Turnoi, thank you very much for the advice.

Before I even read your reply I had written the HR guy and asked for email addresses and he gave me 4 people at 4 different locations in Istanbul. 3 responded and 2 had nothing but good things to say, with one of them writing me a full page of information about his loc and others that he'd heard about. He even said that he would not work for one of the DOS at a location because she was controlling. But he said that it's just her way and the teachers who work there haven't complained...you just need to get used to her method of running the school - important is that the teachers are happy. All have signed up for a second contract, or are planning on doing so. The contract info and hours and benefits and accomodations, etc., I will find out about in 30 minutes or so...I have an interview today. And apparently, the people in charge of key positions at many of the locs are former ESL teachers themselves and all have said that they want to make this somewhere that teachers want to stay. It seems that they're doing a good job, if I'm to trust their emails, which I will. And btw, after my nightmare 6 months in S. Korea I always have enough money with me to gtfo if need be. I'll keep you posted, but it seems like there may be a decent school with the EF tag attached to it.

cheers
Marty