Apologies as this is a fairly narrow topic and will not apply to some on this forum.

We would like some help/advice/suggestions on what families do during the summer and if buying a home makes any sense. We have been overseas for nine years now, and our kids have lived most of their lives overseas. Over the last few years we are finding summers harder and harder to deal with, especially after moving to a post where practically everyone leaves for the summer. As our kids are getting older, we are finding it more difficult to stay with family due to space issues and the fact that our family members have their own lives and really can’t host us; plus, we are definitely starting to feel more “in the way,” especially after this last summer. Our kids really don’t know the kids in our family’s neighborhood, so summers are becoming much more boring for them. We are also missing having our “own space;” staying with family is OK for a week or so, but not for two months.

One of the things we’re considering is purchasing a home in the States. Yet while we know it may be good in a psychological sense and a place to call home during summer, we also question the financial sense of doing so. While property can be considered an investment, we are reluctant to rent it since we will need it during the summer months, so we would essentially be paying a yearly mortgage for only two/three months of use. Do any of you do this, and have you found it worth the cost? Do you have companies who help you maintain your property during the school year? If you don't own a home, what ideas or suggestions might you have for growing families living overseas? Would really appreciate any feedback from those who are in this situation-TIA!

"What may be significant is the impact on the recruiting landscape and how messy the battle between ISS/Schrole and SEARCH/APli gets. Already, SEARCH have made it clear that schools using Schrole will not be able to post their jobs on the SEARCH website."

Thanks for this, Walter. What happens with a school that asks for a Schrole app in terms of their attendance at a Search fair? Will schools using Schrole be barred from attending a Search fair? Might there be a case where a candidate that has signed up for Search limit potential schools since they chose the wrong system?

Should I make plans to sign up for both Search and ISS in order to hedge my bets?

Sorry, I've haven't thought about recruitment in six years, so I'm a bit puzzled by all of this.

So I understand:

If I register with Search I will also have to register with Apli as well...is that at an extra cost?

If I register with ISS I will also have to register with Schrole as well..it that at an extra cost?

If I am registered with Search but a school asks that I register with Schrole, I will have to then register with Schrole as well, even though I am already registered with Search and Apli, and paid the registration costs? Is the opposite true as well with ISS?

Of course I could also apply directly to schools--but isn't that what ISS and Search are designed to do simplify?

Not sure what direction to take as I think about recruitment next year.

Thank you all for your valuable insight and feedback, with specific thanks to @mamava, @eion, and @scribe--it's obvious you've been through this process before!

Nice to know that there are private schools that will offer generous amounts of FA, but at the same time you won't really know what kind of FA a student will get until after he/she applies--and by then its too late to move and try to get in-state tuition at a school in that same year. We may have to consider a move back to the US by the time our kid reaches Grade 11 in order to establish residency. As a previous poster mentioned, an 18 year old attempting to establish residency can be tricky and not at all assured.

Like I mentioned in the original post, we still have some time to consider our options. I truly hope others who are in a similar situation find all of the feedback here helpful.

And to those of families out there who have EU citizenship or whose kids can speak a European language fluently, consider yourselves very fortunate in regards to university choice!

This is mainly geared to US citizens living abroad since the college costs there are stupid ridiculous. We're still a few years away until our child will be graduating, but we've been having this discussion on what to do if and when our child decides to go to college. If we decide to remain overseas until the kid graduates, then we are really stuck in terms of being able to help him afford the exorbitant costs of US universities. We are not official residents of any state and do not own any property so claiming in-state tuition is not a possibility. Additionally, one must establish at least one year of residency in a state before in-state tuition rates can be credited. Numbers vary a bit, but the average cost per year based on in-state tuition is $9K, out-of state-tuition is around $25k and a private is around $34K--this is tuition only; room, board, and general living expenses are extra. We put money away each month in a 529 account, but even then it would be very difficult to afford a public university out-of-state, let alone a private school for an entire four years.

One option is looking at universities in Europe or Canada, where the tuition is a bit cheaper. Obviously scholarships are another possibility but there is no guarantee he would receive them. I really would like to avoid having the kid take on any major student loans--it really stinks to start out one's career in thousands of dollars of debt.

Another, perhaps more obvious option would be to move back to the US a year or two before the kid's graduation and establish residency--but it would also mean pulling the him out of IS to a DS in the middle or near the end of his high school years simply due to college costs.

Have any of you parents, particularly those who are US citizens, faced this dilemma with your kids? If so, what did you do?

Wonderful post, N.A.--some great insights and food for thought there.

I've taught in US curriculum ISs and UK National Curriculum ISs. In the US systems I never had more than three preps (I.e. different classes). In the UKNC IS I had a minimum of 5 and maximum of 7 preps. I found that in US curricula schools teachers tend to specialize in a few preps whereas in the British curricula teachers are expected to teach a much wider base of students (ages 11-18). Both have their benefits--in the US system I could really focus on my preps and have a few "do-overs"--that is, if a lesson fell flat for one class I could make the correction for the other classes during the day; however, it can get rather boring teaching the same thing 3X a day to multiple classes over a few years. In the UKNC I saw my students less frequently but since I taught such a wide range of classes I never felt like I was in a "rut." I also found myself teaching subjects that I didn't specialize in which in many respects made me more well-rounded as a teacher--in terms of both content and pedagogy.

Keep in mind that regardless of the system school populations also play a major role in how many preps a teacher may have. Smaller schools with fewer students will require teachers to be flexible and teach multiple preps. Large schools tend to require fewer preps for teachers since multiple sections of the same prep are needed.

Ultimately I'd rather have 2-3 preps but having taught 7 I feel "learned more" as a teacher--hopefully that makes sense!

The best advice I can give you is to contact your school and ask them these questions. Some schools have checklists or recommendations as to what to bring. Your school also might put you in contact with current teachers who can answer these questions as well. You said SE Asia but unless you tell us the country forum members may have difficulty answering specifics.

If its a furnished apartment I'd say leave the pots and pans and bedding--the only time I've needed sheets were the flannel variety--don't think you'll need those in SE Asia! Many electronics today have dual voltage (check the cord, and if reads up to 240v you're good to go--just need an adapter) but I'd probably purchase a new printer rather than lug one halfway around the world. If you like to cook, definitely bring your favorite seasoning blends but also be excited for all of the new spices you'll find in Asia.

Here's some info about adapters in SE Asia:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/ ... heast-asia

Hi Huntchaos,

I agree with pretty much everything wrldtrvlr wrote in regards to your situation.

One point to keep in mind is that not every international school is set up to handle special needs cases in the ways that those in the coming from the States would like. It's not that the schools are uncaring or not supportive, it's just they don't have the money or resources to meet those needs. It appears that that this trend is changing--in my last go-round at a job search I saw more special needs services being offered from schools, but it is important to know that schools aren't necessarily mandated to provide the services that parents in the public schools in the States are accustomed. You know your son and what's best for him, and if you think he can handle the changes with possible limited support and accommodations, then certainly consider jobs overseas.

Another point--just because it's called an international school doesn't make it so. Some schools that call themselves international have a very large national population where the national culture dominates; these are particularly true of schools in South America or the Middle East (of course, not all). These schools primarily cater to the national elite, and it can be hard for kids outside the culture to fit in, and more so for those with learning needs. When looking at schools check population statistics if they are available, and also ask questions of specific schools in the paid section of this site. Generally speaking, the more truly international the school the easier it will be for all of your kids to fit in given the diversity and transient nature of the school culture. Hope this helps, and good luck to you!

"Rather than seeing this as an opportunity to be a contrarian or win a debate, why not just try to be kind? It's not that hard.

Be nice."

^^This

How important is money to you? Generally speaking, salaries in the Kingdom are some of the highest in international teaching. Of course, you'd have to live on a compound and you wouldn't have much of a social life away from school, but many people have made it work for them. It's definitely a trade-off.

If your district accepts university courses then it would be to your advantage to use PBS Teacherline. I know a number of my colleagues who use it. You take the courses through the program and sign up with affiliated universities (for an additional fee, of course!) to earn the credit. You will receive credit through these universities which you can then apply to renew your certificate. Some school districts can be very particular when it comes to PD from overseas since they don't understand international education, but this program is helpful since you get credit from an accredited university which they will accept, generally without hesitation. It's not the cheapest of options, but it pretty much guarantees you credit if your district accepts university level Ed classes for recertification. Lots of courses to choose from as well.

http://www.pbs.org/teacherline/

And if you're really, really feeling like a challenge, and you're certified in the US, you can always go for National Board Certification! This is PD on steroids and if you obtain it you would differentiate yourself from 97% of the national teaching population. School districts will accept this as PD without any problem and many school districts allow you to use your National Boards as renewal after you receive it. Plus, you meet every single state requirement, so if you plan to return to the States but aren't sure what state, you're automatically certified anyway--no more stupid extra courses or exams! Not the cheapest of options and can be very stressful, but the program also forces you to question and reflect why and how you teach. Not cheap, but worth it IMO.

http://www.nbpts.org/

Check out #5 on the link below regarding overseas teaching and NBPTS

http://boardcertifiedteachers.org/first ... dates/faqs

Based on some earlier posts it appears DODEA does a lot of their hiring in June and it can go until October. That must lead to some broken contracts, but what's an IS teacher who's fortunate to be offered a job from DODEA to do?

@global_nomad--thanks for posting that youtube video and keeping us up to date on his situation. I thought he was home free at this point and didn't realize he was still in Jakarta. I hope the courts don't give in to "popular pressure" and allow the case to be reopened. Also sad to hear of the cleaners who "confessed" to the crimes will not have any chance at all for appeal. Such a devastating situation for so many innocent people caught up in hysteria--and for what? Reminds me of the McMartin preschool trial back in the early 1980s.

School #2 in West Africa--congratulations!