About the heritage thing, the weird thing is that i didn't hear slurs.
some political stuff that was parroted, but no big deal. what was weird
was that the average person we had contact with didn't care, but the
ministry had its rules about content and books. It only took one parent
to complain to make something a big deal. Lots of stuff was banned the
kids just figured out what it was and ordered it on Amazon.or. "What is
_______?" "Sorry it is illegal for me to tell you." "Ok I'll look it up
later at home."

Check out international schools in Japan or PI. Brent schools are
supposed to be good. Brent Subic (there is more than one) is on the old
navy base. There are lots of great adventures out there. I'm excited for
you. L.

On 2/17/09, Debbie wrote:
> 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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