Samza83
American expat in Australia
Forum posts
42
Contacts
1
About me
American
Lives in Adelaide
Speaks English, Spanish, tiny amount of Hindi
Registration: 09 July 2010
Before I submit my CV, any advice or insight appreciated! by Samza83
Hello expats! Long time and no posts! :) After almost moving to Turkey I took a job position in Russia as a qualified primary teacher and do love it but I feel it might be the time to move on. I am applying for a position in Germany that I have ...
Thank you Vroni. I did a bit more research and submitted my application materials a day ago. Open question to anyone: on average how long does one typically wait to hear back from company? Is it customary to send an email about two weeks after ... Read More
Before I submit my CV, any advice or insight appreciated!
Hello expats! Long time and no posts! :) After almost moving to Turkey I took a job position in Russia as a qualified primary teacher and do love it but I feel it might be the time to move on. I am applying for a position in Germany that I have ... Read More
Is Turkey still Secular? Life in Izmir by BOSTON MAMA
These may be naive questions, but ones I feel need to asked and answered. How secular is Turkey? I have read some very varying reports. Some say you get harrassed for holding hands with a man ( I dont kiss in public), Blackberries getting "erased ...
Ahh so people who wear a heascarf can now go to un谋vers谋ty too? Good because that rule made no sense. See I d谋dn,t know that :) Read More
Best way to get from Be艧kita艧 to Ataturk airport?
Hello everyone I am leav谋ng for a small hol谋day to Hungary tomorrow. I l谋ve 谋n a very crowed res谋dental ne谋ghbourhood w谋th seem谋ngly no access to the metro (my closest stat谋on 谋s Levent no?) so I ... Read More
Is Turkey still Secular? Life in Izmir by BOSTON MAMA
These may be naive questions, but ones I feel need to asked and answered. How secular is Turkey? I have read some very varying reports. Some say you get harrassed for holding hands with a man ( I dont kiss in public), Blackberries getting "erased ...
Hi Boston Mama, I sent you a PM instead :) Turkey in my opinion offers the best of both worlds. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-akFau_nlNY I love this documentary on the nature of secular and traditional Turkey. Sincerely, Samza Read More
Please tell me about BESIKTAS
Hello everyone, Turns out this is going to be my closest neighbourhood. Anyone know about the Pazars, events, 'feel' of the neighbourhood? Thank you :) Read More
new friends
USAEnglandIndiaTurkeyJapanCanadaEcuadorAustraliaAustraliaTurkey lol Samza, what do you do? DO you use coachsurfing?HEE :) No never use couchsurfing, I am sure it's good 99.9% of the time but as a lady I just don't know if I could trust it. Here's ... Read More
Are these good prices for everyday goods? by Samza83
Merhaba, I am moving to Istanbul in a couple of weeks and received a list of services I can buy as part of my contract. I would like to know your opinion on the costs: [b] Internet 聳 60 to 80,-- TL/month Phone 聳 Depends on how long you聮ll use ...
I lived in Istanbul on 800TL a month and with no problems. I had a 2 bedroom apartment that was new. This was also with a family of 4 with 2 teenage boys. I am using UYUDU NET it is fantastic - paying 38lira a month for very high speed internet ... Read More
new friends
Merhaba, Are you an exchange student or Turkish? I am coming to Turkey next week to live. I am American, I speak full English and full Spanish and am quickly learning Turkish.:) Read More
Gift suggestions for my new co-workers? by Samza83
Merhaba, I am starting my new job soon and would like to bring a gift to share with my co-workers. Since it will be Ramadan I am thinking twice about Chocolates (what do you think?)What else might you suggest I bring? What is the custom in Turkey ...
Yes they love any foreign-branded products. I think chocolates are a good choice but they must be made in Switzerland or Germany .Good thing I got a stop over in Germany. I prefer European chocolates too, but do our's suck that bad?:D Btw, what do ... Read More
First Ramadan in Turkey....I don't want it to be lonely or boring. by Samza83
Hello, So the title petty much says it all :) I am coming to Istanbul to live and work soon and this will be my first Ramadan in a (secular) Islamic country. It could be wonderful, but I'll be so new and hardly know anybody so it could be very ...
Yes i made up those kind of stories to keep tourists and expatsaway from Turkey. Here is Turkey, there are a lot of that kind of people which you dont think there ... Read More
First Ramadan in Turkey....I don't want it to be lonely or boring. by Samza83
Hello, So the title petty much says it all :) I am coming to Istanbul to live and work soon and this will be my first Ramadan in a (secular) Islamic country. It could be wonderful, but I'll be so new and hardly know anybody so it could be very ...
ANd i wonder why you are excited about that Samza83. Did you go to university in Istanbul?No I am American and went to a big university over here. We had two big Muslim student organizations and a very large Muslim community to the iftars and Eid ... Read More
First Ramadan in Turkey....I don't want it to be lonely or boring. by Samza83
Hello, So the title petty much says it all :) I am coming to Istanbul to live and work soon and this will be my first Ramadan in a (secular) Islamic country. It could be wonderful, but I'll be so new and hardly know anybody so it could be very ...
Selam Alekum Jehan :) Thanks for the encouraging words. I can tell you my friends and neighbours got a lot of good food from me last year!:lol: Read More
Gift suggestions for my new co-workers? by Samza83
Merhaba, I am starting my new job soon and would like to bring a gift to share with my co-workers. Since it will be Ramadan I am thinking twice about Chocolates (what do you think?)What else might you suggest I bring? What is the custom in Turkey ...
Thanks Jehan, I was thinking about indidually wrapped chocolates too. What other foreign (American) products are hard to find/loved in Turkey? Read More
First Ramadan in Turkey....I don't want it to be lonely or boring. by Samza83
Hello, So the title petty much says it all :) I am coming to Istanbul to live and work soon and this will be my first Ramadan in a (secular) Islamic country. It could be wonderful, but I'll be so new and hardly know anybody so it could be very ...
Good thing I had my childlike Turkish and old friend google translate for this one :lol: What happened to this thread? :/ I am assuming that everyone in Turkey is free to fast or not. I know even as a Muslim, I didn't last year as directed by my ... Read More
First Ramadan in Turkey....I don't want it to be lonely or boring.
Hello, So the title petty much says it all :) I am coming to Istanbul to live and work soon and this will be my first Ramadan in a (secular) Islamic country. It could be wonderful, but I'll be so new and hardly know anybody so it could be very ... Read More
Gift suggestions for my new co-workers?
Merhaba, I am starting my new job soon and would like to bring a gift to share with my co-workers. Since it will be Ramadan I am thinking twice about Chocolates (what do you think?)What else might you suggest I bring? What is the custom in Turkey ... Read More
Help please, Istanbul is calling ! by hannahane
Hi everybody, I got a final proposal for turkey, but still need to know things like: budget for transports ? budget for food ? budget for ( electricity, water and gaz) ? can anyone help me please !
A lot of my posts here have been about this issue :) Read More
Are these good prices for everyday goods? by Samza83
Merhaba, I am moving to Istanbul in a couple of weeks and received a list of services I can buy as part of my contract. I would like to know your opinion on the costs: [b] Internet 聳 60 to 80,-- TL/month Phone 聳 Depends on how long you聮ll use ...
Thanks for all the advice everyone. This might sound like a dumb question but are the food pazars open everyday or just certain days of the week? Read More
Are these good prices for everyday goods? by Samza83
Merhaba, I am moving to Istanbul in a couple of weeks and received a list of services I can buy as part of my contract. I would like to know your opinion on the costs: [b] Internet 聳 60 to 80,-- TL/month Phone 聳 Depends on how long you聮ll use ...
Thanks guys this does help:) I don't believe I will be able to get a roomate, probably per the terms of my lease. I am pretty frugal here even in the US hehe and want to try and be so there but there's only so much one can plan for. Thanks again ... Read More
Are these good prices for everyday goods? by Samza83
Merhaba, I am moving to Istanbul in a couple of weeks and received a list of services I can buy as part of my contract. I would like to know your opinion on the costs: [b] Internet 聳 60 to 80,-- TL/month Phone 聳 Depends on how long you聮ll use ...
Thanks ArvitA. Rent is not included in that 750USD budget. I can't quite figure out how much electricity/utilities are going to cost, might you have an idea? A 1,300 Lira Budget isn't enough? Thanks :) Samza Read More
Are these good prices for everyday goods?
Merhaba, I am moving to Istanbul in a couple of weeks and received a list of services I can buy as part of my contract. I would like to know your opinion on the costs: Internet 聳 60 to 80,-- TL/month Phone 聳 Depends on how long you聮ll use 20,-- ... Read More
Is this a decent monthly salary? by Samza83
Hello everyone, Sorry this is going to be one of those type of posts... . I would like to know if 2,500 [i]USD$[/i] a month is a decent salary for a single person if housing and utilities except for the telephone are included in their work ...
So how much do you guys think I could save on that salary?:D Read More
Is this a decent monthly salary? by Samza83
Hello everyone, Sorry this is going to be one of those type of posts... . I would like to know if 2,500 [i]USD$[/i] a month is a decent salary for a single person if housing and utilities except for the telephone are included in their work ...
Hello guys, Just checking back in, given that housing and utilities are covered in my contract...what is the minimum/best amount of money I should bring with me to Istanbul? Sincerely, Sohniye Read More
Speaking frankly about cost of living vs. my job offer? by Samza83
Hello everyone, I am starting to feel like I am doing a ton of the same sort of posts.:rolleyes: But please don't hold back, I am debating two other contracts besides this one (in Kuwait and Turkey, each at 2,500 a month.) I am a first year ...
Thank you guys for the continued responses. Just a simple question, what is the bare minimum of money I should bring to Singapore if I take the contract, assuming my housing and visa are taken care of until the first paycheque? Sincerely, Sohniye Read More
Speaking frankly about cost of living vs. my job offer? by Samza83
Hello everyone, I am starting to feel like I am doing a ton of the same sort of posts.:rolleyes: But please don't hold back, I am debating two other contracts besides this one (in Kuwait and Turkey, each at 2,500 a month.) I am a first year ...
So I am still negotiating with my prospective employer. The good news is I am not a drinker (or serious party girl!) and already know that I will have to share a flat (or get a single room in a flat) to be cost effective. According to what I am ... Read More
Should I accept this job offer? by Samza83
Hello, A bit about me: American female, single, recently graduated teacher (much of what my profile already says :) ) I have just received a contract offer in Kuwait and would like to run the numbers by somebody. My main concern is that I am not ...
Hello everyone, I am bringing back this thread because I have been advised by a few people not to take this offer as it is at Kuwait Bilingual School. Apparent 750 KD per month is low pay for a trained teacher with a MA? Thank you :) Read More
Speaking frankly about cost of living vs. my job offer? by Samza83
Hello everyone, I am starting to feel like I am doing a ton of the same sort of posts.:rolleyes: But please don't hold back, I am debating two other contracts besides this one (in Kuwait and Turkey, each at 2,500 a month.) I am a first year ...
Hello, Thank you for the responses :) The good news is I am not a drinker, but imagine that expense might be replaced by having to get a gym membership. Could you please provide some 'keywords' that might assist me in searching for housing outside ... Read More
Speaking frankly about cost of living vs. my job offer?
Hello everyone, I am starting to feel like I am doing a ton of the same sort of posts.:rolleyes: But please don't hold back, I am debating two other contracts besides this one (in Kuwait and Turkey, each at 2,500 a month.) I am a first year ... Read More
Teacher to go to Kuwait, Singapore or Turkey...need advice please
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 ... Read More
Should I accept this job offer? by Samza83
Hello, A bit about me: American female, single, recently graduated teacher (much of what my profile already says :) ) I have just received a contract offer in Kuwait and would like to run the numbers by somebody. My main concern is that I am not ...
Thank you for the insight thus far, more ideas or suggestions welcome....:) Read More
Is this a decent monthly salary? by Samza83
Hello everyone, Sorry this is going to be one of those type of posts... . I would like to know if 2,500 [i]USD$[/i] a month is a decent salary for a single person if housing and utilities except for the telephone are included in their work ...
Thank you guys for the information thus far :) Separo is this 500.USD the average per week or per month, looking at that payment when compared to what the average cost of living calculator tells me this amount per month would be very difficult (if ... Read More
Is this a decent monthly salary?
Hello everyone, Sorry this is going to be one of those type of posts... . I would like to know if 2,500 USD$ a month is a decent salary for a single person if housing and utilities except for the telephone are included in their work contract? (Most ... Read More
Should I accept this job offer?
Hello, A bit about me: American female, single, recently graduated teacher (much of what my profile already says :) ) I have just received a contract offer in Kuwait and would like to run the numbers by somebody. My main concern is that I am not ... Read More
Teaching in UAE by jbass2754
I'm looking for someone who has taught in UAE? I'm currently in the interview process with Teach Away and need advice to get the best teaching position I can get. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. On big question -with the incentives the ...
I am also interested in this thread. I am a 27 year old single female special education teacher, wondering what the monthly cost of living is like (I noticed many contracts include housing) and what a reasonable salary is in Dubai/Sharjah. Read More
Teacher considering taking a contract in Saudi...questions.... :) by Samza83
Hi everyone, First official post! This website has been of great value to my research and undestanding. I am originally from the US but am currently coming into my last semester of a two year MA of Education in Australia. I am 26 and female. I am ...
Thank you everyone for the helpful advice thus far. I am really happy to read that most teaching contracts in KSA have allowances for housing and as I start to do my preliminarily research it seems that most are fairly generous, is it standard to ... Read More
Teacher considering taking a contract in Saudi...questions.... :)
Hi everyone, First official post! This website has been of great value to my research and undestanding. I am originally from the US but am currently coming into my last semester of a two year MA of Education in Australia. I am 26 and female. I am ... Read More