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Teacher to go to Kuwait, Singapore or Turkey...need advice please

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Samza83

Hello everyone,

I am in a good but very difficult decsion making proccess. Your wisdom is very welcome. About me in short: Female 27, first year teacher (serial expat :) I am Muslim but not conservative at all. I have been to Turkey and enjoyed it very much. I have been offered three different teaching contracts and am trying to make the wisest choice based on personal and professional preferences. I would like to know where I am mistaken or should be weary.Here is some information I catagorised based on importance to me. I am worried about being legally taken atvantage of.

Ability to save money (Monthly pay)
Turkey: 2,500 USD no taxes, inc rent/utilities transport to and from school inc. Midday meal inc.

Singapore:3,200$ monthly after taxes, nothing inc---can I save on this salary? 4k 2nd year contract

Kuwait: 2,600 USD (750KD) no taxes, inc rent/utilities and internet  and transport to and from school

Social/Dating scene
Turkey: Excellent, would enjoy same freedom of movement as I would in US. Fond of Turkish men :)Socialising fun, but the 'rules' for men vs women are different.

Singapore: No info, probably decent potential partner may not be Muslim, could have a lot of fun socialising.

Kuwait: Limited due to gender and or location? Might be able to date fellow expats? Would find Muslim partner but not date? Too conservative for me?

Legal and personal liberties
Turkey: Strict laws, no need for exit visa obtaining 90 day visa continuously  be an issue? Not good? Why no work visa?

Singapore:Very strict lawsNo need for an exit visa Rights of expats? Employer wants to switch visa after 3 months emp.

Kuwait: Very strict, expats have few rights under law.
Contract states first 3 months emp are ‘trial’ I am afraid I would do something 'wrong' and not even realise it.

Cost of living
Turkey: Istanbul seems to be on par in expenses with Kuwait, utilities more $ (but they are in contract) Cost of food?

Singapore: Rent seems very high, may need to get a roommate to be able to save $ Transport seems expensive too, worried I might not be able to save much on 3,200.

Kuwait: Contract includes everything but food it seems. Socialising might be a lot more expensive than in the other two choices...and it seems to stay sane you need to socialise a lot :)

Curriculum & Classroom Dynamics:

Turkey: Attempting an IB curriculum (seemed vague) , once again not too in-depth kids are 3-7 years old. Turkish & expat..more Turkish

Singapore: Australian/IB curriculum---not to in-depth…kids are three years old. All expat. Interviewer didn't have much detail about curriculum.

Kuwait: Staff had some IB training, but doesn’t seem to have set curriculum. I would be in charge of 1st grade, Science, English, Maths and PYP instruction.  Almost 100% Kuwaiti, English language learner. Have some concerns about student behaviour/my rights to classroom decipline.

My ability to adapt:
Turkey: know from experience Blend in shockingly well. I feel very comfortable with Turkey’s blend of secularism & Islam. Such a beautiful country, kind people.

Singapore: I would obviously be ‘foreign’ but have no concerns. I have many friends from S'pore some seem to be a bit too materialistic.

Kuwait:Concerned about personal freedom restrictions that would not be an issue in other two places. Will not blend in, have no issues w/wearing abaya and following other social and legal rules.

Thank you guys very much for your insight :)

moe29

Well as much as I would like to be of help but I think I'll just tell you what I know about Kuwait since I am living here.

Kuwait is a very safe country (no burglars, rapists, etc)
Its quiet and very past paced depending on your life rountine. The cost of living I'm not going to even go there since you have a package which seems fairly nice btw.

Socializing and meeting people aint so hard at all, Kuwait is way different from Saudi Arabia if thats what you were thinking, and seems people are more open.  You dont need an abaya or something like that, you are free to go whereever you want, no social restrictions unless you're going to make out with a guy in a public place =)

so by the end of the day its just a different Turkey, smaller in size and population, alot of people speak english, you can and you will make lots of acquaintances.

So finally I wish you all the best where ever you are.

Good luck and talk to you soon let me know where you settle:D

pappa

has to be Turkey

go for it

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