Should I just go?

Stayorgo2021 · 28-10-2020 3:10pm #1

Hi, I'm a 37 y/o single male, primary school teacher, 5 years experience. I live in a one bedroom apartment in Dublin paying €1100 p/m. I was here with my girlfriend but we split last year. My days of sharing with strangers are over and moving home is not an option. I've saved little or nothing over the last year, and I am seriously considering going to the UAE or Qatar, etc. to put a dent in mortgage savings. My friends have all gradually moved on so I do not have any social aspects I would miss here now, even prior to Covid.

I do not want to be that 'grass greener on the other side' guy but can anyone please give their thoughts on if this would be a worthwhile move for me? I am self disciplined so falling into the party/travelling lifestyle would not be an issue.

Basically, I would like my own accommodation (1 bed) and to save about €10,000 per year. Is this a reasonable expectation for a primary school teacher in UAE?

Thanks!

Icsics · 28-10-2020 5:11pm

Definitely! If saving is your main motivation I would consider another Mid East country, such as Kuwait. Your timing is good, these jobs will be advertised after Xmas on tes.co.uk.

Stayorgo2021 · 28-10-2020 5:34pm

Icsics wrote: »

Definitely! If saving is your main motivation I would consider another Mid East country, such as Kuwait. Your timing is good, these jobs will be advertised after Xmas on tes.co.uk.

Do you have any experience there yourself?

Icsics · 28-10-2020 5:38pm

Stayorgo2021 wrote: »

Do you have any experience there yourself?

Yes & I’d recommend for saving money. Tax free salary, flights, accommodation paid for. But like I said, look at the tes site & you’ll familiarise yourself with options.

john123470 · 28-10-2020 5:47pm

Stayorgo2021 wrote: »

Hi, I'm a 37 y/o single male, primary school teacher ..

Basically, I would like my own accommodation (1 bed) and to save about €10,000 per year. Is this a reasonable expectation for a primary school teacher in UAE?

Thanks!

What are you waiting for. You'll save that and more. You can also look at teaching at Int'l schools when youre abroad.

A lot depends on what youre leaving behind. If you can afford to up and go w/out looking back - then go .. go and stand not upon the ceremony of your going .

mtoutlemonde · 28-10-2020 5:49pm

I don't know what your situation is but I would apply for career break before February deadline so you have your job when/if you return.

stargazer 68 · 28-10-2020 5:52pm

Have to agree OP. You have the opportunity now so take it. Look around the Gulf in general - UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan etc. Loads of European schools and teachers all over the region. A career break is a good idea if you can do it. If you don't like it/settle in you can always come back!

Stayorgo2021 · 28-10-2020 6:04pm

I would miss seeing family but I'm starting to see more and more of my peers settling down and as I get older (and finished with my GAA club) I find myself becoming more isolated and spending time alone. This thread is the closest thing to a chat I have had this week!

My understanding of many of these locations is that they arrange active trips such as hiking and cycling for locals so I think it would be good for me, financially and socially. I'm hoping that 2 years will see me save enough and then return with my mortgage deposit. I really appreciate all of the replies and would love to hear from someone can recommend a specific area.

skooterblue2 · 28-10-2020 6:10pm

Stayorgo2021 wrote: »

Hi, I'm a 37 y/o single male, primary school teacher, 5 years experience. I live in a one bedroom apartment in Dublin paying €1100 p/m. I was here with my girlfriend but we split last year. My days of sharing with strangers are over and moving home is not an option. I've saved little or nothing over the last year, and I am seriously considering going to the UAE or Qatar, etc. to put a dent in mortgage savings. My friends have all gradually moved on so I do not have any social aspects I would miss here now, even prior to Covid.

I do not want to be that 'grass greener on the other side' guy but can anyone please give their thoughts on if this would be a worthwhile move for me? I am self disciplined so falling into the party/travelling lifestyle would not be an issue.

Basically, I would like my own accommodation (1 bed) and to save about €10,000 per year. Is this a reasonable expectation for a primary school teacher in UAE?

Thanks!

Get proper advice before you go. Load of expats are returning home from Dubai. There is going to be a global financial crash again in the next three weeks and again in February.

This could be the making or breaking of you. You could end u buying a villa in a year on rock bottom prices and loving it there once travel resumes. A friend of a friend is Principle in Spain and is loving the ex-pat life style.
Also find Nomad Capitalist and Loy Macedo to find out about money and life styles.

mtoutlemonde · 28-10-2020 6:23pm

Stayorgo2021 wrote: »

I would miss seeing family but I'm starting to see more and more of my peers settling down and as I get older (and finished with my GAA club) I find myself becoming more isolated and spending time alone. This thread is the closest thing to a chat I have had this week!

My understanding of many of these locations is that they arrange active trips such as hiking and cycling for locals so I think it would be good for me, financially and socially. I'm hoping that 2 years will see me save enough and then return with my mortgage deposit. I really appreciate all of the replies and would love to hear from someone can recommend a specific area.

I've sent you a PM.

Stayorgo2021 · 28-10-2020 7:29pm

Does anyone know of any reliable organisations through which I could apply? There are so many online

Cateym · 31-10-2020 3:47pm

Apply for career break and head off. Bear in mind, your years there won't be recognised for incremental purposes. I spent seven years secondary teaching in Abu Dhabi

skooterblue2 · 31-10-2020 4:49pm

Stayorgo2021 wrote: »

Does anyone know of any reliable organisations through which I could apply? There are so many online

I have no experience but I keep hearing the name "Sabris" a lot. Will someone else elaborate?
Also Youtube London Curls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf1pVIPVCpo&t=576s

And teach me Vogue
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC84VDMhhVFmCyE3s-XC7E_w

Treppen · 31-10-2020 6:51pm

There's a Teaching Abroad form at the top of this page.

I thought you could get experience teaching abroad to count for increment as long as it was a public school.

Cateym · 03-11-2020 12:39pm

Treppen wrote: »

There's a Teaching Abroad form at the top of this page.

I thought you could get experience teaching abroad to count for increment as long as it was a public school.

All I know is that I spent seven years teaching science and biology in a private school (most are in the UAE) and at the moment they won't acknowledge them. Know another Irish teacher who spent seven years in Australia, he also hasn't been given any incremental credit.

skooterblue2 · 03-11-2020 12:50pm

Cateym wrote: »

All I know is that I spent seven years teaching science and biology in a private school (most are in the UAE) and at the moment they won't acknowledge them. Know another Irish teacher who spent seven years in Australia, he also hasn't been given any incremental credit.

You also need to offset the money earned against the wages which are Tax free, vat at 5% and the housing allowance/free apartment. If he got his deposit for a house bought in the financial crash coming in the next two weeks then he would be on the pigs back and few grinds on the side during the week. Well sorted when he would arrive home.

Cateym · 04-11-2020 12:46pm

skooterblue2 wrote: »

You also need to offset the money earned against the wages which are Tax free, vat at 5% and the housing allowance/free apartment. If he got his deposit for a house bought in the financial crash coming in the next two weeks then he would be on the pigs back and few grinds on the side during the week. Well sorted when he would arrive home.

Financially, it was totally worth spending those years over there. However, now I'm being regarded as someone with a year of experience rather than eight! Bit tough on the old ego. 😏

Jim2007 · 04-11-2020 1:48pm

Stayorgo2021 wrote: »

I would miss seeing family but I'm starting to see more and more of my peers settling down and as I get older (and finished with my GAA club) I find myself becoming more isolated and spending time alone. This thread is the closest thing to a chat I have had this week!

So how would buying your own apartment and living alone it in improve your situation? The only difference will be that you own the box rather than renting it....

Stayorgo2021 wrote: »

My understanding of many of these locations is that they arrange active trips such as hiking and cycling for locals so I think it would be good for me, financially and socially. I'm hoping that 2 years will see me save enough and then return with my mortgage deposit. I really appreciate all of the replies and would love to hear from someone can recommend a specific area.

Most of the people you will meet will be expats, many of them in transit and very few interested in building up any kind of real friendship. An then two years later you'll find yourself back in the same situation with the only bonus being that you own the box your are living alone it....

Sorry I don't think much of this strategy because I think in two years time you be back in the same situation, but two years older and a mortgage to pay.

I think you'd be better served by concentrating on making a live for yourself here rather than running around for two years only to end up back where you started.

LittleBrick · 04-11-2020 1:51pm

If the OP wants to message me, I'm in the exact same boat. Have done loads of research, would be happy to advise

Hoboo · 04-11-2020 2:00pm

skooterblue2 wrote: »

There is going to be a global financial crash again in the next three weeks and again in February......

.

Have you some evidence/links for this please? Haven't read or heard anything so specific. PM if you like, no intention to derail the thread. Thanks.

skooterblue2 · 04-11-2020 2:04pm

Hoboo wrote: »

Have you some evidence/links for this please? Haven't read or heard anything so specific. PM if you like, no intention to derail the thread. Thanks.

No just feelings when the new US president is in he will stop printing dollars in the Fed the stock market will collapse. Once they work out who the president is in February and starts making much tougher decisions, then there will be civil unrest.
Not good times ahead. The knock on effect will not be felt in Ireland as hard as it will be felt in the States.

amadangomor · 04-11-2020 3:43pm

A good friend moved in September to Qatar to do secondary teaching.

Last I heard he liked it although missing his wife kids who will be joining him after Christmas.

Will ask him if he recommends it/any tips.

skooterblue2 · 04-11-2020 3:54pm

All countries in the Middle East are at different stages of development and progression.
The UAE has fantastic infrastructure in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Sharjah is dry regarding alcohol.
Saudi Arabia is much more wealthy but not very permissive.

Treppen · 04-11-2020 4:02pm

Jim2007 wrote: »

So how would buying your own apartment and living alone it in improve your situation? The only difference will be that you own the box rather than renting it....

Most of the people you will meet will be expats, many of them in transit and very few interested in building up any kind of real friendship. An then two years later you'll find yourself back in the same situation with the only bonus being that you own the box your are living alone it....

Sorry I don't think much of this strategy because I think in two years time you be back in the same situation, but two years older and a mortgage to pay.

I think you'd be better served by concentrating on making a live for yourself here rather than running around for two years only to end up back where you started.

I'd love to own the box in I live in!

skooterblue2 · 04-11-2020 4:04pm

Jim2007 wrote: »

Most of the people you will meet will be expats, many of them in transit and very few interested in building up any kind of real friendship. An then two years later you'll find yourself back in the same situation with the only bonus being that you own the box your are living alone it....

Sorry I don't think much of this strategy because I think in two years time you be back in the same situation, but two years older and a mortgage to pay.

I think you'd be better served by concentrating on making a live for yourself here rather than running around for two years only to end up back where you started.

Your situation in life is what you make it and so too with your social life.
After 30 people have their own family lives and have their networks formed. It is much harder but possible to make friends.

In two years he could have €40k saved on a mortgage and buying in a depressed market. Win win and renting it out again.

Loads of people run off over there for a couple of years after college to get a quick deposit for a house. There is probably going to be another Haddington road style agreement where civil/public servants get shafted again. Who wants to wait around for a situation like that on a salary that is hard enough to get by on.

skooterblue2 · 04-11-2020 4:05pm

Treppen wrote: »

I'd love to own the box in I live in!

Screw you, I would plain love to live in a box compared to my current domestic set up.

Treppen · 04-11-2020 4:36pm

skooterblue2 wrote: »

Screw you, I would plain love to live in a box compared to my current domestic set up.

Dog house again is it.

skooterblue2 · 04-11-2020 5:22pm

Treppen wrote: »

Dog house again is it.

Its worse than that Ted, I am living on the Brother in Laws lot.

john123470 · 04-11-2020 9:42pm

If you go, you'll be sorry you did.
If you don't go, you'll be sorry you didn't.

Its a tough one

marialouise · 06-11-2020 9:44am

If you want to try international schools, some websites such as Search Associates or ISS Schrole have a database of jobs, and many teachers sign up (it's not cheap) to see what jobs are available.

I also browse this forum: https://internationalschoolsreview.com/v-web/bulletin/bb/viewforum.php?f=1

Finally, I would just throw in that I'm in a western European country which has a higher cost of living, but has a GAA club and schools which teach Irish. There are direct flights to Dublin and I'm 2 hours from an airport with direct flights to Cork

I haven't worked in Ireland (I'm still training now) but I am constantly on the look out for jobs and see plenty of primary ones available. You mightn't save as much per year but you may have the potential to stay for 3 or 4 years to save up while also not being quite so far away.

I agree with what a poster said about expats though - you may find yourself neither building meaningful friendships abroad nor maintaining friendships at home, and wind up being somewhat isolated in the end. OR it could be an absolutely brilliant time abroad and you might never come back! I would do it

Edited to add: the wink was supposed to be at the end and not the title of my post but I don't know how to fix it now...

Stayorgo2021 · 21-11-2020 12:29am

Just seeing all the replies now, thanks. I just feel that I am probably paying more in rent than I would be for a mortgage. As things stand I cannot afford a mortgage deposit and as I have grown older (late 30s now) I would find it difficult to go back to sharing with strangers. I would much prefer to purchase and move forward that way. I'm close to a standstill as I am right now financially and getting nowhere fast.

In terms of the social aspect in leaving Ireland, as I am not a big drinker I have found it very hard to make new friendships since I finished playing gaa and my main core of friends settled down. I have been on nights out here and there with colleagues and friends but that was just to drink. I'm outdoor orientated and it's not easy to suggest a cycle or puck around with a hurl to folk you hardly know in Ireland, let alone with the weather here most months of the year.

I find it interesting when I hear people complain since March about not being able to do things with other people and sitting in alone at weekends. I've had a two year headstart at that so if there's a better life somewhere else for me I need to go for it.

I would love to hear from any more experienced people who have gone in search of this.

Did you make friends? Does socialising revolve much around drinking alcohol? Did you get to save as much as you hoped to?

Should I just go?

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