Job Discussion Forums

[gajackson1]

This is a partial copy & paste of a letter i just put up in the general ME forum; I am hoping for some advice from anyone familiar w/ Tunisia, Sudan, Djibouti, etc. Thanks for your time & any effort you can lend!

Greetings, ME (African side of the area, for you all )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 *beep*, 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

[moonshine]

I'm just going to give you a little piece of advice and you can do with it what you want - ok?

posting your lifelong plans/dreams/goals/wishes on an internet forum and then asking for what exactly? validation? approval? it's unclear really - this is cyberspace, just a friendly reminder - not a ouiji board -

[Sadebugo]

I am currently in Djibouti with the US government. I would not recommend this country for EFL. The prices are high and the salaries are low. I have met a few teachers here working with NGOs but no one going it alone. Saudi would probably be the best for money. Consider a military contractor such as Raytheon.

Sadebugo
Djibouti, Horn of Africa
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/

[gajackson1]

My apologies, moonshine, maybe I should have put it in bold, but it was in there:

[Sadebugo]

I think that's a good move. I've heard good things about Brunei. Probably the best money in SE Asia and you'd certainly be positioned well for travel in that area. Glad I could help.

Sadebugo
Djibouti, Horn of Africa
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/