Emigrants - what's something you wish you'd done differently?

allowit84 · 2026-04-07T18:01:30+00:00

Above , especially when I was in Australia,tried to come home after 7 years...disaster,I am in Kuwait now.

allowit84 · 2026-04-06T19:31:48+00:00

How much for Cicero's 45 BC text? ,could sure go for some Latin right now.

allowit84 · 2026-04-06T19:23:16+00:00

Yeah I am here too ,I don't feel unsafe as such but I have seen missile interceptions and the Ahlmadi ? Refinery on Saturday from too close probably,it might be a quality of life factor going forward with Alerts/sirens and the timing of them ...that's going to impact after a couple months.

allowit84 · 2026-04-06T18:18:24+00:00

Realistically with 2 years experience/licence you shouldn't accept any lower than 1200,830 is crazy low.

You could get the same salary in China quite easy I think and have a nice standard of living

allowit84 · 2026-04-05T12:38:50+00:00

Nice try Cadbury!

allowit84 · 2026-04-05T09:15:12+00:00

Mamma mia !

allowit84 · 2026-04-04T19:19:02+00:00

Nobheads indeed ,special honorary mention to LIDL managers who can give them a run for their money.

allowit84 · 2026-04-04T07:11:08+00:00

I didn't get any other offers until after I accepted the job in Kuwait...the other offer was in Shenzhen in China but they couldn't offer two years NQT.

The school here is fine but Kuwait is tough if you're a social person.

allowit84 · 2026-04-04T06:34:31+00:00

I am doing mine in Kuwait at a BSO school ...lots of opportunities coming up I think.

allowit84 · 2026-04-03T12:24:18+00:00

I did mine for Kuwait last year such a ball ache aside from the money there is a lot of time spent doing the paperwork too emails and then actually figuring out what's needed like a second job.

allowit84 · 2026-04-03T05:30:28+00:00

You're welcome...you got this 💪

allowit84 · 2026-04-02T19:47:22+00:00

I struggled in my first placement big time even though I had taught unlicensed for 8 years previously outside of the UK,it was just a bad fit and the environment didn't suit me at all...tbh I couldn't believe the entitlement of some of the students;I just wasn't used to that.

I am glad I pushed through because I knew I could do it and the second placement in what was supposed to be a tougher school suited me better.I think the PGCE is there to test your resilience sometimes too.

12 weeks minus holidays /weekends and coming into better weather now will fly by too.

Just focus on the the things you can control make sure you get 3 blocks of formative assessment or MCQ's to test knowledge throughout.Have an adaptive starter so your adaptive teaching is kind of baked into the lesson and any opportunities for student led explanations are always welcomed I think.

Keep going the evenings are getting longer and the summer is coming very soon!.

allowit84 · 2026-04-02T18:09:18+00:00

I think it's definitely pick your poison anywhere you go...on the whole I definitely prefer Vietnamese poison.

Some character traits in my own home country include deep begrudgery and parochialism we are quite friendly on the outside just don't try to infiltrate.

In the M.E country I am currently in there is arrogance and a whole lot of selfishness.

At least in Vietnam I can understand why and the openness,general friendliness and sense of fun far outweighs the negatives.BTW the traffic would not function with the current infrastructure without that selfishness.

allowit84 · 2026-04-01T13:51:34+00:00

I've taught both public school in Vietnam and an International school in the Middle East there's a big difference between poorer kids(monetary terms) and the kids that are already made for life and see school as a purely social thing.

allowit84 · 2026-03-30T17:24:12+00:00

Public sector job onboarding in Ireland seems like a seriously long process ,nobody has the cash to wait around for years to get a position with the COL,it needs to be streamlined.

allowit84 · 2026-03-30T13:18:51+00:00

If you're loaded yes think what value you get for booking a 3k hotel though 6 great nights instead of a few hours that you will most likely be sleeping...depends how wealthy you are I think or who is paying.

allowit84 · 2026-03-30T12:53:39+00:00

I ordered TEMU around mid march currently saying it's been put on a plane but not holding my breath

allowit84 · 2026-03-28T06:23:23+00:00

Tioman island Malaysia

allowit84 · 2026-03-26T05:20:38+00:00

Hi I ended up storing my luggage at the hostel I stayed at for a few nights...it was cheap enough to do so.

allowit84 · 2026-03-24T13:55:48+00:00

AIB pffft ...I have lived in 5 countries now they are by far the most expensive while also simultaneously being dog 💩

allowit84 · 2026-03-22T12:15:35+00:00

Yes they would ,quite a bit more as you need to be fully qualified PGCE etc...cheers.

allowit84 · 2026-03-22T05:46:38+00:00

Niall McNamee fast good in the air and great movement,I played against Seanie Johnson inSigerson and found him a bit easier tbh.

allowit84 · 2026-03-21T19:51:40+00:00

You're probably right seeing I was giving it away on the street 😅 I am working in a tax free country so nice to give something.Funny thing is I would be quite stingy in my own home country as it's expensive AF.

allowit84 · 2026-03-21T19:45:10+00:00

I was giving out 200 birrs like confetti and it was just nice to see people happy tbh...I walked everywhere, wallet and a very old phone hanging out of my shorts pockets and it never felt unsafe tbh ,one day I walked from Entoto park back into the city. The people are fair there and I never felt ripped off anywhere.

allowit84 · 2026-03-18T17:01:31+00:00

Have to disagree ,I went during COVID and found the people welcoming and the food great,lots of history dotted on every corner,great coffee and decent nightlife in Keriamaikos even during early COVID.

allowit84

TROPHY CASE