“The experiences are so life changing, it’s very hard to go back to a normal teaching job”.
Having taught internationally for 13 years in both China and Qatar, teacher Carmel has decided to make the move to Vietnam! We caught up with her to see how she’s settled into her new school in Ho Chi Minh City.
What was your recruitment process like?
The recruitment process was easy to follow. TIC kept me informed every step of the way and sent all the relevant paperwork to fill in. If I was unsure about anything this was clearly explained. No question was too silly to ask. Andrew was very supportive through the whole process.
How did you prepare for your arrival?
My school introduced me to a buddy so I asked all the basic questions about what I needed to bring with me. One suggestion was tea bags! I also asked about what was provided for me in the apartment already, for example towels, bedding etc.
I also made sure I had a little local currency.
What was the journey like?
Preparing all the paperwork before the journey was very time consuming but the HR manager at the school was excellent and sent me everything I needed. Due to Covid there were other procedures that needed to be carried out, Covid test 48/72 hours before hand.
The staff in the airport and on the flight were very helpful due to the situation and the flight was not as stressful as I thought it would be.
Be sure to check the price of extra luggage before you fly, I found this very expensive with Singapore airlines.
How did you settle in? What is the local area like?
I have settled in quite quickly, the local area I am in HCMC is beautiful with a swimming pool, gym and restaurants.
I am very happy and the people are very friendly!
What do you do in your spare time?
Due to Vietnam being in lockdown a lot of activities have been online, but this is slowly changing. The school has many social events and I have joined interactions to meet people out of work.
What are your plans for the future?
I have been teaching internationally for 13 years now (10 years in China and 3 years in Qatar) so I do think this will be my last post. At the moment I am only planning to stay for 2 years but I was only planning to stay in China for 2 years and looked what happened!
Finally, how was your experience with TIC Recruitment?
Very professional and efficient. Excellent communication throughout the recruitment process and very supportive.
The best experience that I have had with a Recruitment Agency, 10 out of 10!
Anything else you’d like to add?
It is a scary thought moving to another country and starting a teaching career but the experiences are so life changing and once you do it, it is very hard to go back to a normal teaching job. The students on the whole are very respectful, there can be some politics in the school environment, but the secret is to thoroughly research the school and be selective.
I feel very lucky that I can travel with my job, I have made friends for life and really enjoyed it. There are times when you will feel homesick and if the experience is not for you, then at least you tried!
Would you like to teach in Vietnam? Register with us today, It’s quick and easy and gives you access to many international school jobs in reputable, accredited international schools, some that are not advertised anywhere else.
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Leisha Jones
Design Technology Teacher