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marsvolta
Joined: 26 Apr 2005
Posts: 5
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 Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 1:06 pm Post subject: Thanks For The Advice Guys!!! |
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Thanks to all who have really opened up my eyes to the reality of living on 7000 a month and 30,000 housing. Wow! I though international schools were the way to go but it seems they aren't always the best deals around- especially not in Dubai!
CIS will give my daughter free education- so that is one area which is sorted. I guess you guys are right: 7000 just won't cut the mustard in Dubai- I should look elsewhere. I am originally British- grew up in South Africa and have spent the last 6 years working for the British Council all over Asia. Also did 2 years at a high school back in SA. The trouble is: most inernational schools want you to have experience of either the IB programme or at least the IGCSE- as I've been in TEFL for so long I don't have the school years. Well- based on what you guys have told me I should turn the job down. Right now we are in the process of negotiating the deal- let me ask you this: what would be a more 'liveable' salary and housing subsidy?
All you posts are like gold- keep them coming...
Shane |
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marsvolta
Joined: 26 Apr 2005
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 1:09 pm Post subject: By The Way... |
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I have a PGCE, a CERT, a BEd and loads of sports coaching experience...
I guess the 7000 a month puts me in the same bracket as uni leavers...
(sigh)
Shane |
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Bindair Dundat
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Posts: 1123
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| Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 1:27 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks For The Advice Guys!!! |
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| marsvolta wrote: |
| 7000 just won't cut the mustard in Dubai- I should look elsewhere. |
Muster. It won't cut the muster. |
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turtlepi1
Joined: 15 Jun 2004
Posts: 94
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| Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 1:58 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks For The Advice Guys!!! |
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| Bindair Dundat wrote: |
| marsvolta wrote: |
| 7000 just won't cut the mustard in Dubai- I should look elsewhere. |
Muster. It won't cut the muster. |
The 7000 isn't great but I don't think that is why people were saying you should turn it down. (maybe) The problem was the children's education, housing allowance, ie. you would be living in a cardboard box. etc. If you had good perks you could live on the 7000, though maybe not the best salary for a family.
As for Dundat:
Google Battle:
"Cut the Muster" vs. "Cut the Mustard"
455 vs. 86,200
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-cut1.htm
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It seems that the phrase is of early twentieth-century US origin. The first recorded use of the phrase is by O Henry in 1907, in a story called The Heart of the West: �I looked around and found a proposition that exactly cut the mustard�. The modern sense of the idiom is �to succeed; to have the ability to do something; to come up to expectations�.
One explanation that is sometimes given is that the phrase is a corrupted form of cut the muster, in some way connected with the military muster or assembly of troops for inspection. However, if you cut a muster, presumably you do not attend it, so how this can be connected with the idea of excellence is far from clear. The clinching argument for this not being the source is that nobody has found the supposedly original phrase cut the muster anywhere. |
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marsvolta
Joined: 26 Apr 2005
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 2:17 pm Post subject: Thanks again |
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Then what would be a decent salary? It seems my daughter will get schooling- and there is a possibility they can do better on the housing...
Shane |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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Marsvolta
Just ignore Bindair, his hobby is nit-picking.  (BTW BD, I have never heard your 'muster' idea, but perhaps that has to do with growing up in farm country... and I loved the explanation Turtle!!)
But, back to the topic pre-hijack... I'd say go back to the other thread and see what people said about what would be an acceptable amount for housing. Figure that you would probably have to pay the difference out of your salary.
I can't recall if you were getting a furniture allowance and I am too lazy to go back to the old thread.  The better employers give a 30,000 DH allowance for this. Flats may come completely empty (central AC is usually already there) and appliances can set you back.
And then there is buying the car... so... the first year becomes very expensive. See how much you can get them to raise both the housing allowance and the salary - then see where you are based on all the details you have received in these two threads - compared to your own lifestyle and needs. Good Luck!
VS |
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marsvolta
Joined: 26 Apr 2005
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 3:04 pm Post subject: Thanks again |
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Thanks so much for that. I have had a look at an accomodation website and saw a few places for like 35,000 in Sharjah. Someone wrote that the journey there is not one he/ she recommends. Why is that? Is the traffic system in Dubai really bad with jams etc.?
Example: 2 B/R flat, C.A/C, available near Central Post Office area. Rent Dhs 35,000/-. Contact 06-5632324 / 050-8656452 / 050-8656453.
What would that be like?
I would be happy with a small 2 roomed apt. (I am currently living in a 38 sqr meter place in Tokyo with my wife and daughter) so size is not an issue. The school I will be working at will be in Garhoud- what is this area like for housing as I'd prefer a smaller place if it means I can live close by...
Advice? |
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SandyM
Joined: 05 Feb 2005
Posts: 114
Location: Here, there, and everywhere...
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| Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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Go for 12,000 salary, but settle for ten. Ask for 60,000 accom. allowance, but settle for 50k. And ask them what sort of furniture allowance they are thinking of providing. HCT give around 30k, I believe, these days.
On second thoughts, why not apply to HCT? They're looking for EFL teachers for Abu Dhabi, and they're getting quite desperate, so I've heard. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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Hi again Mars. I won't repeat what I said in the answer to your PM...
But, I second SandyM... why not apply to HCT?
VS |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 9:41 pm Post subject: |
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Both the SOED and Merriam Webster give the phrase as 'cut the mustard'.
BD's suggestion is an example of what those on language log call an 'eggcorn', as special type of malpropism, caused by the inflluence of a parallel phrase - 'pass muster' - and the opacity of the correct form in question - 'cut the mustard.' |
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younggeorge
Joined: 15 Apr 2005
Posts: 350
Location: UAE
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| Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 4:42 am Post subject: Re: Thanks again |
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| marsvolta wrote: |
Someone wrote that the journey there is not one he/ she recommends. Why is that? Is the traffic system in Dubai really bad with jams etc.?
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The traffic from Sharjah to Dubai at peak hours is a ten-mile crawl. From Central Post Office to Garhoud at mid-morning would take you about 30 minutes, but at the time you need to get to work it would be more like an hour and a half.
Accommodation in Garhoud is expensive but Mirdif is just 10-minutes drive away, no jams to speak of and a bit cheaper. If you can get them to rise to 50,000 for accommodation allowance, you might stand a chance. I have a friend in the housing business in that area: I'll see what she suggests. Trouble is, this side of town is mostly villas, not many flats available. 2-bedroom villas used to be available for 50,000 but not any more - there's been a boom in the past year and rents have gone up by 25% or more.
However, as others have said: HCT would give you a much better deal and it sounds like your qualifications and experience might just be sufficient. They can be very picky, though! |
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younggeorge
Joined: 15 Apr 2005
Posts: 350
Location: UAE
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| Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 8:18 am Post subject: |
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| Further options addressed by PM - but all pretty much depend on increasing that housing allowance. |
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Chan
Joined: 26 Jul 2004
Posts: 22
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 5:19 am Post subject: |
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I�m surprised the salary is that low. I also will be working in Dubai in September in an international school and my salary is more than that.
Unfortunately, I can�t really give you any advice about what you should ask for since I�ve never lived in Dubai. However, I definitely think you should ask for more. |
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younggeorge
Joined: 15 Apr 2005
Posts: 350
Location: UAE
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 6:34 am Post subject: |
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| Chan wrote: |
I also will be working in Dubai in September in an international school and my salary is more than that.
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I'm not going to ask about your salary, but just out of curiosity: which school and what are their arrangements for accommodation? That seems to be an even bigger issue than the salary. |
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