You might want to consult a tax expert as well, if you are issued a W-2 for work from a US based source for months you are claiming an overseas status, it could get sticky. I would be curious about the answer if anyone knows.

1. Go to the pay side of this site. Read the reviews. Don't read for would I want to go to that school or work for that person, but rather what is the situation at hand? How would I deal with this situation? There are some themes that develop that should be avoidable.

2. Remember the moment you are in. Is the moment the same for the the other person you are working with? Interrupting a teacher for a simple non time sensitive question, will not win you points.

3. Know how the cultures you are working with interact. Think through whether the issue might be cultural as well as behavioral.

FINALLY: LISTEN - THINK - SPEAK/ACT. What that person is saying to you is important to them. Saying, "I want to consider that" and then truly getting back to them is acting. Answer that email, but not till you've thought about it.

Options:

Rent from an overseas rental exchange list your address as your overseas address, and get better prices and insurance added. economycarrentals.com 5 weeks about $1300 dollars for a full size premium from Alamo with collision damage and $1,000,000 liability coverage.

Get a broker and buy a car: mine has a $8000-10000 car waiting which I buy and then sell back to him for a $500 fee. Risk is having to repair or replace. Advantage anyone can drive it because you also have to get insurance. Cost: any repairs, brokers fee, registration and insurance. About $900, if you were to nab a deal you might break closer to even, if you got a lemon resale and repairs might be a pain.

Dogs: I love dogs and have two. Some issues.

1. Don't trust KLM-Delta. Word early in the year was no problem in the summer and then one month before travel, Delta slaps their annual summer embargo on shipping animals. KLM will tell you yes, but if the flight has a Delta leg you are screwed.

2. Landlord and neighbor issues. Not all countries and cultures think a dog belongs in the house. Especially purpose trained dogs, i.e. big dogs are for guarding, hunting dogs for hunting, toy dogs for being toys and unfortunately bully breeds are for fighting. A hunting, bully or guard dog on an elevator may scare others in the building. You won't have the first pick of housing options, also.

3. Dog damage can be costly, and most schools would not consider it regular wear and tear. I would recommend crate training.

4. What kind of dog owner are you. I am a city person so my philosophy is that my dogs should be kept leashed and affect those around me as little as possible. Dogs will be dogs, but it is humans who put them in the situation that they are in.

5. Having a dog is great. I have bought one of ours overseas and the breed fanciers were fun to work with. I enjoy being greeted by my dogs and the time spent with them is valuable.

6. Consider getting settled and then bringing the pet. This can make everyone's life easier.

That Rupie thing at the bottom has no baring on reality, not sure where you got that information as the Tenge did not exist until the demise of the Ruble and USSR. Exchange rates are stable and no one uses the black market, if it even exists. Bank transfers are possible.

It's not Denmark either. Glorious mountains to enjoy today and perfect weather for exploring. Steppe is alive with poppies, tulips and what not.

We spend about $200 for 2, a week for groceries and we eat generously. (40 week school year $8000) Or 52 weeks ($10400)
Utilities, cell phone, stuff should not top $200 a month. ($2400)

We bought a car and buy about $70 of gas a month.

Not much Alcohol or clubbing for us.
Other stuff depends on your preferences, you can buy designer clothes but new stores have opened with the mid range Kohls type of quality ($25 Kakhis, cotton blouse $15-30.

So yes, you could save on $54000.

For trips back to the US plan on about $2000. For a flight to Istanbul, Bangkok, Warsaw think $800. Western Europe around $1000.

Great post Kazpat. Didn't mean scary in the bad sense, more the rollercoaster type of scary, you'll come out fine, but there will be some "fun" along the way.

I don't know what the schools would have in terms of supplies. If they are being supplied specially then they would have supplies. If they aren't then the supplies would be limited to local items, which would not be something that I can describe, as I have not been in one of the these schools. Also, the six day week would not necessarily mean teaching all day everyday of the six day week. I really think that this would be something that you need to approach with "eyes wide open", if you are expecting anything like an American lifestyle, then don't placement outside of Almaty will be tough. If you are ready for an big scary adventure then go with it.

Kaz is a not a bad place to live. Almaty and Astana offer an increasingly European quality of life. The provincial cities mentioned however would require a strong desire to get into the culture. The salary mentioned would be very comfortable, the idea of bringing kids in without the option of one of the international schools would be a concern to me. Kazakhs are wonderful and friendly once you are a part of their community. Diet is largely meat based and winters can be long and cold. If you are a northerner, especially from a city, you could enjoy the climate and surroundings. If you are a fair weather person who is not accustomed to crowds and pollution you might never get your feet under you here. Working in a Kazakh school would require patience and an acceptance of things needing to be done a certain way because that is the way it is done. I have met a student from one of these schools and if she is an example then the kids should be fabulous.

Almaty is nothing to be afraid of. It is best suited to big city with Winters people and not smalltown warm area folks. We have enjoyed Almaty and find the city to be more and more European all the time. I have limited experience with KIS. I have worked with a couple of their kids and met a few of the their parents. So I can't recommend the school or not recommend it. Housing is a must and enough to afford a car would be helpful. Biggest expense with living in Almaty is going somewhere else on break.

QSI also hires couples with kids and the preschool is part of the package. They have some that start with 2 year-old programs. Most have full-day 3 year old at your school. www.qsi.org

It is really tough to get started. We used Freecycle and Craigslist a lot. It is liberating and when you return, you won't need half the stuff you are paying to store. Even our beloved books are not that valuable/usable anymore as we have moved into ebooks. Toss it, give it away, sell it. Don't think in terms of moving an American household into a European home, instead think in terms of adapting to the European space as much as possible. Kids need the toys they will play with, not a toy box full. You need place settings for the number of people who eat regularly. Clothes storage is limited, so you don't need 18 pairs of boxers or 20 pairs of shoes. After looking at my woodshop tools after storage for a year I put them up for sale, I can buy new ones that won't be rusted from non use when I am ready to set something up in the States.

Housing should not be a concern. It is quite nice. Danda may be on to something, I tend to exercise indoors in the winter and only outside when it is warmer.

We like Almaty. I would describe the local people as resolute and careful, but friendly when they have come to trust you. You get stared at when you speak English, but usually just ignored. Recent developments like the metro, a few more malls, restaurants and grocery stores has made the place seem more and more European. The local cuisine is meat based, we like the doner, pflat and blini. Hardees, Noodles and Pizza Hut are now part of the mix. The pollution is pollution for some people it is the only thing they see for others it is what it is. I think that if you are not a city person, or a winter person, this is a tough place to live. Travel can be tough, the US is costly, but Thailand, Turkey, India, Dubai are not bad. We would definitely return.

Hey, QSI Schools also have full day 4 yo pre school. That should be part of the package.