The survey results are in, and it seems as if most visitors and members of International School Community who voted are working in a location that has Normal/Very Clean air.
Thank goodness that most of the voters do actually live in a place where the air in clear and clean. Having a clean air environment where you are living can really play a huge factor in your well-being and for your health. It can also put you at ease knowing that you can spend time outside (for example go and enjoy the city’s parks with your family) without or having little care or concern about if you are breathing in polluted air.
Not all of us are so lucky as we know. If you are living in the more ‘hardship’ placements (let’s say in Beijing), we all know that clean air is NOT something to take for granted. It has been in the news a lot lately about how the amount of toxins in the air in Beijing are reaching super high levels, making it a serious health concern for people. I wonder if the three people that voted Extremely Bad are living there.
But back to clean air places. We need more of them I am sure, and they are NOT to be taken for granted. When job hunting, it would definitely be a no-brainer to sign a contract to work at a place in a city with very clean air (if all the other benefits also make it a good fit for you as well of course). But you might not be so quick to sign a contract for a school in a location known for it pollution air. Question is…are you will to take the risk and potentially sacrifice your health for 2-6 years to take a really good teaching opportunity at a top international school in one of the polluted areas of the world?
Luckily on International School Community, we have a City Information section in the comments and information part of each school’s profile page that is related to air quality which discusses the weather for the location at each school. It can be quite important to know more about the weather if you are planning on moving across the world to live and work there for the next two or more years. Is your potential new international school in a location with nice weather and clean air or in a place with not the best weather and poor quality air?
The comment topic in the City Information section tab is called:
• Describe the city’s weather at different times of the year.
Taken from the International School of Kuala Lumpur‘s school profile page.
There have been many comments and information submitted in this topic on numerous school profiles on our website; 675 to be exact. Here are just a few:
One International School Community member said about working at Britannica I.S. (Belgrade): “Belgrade has all 4 seasons, with extremely hot summers (air condition in an apartment and on the work is a must!) and cold winters with a lot of snow.”
Another member said about working at Prem Tinsulanonda International School: “I love Chiang Mai because the weather is cooler than most other parts of Thailand. Not as humid either.”
Another member submitted a comment about working at Beijing International Bilingual Academy: “The air is was nearly always full of smog (even out in the burbs by the school). Cold in the winter and hot in the summer.”
If you are currently a premium member of International School Community, please take a moment to share what you know about the weather in the cities in which you have lived. You can start by logging on here.
Stay tuned for our next survey topic which is to come out in a few days time.
