Job Discussion Forums

[minoritygirl]

I am currently browsing around the different forums, trying to gauge what is out there, but what I've seen so far doesn't seem too promising. I am not looking to make or spend a lot of money, but I am concerned about safety and friendliness in each country/continent. I would like to know which countries are safe for women and have a lot of teaching opportunities. I only drink with my friends and rarely at that, I hate clubs, but I do like to walk around and visit historical places. I'm from New York so I know all about watching my back, so I just want to go to a country that isn't worse than what I deal with in New York.

I have been teaching for two years and have an M.S. in education, and I"m also working on a TESOL certification. Thank you.

[trapezius]

The rich Gulf countries (SA, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman) are all safe, far more than most cities in the US, let alone the big bad NYC!

Being black, you will probably have to face some racism, maybe some of it institutionalized, i.e., discrimination as regards to salary, responsibilities, respect, etc. How much of it, no one can tell. You might find a job with a great employer and have a great experience with almost no racism, or you might come here and be treated like a slave and might have to go back crying to NYC!

Research the big employers in those countries, look at the various boards and threads, make your own threads if you wish, and then make an informed decision.

Instead of tertiary education (where all the bull shit is that expat teachers have to deal with), you might be better off teaching at an American secondary school. And I don't mean a school run by locals with an American curriculum; I actually mean an American school, with American admin. SA has a few, and I am sure the others do as well. Or even British schools. At such schools in SA, you can easily expect to get $35,000+(basic salary), a furnished house, ticket(s), health insurance, and transportation to and from work.

Here is a list of some of the schools in SA:

http://www.english-schools.org/saudi-arabia/index.htm

(again, be careful, some are Western schools, some are local schools with a Western curriculum, which you should avoid)

Good luck!

[worldtraveler11]

Hi Minoritygirl,

I am an African American female who has been working at an international school in the UAE since November 2006. Being black has not been a problem for me. I find the locals to be very warm and friendly. I have had strangers come up to me and ask to photograph me, some have given me their phone numbers and invited me to hang out with them. A few of my students' parents have even invited me into their homes and have treated me like family (btw: the treatment that I received had no impact upon the students' grades though. They got what they earned).

There are tons of Africans here. Unfortunately, since many come from poor countries, they often exploited and do not make very much money. As a result, it is not uncommon to find 10 individuals sleeping in one room and sharing a common kitchen. Sadly, in order to survive, some of the females resort to prostitution. Having an American passport is a plus. I would definitely recommend that you apply for jobs in Dubai; the money is better and there's a lot of fun things to do. Send me a private message if you need help in finding a job at a good school.

Ciao

[CECTPA]

I was wondering about this myself. I've heard that line many times about the Arabs being horrible to blacks, so I shouldn't even bother applying in the Gulf, bla bla bla. But I'm starting to question that.

A friend of a friend, another Af.-Am. woman, didn't seem to run into any specifically racial problems as an educational consultant in Kuwait. She posted a blog while she was there and it sounded a little boring maybe, but not that bad.

Given the frequency with which Arabs themselves mistake me for one of their own here in Istanbul, and walk up to me speaking Arabic, if I (black American, not light-skinned, also often taken for Nigerian) apparently resemble them that much, how much could they hate me?
(doesn't hurt that I can answer them, albeit in elementary textbook-variety MSA)

Have you visited any of these places yet? That is the best way to find out whether you as an individual can deal with whatever's there.