It's a fairly good deal...at least for the position I'm considering. They provide you with a 1900 sq ft. house furnished Western style. With my luck this means lot's of John Wayne posters all over the place. In addition to your salary they give you a monthly living allowance. Not sure it would cover the cost but it would help.

I've heard more than a few stories about guys getting miss treated by the contract company. That makes me nervous! So I'm doing my home work and making sure that thing are on the up and up. Last thing I want is to get over there, be locked into a contract and have both me and my wife hating every moment of it.

======================
Curtis:

One more thought as I read this post.

Take your contract to an Attorney that deals with international companies. Have him look it over and give his advice. Usually the first meeting is free. You could pick his brain for free, and if there was something to be worried about and it cost you a couple thousand to really set it up right for you, it would be cheap money.

Since you will have a house and a allowance there's a great possibility for some big time savings.

Seriously though, before signing any contract, have a QUALIFIED attorney check it out. I promise this to is the smart thing to do as you are getting ready to invest 3 years of your working career in this undertaking.

Don't be afraid to go, just take prudent steps along the way to make sure your bases are covered.

Once over there and you are settled, you might take a look at the traditional living quarters for, "Important", employees and consider going native.

Setting up a house in the style of a foreign country is difficult in some countries, and expensive because everything has to be imported, whereas the housing available that is more traditional might actually give you a higher standard of living. It might even be furnished with maids, cooks and drivers.

Depending on your, "Importance", the attorney might be able to enhance you living conditions through some mild negotiating. It never hurts to ask. The worst that can happen is they say, "No". Domestic help overseas is very inexpensive as compared to our lifestyle because they have millions of people that are not especially trained to be in a professional job and have therefore by choice or by circumstance work keeping peoples houses in order. You might keep this under your hat until you get it approved before you tell your wife, then she can decide whether or not she wants it. It might be a real kick for her to be helped and pampered while you are gone.

This of course may not be possible, but at least take the time to investigate it. Have a blast.

Thanks BTW for the kind comments.

Take care,

Ty

I have my car in winter storage ca 6-7 months, and all I do is to start it once in a while. That lubes up the internals, and let the valve springs stress out. When it's time to take it out, I'll change the oil. The gas might be a bit sour, but that changes at the first fillup. All this talk about draining the fluids is probably best suited when putting it away for years, not months.

Im getting in here on the family part of it, we moved from Norway to Italy to follow my job several years ago.
Its a very good idea to get your wife a job or into a club of foreign wives or just get her something to do otherwise she will feel very lonely when you are at work at least for the first years.
you say three years, but be aware that if you like the three years then you might want to stay another three and then you are screwed, you will never have a "real" home again you will feel at home abroad and you will feel at home while in Vegas but this will pull you back and forth and challenge you mentally all the time, this is indeed a very nice opportunity to see places you might only see in pics or in a three week holiday once or twice in your lifetime, it might only be three years but the memories will last a lifetime, so if you have covered your bases contractwise and you both beleive in it firmely all I can say is, go for it!