@Gipper: The three skype offers were through contacts I made via Search

Not from personal experience, but a colleague of mine worked there and although it was beautiful and idyllic he could not stay more than two years: $$$ he almost went broke. Pay is low so if you ae looking for just a short stint and some Europe time it might be fun, but keep in mind you may go broke in the process.

Yes, it's worth it.

I got 3 solid offers via skype a month before my fair of choice and 6 offers at the fair itself.

It's not a lot of money to pay for access to a large database. You should still go to the fair..it may be a hassle, but it's your life and a two full years of it at that depending where you sign a contract.

Go speak to HR right away. Waiting a week will just give the impression you are okay with this sort of housing. The sooner you get on it the better as they might be trying their luck with you and thinking they can get away with it. I've had colleagues in the past with similar concerns as you (although not quite as bad!) and waiting out of fear of being inpolite or pushu usually just delayed things further. Not only does your housing sound sub-standard, there is also a clear safety issue as well.

I wouldnt say there is not much demand for ESL teachers. At my last fair (only the second I've ever attended) I was offered 5 different ESL teaching jobs and accepted one. I was also offered two positions via Skype before the fair. There are definitely less ESL jobs than regular classroom teaching jobs, but if you are qualified and have excellent references you have a shot. Mind you at my first fair (before I had ever taught abroad), I was only formally offered one job, but it was a great location and posting, so I was lucky.

As for your husband it depends on the idividual school, country and his flexibility. My husband was hired on as a teaching assistant at our last school and even did some subbing. At our next school they have already expressed interest in him coaching, etc. You can't really go in expecting he will get a job, but if you are open and patient he may get something out of it. For our next posting we are going in fully aware that he may have to end up doing something entirely separate from the school. Having one or two dependents is doable, I think...3+ is a hard sell, especially if this is your first posting.
Good luck and be persistent..

The PYP schools I've worked at have always been rather anti textbook..as the program is meant to be inquiry based, textbooks at these schools have always been thought of as rather old fashioned and/or out of touch for international kids.
The majority of teachers I've seen in pyp action collect a variety of school library resources and online sites for use during a unit of inquiry, rather than base work on a textbook resource. Guessing this response is not
much help, but if it's any help I've found that a good PYP school/program does not rely on textbooks, but rather teacher resourcefulness and a good collection of resources and library books that relate to the units of inquiry.

Not sure if it's a new trend or just a Hong Kong trend..I was offered a job at Discovery College in January and they only offered the initial flight out - a one way ticket for myself and dependent. No round trip air fair each year.

In the end I went with another Asian school with a much better package. Those flights home from Asia are pricey if your home of record is N. America! Perhaps HK is a bit like Europe in that they can get away with not as many flight perks since a lot of folks are keen to work there?

Fall is pleasant and can last well into December. It's your typical Mediterranean winter..doesn't usually dip below zero, but it's damp so often feels colder than it really is. You will use your heating from December into March and it's expensive. It does snow, but usually winter consists of a lot of rain, so bring good wet weather gear as well as at least one warmer coat.

Again, depending how you spend you can save, but Istanbul is such a fun city to go out in you'll find it quite easy to spend! Although schools usually pay housing, utilities will probably be on you. Travel within Turkey is very affordable, but I'd say Istanbul is the most expensive place in the country, so you'll be spending most of your money day to day. If you have no debts or
mortgages back home you will be just fine.

It's great! Wonderful city, tons to do and easy access to various
places for travel. It's nice to get away from sometimes, but the city itself is
not too overwhelming. Cost of living is not as high as the rest of Europe, but it is getting more expensive. If you don't eat out all the time and the school has a good benefits package (I.e. Covers your entire rent, etc.) you can save.

I think most teachers who go into international teaching do so for the experience of living in a different country and because they are more flexible and open to change. Back home it is not unusual for a teacher to remain in the same school/classroom for 15 + years. For some (myself included) this is a horrifying thought, for others it is comforting.

Students in international schools are transient and so too are the teachers. Despite this, it seems that in each international school there are a solid group of teachers who stay on longer than their initial contract and this helps with continuity. If you love the school and country you can stay put so long as your benefits continue and the school wants you to stay put. I have met teachers abroad who overstay their welcome and sometimes they need a push. It really depends on the school and what you want/need. I find international schools are a tad 'fresher' in terms of staff than public schools back home because new staff are always coming in and longer term staff move on to new things, eventually.

Once you go abroad you will understand it more. With teachers and students coming and going every few years, you will probably get itchy feet now and then and know when it is time. I stayed two years at my first school to gain experience and make contacts. At my current school I am now planning to stay put for at least 5 years since I am very happy with my current situation. If you find yourself in an interesting and liveable country, and working for a school with options for professional growth and great staff, why leave after 2 years..? You will soon see it all depends on a number of factors! Good luck.

I find this entire thread highly entertaining..both Psyguy's continuous replies and those that opose him. Whatever the truth may be, it's interesting how much time and energy has been dedicated to this post. Do the big reveal already, or move on.

A solid school will cover yourself and at least one dependent, usually two. My last school covered up to two dependents and the school I am headed to this August is one of the schools that offers to pay for university attending dependents in addition to spouses. I didn't know this existed, but it does! I actually turned down an early offer from another school because of this very issue. If they wont budge, look elsewhere, especially if you can be choosy.

That's the big difference..if he is set on doing his writing legally he may want to try and do freelance work with publications from back home initially.
I knew a couple whom one was a translator/writer and she was given a residency permit, but not a legal work permit. So most of work was done via skype and emails with her home country and Europe.

Sorry can't help you with info about Asia Pacific - but I have heard it's a good school.. good luck!

Wanted to offer a different perspective:

At my last school my spouse was 'trailing' and the school processed and paid for his visa. He had legal residency and a few months in was offered a job at the school. The important thing to note is that his visa was provided automatically, not because he was hired by the school as well. Our next destination - South East Asia - is currently processing both our visas. He may or may not work at the school, but either way his visa is on them :)

Like Walter, my last international school had several gay staff who were hired based on their excellent teaching credentials, not sexual orientation. Not a single one of these teachers needed to keep their orientation 'under wraps', nor were they labeled as liabilities. Also important to note, their being gay or straight never came up in interviews and one gay male staff member who was hired at the same time as me told me several times how nice it was to not feel the need to hide or be wide open about his sexual orientation once he started working. None of these teachers had a teaching partner, but almost all had non teaching spouses who were always included and invited to both school sponsored events and various social events.
In interviews I would be open about being a couple and state it like it is(no different than a straight teaching couple would) and if any heads/principals are neurotic/bias enough not to hire you, you can just count your blessings you are not working for them! I'd focus on not for profit schools too. There are a lot of good schools out there.