When I lived in Singapore on an employment pass (work permit), I applied for a Singapore American Express card. The best credit card decision I ever made.

When I returned to the States to spend a year teaching at a school in Vermont,while still maintaining a home in Singapore, I had no stateside credit card. When I went to try and buy a car, the car salesman did a credit check on me. He told me that there is no record of me ever having credit. That's what living in Singapore for 25 years does to you.

I needed a credit card, but no credit card company would except me, since I had no credit history. An American Express card issued in any country is the only credit card that is transferable to a comparable US American Express. If you are overseas, try and get the American Express issues in that country. VISA or Mastercard issued by the bank in the country you are in will not be recognized in the US if you want to get a comparable US version.

Rob

I will be turning 70 in a few months, and I have doing what you'd like to do. I retired from 40+ years overseas teaching in international schools in 12 countries. I retired at 62 from a good school in Singapore. Then I accepted one year assignments in Vietnam, Jordan, and Egypt. The difference was that I chose to teach because I wanted to experience those countries. I just completed a very good year teaching part-time at a private school in the States where I am more semi-retired than retired.

I'm not sure if I'll teach overseas, but if the opportunity presented itself, I would if the school was nearer to the States and other factors. Also, I am a member of "International Supply Teachers", a group that deals with schools that need an emergency substitute teacher for anywhere from 3 months to a year. I'm actually at the point now, though, where I am way over the age limit that schools overseas will hire, so that just might keep me retired.

Keep your subscription to TIE current, and I'm sure something will come up. As for Asia, I love it, but there's something about being stuck in an airplane and airports for more than 25 hours that just does not appeal to me anymore.

Best of luck.

Rob

I am with "Teacherson the move" currently. You have to undergo an interview, and in my case it involved the director of IST interviewing me in person. They do checks on your recommendations, and it's actually pretty thorough. They want to take all the uncertainty from the school about a teacher's competence.

I have gotten a number of opportunities to work in schools they needed a teacher for , and unfortunately (or fortunately), I always made myself available to direct hires from different schools. Not bad for a 69 year old teacher. I'd say it's very geared toward a teacher who is semi-retired.

I think that S$5600 is not really a salary that you can save much, especially since it is for two people. However, your wife will certainly have opportunities to teach in one of the many language schools. Having said all that, I semi-retired in Singapore (at the end of my 24 years there) as a PR (permanent resident), and I lived fairly comfortably on the amount that you are being paid, but again, you will not save much.

You do not get CPF unless you are a PR or a citizen. You would not be a PR, since you will have an employment pass only. In other words, you will get CPF as part of your package.

I used to sub at UWC in Singapore. The main reason the workload is huge is the number of preps. If you're a teacher at Singapore American School teaching science or math, you have maybe two preps, and in some cases only one. At UWCSEA, the philosophy is that if you are teaching perhaps science, you should experience as many grade levels as possible, so you might have grade 6, 7, 11, and 12 science, or math. All this adds so much to the preparation time.

Having just left Singapore a little more than a year ago after being there for 25+ years, I can only offer my input based on that.

Apartment rentals the last year have gone down significantly, about 10-15% at least. I had a nice cozy 2 bedroom apartment (700 sq feet for about S$2500/month. It's now closer to S$2000/month. For rentals, you would be going at a good time.

I have visited ISS a few times, and it is located rather far from the downtown area, so you would need to get an apartment there. It's a relatively quiet area. I think you's depend on taxis quite a bit though. If you don't spend a lot on travel back to your home country and remain in Singapore and the surrounding area, you will certainly save more than S$7000/year. I'd go to a website forum called "Singapore Expats Forum", and quite a few expats share their monthly expenses, so you can get a better idea there. Bottom line, you should be able to save at least S$1000/month and still enjoy yourself and live comfortably.

Rob

I was in Singapore for about 25 years, and left early last year at the age of 66 to retire in the States. The taxes in Singapore are low, about 10%. However, the GST is very high, and as a result, the cost of groceries is perhaps close to the highest in the world.

The last year I was there I paid for my own apartment, since I retired there. My apartment was about 700 sq feet, furnished, near the MRT (subway), and I paid S$2,500/month. However, I now find out that rents have fallen more than 10%, so the situation is certainly better now.

The last year there I had the opportunity to sub at all the schools, and it was so much fun. I think that S$60,000 might be difficult with a wife and child, so you'd need to live far from the center of the city.

Regards,
Rob

I have never had a personality conflict with directors or principals, but the OP strikes me as someone who really wants to be at the school he is at. I was at a top tier school in Singapore for almost 20 years, and maybe once every couple years I'd drop into the Headmasters office always informally, or even the Principal's office, to request feedback and constructive criticism on my teaching. I wanted him to know that I loved being there, and I wanted to be a better teacher. I know that sounds hokey, but I did it.

I always left the principal's office knowing that he was aware of my sincerity and desire to remain at the school. I sometimes think it is better to have this conversation with the principal, because he is always the one to have direct input on who is being retained.

I suggest you do the same thing. You sound very sincere, but also insecure. I hope you can have a similar conversation with the leadership there. The fact that I was at my school for so many years might have something minor to do with them being aware of my desire to remain and improve. Try it. Don't mention any personality conflict you have in the conversations. Just mention your desire to remain and improve as an educator.

Rob

I began my IS experience teaching at the Vietnamese International School in Saigon in 1970. I remember the recruitment fairs in the 1970's. 80's as being very pleasant and the not the rat race and stress loaded experiences some of you express here. I had the good fortune of working/living in Singapore for 24 year up to 2013.

Rob

I would suggest a group called "International Supply Teachers". The website is http://teachersonthemove.com/

First you need to join, and they go through a review process checking up on your references and experiences, and of course interviewing you.

Rob

I worked there a several years ago and loved it. The students were great, and class size, particularly in the high school, seemed to be very manageable. All the expat hires get a car that is leased to them for such small monthly amount. You don't have to worry about insurance, as the auto insurance is covered by the school automatically. I remember weekends being able to take leisurely drives to the Dead Sea and grading papers in a most relaxing environment. Of course, weekend trips to Pertra was something we did in groups.

Teacher housing, at least a few years ago, was miles from school, and the teachers were put in several apartment blocs. I had a three bedroom apartment, completely furnished, and loved it. You really do have your own privacy. I drove to school everyday.

I found the Jordanians to be perhaps the friendliest in the Middle East (just my opinion). I'd be on the street taking a walk, and I always was treated well.

I remember the high school graduation being in Jerash, a place of ancient Roman ruins. Not too many students can boast about their high school graduation being in the sort of setting.

I just can't think of one negative aspect that would cause you to turn it down. The story I like to tell people is this one winter it snowed in Amman, and I mean really snowed. One night we had about a foot or more of snow, and we heard there were no snowplows in the whole city. We had no school for three days, because we had to wait until snow melted on the streets. Most people just don't think it snow in the part of the world. It does!

Anyway, my opinion on ACS.

Rob

I think Climberman is correct. This is all my opinion of course. I recently left full time teaching after 42 years, with about 36 of those years in international schools. I'm still very interested in hearing from others about their experience after being part of this life style and career so many years.

The majority of the schools overseas are mediocre schools that frankly just don't allow you to save a great deal for retirement, especially when most teachers don't stay there long enough to work their way up the salary scale. However, once you land a school that is a tier one school, as I did in Singapore, you hold on to it. Yet, I had friends and colleagues at this school who taught more than 25 years there, and referred to their situation as being in "golden handcuffs". You want to leave, but the benefits are too good to do so. You end up staying longer than you should. I don't think you have this problem in the States, but you certainly have others. In the States, public schools seem to recognize your years of experience, and even as a new teacher, puts you on the salary scale where you should be.

I've always mixed teaching overseas with coming back to the States to teach. I taught in Vietnam during the war, and then returned to the States to teach. I was in in Iran for 2 years (time of the Shah), and then returned to the States to teach for a year. I did the same in Saudi Arabia, Korea, Liberia, Venezuela, and stopped doing that in Singapore for quite a few years. Why? It was a great school to be in, but I was there, as others were, longer than anywhere else, mostly for the benefits and salary. However, it was a great experience.

It was only after being there for 19 years that I felt I could return to the States for a year to teach, which I did, only to head to Egypt, Jordan and Vietnam (again) for teaching stints. Just returned to the States a year ago at the age of 66. Now I'm older than schools want, and I think I like that.

I mention all this because no one say once you are overseas, you can still have teaching experiences in the States. However, once you find that special school overseas, you really want to hold onto it. The problem is, there is always an unknown factor with someone in admin you may have conflicts with, and he can be unjust toward you. There is no union to protect you as in the States.

I've ramble here, but just thought I'd share my two cents.

Rob

After teaching in another school in Singapore for 18 years, I retired in Singapore, only to accept a year long position at OFS a few years ago, and a year long position again a couple years ago.

As a teacher, you work hard at OFS. The MYP and IB preparation involve lots and lots of meetings, and the further division of labor for test writing to accomplish all the "essential elements" have to be approved by the department head before the exam can be used. I thought the tests were very valid as a result.

The classes are large, and some of the classrooms at the current campus are quite small, so it was quite congested at times. Many of the parents chose OFS because of its location right in the center of the city, but with the new campus way outside the city, that will be different. I think enrollments will drop, but that could lead to less crowded classes and be a positive. However, it might also lead to a loss in revenue.

There have been a couple of instances where a teacher needed extensive surgery, and it was actually covered. However, it is never really guaranteed. For the usual run of the mill illnesses, there is not problem, but avoid serious medical problems if you are there. Regardless, I just went to my own doctor most of the time if I was sick and paid out of pocket. Clinics are everywhere, and for one of the common illnesses, that is never a problem.

There have been a few instances where teachers are let go, and there has been little or no reasons given except "your services are no longer required". That's always a little disconcerting to hear, but in a for profit school like OFS, that will always happen. The principal does not really lead, but appear to instead. They follow the wishes of the one owner of the school.

Your potential colleagues are great. I had some of the most well-qualified colleagues as I had at any of my past schools. However, it always surprised me how they got these teachers, because OFS does not go to any of the recruitment fairs at all, but simply receives applications and takes it from there. Teachers are not hired until late in the year usually.

You are correct that being at OFS is certainly a wonderful way to get to Singapore. In my own case, when I got to Singapore in 1988, it was a wonderful city of 2.5 million, and now a city of 6 million plus. The congestion is apparent. Having said that, it was a wonderful home for me up until a year ago.

Hi-
I spent about 25 years in Singapore teaching at a school there, and have met a lot of families with one of the spouses working and the other "trailing". There are certainly opportunities to work and open your own business. Opening your own business in Singapore is surprisingly easy and inexpensive. I o not remember how it's done, but I simply know others have tried it and succeeded. Once you have your own business name, that's when it becomes difficult- getting business to make it profitable. You can apply for an employment pass and after you register the business. I'm not sure what order it goes in, but I am certain that opening a business is certainly possible. I have a friend who is teaching yoga in his free time, and he simply does it free-lance, without a work permit for his business. However, he does it almost as a hobby and does not look at it as his business.

There are so many fitness places in Singapore, and that might also open the possibility of simply applying and getting a work permit to work there, and since your husband is able to teach boxing, that might open doors also. I've had a colleague of mine there that was training at a couple boxing gyms.

There are also a few places places to study and get a certificate in ESL. Some language schools allow you to teach there and take the courses concurrently, and that is enough to get a work permit. I taught ESL there some of the summers, and that's exactly what I did, and that worked out very well.

I hope this helps.

I've taught in 12 international schools in 12 countries, and just returned to the States last year to retire (I'm 68). I've always felt safe, even with the several attempted coups in Liberia and a president's assassination in Korea many years ago. I also feel safe in the US. The problem with the press and movies is exaggeration and hyperbole sells, and that's what's happening. It is true that politics is getting bad, even corrupt, but if the voters can change that if they truly want to.