PsyGuy wrote:
> Bad leaders (may as well just say leaders), dont die they go to Hades for
> new assignment.

This comment is in poor taste, PsyGuy.

My bad. I was unaware.

Hi all,

Anyone have any insight on this school?

Salary looks incredible but I'm aware that a large chunk of that would be swallowed up by housing.

What's HK like to live in for a young family (one boy, 5)? Saving potential?

Any info on the school would be greatly appreciated.

Heliotrope wrote:
> @SofaKing
>
> Why isn't it about the actual savings potential number?
> Since that's salary minus cost of living and other expenses, so what you
> actually can put away, or invest, or use to pay off debt.
>
> I used the mortgage lender example because some people need a certain
> amount (for mortgages or student loans), so then the actual number you can
> save is what counts (as the mortgage payment is also an actual number). The
> percentage is incomplete, as what you actually save depends on other
> factors (cost of living, holiday trips, etc.), so easier to mention the
> actual savings potential than just the percentage.
>
> More data is (almost) always better, but when choosing between the
> percentage or the actual amount you can save, the latter makes more sense.

You're absolutely right that more data points (salary/COL/lifestyle habits of contributor etc) gives a better indication but, in simplest terms, a number is meaningless without also giving your salary, which basically turns the figure into a percentage. I think we're probably splitting hairs here and can agree that more data points = a better estimate.

For me;
- Salary = Approx 48000 USD
- Live in UAE (High CoL)
- If I was single and frugal, I could probably save approx. 15000-20000usd (30-40%)
- I know people who tutor and can largely live off what they get for that alone
- I also know plenty of people who save almost nothing due to lifestyle and CoL

I know that my school have collected a number of CVs but are basically holding off until after the break as they are going to job fairs around the world and expect to do most of their hiring there.

Heliotrope wrote:
> just.the.truth wrote:
> > I was think more of a percentage of my salary, but this is very helpful
> > indeed. Thanks!
>
> Why a percentage?
> It's all about the actual amount you can save, isn't it?
> If you can save 70% of a 10,000 dollar salary, or 50% of a 30,000 dollar salary,
> wouldn't the second be better?
>
> I assume the mortgage lender doesn't ask you to pay 30% of your salary for 30 years,
> but to pay back an actual amount.

Why not a percentage? Both are equally invalid without other information (actual salary, cost of living, spending habits). Both together are better. The mortgage lender comparison is a little spurious.

International Schools tend to be a mixed bag in terms of their athletics/sports programs. There are some excellent schools out there that do cater to high level athletes but I can't imagine they would compare to top domestic schools in the US. Schools in the US have student longevity, socio-cultural association, funding, and sheer size and numbers on their side. In addition to that, students have more opportunities to progress in their sport beyond school level due to the sheer options available to them.

In saying that, I coach a sport at my current school and I also coached at my previous school. At my previous school, the top level students that I coached would absolutely hold their own in the vast majority of top US schools. This was more down to these students developing and competing in leagues outside of school in the host country than it was anything to do with our very limited offerings (both in terms of facilities and my ability as a coach) at school. In my current school, the students get a lot of exposure to their chosen sport (early morning and after school 2-hour training sessions; at least 6 hours of practice + a game each week). This is a very large school with excellent facilities but we are still limited by the numbers of students who are genuinely interested.

In terms of technology: I'm amazed by what I have seen over here. We have the option of live streaming games, videoing sessions and having high school students edit the footage to be used in coaching meetings, drones to capture aerial footage of games etc. Some of these are probably a little over the top, especially seeing as most of the coaches are teachers who coach in their free time and won't use the resources.

A nice, balanced perspective, Reisgio.

Quality of life
You can live very well on the salaries that international schools pay here. There are a multitude of options for dining out/socialising/sightseeing etc.

Food?
The food is quite good. Many rave about it but personally I'd say it's solid but unremarkable. Fresh produce is of the highest quality and very cheap when in season. Fresh fruit/veg shops are everywhere. Turkish breakfasts are top class but other than that I'd say it's pretty average. Every eatery delivers right to your door to if you don't fancy going out to eat.

Cost of living?
Quite low. Accommodation is getting more expensive but school stipends should still cover it - especially if you are part of a teaching couple. Eating out is cheap. You could quite easily eat out every night of the week and still not break the bank. In saying that, Istanbul has everything from your corner kebab guy to high end restaurants. The local currency is very weak now (down somewhere around 20% of it's value against the dollar over the last 6 months) and most schools pay in dollars as far as I know.

Travel?
Istanbul is a travel hub, both domestically and internationally. There are no shortage of holiday destinations in-country, and you are on the doorstep of Europe/North Africa/the Middle East here. I don't think you could be more ideally placed to travel.

Air, water quality?
Air is pretty clean for the most part. It can get a bit dusty but that hasn't been much of an issue for me. Water quality - most people drink from bottled water here. It's very cheap. Apparently you can drink from the taps but not many people do.

Istanbul and Turkey have garnered a lot of attention over the past 6 months to 1 year due to political turmoil, bombings, the attempted coup, Syrian refugees etc. I honestly feel safe here but others may feel differently. It's not for everyone but if you have any other specific questions, feel free to PM me.