Sorry - I waited a month, but I have to say this...my wife and I went to ISS in New York and landed great jobs after networking like hell and stressing out for a good 36 hours or so. BUT, we had the best food, went shopping, walking, and saw Terrence Howard, Phylicia Rashad, James Earl Jones, Aninka Noni Rose and S. Epatha Merkerson in two phenomenal Broadway shows. You got to see Ron Steele do the news on Channel 7.

The South American schools tend to begin hiring earlier than anywhere else, but they don't necessarily finish first. Check school websites directly, and if you see an opening, go for it - offer yourself for a phone interview or Skype - but don't sound tooooo desperate. If you don't belong to the TIE service already, you should subscribe - you can get instant notification on openings and it's worth it for, I think, $29...my wife and I got jobs at ISS in February, but I'm still getting notifications from TIE - I can't recall any in South America, but other places, definitely (I'm elementary / middle school). Unless you have a real particular reason for South America, being open to a wider geographic range will get you better results. Good luck!

You won't have a problem - as was said, you will likely have a hard time at the top tier schools, but you will have offers. Good luck!

We are going to Saudi Arabia - very excited, just have to bring the extended family around! Anyone else have any advice?

Can anyone recommend an article, book...anything - that would help extended family understand the expatriate teaching life - particularly the safety and security concerns that so many of our family members have? We know what to say and write, but it doesn't matter - extended family is certain we are going off to die at the hands of barbarians and godless thugs. And we have lived overseas before! We need something reasoned and in print to help us. Any help would be TREMENDOUSLY appreciated. Thank you very much.

I am writing for information on Rabat - the school, the city - any information would be appreciated, particularly insights that would help a teaching couple with two children. Thanks very much!

This is the end of our third year in South America. As for savings, singles can definitely save, marrieds with no children probably can do well, marrieds with children - it will be tough, but possible. Good luck to all of you, and thanks. Enjoy your time in New York - get out a bit and have some fun, too - I lived there for about six years and it's really an easy city to get around, very walkable...pick at least one place away from Grand Central to see - whether it's the Village, Broadway, the UN (very walkable - and check out Tudor City, or take a walk to the Turtle Bay area), the Lincoln Center area (the best Tower Records and Video...unbelievable store) - wherever...give yourself a break, too.

Here are some things to remember, in no particular order...
1. Register early and check your mail often but don't be neurotic about it or you''ll just give yourself a stroke
2. Be visible - be physically present, write notes, send e-mails, don't make calls unless asked to, but be open to receive them
3. Be positive - everywhere - your future boss might be on the plane with you when you fly in, or she might be the person in front of you at the deli getting a paper and a cup of coffee when you go out early in the morning in yesterday's clothes and a baseball cap to hide your hair
4. Have a plan - know what you want and where you think you will find it - BUT BE OPEN TO A PLACE YOU NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT BEFORE
5. Be organized
6. Leave with your integrity and a job, too

South America tends to hire sooner - there is a bit of a rush down here for some reason - but there are jobs to be had. And there will be plenty of other opportunities. Good luck!

One firm appointment, four commitments to talk. We are fairly open to Africa, Asia and Europe. The jobs are there - don't worry.

Also, re a comment above - December commitment is nothing. We had to commit in October. That makes the wait even harder.

My spouse and I have been to both the UNI fair and to ISS. Hands down I recommend ISS - and I am a graduate of UNI. UNI is like having your mother in charge of a recruiting fair - a very good mother who knows what she is doing, but stilll...plus, and I know it ultimately doesn't matter that much, but I'm sorry, if I had a chance to go to a fair in New York or Waterloo, Iowa..ahem!

ISS is very professional, very helpful, very organized - no complaints. UNI is nice people. I don't want nice, I want a job.

Very good comment above about when to go - I agree. We leave Saturday for ISS; going there to obtain my fourth international position (my spouse's second); and while the wait has made us nervous, many of our schools are hanging in there for us, and we already have five schools waiting to interview us when we get there. UNI would be good for a young teacher, a first-timer, or someone who doesn't mind a small midwestern city with nowhere to eat and a big, stinking jacuzzi tub in the corner of their hotel room.

Venezuela is probably not as bad as many people might think in terms of economics, but this year has been the worst by far of our years in the country. Prices are going up (though it's still, arguably, not horrendous compared to some places) and for a family with kids there has been much less travel and much less saved. The views of singles vs. marrieds is always so interesting - personally, having to constantly worry about getting money on the sly and the time it takes to make the arrangements is ridiculous - this is my third international school and never had to do anything like this. So, MOST singles might do reasonably well in Venezuela; I would say couples and especially those with children: be careful.

This might be an odd question unless you are facing the same situation. What are some of the best questions you ask at interviews to determine the really intangible qualities - like the integrity of the school and its administration, or whether the school really is internationally-minded or just an American school in another country? What are some of the questions you ask that inform your mind AND your "gut"? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I am interested in knowing any strategies used when an offer is extended prior to the fair - did you contact other schools at the top of your list to see if they would move on your application, or check with them to make sure they were still interested, etc.? The interest is gratifying, but what if it is, say, your fourth choice school, but you think you still have a viable shot at one or more of the top three on your list? Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

I am writing for any information on the quality of life in Moscow, Jeddah, Shanghai and Damascus - what is it like for a family of four when the schoolday is done? Any information would be appreciated.

I have taught at three international schools. The first position I obtained through the placement office at UNI (of which I am a graduate); the second was obtained independently; the current position (now, with my wife) was obtained as a result of attending ISS-Boston. The year before going to ISS, my wife and I went to the UNI fair and we received a verbal offer from a school which the director that same evening denied having made. The fair personnel were not helpful or sympathetic at all, siding completely with the school and its director, in spite of some implicit suggestions that, given the statements made to us, we might actually have had an offer. Upon receiving the offer, we cancelled other interview appointments, and so had only one other prior - and lukewarm - interview to pin our hopes on. We were devastated and flew home to wait another year. The ISS fair, in our estimation, was thoroughly professional and they did everything they said they would. The opinion stated that the UNI personnel are friendly folks indicates exactly why I would not go back. I don't need friendly folks - I seek professional commitment and assistance. This we received from ISS. Is the whole fair process a bit too barbarous - of course; but, I don't think Boston and UNI vary much in that regard. Also, as a native of the Waterloo - Cedar Falls area, I was very surprised by how depressing the area had become - even a visit back to the UNI campus was very sad. The area around the fair in Waterloo is pretty dismal and the hotel situation was abysmal - we still laugh about the room we were in (though it was far from funny). Other than a couple of decent restaurants, there is little to recommend the area. The only people to whom I might recommend the UNI fair are young, first-time hopefuls who would rather deal with someone who reminded them of their mother behind the registration table and would rather deal with a Hootervillesque hotel and fast food than the offerings and adrenalin rush of a bigger venue.