Pay it Forward with Helen Hunt.

Math no question, unless you wouldn't want to teach it.

IMHO A Master's degree will pay for itself more quickly (you will recoup the monetary investment) and a PhD program is not going to admit you without the MA...even if you don't see one in your future, better to save yourself a step. It always seems like just another hoop to jump through. You will work just as hard for one as the other, you might as well do the MA.

I will be hired as a single person but I need to have housing that will allow me to have my non teaching partner come and stay with me (theoretically on a tourist visa). I cannot figure out the kind of housing offered at each school. It says actual or cash and actual can I guess mean provided on campus or an apartment on campus a house of my own, or a tar paper shack?

I am using the Search Cambridge list, and need to eliminate schools where I could not have my partner live with me. Am I being dense? I have looked on school sites, but found very little specificity. Is this usually the kind of thing you find out at the beginning of a fair as part of the school’s package?

I will work most anywhere… nowhere but Israel in the Middle East… and I am not running off to cholera plagued Zimbabwe at the moment… but I really am keeping an open mind in this my first international job hunt. I don’t have enough savings to risk Western Europe unless they are paying in Euro and even then…

Along those lines, what countries on what continent will most easily issue a tourist visa to an American?

You don’t have to tell me where you are but if you know of any place I would be wasting time and energy on I would be most grateful.

Thanks in advance. Answer any part of the post.

One last thing, if there are directors who read these posts, would you please weigh in on the same sex, non teaching partner. Yes, I know there is a worry about her getting bored… but in all honesty would you be happier with a don’t’ ask, don’t tell situation? It is a deplorable policy and I am deeply offended by it on so many levels, but I really would like to know. As long as she doesn't cost you anything do you care? If we pay for her everything...flights, medical insurance, tourist visa, life insurance...
For what it is worth having her with me actually gives you a teacher and a half because of all of the paperwork she can keep organized for me so I can plan lessons and concentrate on teaching in my new world.

I have a scooter 50cc and I really, really really, do not want to have to leave it behind. I will admit to having a sentimental attachment to it, but I still think it would be good to take with me (depending on where I end up). I would think it would be a customs issue, tax, title, insurance. Easier to leave it/sell it and buy a new one?

Anyone ever bring a scooter/motorscooter/car over?

I am in a committed relationship with a non teaching partner. What kind of questions does she need to answer for herself when deciding to go with me overseas? What does she have to be willing to put up with? What are the things that you never thought would be issues that you wish you had done to make a softer landing for the two of you when you began your your teaching position?
Thanks in advance.

FINALLY!! I was just about to give up on the existence of any gay teacher brave enough to answer. As you can see I have been getting lots of encouraging and honest feedback, but I do so appreciate you signing up to respond. I have been trying to predict what kinds of problems might present themselves in our relationship. How old are you? We are in our late thirties and have been together for 6 and a half years.

Has anyone else been in the unenviable position of being forced back in the closet when moving to a new school? Has anyone been in a committed relationship and landed themselves in the position in which you had to ask your non teaching partner to go in the closet? Did your relationship survive the pressure? What exerts the most pressure being together but closeted or trying to nurture a long distance relationship? We do not let anything put our relationship in jeapordy? We have worked too hard to reach this place.

On the other hand, this is something I am going to do one way or another, and she is my biggest supporter...

Thanks. I knew about the shared apartments and that was part of the impetus for my original post. And thank you for the perspective around the idea of stating ones sexuality could seem aggressive or politically, socially...it is so difficult. Here people are forced to negotiate around the issue all the time...I believe that right now, somewhere there is a place that will hire me on the basis of my knowledge and skills and not force me to live a lie. Can anyone tell me anything about how and where apartment sharing is most common? Do the schools own housing? Are there some places where you would have to live in a dormitory with the students? When in the process does the housing situation become available? Is it part of the package/benefits whatever the right term is? I am trying to figure out how to make my short list, and the issue of housing should not be the biggest criteria. Any thoughts or experiences on the subject. Surely there are other gay teachers out there who can give me some intel. or someone must know someone who is and might be kind enough to put me in (confidential) touch with them? In any event I am interested in preventing any roadblocks in the process. I am practicing answering interview questions, but there is always this part of me that thinks I will be taken off guard and blow the whole thing because I am so busy worrying about pronouns and filtering every sentence. Many thank you's to all who have been kind enough to answer my little question sent out to the whole gigantic www universe. Remarkable. Sometimes I am still in awe of ...kind of a modern day Of all the places in all the world...thanks again

Hello and thank you so very much. I meant Southwest Asia...I was so conscious about making sure I didn't refer to the Middle East...

I think I need to at least go to one fair, but before I do so I will try to set up interviews before arrival.I had already decided that I would contact schools on my own. Thank you very much for giving me different ways to deal with the issue. Any more thoughts or experiences would be most welcome. If I don't leave now I will be late for getting there early. :)

Take good care

I am a Teacher with a Lifetime Certification in Secondary Education certified to teach History, Political Science and Sociology in grades 7-12. In addition, I hold a lifetime Middle School Endorsement, a specializiation in Middle School which allows for me to teach grades five and six in a Middle School. (All grade listings refer to the US curriculum)


I have to try to reach my international teaching position goal, but not if there is just no possibility anywhere...working toward my PhD is another goal. We are both 39 and in good health. Be as brutally or wonderfully honest as possible.