Page 6 - ELG1601 Aug-Sep Issue 439

Page 6
married to Bashir, a Six things I wish I’d known ...
usan M. Sandover was
SLibyan career diplomat,
for 33 years. Dissatisfied with
being just a travelling spouse,
Sandover began her journey
in the world of EFL 36 years evacuated from Libya, sharia law disinheritance and ‘risk-insurance strategies’
ago. As she recalls in her mem-
oir, ‘Teaching EFL gave me
independence but there were
unforeseen risks. It has been
my breadwinner, my sanity and
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ELpeople August / September 2016
Susan M. Sandover on a Tefl career as a trailing partner, losing everything when
one of endless rewards, but also but the final one has proved was entitled to inherit only one career teaching in a developing
one of risks, some of which I insurmountable’ – sharia family quarter of his property, despite country (particularly as a trail-
have been able to overcome inheritance law. three years of fighting in the ing partner). Based on her own
After experiencing with her courts. experiences and things ‘I wish
husband ‘the traumas, diffi- With her memoir Libya. A I had known and done before
culties and frankly terrifying Love Lived, A Life Betrayed it was too late’, we list below
experiences associated with – 9/36 (Susan M. San- Sandover’s advice on the ‘drill’
the Gaddafi regime and US and dover, Troubador, www. when you face being evacuated
Nato bombings, coups, a revo- troubador.co.uk/book_info. home at a moment’s notice,
lution and a blasphemy case’, asp?bookid=4113) to be possible ways to mitigate fam-
the couple were evacuated published in November, the ily law in other legal systems,
from Libya to the UK. After Gazette asked Sandover for and how to land on your feet
Bashir’s death, Sandover was her practical top tips and risk- and pick up your career again
on the receiving end of the full insurance strategies for Teflers on arriving back in the country
force of sharia family law – she contemplating a long-term you left long ago. n JOURNEY Susan M. Sandover
‘Force majeure’ contracts Continuous professional
development (with evidence!)
Teaching in Libya was never for the faint-hearted but
there were excellent financial rewards. Those days are
long gone and during the initial days of the revolution On realising that I would need a fulfilling profession
many teachers were left to their own devices to sur- which allowed me to work as a married woman wher-
vive in the chaos. With no assistance to find an exit ever Bashir might be posted, EFL seemed like the best
and thereafter no compensation for salaries, monies work option without there being any conflicts of inter-
and possessions lost or looted, all that was received est. Armed with an EFL Cert and subsequently a Dip
by teachers was a redundancy notice due to ‘force and by attending seminars, conferences and embark-
majeure’. However, Libya is not the exception, and to ing on research projects, my CV shows that I have kept
anyone contemplating working in a developing coun- abreast with developments in EFL teaching. For any-
try I would strongly advise having an escape clause one considering a return to the UK this is a must as it
written into any employment contract. is insufficient to write ‘25 years EFL teaching experi-
Many companies try to insert a ‘force majeure’ clause ence in countries A, B, and C’. It is highly competitive
which essentially frees both parties from liability or when looking for a well-paid job back home.
obligation when an extraordinary event or circum-
stance beyond the control of the parties occurs, such
as war, strike, riot, crime or an ‘act of God’. Given the
uncertain times in which we live and work, all attempts Getting money out!
to do so must and should be strongly resisted.
Many teaching contracts have a percentage of sal-
ary paid in local currency. Always try to maintain the
absolute minimum credit balance you can, as after
Passports! having fled a country one may be unwilling or unable
to return to withdraw the cash. Currently there are
Equally important is the right to retain one’s passport, many countries with currency controls which will pro-
although temporarily it may be required by employers hibit the transfer of funds. Don’t just think Africa, Asia
for purposes of visa processing. Don’t end up saying and South America but also Europe – Greece being an
to yourself, ‘I wish I had,’ but rather ensure that a copy example. Far too many teachers have fallen into the
is made on a memory stick and a full-colour copy is above traps but with awareness and taking preventa-
close to hand to show as proof of nationality in the tive measures the risks can at least be minimised and
event of an escape on a government plane or ship. one need never say, ‘I wish I had.’
And don’t forget to copy onto the memory stick scans
of all vital documents which could be lost and will be
required when returning home in a hurry.
Tutoring!
Thankfully in 2013 with teaching I had a financial life-
Marriage and inheritance laws boat as I found myself with neither a Libyan nor a
British pension. The expertise gained over the years
My adventures in Libya, Jordan, Philippines and has enabled me to earn a living by English tutoring
India are recounted – some humorous, some sad, to both British and foreign children and adults. Of
but always uplifting. It was only when Bashir died in course, living in London the opportunities are end-
less and by signing up with two tutoring agencies I
London in 2013 and I was alone that I experienced
the full force of sharia inheritance law and its tenets have been kept in continuous employment and earn at
as applied to widows. I was entitled to one quarter
least double the amount per hour that I would earn in
of his property, the balance going to his siblings, an English language school. I was fortunate that I had
hence the subtitle of my book, 9/36. I in no way wish
experience of working at the British School in Tripoli
to promote a change in this law as it would be futile, on English Sats and 11+ entrance into British schools.
Parents are looking for experience and success in
but rather would urge wives married to non-British
exam passes and by researching the ISEB website
Muslims and where sharia law is applied to be aware
of its tenets and to take preventative measures, for specific schools one can familiarise oneself with
thereby ensuring financial security in the event of the requirements of the various exams. If you register
the death of a spouse. with an agency, it will apply for an Enhanced Criminal
I was well aware of this law but I failed to realise in Record Certificate, a necessary protection in 2016. As
retrospect that one should instigate steps today not one becomes known one will receive personal refer-
leave it for tomorrow. For those who are not Muslim or rals, then business will start to boom. There are an
married in a mosque there will be no entitlement to any increasing number of students being recognised with
of your husband’s estate and certified documents may dyslexia – a further area for tutoring after taking one
need to be produced as proof. Most importantly, pay of the many courses on offer. Agencies are beginning
UK National Insurance contributions because at least to search for tutors to teach via Skype, especially with
you will then have a pension. I believed I would be well students from China and Russia. Teaching will never
provided for through Bashir’s Libyan pension. So far be the most lucrative source of income, but seeing a
I have failed to get any amount paid after three years student’s joy on achieving success is immeasurable.
of trying. Both partners must write a will and subse- Tutoring has also allowed me to find the time to
quently this should be translated, certified by the write my memoirs, which I hope will act as encourage-
consul and then registered at the foreign ministry and ment to other women following their husbands into
counter-certified, and then filed with the family courts. an expatriate way of life to consider the option of EFL
Ensure separate bank accounts – preferably with teaching. By highlighting the risks of working in devel-
your own in the UK, where a nest egg can be accu- oping countries I hope they will take on board some of
mulated. Have a power of attorney for your spouse in my ideas on risk-insurance strategies. By detailing my
order that you have control – not a male member of the personal experience of sharia inheritance disburse-
family. One hopes and wants to believe the injustice I ment and its marginalisation of women in 2016, this
suffered is not the norm, unfortunately this is not so. will act as an awareness beacon.
4:46:22 PM