Job Discussion Forums

[PattyFlipper]

[Miss Z]

I worked in Korea for 7 years and loved the heck out of it. I worked in Saudi for 14 months and had to get out of there before I ended up in the hoosgow. I am working in Kuwait and am planning to be here for at least another 4 years.

The school you work for makes all the difference. If you research your possibilities and find out everything you can about the school, AND if people are honest with you about conditions at the school and the locale you are thinking about going to, you can make a wiser choice and chances are you and the school will be a match.

Unfortunately, if a school is really desperate for people that doesn't always happen and you get bushwacked. This can and does happen in Korea and the Middle East.

Be nosy and ask all the questions you can. Get phone numbers and talk to everyone you can. Then remember that everyone has different criteria for what works for them, weigh it all and then the decision is at least something you can live with for awhile.

Good luck.

[scot47]

What on earth were you doing in KSA to get carted off to the hoosegow ?

[Miss Z]

Scot47,

The opperative word here was "before".

[scot47]

We still need to be enlightened Miss Z !
Were you threatening colleagues ? Spreading the Gospel ? Using illegal substances ?

[sheikh radlinrol]

[veiledsentiments]

... jail...

[sheikh radlinrol]

[veiledsentiments]

... humor? effect?

... just to confuse you?

VS

[scot47]

She wishes to imply that she is of that class of female who habitually frequents such places. Her intent may be humorous. Not being personally acquainted with the young lady in question I refrain from making further comment.

[isabel]

I doubt I would be hauled off to the hoosegow, but if I manage a year, I may be ready for the nuthouse.

KSA is livable for men, but for single women, it can be way beyond a challenge.

[scot47]

So PMU is too much ??

[Chrisdaveloshoff]

The answer is YES! PMU still needs females

[gajackson1]

Greetings, ME Forum~ers. I am a shiny new member to this part of DESLC, but have been active on the Korean side of the board since, hmmmm, late 1996. I like what I have read so far in the threads here, and hope some of you all can offer some help/advice.

I'm a BAAS holding Texas-state sec. ed. certified teacher, with my main field being in Speech Comm (public speaking & debate). I taught in Texas after Uni, and before coming to South Korea 10 years ago. My degree proved to be an excellent basis for ESL teaching, and I have 'done quite well' in SoKo.

During my time here, I worked only a few different job places, but picked up a lot on the ESL end - children's classes, immersion camps, teacher training for the provincial BoE, business classes, adult classes, cirriculum writing, academic editing, teacher supervision, etc. Worked at hagwon, an International School, for the MoE's provincial board, and Yuhan-Kimberly while here.

2 years ago, my gf/fianc�e & self went & did a 120-hour residency TEFL course as well, and we absolutely feel we made the most of our time there.

However, after over 6 years now here in SoKo (on her end), she has hit 'the wall,' and wants to go back home to the USA for awhile. Although I could head back with her, we've decided instead I should take advantage of the opportunity, and take a semi-hardship (the harder part being us away from each other) post in the ME, in order to bolster up our savings. The time frame we are looking at is 2-3 years, at which time we'd like to pick someeplace out in the world & fulfill our dream of opening a small bed&breakfast/pension style of place for a 'working retirement' (as she is 33, and I'm 39).

As of now, this is my 'short list' of considerations, and I have not posted this up on the Africa board (although if anyone thinks a cross post would be a good idea, pls. do say so):

Bahrain

Djibouti

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Libya

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Sudan

Syria

Tunisia

Yemen

In addition, Brunei is another option/consideration (although I'm well aware it isn't ME). Culturally, I find I adapt quickly/easily, and do make an effort to pick up and actively use the language wherever I travel. Despite my age, I am a younger-looking man, keep fit/healthy & have an appropriate wardrobe for teaching purposes; I've never had any problems in interviews or with my resume. For living purposes, I find I am somewhat duckish/chameleon-like when it comes to cultural/political/religious issues, and 'cope' pretty well with hardships - as anyone who has stayed in SoKo for 10 years should be expected to.

I'm free to answer any other questions/concerns, here in-thread or via PM. I'm just looking for some general advice about whcih countires/areas/job opportunities would be a good match for this 3-year stint. I am def. NOT one of these 'money merc' types, but the primary goal is to earn & save a good chunk, with either the regular job and/or any sideline work I can pick up (no idea what the status of that is in the ME; in Korea, visa restrictions make it illegal generally).

As side notes, it is possible that Christina may want to come live/work after 1-2 years, so that may be a factor as well - in such a case , we would be married. And although it sounds silly, we have collected a menagerie while here in Korea - a small mixed-breed dog, 3 cats, and a cockatiel, which are like family to us. The current plan is that they all go home with her, but if I could take 1 or 3 of the cats (all fixed, vaccinated, hand-raised house-babies), it would also be a relief for us both. Do not know how realistic that is, though.

I'd prefer to be somewhere closer to one of the seas/gulfs/oceans, semi-metropolitan, although a company-compound situation would be fine. Or, a University that would consider me (I would love one where I could do a M.A. TESOL at the same time!)

Thanks for your time; hope this made some sense. If anyone has questions about Korea, I'd be happy to answer those, as well.

Regards,

Glen

[Stephen Jones]

Unless you get a job with the mili you'd probably be better off staying in Korea.