It is a computer that pulls your name for DoDDS? Are you serious? So
it is just random. Well that would make sense for people who have
been waiting years. I wonder what the criteria is for the computer.
That really sucks!!

I could keep my heritage a secret. What would probably bother me,
would be the slurs. My husband does not want to live in a place where
he cannot have all of us. Rightfully, so!! :) So, Bahrain would be
out of the question. We are hoping to go to Okinawa. I have heard so
many great things about it. It is pretty far away, and I know I would
be homesick, but I could get over that as long as we are all together.

On 2/17/09, Lisa wrote:
> Hi,
> I agree I had friends that worked in Israel and they loved it but
> they had to follow the security rules from the embassy and ended
> up locked down in their apt a lot. This was several years ago.
> Pakistan is really cool, but it is poor too so is Bangladesh.
> Security is a worry too at times. Gulf is very safe, but you would
> have to not let on about your heritage and the censorship is
> stupid and would get on your nerves.
> I think I haven't been selected by DODDS for several reasons, base
> closures and transfers take priority, This summer there were 100
> teachers displaced and waiting. There is no retirement age and
> people hold on. Also many of the bases are going to 6 month
> deployments without dependents. From my aunt, I heard Livorno in
> Italy has lost 1/2 its kids. I doesn't help that it is a computer
> pulling names.
> in July I was notified of a job in Bahrain but it was without
> dependants. I have a husband and 2 kids. My degree doesn't line
> up exactly with my certification and what I want to teach and I
> don't think that the computer can sort through all of it. I keep
> updating my file, but once I heard about the bases slowing family
> deployments I am more doubtful than ever. They also wanted a ton
> of expereince when I first signed up.. I don't know the
> requirements now. One great thing about them is that they ahve
> thier own system for teaching certificates, so once you are in you
> maintain with them and don't have to jump through the hoops set my
> state. We both have been teaching Elem for years and love it, but
> originally we were HS people.
>
> On 2/16/09, Debbie wrote:
>> That is pretty helpful. I would not consider Israel and I am
>> Jewish ( my husband is not). Scares me too much as well. I
>> too do not know if I could handle the poverty in India. I
>> would be willing to go to China as would my husband. I could
>> consider Pakistan as we have very wealthy friends who live
>> there. They went to school with my brothers here in the
>> States.
>>
>> Why do you think you have not yet been selected to work for
>> DoDDS? What subjects do you and your husband teach? It may be
>> on another posting of yours, but I cannot remember.
>>
>>
>>
>> On 2/15/09, Lisa wrote:
>>> Hi, i totally understand! My kids are now jsut old enough
>>> that I have to worry about school from their perspective
>>> besides just friends, soon enough I will see if they are
>>> into sports..... I'm glad that I just don't have to worry
>>> so much now about bills. It takes a lot of weight off.
>>> They best place is hard..... As for the Middle East safety
>>> is not a problem, REALLY.I was there in 2001 and it was
>>> really ok. DOn't believe TV. I probably would be nervous
>>> to go to Israel to work more than any others. Some of the
>>> for profit schools are not that great and there is not a
>>> lot do. Dubai has a lot to do but can be expensive. I
>>> wouldn't go to Pakistan right now, but I would go to India
>>> or Bangladesh if I thought I could do the poverty. North
>>> Africa ok, Sub Saharan too much day to day violence for
>>> me- car jacking, house invasion. China is polluted, but
>>> you can make a lot of money. Beijing, Shanghai have some
>>> excellent school. Manila does too. Latin America, Peru has
>>> a good reputation. haven't heard too much about making
>>> money though. THere are great school everywhere, and some
>>> crappy places to work you sort of have to research as
>> the
>>> jobs come up. It is better to work at a school that is
>>> International and not a school for rich local kids. it is
>>> better to work for a non profit. Surf the web and see. L.
>>> On 2/15/09, Debbie wrote:
>>>> 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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