Job Discussion Forums

[you forgot Poland]

I see a lot of job advertisements that state "accommodations are included, single or shared". Should one assume the worst on this one, or is it just as simple as asking?

Is it possible that some people actually prefer shared housing, and that is why they word their job offer as such? Or does it depend on the qualifications of the teacher, for example, 20 newbies to a 3 bedroom flat and the experienced teachers getting the fully furnished balcony condos. Ha, that's an exaggeration.

What are your personal requirements regarding accommodations when securing a job out of the country...from lowest to highest they could be:
-Simply knowing it is paid for
-Being told that you will share for some time (eg. 15 days) then will have your own
-Being told you will have a single apartment
-Seeing pictures of your single apartment

Curious about anyone's experiences dealing with this, please state the country you're referring to as well plz, thanks!

[ls650]

[kev7161]

I knew coming into my job that I would have my own apartment. As a matter of fact, it was a requirement for me. I like my privacy. I like being able to walk around in my underwear if I feel like it. I like staying up until 1am sometimes to watch TV. I can be as messy or as neat as I want to be. I can have *ahem* overnight guests (well, those have been few and far between, but just in case!).

I love having company over, other foreign teachers, Chinese teachers, and the like, but I really enjoy my solitude as well. Depending on what you want, I'd probably get clarification first . . . and get it in writing! I can't stress getting things in writing enough around here. "Oral" promises are even more worthless than Chinese contracts. Be warned.

[you forgot Poland]

kev buddy, I'm with you all the way on this one, and hey, there's a fundamental sense of freedom in knowing that you can have 'overnight guests' whenever you want.
ls, good point, but I've yet to have a roommate that I look forward to seeing, and I've had quite a few....hmm, yeah, definitely getting my own place now, and I'll get it in writing! Thanks for the tip

[Aramas]

Absolutely. Private acommodation for me too please! I'd settle for sharing a flat with concubines if absolutely necessary, but would prefer them to have their own wing.

I've shared houses and flats over the years and there are inevitably problems. After a decade of blissful domestic solitude I relapsed last year. A month into my sentence it became so unpleasant I preferred sleeping on the beach rather than in that hell hole. I broke the First and Second rules of sharing accommodation:

1) Never share accommodation!
2) Never share accommodation with the owner!

I dived for the first available burrow and had to manage for two months without a fridge or furniture - it was bliss!

The Third rule is, of course:

3) Never share accommodation with a couple!

[TEAM_PAPUA]

[ls650]

[Cleopatra]

I just LOVE your handle, YouForgotPoland!!!

""]Is it possible that some people actually prefer shared housing, and that is why they word their job offer as such? ""

Funnily enough, not long ago I was having this very discussion with my two brothers. One of my brothers said that , yes, there are people out there who actually WANT to share housing, but my other brother and I agreed that, given a genuine choice, money being no object, very few people would opt to share with anyone other than a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Personally, I would not accept a job which did not give single housing. I don't think it is too much to ask that an adult teacher have a place to his or her self. I've done the sharing thing too many times and while, luckily, all of my flatmates have been decent, compatible people, I just can't be bothered with it anymore. Sure, there are advantages to sharing - having someone to go home to, someone who can offer moral and practical support when the roof leaks or whatever, and its certainly cheaper (obviously a moot point when it's the school, not the teacher, who is saving) but to me these benefits pale when compared with the simple joys - some of which have been outlined above - of having your very own place, however humble.

One of the best things about teaching in the Gulf is that single people nearly always get their own flat, usually rent free - and it's often very spacious, well-equipped and modern too. I could never go back to some of the dingy cubby holes I've called home at various stages in my EFL "career".[/quote]

[TEAM_PAPUA]

[donfan]

I'm off to Russia in January. One of the stipulations was that I had my own apartment.

[merlin]

My next teaching gig I'd kinda like to have roomies again. Sure there are certain annoyances but overall it beats sitting around at home alone fantasizing about all the fun you CAN have. Overnight guests were never a problem with roomies. In fact, the weirder the roomie the easier it was to suggest a more private place like the bedroom and since there's no chairs you sit on the bed. Then you get out the photo album or whatever and talk about snoopie pictures until morning.

I've also lived with a couple or two and it's not that bad, so long as you realize that they are them and you are you and you all know where the borders lie. For example, always hanging around in someone's room can be annoying; much more so to a couple! Ditto with anything that is THEIRS. You have to be friends with THEM, not him or her.

I wonder what the chances are of me getting seperate accomodation from my wife in my next gig?

God I hope she never finds this forum.

[Cleopatra]

"Unfortunately these jobs are few and far between. "

True. Which is why I ended up in KSA!

It has its disadvantages, but thankfully having to share a flat is not one of them!