Job Discussion Forums

asromacalcio · Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Posts: 54

Can anybody help me find the perfect teaching destination?

I love
Cycling, nature, skiing, ice skating, fair and relaxed schools that pay on time, safe streets, sport, mountains, wide choice of things to do, good gyms

I don't like
Smoking in cafes, restaurants etc, desert, locals who only want to speak English to me (when I want to learn their language)

So far I'd say Almaty, Kazakhstan tops the list, but I'm open to suggestions.

parrothead · Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 342 Location: Japan

Mike_2007 · Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 349 Location: Bucharest, Romania

Hi there,

I'd say the smoking could be a problem in Almaty. If you really don't want your lungs assaulted you should go somewhere in Europe where smoking is on the decline and already banned in many countries.

Romania has skiing and nature (the Danube delta particularly). It also has great mountains, forests, the seaside, lots of climbing and hiking. Cycling isn't such a good idea in Bucharest, although they are starting to put down cycle lanes, but there are plenty of places to cycle if you get out of town. Bucharest also has plenty of gyms of different sizes and quality. There are a couple of ice-skating rinks in town and in the winter the lake in one of the parks is converted into an outside rink.

Romanians do smoke, but with EU regulations coming into play most places have non-smoking areas. The city also has safe streets and now certain elements of the community have freedom of travel within the EU, the number of pickpockets has dwindled as they all seek more prosperous pickings in the west.

There aren't that many schools but if you're qualified enough to teach at a private international high school you would be getting around the 1500-2000 Euro net per month mark, which is plenty to live on unless you have excessive habits.

It's pretty easy to find people to practice the language with too, there is no desert, and the climate isn't too bad.

Negatives: Most people who have lived here will point out the terrible traffic, rude and inefficient customer service, the 'trickiness' of some locals, lack of infrastructure (particularly poor roads), and rising cost of living.

All the best,
Mike

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Latin Ammerica could fit your bill.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Gialloerosso · Joined: 02 Jul 2008 Posts: 2

Ma Che Cosa...............a Roma!!!! Forza ASR!

mandalayroad · Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 115

One negative about Japan is that the locals will only want to speak English with you if you appear foreign. We used to call them English-chasers when I was living in Japan...