I was an emergency one year replacement at Saigon South International School a few years ago, and I regret not agreeing to being there for two years. I have only positive comments about the school. It's in District 7, which had walkable streets, nice restaurants, and a very international community.

My opinion.

In the early 1970's I was with an international school that offered TIAA-CREF. It's the same retirement group that many of the university professors around the US use in their retirement plans. Over the course of 40 years, I was in some international schools that contributed to that plan. Other schools did not, so I contributed to TIAA-CREF myself during those years. I spread the money in three areas- CREF stocks, Real Estate, and the very conservative TIAA annuity.

Many retirement investors do not like the annuity, but I do not like the stress and uncertainty of what stocks or real estate will do over the course of my lifetime. I've always stuck with the old retirement model- the three legged stool (a pension, social security, and savings in the bank). I'm a little old fashioned that way. The annuity is now paying me a salary for the rest of my life, and it has a COLA, so every year I get a raise. I look at this "pension" from the annuity as my salary, and my job is to stay healthy. With that "pension" and social security, I have a salary at least equivalent to some of the best schools I taught in. I still have a significant amount in stocks and real estate (and in the bank), but I'm not stressed out when the market falls. I figure if Albert Einstein and Ben Bernanke have the TIAA "pension", then I should be fine.

Overseas I deposited money into the retirement plan monthly. It gave me peace of mind. As overseas teachers, we just don't have the pension that states offer their teachers, so we need to create our own pension. Because I have a low tolerance of uncertainty, I chose the annuity as my pension, while still contributing (even now) to the stock and Real Estate funds.

My two cents.

Rob

Social Security will be part of the retirement system I'm sure in your future. After 40+ years of teaching overseas, I'm glad I was in three of the schools that contribute into social security if for no other reason that I now have Medicare. I have more than 23 adult years of not paying into any social security, so that the three schools I was in allowed me to barely qualify for Medicare and still receive about $600/month is social security.


Rob

My last three positions during the past 6 years came up after May, so I'd say there is a real possibility. I used TIE online, and their instant job notifications. As a math teacher, even with only two years experience, you should be in demand if a position come open.

Rob

Hi-
I semi-retired from teaching at 61 while in Singapore. I say "semi-retired", because I ended up teaching full time up until the age of 66 in Egypt, Jordan, and Vietnam, and they were at good international schools.

I joined a group called "international supply teachers" that fills positions in international schools from 3 months to a whole year. The web address is as follows: http://teachersonthemove.com/ They have an interview process, and so they get qualified teachers. Unfortunately, even though I've received at least two or three possibilities from this group, every year since leaving my school in Singapore, the short term positions I've gotten have been on my own from schools that needed an emergency replacement.

You might consider the "International Supply Teachers" for getting your foot in the door.

Regards,
Rob

My suggestion is you go to this website: http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/

Some of the people on that website are very knowledgeable about the question you are asking.

Rob

I taught there a long long time ago, but from what I hear, the campus is the same. The campus is on top of a large hill overlooking Valencia, so from my classroom I could look down and see Valencia. The housing was excellent, but at the time they put singles in with other singles in houses. I believe they have changed that.

I enjoyed Valencia very much, and teacher trips to the coast and the islands was really worthwhile. Students were mostly Venezuelan, and liked Americans. Today I'm not sure.

Rob

Having lived in Singapore for 25 years, mostly at one school there, I can offer some insights. Migratingbird, I just left Singapore 4 months ago and was renting a 650 sq foot HDB (gov't) flat for S$2,600/month. With US$3000, you can most certainly rent a spacious HDB flat, but not a condo (pool, exercise room, etc), unless it is way outside the downtown area, With your family, some of the rent will need to come out of pocket if you are renting a decent condo. That is not really uncommon anymore frankly.

The leases are usually for two years, and with that, you need to put a 2 month deposit down. In my 25 years, I always got the deposit back, but I have heard of exceptions. If you push for a 1 year lease, the deposit is only a months rent. In addition, you need to pay the agents fees, which usually add 1/2 to 1 months rent. Since I knew Singapore well, I tried to deal directly with the landlord.

As for a live in maid, I'm not sure, but for a car, it is far more expensive than any other place I have loved in. It's not unusual after all the taxes (gov't, road, etc) are paid to have the cost exceed US$60,000, and gas is expensive. I was happy with their mass transit, arguably the best in the world.

Rob

I spent 40+ years overseas, and only recently retired in the States. I have never had the time, interest nor aptitude to know how to invest my money, so I decided to be very conservative and relative risk free in my investments. Back in 1972 I started investing with TIAA-CREF, the largest private teacher retirement plan in the States. University professors, private school teachers, and people involved in scientific research contribute to it. I figure if Albert Einstein and Ben Bernanke had/have their retirement plans through it, that's good enough for me.

I contributed most of my money into an annuity. The rest is in real estate investments, stocks and government bonds, all through TIAA-CREF. My annuity retirement income is plenty, and it is continual. Annuities may not be for everyone, but there is never any anxiety should the stock market crash, or the economy sinks. However, to have alternatives beyond annuities, is always wise, if only as a supplement to the annuity income.

My two cents.

Rob

My attitude after 61 years of age was that if no school wants me, I'll do relief work. I actually did that for one year, and was kept pretty busy. However, for the other 6 years, I was hired after May. After being in one international school in Singapore for 18 years, I wanted to break free of long term commitments with one school, so for the four international schools I taught in after Singapore, I was there for only one year each with one year contracts. I got exposure to Egypt, Jordan and Vietnam. I taught my final year in a different school in Singapore before returning to the States to "retire" (maybe).

I'm still leaving open the possibility of teaching next year, but if I don't, it's fine. If you don't get hired until after June, it's good to have contingency plans that still keep you in teaching, whether it be subbing or tutoring. There are a lot of good teachers out there that are in the right place at the right time, and it's important never to take momentary rejections personally.

Just my two cents.

Rob

MedellinHeel , the last three positions I got, after 2007, was because of TIE and the "instant job notifications. I worked at a pretty good school in Jordan, Egypt, and finally Vietnam. All three schools hired me after May (two in early August). I just my last position at the ageof 67.

Rob

After leaving a very good school in Singapore after 18 years at the age of 61, I decided to venture out for a few years and teach in other countries. I taught in three schools in Jordan, Egypt, and Vietnam, and recently called it quits at the age of 67. In all three schools I was hired after May. My point is, you will be hired, even at some very good schools, if you are willing to wait. As a first overseas hire, you might find it difficult.

It's been my experience in 38+ years overseas that administrators all write great letters of recommendation, even if the teacher is mediocre. I think the actual phone conversation with the administrator trumps the letter of recommendation. Just my opinion.

PS- I'm glad I got into the overseas teaching a long time ago (1970). The market was a lot less competitive. The teacher could choose where he wanted to go, and it usually ended up that way. Nevertheless, hiring goes right on through until August, the month I was hired for my last school.

Rob

I think it depends on the person from the school district office in Canada that interviews you. Sometimes the interviewer will value a teacher who has been teaching international students around the world, especially if that teachers is a geography or social studies teacher. Other interviewers might think that you are not accustomed to the rigors of public school education after teaching in international schools. Again, it depends on the person who interviews you. My own opinion.

You might be surprised if you open yourself up to late hiring (after May). I retired at the age of 61 from a very good school in Singapore. In my "semi-retirement", i worked full time at another school in Singapore, but was hired in June. The following year I worked at a very good school in Jordan, and was hired in July. The following year I was hired in early June at a school in Vermont (USA). The following year I was hired in July at a very nice school in Egypt. The following year I was hired at a very nice school in Ho Chi Minh City. This past year I was hired at another different school back in Singapore. Now I'm not really looking any more.

So, I think if you are over a certain age and open yourself up to helping out another school in need, it's very possible to stay working until you are 67, like me. However, I like the idea now of truly being more retired.

Rob

Dimnds,

Overseas Family School has a few science teachers leaving, and I know they were looking for 3 new science teachers. I would check that out. the school has its faults, but colleagues are great. They never go to any of the recruitment fairs but somehow get excellent teachers. It may have something to do with their excellent salary scales.

The other schools (SAIS, SAS, UWC, Tanglin, and Chatsworth) have no openings at the moment.

You might also consider Raffles American School in Johor, just across the border. It's a very new school, growing rapidly from the initial 20 students, and you might like the environment.

I hope this helps.

Rob