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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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 Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 4:05 am Post subject: Single Parents in the ME? |
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I love working in Korea, but might have to move on due to child care and all the perks and benefits that the ME offers. I know that having an MA helps, but both mine were done online, with legit unis, but still.
I'm going to get sole custody, so would it be an issue to get a job in the ME as a single parent? Is this going to strongly work against me?
Anyone know good countries to check out considering:
I have 9 years teaching experience.
TEFL cert from a company that no longer exists 
6 years at 3 different unis.
MA in TEFL from Spain, online, but legit brick and mortar uni
MPET from Australia, online, but legit brick and mortar uni
Single parent
Want to get a Trinity DIp, but don't know if I can since I have to go there for 2 weeks |
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It's Scary!
Joined: 17 Apr 2011
Posts: 823
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| Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 10:46 am Post subject: |
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| Glenski? |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 10:58 am Post subject: |
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| He's the Japan expert, not the ME one. |
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Badar Bin Bada Boom
Joined: 01 Jun 2011
Posts: 192
Location: Fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man
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| Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:11 pm Post subject: Re: Single Parents in the ME? |
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| naturegirl321 wrote: |
I'm going to get sole custody, so would it be an issue to get a job in the ME as a single parent? Is this going to strongly work against me?
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In the Gulf, yes. These are Islamic countries. They don't recognize single moms from foreign countries as having custody of the child.
An online degree from a Spanish university will probably not do you any favors in the Middle East in regard to getting interviews.
These are the facts, as far as I know, as someone who's been in the UAE and KSA for 16 years. Not meant to condescend. Others know more about non-Gulf Arab countries, but they generally don't pay much. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:14 pm Post subject: Re: Single Parents in the ME? |
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| Badar Bin Bada Boom wrote: |
In the Gulf, yes. These are Islamic countries. They don't recognize single moms from foreign countries as having custody of the child.
An online degree from a Spanish university will probably not do you any favors in the Middle East in regard to getting interviews.
These are the facts, as far as I know, as someone who's been in the UAE and KSA for 16 years. Not meant to condescend. Others know more about non-Gulf Arab countries, but they generally don't pay much. |
HOw about a degree from an Australian uni?
So there's absolutely no country I could work in in the ME? Not even Oman? |
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Badar Bin Bada Boom
Joined: 01 Jun 2011
Posts: 192
Location: Fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man
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| Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Well, I don't know what an MPET is. Tell me more. Most jobs here are in TEFL, but there are some in other fields. Oman--frankly I'm not sure about their single-mom policy. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Badar Bin Bada Boom wrote: |
| Well, I don't know what an MPET is. Tell me more. Most jobs here are in TEFL, but there are some in other fields. Oman--frankly I'm not sure about their single-mom policy. |
MPET, it's weird, makes me sound like a vet 
It's a master of professional education and training, more like ed admin stuff. The Spanish one had a thesis and 16 courses. Everything was in English. |
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Badar Bin Bada Boom
Joined: 01 Jun 2011
Posts: 192
Location: Fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man
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| Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:54 pm Post subject: |
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I like your sense of humor, girl of nature. In any case an education master's might help.
I've responded to your PM--check it. |
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helenl
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Posts: 1202
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| Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 1:06 pm Post subject: |
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There are lots of single mothers in the Gulf (OK maybe not Saudi) but I know two personally in UAE, two in Qatar and of one in Oman.
However it is unusual and you will need to jump through a lot of bureaucratic hoops to prove you have custody and possibly even a letter from the father stating he has no rights (which can be more problematic if you have no contact with him). The PRO and HR officers at your employer would be able to assist in wading through the red tape. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 1:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Badar Bin Bada Boom wrote: |
I like your sense of humor, girl of nature. In any case an education master's might help.
I've responded to your PM--check it. |
Thanks, just PMed you back |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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One catch is the usual requirement for a single mother to have a letter of permission from the father. If he will do that for you, there is no problem. Perhaps you can write it into your divorce and custody documents that he provide this. Have the lawyer write up a fancy looking legal document... with pretty stamps. (sorry about the divorce BTW)
As 4B said, you also may have problems with the MAs being recognized. It is one of those things that no one here can answer, you just have to dive in, apply, and see if they get past the Ministry.
Oman and Saudi are probably your best bets, BUT Saudi is too problematic to send in someone with no Middle East experience and a baby. BTW... few place provide child care, but they do provide school fees, medical coverage, and required airline ticket. As I recall, your child is still very young?
VS |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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| helenl wrote: |
There are lots of single mothers in the Gulf (OK maybe not Saudi) but I know two personally in UAE, two in Qatar and of one in Oman.
However it is unusual and you will need to jump through a lot of bureaucratic hoops to prove you have custody and possibly even a letter from the father stating he has no rights (which can be more problematic if you have no contact with him). The PRO and HR officers at your employer would be able to assist in wading through the red tape. |
I still have contact, we're not divorced yet. The poop just hit the fan a couple weeks ago, so the paperwork has just started.
I would have the divorce paperwork and hopefully he'd sign something. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 1:18 pm Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
One catch is the usual requirement for a single mother to have a letter of permission from the father. If he will do that for you, there is no problem. Perhaps you can write it into your divorce and custody documents that he provide this. Have the lawyer write up a fancy looking legal document... with pretty stamps. (sorry about the divorce BTW)
As 4B said, you also may have problems with the MAs being recognized. It is one of those things that no one here can answer, you just have to dive in, apply, and see if they get past the Ministry.
Oman and Saudi are probably your best bets, BUT Saudi is too problematic to send in someone with no Middle East experience and a baby. BTW... few place provide child care, but they do provide school fees, medical coverage, and required airline ticket. As I recall, your child is still very young?
VS |
Baby was born 17 Oct, early due to all this stress.
So if I get a fancy doc, then it's good forever, right? Or would I need one every year? Just something simple that says I have full custody?
I'm hoping to stay in Korea for a couple more years. I don't want to leave now. too many changes. But I've been looking at the ME for a while and this seems ideal now.
Child care wouldn't be necessary, i'd olike to stay here until she's in school. Daycare here is about $500 a month, but if the ME covers pre school, that woudl be good. Right now I get flight tickets, but no housing, and pay tax, so all that adds up. With free housing and no tax, I could save over 10K a year.
I guess Oman it'll be. |
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Badar Bin Bada Boom
Joined: 01 Jun 2011
Posts: 192
Location: Fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man
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| Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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Yes--Saudi is another planet. "Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids / In fact it's cold as hell"
Substitute "KSA" for "Mars."
Sorry about the incomplete or misleading advice I gave about single moms in the Gulf. The ladies here obviously have more nuanced knowledge of the matter. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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Make sure that the document is not merely the usual custody statement. In the Muslim world, the father always gets full control of the kids. So, it needs to specifically state that he gives permission for you to travel and take the child wherever you want and whenever you want... forever. (or perhaps the legal term would be 'in perpetuity") This sort of document would mean that you should have no problem in any Muslim country.
Oman is a good starting place. Get a couple years on the CV from there and it will open up the rest of the Gulf for jobs. Good idea to stay until the new baby is ready for kindergarten. I believe that most school fee coverage starts at that point. That would have to be confirmed with individual employers when you start looking.
VS |
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