Don't be an idiot, man.

If you are actually any good at engineering, you should be making 6 figures and then some at 42.

Do you just blow all of your money? I can't think of any reason why you can't have enough saved at your age to just live overseas right now and not work. THAT is the REAL overseas experience.

Or get serious NOW and save so that in 7-8 years, you'll only be 50, you can live any place you want.

A LOT of engineers, businessmen/women/computer software people, etc. don't realize that teaching is HARD WORK - to do it well. And a helluva lot never make it for more than a few years in the switch, for whatever reason.

Unless you REALLY hate your job, save $$$ then decide. The travel, the new places, the exotic locations, all begin to pale after some time and you end up doing what you did back home. Almost all of my friends who worked/are working overseas for 10 or more years are traveled out and spend their time off at the beach, shopping, hanging out with friends at restaurants/cafes/the condo pool - like they might do at home.

And you'll need to get certified, etc. and, contrary to what you may think, school admin are not really impressed by your engineering/computer background until you have certification and a proven teaching record to back it up

Once the novelty wears off, you may find yourself in another job you hate making a lot less.

Then again, you may be one of the few who falls in love with teaching and everything I just wrote can be disregarded.

See Mr. Money Mustache site for a great look at early retirement. Good luck, man.

To Lastname Z:

Yeah, I could collect a pension in the U.S., get the health insurance, later Medicare and social security if I decide to stay here.

A buddy of mine who retired from Boston Public Schools after 30 years @80% is getting over $82,000 USD a year! But he had to stay in the U.S. for 30 years. Not worth it to me.

If I take the pension now, it would be about $12,000 USD plus health insurance continuance and later social security. The safe and sure play is to just do 10 more years in the U.S. Or get the U.S. pension and go back and teach 10 years in Asia again - or 5 in Saudi and 5 in Asia - and that will bring my own portfolio up to the more than enough level.

To Thames Pirate;

Can you tell me what country you are in and what your pension would be after 10 years (or 15 or 20 or...)? Any specifics are what I am looking for.

Thanks all.

Ok.

So where would be the best place to do your last 10 years to:

a. get a pension


and


b. screw the pension and save and invest on your own?

I never really found Saudi Arabia that great a place to save compared to China or other Asian countries?

Do any of the CA or SA countries have a pension plan?

Ok, guys, breathe.

I know that a teacher at many, if not most, international schools can live pretty well on the salary, but the question here is savings/pension for when you don't want to or can't work. Is there much money left over? No offense, Thames Pirate, but 15,000 a year savings, without a good pension, will most likely not provide for much of a retirement when you have to pay for things like college for your kid(s).

From the postings I gather that I was correct in my assumption that working in Europe for any number of years would not net anyone a golden ticket retirement. I also gather that living in Europe can be pretty sweet for a certain kind of person as opposed to Asia.

And I also understand that we don't teach purely for the money. BUT, the hard cold facts are that one day the end will come and without enough $$$ all of the wonderful memories/friendships/travel explorations/experiences that enticed us to teach overseas in the first place will be cold comfort if we are eating cat food and can't afford heat - yes, I know I am exaggerating - or am I? School heads though will be well taken care of so...

So, what do career IT's do/what's their plan/ for the end of their work careers?

Or is the common belief that most teachers don't know how to manage money - as stated by one IE school head at a Search job fair - actually true?

Be thoughtful in your replies, please. Thank you.

Thank you.

That's what I always figured. Why, then, do people want to work in Europe? Usually high taxes, no housing, expensive cost of living AND a mediocre pension. I could have gotten 1100/month after just 10 years teaching in the U.S. AND have saved enough in my portfolio to have another 800-1000 per month draw - just after 10 years.

Can someone please explain this to me as it has always been a question mark - in my mind anyway.

Ok, just how much money are we talking about for someone who works in WE and earns a pension after 10, 15, 20 years?

Only for people who actually know, please.

Thanks for any information.

Are schools still operating?

I know mainly the poor are facing the worst of it, but if things continue to decline, the expat enclaves will not be safe.

Anyone know anyone working there and have some primary source news?

The Malaysian Retirement program - EPF - is a pretty good way to catch up. Schools are required to put in a percentage, some 15 - 17%, and you put in 10 - 13%, depending on the school. A good chunk of change in addition to the other money you save.

If youdon't waste money, in 10 years of working in Malaysia, you could have 200 K USD in your pocket.

Congratulations,

The counselor position at most international schools - and ALL domestic schools - is pretty much a do nothing job that will allow you to spend most of your day planning/preparing for the next position that you want.

Take online courses and apply for any and all PD opportunities that come your way - it won't be as if you will actually be missed during these days you are not at "work".

As a counselor-type, you already are an expert schmoozer and know how to play the political game of keeping bosses/parents/students happy, so I have no doubt that you will one day be doing the same at a higher tier school. Just don't ever believe that you are actually an educator - you are admin, and that is how the teachers will regard you, no matter how friendly they are to your face. Of course, as a counselor, you will also be friendly to teachers and then stab them in the back at every opportunity.

Now, if you are one of the few counselors who actually works and contributes to the educational equation, please ignore everything I've written.

I did work with a great counselor once, in...1985, I think it was.

Know any rural schools in Indonesia? The oil schools in the mountains?

How is Eastern Seaboard in Pattaya, Thailand?

I was also thinking rural China - I posted on this and you gave me a lot of info. I speak the language and in the right countryside the pollution won't be bad. Might be kind of desolate, though.

Psyguy,

I'm thinking about a place like the Philippines, Sri Lanka, or Ubud on Bali. I've spent time in all of these places.

I want warm weather, simple life, get up in the morning, sip coffee on he porch of my small, secluded bungalow, eat healthy, exercise outside, ride my bike or motorcycle everywhere, maybe hook up with the occasional expat or western tourist.

I was thinking applying to the school in Cebu, Philippines. The school in Colombo, Sri Lanka, maybe, but I hated Colombo, too dirty, loud, crowded,, etc.

I could do SA or CA but those place seem to be the "too popular" expat retirement havens - if I hear Cuenca, Ecuador one more time or "the wonders of Panama"!

Psyguy

I left China in the late 2000's.

Any rural schools in China that might be considered international or American schools and not acting as a sham local school for Chinese?

I have decided that, after my retirement next year, I am going back overseas to teach - there's no way I can stop working.

I want to go back to Asia, where I have all of my experience. Any ideas?

Or, any other areas where a mid- 50's man can work and enjoy life?

Thanks for any help.

I just had to get a tourist visa, then, once I was in China, my school did the work to get the Z visa for me.