Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gajackson1]

As some of you all know, I've been here (based out of here) for 10 years now. Christina has been here 6. And, well, considering some timing issues, we are considering a jump to the Middle East for a few years - a sort of semi-hardship tour, doing the double work/limited fun/big savings routine.

We're well-established here, but as a teaching couple with good professional work-experience backgrounds in ESL, we think it is quite 'do-able.' A change of scenery, and new cultures & opportunities.

The questions now seem to be leaning more towards where. If anyone has any experience or advice/considerations they would like to share about middle east options, please feel free to do so - either here or via PM.

As long as people are polite/respectful, and it doesn't turn into some sort of bashing/flame-war posting contest, we'll be happy to elaborate more.

Warmest Regards,

Glen (& Christina)

[anyangoldboy]

You could try to contact turtlepi (username here on Daves - think think that's the right spelling)

He used to live in Anyang or his girlfriend or now wife used to before he/they went to the middle east to work...

Also I think you have to be married to both work there...THat might not be true but it's something I heard a few years back...

Try turtlepi as you, his wife and I used to work/live in anyang

[Trevor]

Jordan or Egypt would provide you with the most comfortable environment, I think, politically and culturally, However, the real money are in the more strict islamic places like Saudi, Dubai, etc.


Err...please take into consideration the very substatnial risks. Are you American?

[gajackson1]

AGB - I will try popping off a PM to Turtlepi - I remember the name from in the past, as being a decent sort/respectable poster.

Trevor - I have a list of sorts. Jordan is on it, although Egypt is not, there is still Saudi, Oman, Qatar, Brunei & a host of others.

My passport is from the US, although, as a 'American Indian,' I find that many, many people forgive me some of the grief set aside for the current 'black label' USA citizen status.

Personally, I am a shamanist, and respectful of others beliefs/customs/traditions - similar to many Buddhists in those regards. Religion usually doesn't come up, and I find my general diplomacy re: religious/cultural/political issues is 'up to snuff.'

Finally, it is possible C would head back to the USA for awhile, and I would be going on ahead solo, just to minimize (via eliminating) the risks on her end of it.

Regards,

G.

[gajackson1]

gaaah -

I 'found' turtlepi1, but the e-mail addy seems to be dead - I'm hoping he gets a notification of PM (and that it doesn't go to the dead address), because he hasn't been on the board in awhile.

[articulate_ink]

[gajackson1]

a_i ~ thanks for the input. It was *supposed* to be Bahrain, not Brunei, although the opportunities in Brunei look good as well, sctually.

Try to keep me up to date with how your progress is going, & I will do the same. It is still a handful of months away in any case; just starting the wheel rolling now.

Regards,

G.

[gajackson1]

And the list is narrowing quickly -

Bahrain

Djibouti

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebannon

Libya

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Sudan

Syria

Tunisia

Yemen

Any of these would def. be coastal-oriented city~ish jobs; as a rescue & recreational diver, there is just too much to be said about the Med, Red Sea, Gulf, Arabian Sea/Indian Ocean, etc.

Brunei is another possibility, and I am also interested in Bhutan and/or Nepal, but think that either of those would likely be great for cultural experiences, but not generating the financial gains = or greater than what I have here in Korea now, esp. since I only want to do this for 2-3 years.

Decisions, decisions! Anyone else know someone who went on to the ME or another of these choices? I just had to re-register my same username here on DESLC in order to participate in the ME forums (which is strange, but ok) - the ME boards people seem a fairly friendly lot.

Regards,

G.

[anyangoldboy]

Has turtlepi gotten back to you???

[gajackson1]

Unfortunately, no - no PM response, and the e-m listed in turtlepi1's profile is dead. But I've been keeping busy otherwise, checking into Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Brunei just now. Brunei packages are looking really nice, if you have the proper edu/exp background. The rest of the DESLC job boards that I visited/posted on all seem pretty, ummm, mature/polite in relation to some of what we get over here in the KJDForums.

I'm also looking for another friend here, who used to be Dr. Buck, but changed his user name at some point. We had a mutual friend who taught in the ME for a couple of years after he finished a DoD contract in Chinhae.

Again, it is not an immediate rush - looks like May or june before we leave out. I just like being proactive about stuff once I start it.

Regards,

Glen

[Down-Under]

If it is cash, you are looking for Saudi is your best bet, followed by Oman. Both countries have/soon have International Universities--Dubai is going that way to. Most of the teaching staff are foreigners. The courses are licensed from US universities... some of the best names in the business.
Lifestyle-wise Dubai is the best. You can get everything you possibly want there.

[Jessie]

[peppermint]

Desultude is in that part of the world now too I believe, and she checks in here from time to time. I've been toying with the idea of Qatar myself, as a local college opened a branch there, and they're perpetually looking for ESL instructors

[bucheon bum]

[gajackson1]

Hmmmm - I guess this being bumped to off-topic was a good thing.

First, I'd like to thank you all the responses - thoughtful & helpful.

I wet into more detail on the International boards than I did here, but here is a general rundown of our current situation:

After 6 years of trying her best, Christina feels the need to get out of Korea. She has hit her limits - even with a 'good' uni job, a nice villa we have turned into a home, frequent vacations, and a guy who loves & has stood by her for 6 years now, it's time to move on . . .

She has 3 living grandparents back in the USA, but lost someone very dear to her last year (cancer, sudden, terminal), and is feeling the pull to go back - at least for awhile. She has loved moving from hakwon to her Uni job, but even there there are some cultural, gender, and political issues that are more particular to Korea in general ,than to any of the specifics in her life.

So, we're going to shut things down for our Korean portion of the life journey - we can dovetail her work contract with our lease on our villa, wrapping up mid-summer. For me, too, the job is not an issue/concern. What we have decided is this:

We're going to decide what to ship back to the US (and what will likey wind up in a B/S?T post & open home sale/giveaway), and she will take the zoo (dog, 3 cats, 1 bird; the chipmunks & fish will have to stay here, sadly) back 'home.' I will look for some type of semi-hardship post based upon my teaching qualifications & 10 years with various jobs (hakwon, MoE, Yuhan-Kimberly, etc.).

The goal is to generate a good salary-savings ratio - basically work hard, save a lot, try to stay safe, and sink the money into investment accounts, with the goal of buying a house and/or moving on with our dream of opening a small bed and breakfast. For her part, C is unsure what she will do for work just yet, but sub teaching and/or doing hanji are both initial options - she will support herself as best as she can, and I will just deposit extra to smooth out any rough edges.

We have the dream, have the drive; I am now just looking for the right job fit.

The key money from our villa is substantial (a small fortune in SEAsia), but won't get us far in the USA. So I'm looking for a job that will pay well (anyone who knows me, though, knows I work my tuckus off) and be do-able for the next 2-3 years.

It mayyyyyyyy be that, within 1-2 years, C would want to come join me. Hence, something like Brunei is attractive to me/us. She is worried about some safety issues for me, as I would be for her, if she were with me in the ME.

Insofar as the job goes, I am starting to get some positive feedback on Qatar, SA, Oman, Jordan - maily from the DESLC international boards, but some from outside friends/resources. Bahrain has C & I both feeling uneasy, as well.

Personally, I've travelled a fair bit, and seem to be one of those people who can be dropped in just about anywhere, suss out the problems, deal with them, and make friends/build professional networks pretty quickly. A fair number of people know me here as a nightlife/festival-type person when it comes to my non-work time, but others also know I am a computer geek, gym enthusiast, diver, and outdoor sports-motorcycle-camping type. Since saving money *is* the priority, I would fall back into those, so nightlife in the next work destination is not as important. I can always travel around the regions easily enough on holidays, and did a lot of backpacking-ecotouring before I met C here.

Which has been the highlight of my life.

For those of you that responded once already, I hope that helps some. Any advice on countries or job possibilities - and esp. general salary/package to savings potential ratios - is, as always, humbly appreciated.

Regards,

Glen