I've never been in a position where my passport was my i.d.; my labor/resident cards always had their own number. But in rereading MizMorton's OP, I see that this info was requested on a CV, which does seem out of order especially if you haven't even gotten as far as an interview.

That said, I'm still unsure, given that my passport details are in hotels and immigration bureaus in many countries, that that info can be used for identity theft. It's not tied into anything personal or financial.

I don't think a scan of your passport would help anyone steal your identity. Your PP number isn't used as i.d. I've sent mine off to travel agents who needed it for booking purposes; it was never a concern.

I also thought UNI was a good fair, and less of a rat race than Cambridge SEARCH. There were a lot of excellent-to-little-known schools there and the recruiters were hiring and not simply scouting.

Just to clarify a bit of confusion regarding electronics/wattage/voltage/converters/adapaters:

A converter is necessary only if the voltage requirement of what you are plugging in is different from your country's electrical voltage. The vast majority of modern electronics such as digital cameras, tablets, cell phones, computers, printers, and battery chargers are dual voltage, so a converter is no longer necessary. Check each of your gadgets to ensure that they are dual voltage. This information will sometimes be in raised letters or printed on a tag on the a.c. adapter or affixed to the device itself; it will say something like "Input: 100-240v."

Appliances like hair dryers, electric shavers, immersion heaters, or coffee makers may be single-voltage only for your country of residence, in which case you may need a converter of sufficient wattage. You also need to be aware of the cycles-per-second (50 or 60 Hz) of your appliance in order not to burn it out or blow a fuse. For the price of a converter you could probably buy what you want once you get to your new country and not deal with the whole voltage/wattage/hertzes issue at all. That, or buy travel-ready appliances that can handle any voltage.

An adapter simply allows the plug of your device to fit in the electrical outlet.

As for knives: I love to cook and bought two new ones to take with me on my first summer leave as I could not find the quality I wanted when I went abroad the first time. I imagine in Shanghai, however, you will be able to find good carbon-steel knives and people to sharpen them regularly.

Out of curiosity I did a quick search and found their homepage http://www.alshomoukh.com/ It's opening K-9 this fall. Can't figure out where it's located.

Menor is one of the better schools in Quito, or actually, a nice suburb of Quito. The only school that pays anything approaching an American salary in Quito is Academia Cotopaxi, but you also are working much harder. The cost of living in Quito is pretty cheap except for imported goods like electronics. Ask about transportation to the school for teachers as well as students. If you live in Quito instead of Cumbaya the commute will be longer.

I don't think I'd worry about sending my kids to school there. Ecuadorians are gracious and welcoming.

LUwahoo, most of the recruiting agencies require a minimum of two years teaching experience in order to register with them. If you look at various schools' Websites, you'll find they often prefer a minimum amount of experience as well. Most people will have at least two or more years experience teaching domestically. If you can get some AP experience (assuming you're secondary) while you're at it, all the better. It won't necessarily make you a shoe-in, but you'll have a track record working with upper-level students. Public school teaching is perfectly acceptable for building experience.

Don't relegate yourself to the bottom or even the middle--and don't fret too much about the much-vaunted "tier" system, which is highly subjective-- in your search. Seek out the best locations/schools/packages that work for you. Those will be *your* top-tier schools. Some schools will indeed provide mentorship with veteran teachers, and will also train you for IB teaching.

Yes, in a previous incarnation on the forum he claimed to have been in Cairo. He's having a Brian Williams/Bill Reilly/Robert McDonald moment.

Wondering how he'll spin this. I think I can guess.

Given your history of doing runners, and your oh-so-brief tenure in the Middle East (six weeks, was it? and more than likely was not Oman), you are hardly qualified to provide the OP with "actual knowledge."

My last school--whom I had contacted--did not have a school email address or even an intranet; employees had to use their personal email addresses! An intranet was set up within a few weeks after I started there.

So there is a possibility the school is legit--just a bit late joining the 21st century.

I would vote for Quito. I think it fits all your needs.

Schools that will be hiring a western ex-pat are quite willing to "invest" in a good teacher to keep them there; after all, it's someone familiar with the school, the students, the curriculum, and the local culture. They do not have to have any special pull. Getting a visa renewed after 60 should not be an issue.

There were a number of people over 60 at my school there. One was required to retire when she hit 70; her husband was slightly younger so they are staying 'til he has to retire as well. They had been there 10 years already.

If you have credit cards you would have to have an address on file. Where does that mail go to? Yes, you probably do it all online, as did I, but still got bank notices (delivered to my sister's address). What about your state/federal taxes? How do those get paid and from what address?

Fraisinette, I have sent you a PM.