Re: American International Schools in Rome

by La Dolce Vita

Dec 9, 2011

Hi all,

I'm interested in a potential opening at an American international School in Rome. Having done some research, what from I've widely read, it's tough to live comfortably on a teaching salary in Rome, given the high rent and taxes. Can anyone comment on the cost of living (as a single person) in Rome? I'm also a bit worried as to the current economic situation in Italy... Any inside info greatly appreciated.

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La Dolce Vita Thanks for the comprehensive info on Rome, Dave. Very much appreciated!

Dec 11, 2011

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Dave No problem, one last issue. OFS is an EXTREMELY competitive school to get into. Its "the elite" school in the region.

On 12/11/11, La Dolce Vita wrote: > Thanks for the comprehensive info on Rome, Dave. Very much appreciated!

Dec 11, 2011

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Still Trying What does OFS stand for. I tried a search and came up with nothing.

On 12/11/11, Dave wrote: > No problem, one last issue. OFS is an EXTREMELY competitive school to get > into. Its "the elite" school in the region. > > On 12/11/11, La Dolce Vita wrote: >> Thanks for the comprehensive info on Rome, Dave. Very much appreci...See More

Feb 22, 2012

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Dave Sorry OFS, stands for "Overseas Family School" its a common name (or some combination of it) that was popular back in the 80's when the DOS or embassy school was pretty much the only real international school in a region. For instance the American school in Rome ([link removed]).

For a while OS (Overseas School) in general was used but it...See More

Feb 22, 2012

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Roma- La citta' piu' bella del mondo In regards to living in Rome on a teacher's salary, it's definitely doable. I lived in Rome for a year. If you know how to budget your money it's a piece of cake. I would recommend 1st to get an apartment with roomates, because then you will only be paying around 4-600 euros a month. During the week I would make my own breakfast in the morning and ...See MoreIn regards to living in Rome on a teacher's salary, it's definitely doable. I lived in Rome for a year. If you know how to budget your money it's a piece of cake. I would recommend 1st to get an apartment with roomates, because then you will only be paying around 4-600 euros a month. During the week I would make my own breakfast in the morning and go for the midmorning cafe/cornetto for only 2 euro. I bought a pass at the gym which was at 100 Euro a month. I packed my own lunches for school, or would grab a panino for lunch, and make my own dinner at nite. I bought a metro/bus/tram pass that was good for the whole month at 45 euros. On weekends i would luxuriate a little more and go out to dinner, go to the discoteca, or find some pub to hang out in san lorenzo. If you make lots of italian friends over there a lot of them arent going out to crazy expensive places all the time/spending lots of money on dining: u go to apartments to party, go to san lorenzo and walk around at night, get a drink at a pub and catch some live music.

Rome can be an expensive city if you don't kno how to budget your money. If you do it right, then you will enjoy it so much and have no worries. I kno people that worked at language schools over there making only 1200 euros a month and lived ok. So, with 28.000 euros +, you can definitely have a good life over there.

On 12/10/11, Dave wrote: > I taught in Rome/Italy last year (this year Im in Denmark), > and i left becuase of the money (well that and a girl). It > really depends on the school, theres one really well paying > school in Rome, that if you work at you wont have a problem. > Me and everyone else really struggle, its the cost of living > in one of the GREATEST and most amazing cities in the world. I > was making about 2800 € a month and my first/temporary > apartment was running almost 1800 € a month, and it was small > just off the spanish steps. even after I moved into the St. > Petersburg area I was paying about 1200 € a month (though > nicer and bigger space). Most schools in europe dont give you > a housing package, its just salary, insurance, and a > relocation allowance (which might include different types of > transportation, settling in, and moving allowances. It doesnt > really matter because its all money in the end). > > As far as the Euro crises, all the international schools are > pretty insulated from that. What matters is local costs, as > prices are creeping (and not all that slowly either) upward, > and dont look to let up, especially on imports. Basically > local stuff hasnt changed much in price. Housing has also > gotten higher, since many landlords are trying to make up for > market losses with real estate hikes (my apartment is now > going for around 1500 €). Another tax is going to be > instituted is the word i hear from my friends. > > Im a single a guy and had a pretty active social life (having > an italian girlfriend is EXPENSIVE) and at the end of the year > i left with less then a 1000 €. It takes you at least a month > or two to find a place. Your first month rent and deposits and > fees will eat up your relocation allowance. Add airfare, and > temporary housing and your not into positive cash flow until > your 4 months into the job. Then the holidays hit, and you > need a permanent place by december because all the temp stuff > is rented out to visitors for the holidays. One woman who was > new ended up homeless, and luckily another teacher let her > move in for the month as he was traveling back to the UK for > the holidays. So by christmas your not scraping by anymore, > and youve learned where to shop for food, and arent eating out > ALL the time, and its no joke, in Rome eating out is so easy > to get addicted too. You basically learn to eat one real meal > a day, because youll drop €50 euro a day without blinking > after ordering a couple dishes, wine, espresso, and gelato. > You grab a pastry and espresso in the morning. Have lunch at > school, with a glass of wine (school lunch is the cheapest way > to go). Then you go home and make some pasta or pizza, or you > go out. > > You should also get used to drinking, and i mean all the time. > When you count the glasses, i was drinking a bottle of wine a > day, and by many american standards that makes you an > alcoholic. Its really easy to do, you have a glass of wine > with lunch, another after work, one with dinner and then one > in the evening, and thats a light day. Going out to the clubs > or just a dinner date is easily another liter. Out at the > clubs and bars its all hard liquor and cocktails. It does make > the work and day go by a lot easier. You wont be drunk either > because double shots ( or double double shots called called a > Qauttro) of straight scalding hot espresso will keep you > wired. Its also easy to gain 20 lbs after a year in Italy.... > > On 12/09/11, La Dolce Vita wrote: >> Hi all, >> >> I'm interested in a potential opening at an American >> international School in Rome. Having done some research, >> what from I've widely read, it's tough to live comfortably >> on a teaching salary in Rome, given the high rent and >> taxes. Can anyone comment on the cost of living (as a >> single person) in Rome? I'm also a bit worried as to the >> current economic situation in Italy... >> Any inside info greatly appreciated.

May 19, 2013

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