We are a teaching couple who have been looking for a job for the last couple of months. Got a call recently from the UAS in Kuwait who seem pretty keen and seem to have a great package etc. Does anyone have some information on this school and Kuwait? We are both quite active people and wondering if Kuwait will be the place for us?
Thanks
Universal American School Kuwait
I interviewed with them a couple of years ago, and passed on their offer. The recruiting guy (he lives in Colorado) was not at all responsive to emails/questions, and he took weeks to answer them when he did and I just got a weird feeling about the place. The whole interview process took a couple of months so I finally withdrew my interest. When I did that he got mad at me and told me he had already made plans for me. When I told him I was never even offered a job, he immediately offered it to me. I politely refused, but it all seemed so strange.
Having said that, I really believe that the right teacher(s) might do okay there. I know they tend to be stricter than other countries with just about everything. Personally I would recommend Egypt or Jordan as they have the Arab culture, but are much more forgiving of Westerner's vices and manners.
UAS Kuwait does have a lot of bad reviews so take that into account. My experience somewhat follows along with what was posted. While I can't stand reviews that attack people, UAS does have a mountain of bad posts. I would talk with some random teachers that work at the school before I accepted a job there. It could be that the reviews are all written by disgruntled employees, but wow there sure are a lot and that sends up a flag for me.
Good luck, but please do your homework before you go - not when you get there!
Having said that, I really believe that the right teacher(s) might do okay there. I know they tend to be stricter than other countries with just about everything. Personally I would recommend Egypt or Jordan as they have the Arab culture, but are much more forgiving of Westerner's vices and manners.
UAS Kuwait does have a lot of bad reviews so take that into account. My experience somewhat follows along with what was posted. While I can't stand reviews that attack people, UAS does have a mountain of bad posts. I would talk with some random teachers that work at the school before I accepted a job there. It could be that the reviews are all written by disgruntled employees, but wow there sure are a lot and that sends up a flag for me.
Good luck, but please do your homework before you go - not when you get there!
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JoeyTeaches
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:07 pm
- Location: Kuwait
I am currently working at a diffent school here in Kuwait. I am a single and doing all I can to finish my one year contract. Had I been married and living here w/ a partner, things might have been different.
I do not know that many expat teachers (single or married) that enjoy living in Kuwait. There is a VERY HIGH turn over rate for most of the internation schools here. For the most part - the only teachers that stay in Kuwait are the women married to men who are: Kuwaiti, others Arabs working in Kuwait, or western contracters. The rest of us - stay less then 3 yrs, just for the money and to travel.
UAS is average. I work somepalce else that is much worse. I do not know where you are from... but if you do move here... expect zero activites, censorship, close minded admin, your school to be run for profit and not education, and a very expensive cost of living. Food, car, clothes - all expensive.
Upside... I did get to travel in this part of the world. I learned a lot about Middle Eastern people, Islam, and different cultures. I made a few great friends. I also enjoyed how quite it is in Kuwait. And I lost weight (no booze and food I don't care for - lol)
Good luck
I do not know that many expat teachers (single or married) that enjoy living in Kuwait. There is a VERY HIGH turn over rate for most of the internation schools here. For the most part - the only teachers that stay in Kuwait are the women married to men who are: Kuwaiti, others Arabs working in Kuwait, or western contracters. The rest of us - stay less then 3 yrs, just for the money and to travel.
UAS is average. I work somepalce else that is much worse. I do not know where you are from... but if you do move here... expect zero activites, censorship, close minded admin, your school to be run for profit and not education, and a very expensive cost of living. Food, car, clothes - all expensive.
Upside... I did get to travel in this part of the world. I learned a lot about Middle Eastern people, Islam, and different cultures. I made a few great friends. I also enjoyed how quite it is in Kuwait. And I lost weight (no booze and food I don't care for - lol)
Good luck