Case Study: Michelle

A Canadian in Abu Dhabi

• Name: Michelle
• Subject and level: Grade 2 classroom teacher
• Citizenship: Canadian

In what country are you teaching now and was it what you expected?

I am teaching in the UAE.  I was here before and the school I am at now is a very good place.  Edvectus was honest about this and other schools I was looking at.  The school is an American curriculum school with a very international staff.  It is evident that the administration cares about the wellbeing of their staff.

Why did you decide to teach abroad?

I decided to teach abroad to experience a different work environment than I had in Canada, meet people from around the world and have an opportunity to travel to many exotic places in Africa and Asia.

How Edvectus helped you find your job

I found Edvectus on line, when looking for potential work placements.  There was a very short period of time between applying, interviewing and departing for this job.  Any questions I had along the way – Jordan was very helpful.  Since I already had my documents attested by the UAE government, the process was almost seamless.

Did you find the Learning Portal helpful in the job searching process? 

Yes, the information was clear, providing all the necessary details that someone who has never applied internationally would need to know.

What do you like about your new teaching position and country? 

Abu Dhabi is a dynamic city with many things happening all the time.  I am working with people from all over the world.  Since most people are away from their families, people here are socially involved with each other, creating a very supportive community.  

What's your advice for teachers going abroad for the first time? 

Be open to new situations and remember everything is different than at home. Many of us live in multicultural cities which we call home, but now we are the foreigners and we need to be respectful of the different customs.  

You have just arrived just recently in Abu Dhabi. How has it been?

We have been living in a hotel while our living accommodations are being sorted.  The people who are the most polite and friendly with the staff here are acknowledged through little actions by the staff in the hotel (flowers in your room, extra care and specially prepared dishes in the dining room).  It is like anywhere - treat others as you would like to be treated; what you put out comes back to you.