Thank you, everyone who responded. You've given me some things to think about. As many have pointed out, I could work somewhere else for better pay and just visit Europe in the summer. In fact, that's what I did last year. I visited friends in Europe for 5 weeks and had a great time. But as we all know, visiting somewhere and living there are two very different things.

I guess I'm really asking a different question. Is it better to be (relatively) wealthy in China or the Middle East, middle class in the US, or poor in Europe? Maybe it would be best to alternate between these options.

Regarding my name, I taught ESL in Japan before becoming a certified teacher. I loved it there and I would go back in a heartbeat if I could get a job at an international school.

Anyway, I'm still undecided on whether to take the position. It's getting pretty late in the hiring season... although this is around the time of year I got hired for my current job. Is it just because I'm in elementary education? My relative lack of experience? I've probably applied to 100 schools over the last 6 months and heard back from very few. I'm sure PYP experience would be good for my resume.

I've been offered a job in Western Europe. I don't want to say where for fear of outing myself.

I'm a single American elementary teacher in my late 20s. I've taught at an international school in the Middle East for the past two years using the Common Core (American) curriculum.

The new school caters to mostly local kids. It's PYP. I think it would be a good career move... I hear so many good things about PYP and I know a lot of schools are looking for experienced PYP teachers.

I'm working at a third tier school in the ME now and easily saving half my salary. When I accepted the interview with this new school, I was expecting the salary to be low, but it's even lower than I expected.

Is 20000 euros without accommodation enough to live on? Obviously this varies country by country. But in general, for the more expensive countries in mainland Europe, what do you think? I don't have any debts back home. If I accepted the job, it would be for the experience, both personally and professionally.

What do other schools that hire relatively inexperienced teachers pay?

For what it's worth, it's a dream location. Thanks for your input.

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