Job Discussion Forums

[justDeserts]

Hi everyone~
I am plugging through the application process and I made it to level 4 and got an email asking if I was available to teach at any of the campuses.

I will be brining my husb & little boy, so I am concerned about having baby/childcare and eventually school, so I told them that AA/AD/D were my preferences.

Do you think that pickiness on my part will cut me out of the running? The lines of communication have been quiet since that email, so I'm not sure if I'm still in the running or if its just quiet because of the winter break.

Second question, I was thinking about coming to TESOL Arabia to interview with other schools, and to just look around and make sure I like UAE before moving the fam. Do you all think it is sufficient to just interview at TESOL in Boston and then wait on the scouting visit if I get an offer? How long do they give you to accept an offer?


btw, about me:
PhD in SLA, language assessment
8 years teaching
3 years teaching in Japan
Husb will be finishing PhD in SLA as well, will be working on dissertation while we are there, so I'm hoping that he doesn't have to work for our first year, so he can focus on writing

Thanks for your input!

justDeserts

[MrScaramanga]

Don't be put off by the delay in response. HCT is on Jan break right now. Even though I do believe the HR people are around, things are bound to be slower than usual. Also, things don't exactly move swiftly around this area at all usually...

What do you mean by "scouting visit" exactly? If you get an offer, you don't get invited to the campus like you would back in the US or anything -- if that's what you meant. You will typically be informed of which college has shown interest in you and you will receive an job offer which you will be asked to return - signed - by a deadline.

Nothing wrong with going to TESOL Arabia at all! You would then be able to see the UAE first hand, hopefully before you make a final decision to move your family over.

Anyway, stay put. They will respond. And if they don't, feel free to email them. They eventually reply

MrS

[justDeserts]

By 'scouting' I just meant looking around, not campus visits like in the US.


Does anyone have advise about raising kids in the smaller towns? RAK/FUJ? I know there isn't obviously the abundance of resources as in AD. Are american kids allowed in the public elementary schools? I am not opposed to son having that Arabic language input, but maybe there are other issues that I haven't thought of.

Patiently waiting~

justDeserts

[seven seas]

Don't send the kid to a smalltown school.

Your AA/AD preference will be good as far as the HCT are concerned.

Good luck

[adorabilly]

[justDeserts]

Adorabilly~
Thanks for the info on RAK-I wasn't really seriously considering it before, but it doesn't sound bad at all!

JD

[justDeserts]

Thanks for the comments and PMs about raising families over in UAE-it sounds like everyone is pretty happy with their decisions. really? no problems?

What is the average start time/stay time for families? I mean are kids usually really young or school age, and how long do most families stay? What about people having more kids while there? Do you just have to hope you are due during school break times? Take a semester off? PMs are fine, i know this is kind of personal.

I'm planning on coming over for TESOL, I'm curious what ppl have found flying into DXB over recently. The news over here makes it seem like all the problem flights have been going through Dubai, with people having to deplane, not allowing paste, gels, or powders. Is that right?

[veiledsentiments]

I worked with many teachers whose kids went through their whole education up to university in the Gulf. It has the most to do with your tolerance of the job. (be sure to read lots of HCT threads... one must be able to deal with top heavy, often intrusive, management... some don't mind, some run after a contract or two, 3-6 years)

When I was in the Gulf, there was constantly a teacher or two or three having babies. I am assuming that you must be American since you expect no maternity leave. The Gulf is very family oriented. New mothers can fill in the exact stuff, but I think it is two months off with full pay plus you can take more at lowered pay. I worked with a couple teachers who had preeclampsia (sp?) and were off for more than a semester.

VS

[Sheikh N Bake]

justdeserts, if i were you I would listen to more than one opinion about RAK. I worked there for two years and thought it was the most unattractive place I've ever lived in, aside from which most of the apartments were substandard. HCT people do (or did when I was there, 2005-2007) rate houses of some type, however. I know some intelligent people actually like RAK, and so be it. To me, however, that list of fab things to do--come on, it's a lame list of 1/3 of what is available in any fishing village outside the Middle East. And falconry? Very expensive--westerners don't do that on any meaningful level here. Flight lessons? OK, I'll take adorabilly's word for it.

The Nakheel half of RAK resembles to me the worst kind of dusty frontier town in Tajikistan, festooned with an endless convoy of big belching trucks rumbling and honking right through the pathetic main street.

Those who actually like that horrid place are IMHO just happy to be earning a decent salary and saving money. You will find people who'd fall in love with hell itself if it paid them $50K and free housing.

[adorabilly]

SNB.

You bring up VERY GOOD criticisms of RAK. They are accurate and on the ball.

Like I said in my original answer, RAK isn't for everyone. I know people who love it here, and those who completely and utterl loathe it here.

I'm in the middle. There are thins I like (I love having the mountains 10 minutes away, the ocean 10 minutes away, and the desert 10 minutes away. But then again I grew up in and call Phoenix Arizona my home) and there are things I detest (the traffic at night, the driving, the layout of Nakheel and Khuzam).

I was making the point that the smaller emirates are not the complete and utter pits that some folks make it out to be. There are plenty of things to do here individually or with families. Is it glitzy like Dubai or any big city? No. When you look for cultural rewarding experiences, if you are looking for "western culture" such as ballets, music, theaters, going clubbing, or bar hopping, etc then you will be disappointed. This isn't the west. It is a small city, no change that it isn't even a city in my mind... more like a large town in an arabic country. There is lots of LOCAL culture that you can be exposed to here (some of it good, some of it bad, a lot of it meh).

I also agree that much of the housing is old and run down in many of the HCT villas (yes, villas not flats). There are issues with the property management and RAKESS doesn't actually inspire my full confidence.

And I agree about Nakheel and other parts of town. Absolutely and completely. But lets be completely and utterly honest, there are also folks who could complain about ANYWHERE they live and work because NOTHING is as good as "home." Right?

[Sheikh N Bake]

Well said, adora-bully ( ha ha, no, you're a gent/lady and a scholar). One example--Nakajo town in Niigata prefecture in Japan was a place of similiar size where I once worked. I wasn't fond of Japan either, but even little Nakajo was FAR superior to RAK, even if only for the fact that I was a 30-something bachelor and the women, well, er....

Can't top that even in Dubai, trust me.

[Sheikh N Bake]

[justDeserts]

HA! brining...
If I learned anything in Japan its that everything is better pickled, right?

[Sheikh N Bake]

Cleo thought it was a bit condescending or paternalistic to talk of "bringing my wife with me" but since you as a lady also intend to brine (or bring, whatever) your hubby, I think we all know what we mean, and no one here means to condescend to his or her spouse.

As for Japan, no need to get those beautiful young ladies pickled. Ahem...no need for that. Just the nori-bento.

[veiledsentiments]

I have to say that I encountered a few teachers who spent their time a bit too pickled to cope with their employment.

VS