Thanks for your words.

I can't be much help to you I am sorry.

IICS seems like the best option for you. There are two campuses, one in Robert College (op to grade 3?), the other way on out there. I have spoken with a few of the IICS international teachers and they seem to like it there. It is a true int'l school. I have also heard good things about Uskudar American.

As for the nat'l b'lingual schools comments on ISR I would say that I have to agree with most of what they had to say. Sadly.

Good Luck to you and your family on the big move.

I cannot speak for international schools in Istanbul. I can only speak to national private schools, and just one at that. My momma taught me "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." So I will say the students I have are amazing.

I wish I could "return" to Istanbul for my second year well rested but unfortunately I cannot leave, fear keeps me from it. So I have to sit here and wait in obscene heat for these documents to become valid, and if I am lucky I can escape for a short holiday late in the summer. But I doubt it will happen.

Positivity has long since left me.

What do you do when your employer continues to give the run around in regards to renewing residency permits and work visas? It states in my contract that these issues will be done by the school. Now they are both expired for over 30 days and the school offices are closed for the summer break. Now I am fearful about leaving the country on holiday in the off chance I will not be allowed to re-enter, at least without paying a hefty fine.

I live in Turkey by the way, and will begin the 2nd year of a two year contract this Aug.

Perhaps the post should read "What can you do?"

SW

Thanks

Does anyone want to share any experiences about working in Islamabad? Int'l School of Islamabad?
Thanks,
SW

Thank you so much for your helpful advice.

My school does not talk with int'l teachers about the future until around January of their last contract yr. At least it has been this way in the past. So I am stuck going in "cold" if I want to make the UNI deadline. I wish they would bring us in at the end of our first yr. of a two yr. contract to see how we are feeling, plans for the future etc... but they don't seem too interested. My school doesn't even have a calender to give staff/parents yet, and our school year ends next week!

I hope they are professional, but I have some nervousness, which is why I posted here.

Keep the advice coming! It is good to here from you in this matter.

SW

I don't know about the HI, but I think the Ramada is booked up already. I reserved my room back in early March, thinking that it might be the case. You can call the hotel and they will put you on the wait list. I did this a couple of years ago and to my suprise, a day before the fair, they called and I got in. It was an amazing networking experience!

Calling on all of you seasoned vets and administrators:

My contract will be finished at the end of the next school year and I'll be moving on from my current employer. I am slated to attend UNI (awaiting packet, hotel reservation at Ramada already secured) and want to begin the reference gathering, paperwork, school "hunt" early in the year so as to not be so stressed out in Dec. and Jan.

What is the most professional way to approach this with my current HOD, Director, etc... Would asking too early (let's say around mid-October) be a foot shot? I have a pretty good relationship with my Director, excellent with my HOD and other figures. I want to do this the right way; I don't want to seem ungrateful or like I am not focused on the task at hand, teaching. It has been an enlightnening time, some ups, some downs, but I learned a lot.

Any advice on how to do this well?
This my first experience finding int'l work while int'l. Scary stuff.

Thanks,
SW