Better late than never, right? Ok, so where is the best place to live as well
as the safest place. If we were to go the Middle East, where she we go....I
want a really good school system not only for us, but for our children. It
would be wonderful to be debt-free and to be able to live a comfortable life
for a change. We are so tired of the struggling. We are not looking to be
wealthy, just comfortable. Be able to pay the bills and have left over to
enjoy and also to put away for retirement and college for the kids.

On 2/15/09, Lisa wrote:
> Good Morning! Well maybe my post is going the long way around. I'm too
> ling winded anyway ;-) Basically, I think you should go for it and see what
> happens. Tieonline and QSI might be your best bets. You could
probably
> just about finish the classes, if required, by late Aug. Expereince may
> hold you back and may not, so much is right place at right time.
>
> Pay scales vary widely. It can be unintentionally misleading. Salaries
> range from 15k (no kidding) to 55+K. Some schools in awesome locations are
> offering a partially subsidized working holiday and others you can pay off
> all your debt by xmas. You need to figure out how much money you need to
> send to the US to cover bills, storage, etc. For many people that put lots
> of jobs in Latin America and Western Europe out of range in the beginning
> at least. As a working couple with 2 kids we save 1 salary + depending on
> how much travel we do xmas and spring break. we don't go to the states for
> xmas. I couldn't even get to disney land and taco bell when i taught in the
> states now we debate Cairo or Rome.
>
> The big question is WHAT CAN WE SAVE, not what do you pay! Remember the
> salary is tax free in the US and overseas. You keep the gross and get
> housing, insurance, tickets, tuition,some shipping allowance and maybe some
> utilities, for all 4 of you if you are both working . If you pay taxes
> like in Germany they will pay you way more. Let me know how you are doing.
>
> On 2/15/09, Lisa wrote:
>> For some reason my answer didn't post!! Grrr. I think it went to some
>> admin review place, whatever that means! If it doesn't show up my
>> Monday, I will write again. L On 2/14/09, Debbie wrote:
>>> I spoke with my admissions person yesterday. For me to complete my
>>> French grades 7-12, I only need 4 more courses and will need to write
>>> 2 state exams. I also wanted to add Special Ed, so I am not sure how
>>> many more courses I need. I did the student teaching practicum in
>>> 1996 when I was pregnant with our first daughter, so that is out of
>>> the way.
>>>
>>> We would be willing to go this September. There is nothing holding
>>> us back at this time. Since, I am unemployed right now, and he is
>>> done in June with his long-term sub assignment (unless they offer him
>>> F/T), we are more than ready to go. We do have a home here, but we
>>> are willing to rent it out if need be.
>>>
>>> What is the pay scale going overseas? By the time my husband is
>>> finished, he will have 1 year of teaching experience under his belt.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 2/14/09, Lisa wrote:
>>>> DODDS will take people with dependents, no problem. If you are not
>>>> quite certified it will be more difficult. Are you close to
>>>> finishing? I think it is College of New Jersey has a program
>>>> designed for people overseas, Some place in Michigan and also
>>>> George Mason outside DC. Some states will let you do a first year
>>>> job in lieu of student teaching. Some int'l schools will hire you
>>>> in that situation. The best school of course will hold out for the
>>>> most expereince and education. However you can wait forever
>>> to get
>>>> into the perfect school IF you have no overseas experience. Once
>>>> your foot is in the door it is a different recruiting experience.
>>>> You will have a tough time to find a school that will take 3
>>>> dependents because they provided housing, airfare, tuition and
>>>> insurance.
>>>>
>>>> For overseas $$ is different. You of course need to consider how
>>>> much you need to cover obligations at home, and what you need to
>>>> save for retirement. Most schools don't pay into SSI, but you can
>>>> if you are willing to pay your portion and the employer. Your
>>>> husband will not make $40,000 overseas, but he will get housing,
>>>> some utilities, full insurance, private school tuition, probably
>>>> no commute/freedom from having 2 cars., no taxes! You must ask
>>>> what you can save!
>>>>
>>>> The good news is that I'm hearing more and more that job fairs are
>>>> out and tel. interviews are in!!
>>>>
>>>> What is your timeline to go overseas? Sept, or farther out? L
>>>>
>>>> On 2/13/09, Debbie wrote:
>>>>> My husband is the teacher and my background is HR. Although, I
>>>>> was looking at going back to school to finish my certification
>>>>> which I started from 1995-1996. I had to stop as we had our
>>>>> first child and then our second one 18 months later. My
>>>>> husband teaches science. We are pretty open to areas. He is
>>>>> currently earning around 40k as a first year teacher. He has a
>>>>> BS and 34 hrs toward Masters. He has 2 courses left to finish
>>>>> to get his Masters.
>>>>>
>>>>> Let me know what other info you need. Thanks for your help.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 2/13/09, Lisa wrote:
>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>> My aunt worked for DODDS for 30+ years and I have friends
>>>>>> that have worked for DODDS and for Int'l schools. Nothing
>>>>>> compares to DODDS!!! If you can get in go for it. My
>>>>>> hsuband and I have been trying to 9 years. It is super hard
>>>>>> to get in, even for people with lots of expereince and
>>>>>> suposed connections. Luck I guess! The schools don't
>>>>>> compare but the search agencies for Int'l Schools are much
>>>>>> easier to utilize and your chance of getting a job are 1000%
>>>>>> higher. DODDS are all American kids, In't schools aren't.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Until now there has been a teacher shortage overseas. Over
>>>>>> the last several years I have been working with recent
>>>>>> graduates with no experience so they do get hired. A
>>>>>> collegue last year, 22 and straight out of college, broke
>>>>>> her first teaching contract (did 1 of 2 years) and was hired
>>>>>> for a new inl't job for the next year by phone interview.
>>>>>> If she can, you can!!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> What do you teach???
>>>>>> Your kids will be no problem if both of you teach. You
>>>>>> usually get 1 kid free per teacher. All
>>>>>> benefits/flights/tuition.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I have never done ISS because they wanted all these essays
>>>>>> and when I first got started I didn't have the minimum # of
>>>>>> years required to sign up.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I have only used Search Associates. Thier website has some
>>>>>> good links and info. They have a job fair in late June
>>>>>> after school gets out. They will be honest about your
>>>>>> chances. TIE online I think is cheap or free and many hires
>>>>>> are interviewed on Skype. I know some people that have been
>>>>>> very happy with QSI. qsi.org They have an online
>>>>>> application and are all over the world in interesting
>>>>>> places.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Some of your chance depends on your flexibility for
>>>>>> location, type of school, and salary requirements. Do you
>>>>>> need anything special for your kids?
>>>>>> Let me know if I can help.L
>>>>>> On 2/10/09, Debbie wrote:
>>>>>>> Hi Lisa:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I have read several of your posts and they have been quite
>>>>>>> helpful. My husband is a first year teacher (2nd career)
>>>>>>> and is currently a long-term sub. His certification is in
>>>>>>> science (Biology-grades 7-12), but has also been teaching
>>>>>>> physical science. He applied to DoDDS and DDESS and due
>>>>>>> to the budget crisis, who knows if that will even pan
>>>>>>> out. My question is what is the likelihood if he were to
>>>>>>> apply through some of the other agencies you mentioned
>>>>>>> that he would get a job. We have 2 children as well. I
>>>>>>> don't think he will be able to go to the job fairs. I
>>>>>>> looked into ISS online, and have been a little
>>>>>>> apprehensive. How do these agencies compare to DoDDS?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks for your help.
>>>>
>

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