Expat Travel Mom

A while back, I changed our lives forever. Our direction, our finances, our opportunities, our whole vision of the world. People don't believe me when I tell them I answered an ad on Craigslist for my first position teaching overseas. Not just Craigslist, a listing for a job in Abu Dhabi. Here's what that ad said, and how it moved my entire family across the ocean.

The Job Itself

Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE. Monthly salary in the AED 12,300 to 20,400 range, tax-free, roughly $3,400 to $5,400 USD. A two-year contract, working hours 7:30 to 3:00, Sunday through Thursday. Benefits included return airfare for me, my spouse, and up to three dependents, single housing (furnished, or a furniture allowance), health insurance for the whole family, visa sponsorship through the school, summer vacation and national holidays, plus a completion bonus of one month's salary per year, along with an annual flight allowance.

What We Actually Did

We packed up our home and put it in storage, rented out our house, and left the United States with fifteen suitcases. The Middle East had us, and we were committed to making it work. We went with real apprehension, wondering if we'd be back on the next flight out, but we didn't want to miss the opportunity without at least trying.

Where to Actually Start

Everyone still asks me how to get started, so here are the resources I'd point you toward.

Search Associates is the company that brought me to where I ended up. Professional, easy to use, genuinely one-stop shopping for teaching positions around the world. The database is straightforward, you can browse compensation packages and email schools directly with your CV. They run job fairs in centralized locations worldwide with regional representatives, and in my experience, the Middle East rep was responsive and easy to reach.

Tes (formerly known by a different name in my early searching days) lets you browse international teaching jobs easily, for free, anytime, with instructions on who to contact for each listing.

IB World Schools is worth bookmarking if you know you want to stick with the IB curriculum specifically, like tes, it's free and points you directly to who to contact. When I went to Ajman, I became and IB teacher and it changed my vision on education.

The Honest Version

I can't promise this will be hassle-free, perfect, or even enjoyable the whole way through. Everyone has their own comfort zone and tolerance level. We loved the Middle East enough to stay years past that first 2 year contract. But I know plenty of people who left after a year, a few months, even a few days. Research your area, go in with a realistic view of the culture, understand your compensation package fully, and ask real questions about your housing. Moving your life around the world isn't something to take lightly, but it's also worth having fun with and enjoying everything waiting outside your front door.

National Day at our school in Ajman