jhornick wrote:
> Thanks again, Shadowjack. What is "Search?" How do I join it?

Search Associates. One of the big recruiting agencies on the international circuit. I agree with what Shadowjack said. Just be mindful that the services you are getting in the States will be difficult, but not impossible, to replicate overseas. The West is more current on trends and working with students on the autism scale. I was a special education teacher so I know the early intervention years are key. If he is high functioning he would probably do well, but speech and a lot of other services that come automatically with an IEP in the States won't be found overseas. If you know what works well for him (picture schedule, plan for change in schedule, set routine, etc.) and you can help the school use those strategies he should be fine, but like Shadowjack said there's a lot of schools on the international circuit that won't take kids like that. I would just do your due diligence when recruiting. Be honest about your situation and see if there would be a good fit. It sounds like you are very conscientious and if it turns out he would be better served by staying where you are you can always do that.

WonderingWhat wrote:
> I think this guy is talking about a different scam. The girls are already
> there in the bar and always there. They sit down at your table and order
> either glasses or cheap champagne or even beer. The bill arrives and it's
> $50 a beer or glass of whatever, and $60 for a bowl of peanuts. Sometimes
> even they bring the menu showing those prices. The bill arrives with 6
> burly waiters. The whole bar is in on it including the guy who brought you
> there off the street. I've heard of people getting stung for $3000 or more.
> Actually this was an episode of Scam City. This happens all over the Middle
> East and Asia.

Yeah, that's exactly what happened. Thanks. Everyone else didn't really seem to get it. I was the only Westerner there, got taken there by my "friend" (never would have gone there on my own), then the bill comes and it's this outrageous amount (exactly as you described it was twenty dinar - over $50 for cheap beer and some vodka shots). Just two security came to escort me to the ATM though. It was apparent, even in my stupor, that you will pay this or we'll make trouble for you. Well, glad I'm not the only naïve one out there. They only got me for $1000. Shaking my head.

I totally agree with steelersbeerdog. I teach in Bahrain and it is fine here. Totally sensationalized in the news. There's some things that happen, but I compare it to living in a big city where there might be a crime that happens in one part of the city, but doesn't directly impact you. That's how I feel. There's no direct impact and I feel very safe.

datsyukian wrote:
> Not a scam buddy, you just got played. Can't hustle a hustler...
Yup, that's for sure. I woke up with a headache and no money. Well lesson learned. No more buying drinks - lol.

I taught in Kuwait one year and lived in Mahboula. It's not a good area. Also, the bilingual aspect of the school basically means the kids will have NO English skills. I'd stay away.

ARAMCO Schools in Saudi (near Damman) have always had a very high salary and there's really low turnover. I believe some teachers can make close to six figures and their flight allowance can be over $5000 (so I've heard). Their salary schedule is kind of a company secret. Downside to that is that you are confined to compound life and the living in the bubble effect is magnified there.

Not that this helps, but I think people are right that there is a huge influx now of people coming out of the States and moving into the international scene. The job market is just flooded right now.

By the way, having overindulged I had no idea they were doing this and of course they won't ask if that's okay. That's of course their perfect target.

I had a bad experience when I went out this weekend. I was enjoying myself a lot and my friend and I went to a hotel bar (local, not an international chain). Anyway, a couple ladies joined us and so I bought them a drink. Well, they ended up buying tons of really expensive drinks and passing them to all their friends. I was left with an INSANE bar tab that I had to pay because technically they were with me. I came to find out that this is a scam where ladies at the bar will look for westerners or anyone who they think has change in their pocket and they'll do that scam. The bar ends up with tons of money and I'm sure they get a cut. I'm quite sure this happens everywhere not just in my neck of the woods so have fun, ., and let your hair down, but pay in cash and do NOT have an open tab. Sadly I learned that lesson the hard way. FYI - the chain hotels and fancy places don't do this, it's just some of the local establishments.

When I was in Kuwait two years ago this was a highly regarded school for those with special needs. I had heard from some colleagues that had been in Kuwait a long time that they offer a great package and top salary for the country. This is all speculative because I never interviewed or spoke with them, but I think they are quite good and offer a nice package. You do need to understand what Kuwait is like though before you go. It's definitely like Saudi where it is not going to be a good fit for some people. Anyway, good luck and I think they do offer a good salary.

Sadly, Southeast Asians will be discriminated against. Many in the ME consider them the "help" and if one is a teacher they just don't give them the same respect sadly. I've seen some good Asian teachers rejected for jobs simply because of their nationality and others who are currently teaching in those positions are terrible. I agree with the above statement that an African-American will generally be fine because some Saudis are quite dark so they would see you as more of an equal and, despite what the media tells us, they really do like Americans so you will be fine.

Zsejanko's points are well written and quite true. I taught in Kuwait for one year (not at the school in the OP) and it wasn't a good experience for me, mainly due to the unruly behavior and wasta that were mentioned. I didn't mind the culture so much because you know going in Kuwait is a dry country so you have to have other things to entertain you. Throw in a couple weekends out of country to Dubai or Bahrain and that aspect is fine. I also found Kuwait to be relatively cheap for the cost of living. I lived in a dorm style apartment, but it was all mine and I didn't have much costs that I had to budget for. So that was good. However, having people in "leadership" positions without any experience/education in the field is quite disheartening and can really bring you down. Perhaps if I'd been at a better school my educational opinion of the country would have been different, but I highly doubt it. I've read to man reviews of schools there that echo my own experiences and what Zsejanko has so aptly written about. I think your friend needs to seriously evaluate the entire package. Can he/she survive two years in a bad environment with kids that couldn't care less about their education? Can he/she deal with seeing the way Kuwaitis act like they are better than everyone and treat their workers like dirt? These are serious questions that only he/she can answer. If I had to do it over again I think I would bypass Kuwait entirely, but there are good schools in the ME. I just don't happen to think there are many in Kuwait.

nikkor wrote:
> I find it a bit interesting to hear that some posters don't find a tier
> system helpful. I disagree.
>
> I would just add this: Highly-tiered schools generally treat teachers more
> professionally and make work-related and personnel decisions based on
> student well being.

Where did you get that from? I have stated previously that I doubt my school is a tier one because it's new and quite small. However, I love it here. It's non-profit and everything is based on student learning. A blanket statement such as yours is wildly untrue. I happen to love being at a small school where I know many, many students even if I don't teach them. Generally tier one schools are going to be large. No thanks, I'll take the personal interaction with all students at my grade level any day over some faux badge of honor this supposed tier system invokes. What is hilarious to me is that there is no national organization that is in the business of ranking schools. Unlike the magazine US News and World Report which releases a best colleges list every year we don't have that. We just have our opinions. Since we are all different there is no right answer to a top school. It depends on the fit. If you are just looking for tier one schools then I feel sorry for you because you might miss out on wonderful experiences at a school that is not on this imaginary list.

Interesting discussion. I concur with what everyone has written. By all means, you cannot live as a gay person here the same as you would in western countries, that is for sure. However, you can live here and be happy. I guess it all depends on the person. Some people want total freedom to be able to meet that special someone and settle down together while others are fine to meet that person, but keep it private. I guess that's just personal preference. The ME is definitely unique because I think more so than most places it can be a place where you make the wrong person upset and you're time there will be over and you'll be on the next flight out. As westerners we have to be ever mindful that we are not dealing with the same laws and if one decides to become involved in a same-sex relationship it definitely has the potential to be a minefield. Think of it this way. You are seeing someone and then you upset them for some reason. If they are spiteful they could make a lot of trouble for you simply because they are a national and you are not. I don't know of any cases personally, but I'm not naïve enough to believe this doesn't happen. That obviously has to be in the back of the mind at all times of any LGBT person who is residing in the ME. However, again I emphasize that it depends on the person. You have to look at all the factors: location, pay, lifestyle, personal fit to the school, and then decide if it's right. For me I'm happy where I'm at, but I'll be the first to admit that the region as a whole is not going to win any awards for progressive thinking.

I've never taught in Saudi, but I teach in Bahrain, which is connected by the causeway at the other end of the country. Saudi's flock here every weekend to let their hair down. They drink, go to clubs, and just live it up. Yes, even Saudi women do that. Anyway, the situation is different since Jeddah is much farther away, but my primary concern would be will the teacher's be on a multiple entry visa and will they have their passports? That is very important because if so they would be able to leave whatever weekend they wanted and come to Bahrain for a little freedom. If not, then you are pretty much stuck in the fishbowl and that can become tiring. If they have their own passport and are able to leave when they want then I think KSA can be a good experience (financially good and a nice place to get some experience internationally). If there's any question about whether they could leave then I would stay away. I wouldn't even dream of going to schools that hold your passport (other than for routine visa processing).