanting to be a teacher because you want to TEACH first and foremost, might mean you really hate going to work each morning--cause the kids will eat you alive.
Again--I am not making a call on the OPosters pal....I am speaking generally.

I wonder if there is a quick online way to become a heart surgeon....

Khalida...Keep doing what you are doing. Sending out applications to the schools. Dont forget the Canadian International Schools abroad too....since you are working with the Canadian System. ( google international canadian schools, there is a government website that has them listed) Dont be afraid to email principals/heads of schools directly.
You can email through SEARCH, or email the schools from your private email directly--there are mixed reviews on which is better/worse. You might have to start off with a country that you dont particularly want ( ie for some the Middle East--but thats a matter of personal opinion) to get your foot in the door, but maybe not.....the hiring takes place right up until the fall, so its not over, till its over.

I agree about keeping it covered. A turtleneck, or a scarf should work? While tattoos are less of a deal than they used to be, there are still some pretty conservative folks/schools out there. Better safe than sorry.

Pay is not the only thing to consider. A more important criteria is cost of living? Pay in Europe is fairly high, but the cost of living is fairly high--so saving anything is probably not going to happen. Pay in India ( for example) might be lower, but the cost of living is fairly low--so what looks like a poor salary actually goes much further than the high salary does in Europe.
What is the cost of living where you are going? What additional perks are there? Housing? Flights? etc.

Ohhh poor you...its ok. Dont over think this so much--not leaving a 'Thank You" card is not going to jeopardise this for you.
Your agenda isnt theirs, but a signed contract is a signed contract. I would email the person that you were hired by, and cc the HR department. Thanking them, saying how exciting you are to be working there, and what do you need to do next, as time is of the essence.