I've found the posts on this forum to both interesting and informative, so I hope that you'll be able to help me with my decision. My husband and I would like to spend the next school year in a warm, friendly foreign country where we can take the opportunity to embrace the culture and learn the language. We currently live in Washington, DC and are considering moving to Santo Domingo. Let me paint the picture for you: In a couple of weeks, we will attend an International School Job Fair where my husband may be offered the possibility to work for an international school in Santo Domingo that pays an average of $21,000 (-8% local taxes) a year. Simply put, I am trying to figure out if we can live on that salary. We will get more information on the cost of living at the actual job fair, but time will be limited and I am trying to become as informed as possible before the fair's commencement. We're both 30 years old and have no children. We'd be interested in renting a 1 bedroom furnished apartment in a safe area (not to offend anyone by implying that the DR's not safe, but every country I've ever lived in had its decent and its not-so-decent areas). We're simply interested in having phone connection and cable, no extravagant ammenities. We imagine that we'd be interested in purchasing a small, used car, just to get around a bit. Since it is our intention to spend this year immersing ourself in the culture, we wouldn't be interested in purchasing pricey, imported American groceries....we want the local stuff. We would maintain approximately $600 of outside financial obligations per month.
By my calculations, making ends meet would be kind of difficult, and, with that in mind, I'd like to get a job there. My concern is that I don't speak Spanish....although I imagine that it would not be difficult for me to learn because I'm a native Italian speaker. I currently work as a conference coordinator in one of those stuffy, downtown DC corporate offices.....Lord knows that even working as a waitress for a year would be refreshing. I'm pretty much open to anything that could bring in an extra 600-700 a month (would the type of jobs I'd be able to find pay that much?) I realize that I'm basically asking you guys to do a calculus problem and that it might be a consultant's job to do.....but I figured I've got nothing to lose from asking people who really know what it's like to live there. That's my situation: is it feasible? Thanks a million to all those who respond and give me insight....your contribution is truly invaluable.
By my calculations, making ends meet would be kind of difficult, and, with that in mind, I'd like to get a job there. My concern is that I don't speak Spanish....although I imagine that it would not be difficult for me to learn because I'm a native Italian speaker. I currently work as a conference coordinator in one of those stuffy, downtown DC corporate offices.....Lord knows that even working as a waitress for a year would be refreshing. I'm pretty much open to anything that could bring in an extra 600-700 a month (would the type of jobs I'd be able to find pay that much?) I realize that I'm basically asking you guys to do a calculus problem and that it might be a consultant's job to do.....but I figured I've got nothing to lose from asking people who really know what it's like to live there. That's my situation: is it feasible? Thanks a million to all those who respond and give me insight....your contribution is truly invaluable.