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Former Roanoke County teacher Cheryl Marinoff may have retired and moved out of the country, but she hasn't left teaching.

For the past year, Marinoff has taught first grade at the American International School in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

Feeling burned out and desiring a change in her life, Marinoff retired from Glen Cove Elementary School in North Roanoke County in June 2003. The move has made her feel more like a "free spirit," she said.

"I've simplified my life," said Marinoff, 56, who was visiting Roanoke last month. "No house, no car, no junk mail."

When planning for her retirement, Marinoff said she decided she didn't want to sit around and do nothing after leaving the Roanoke County school system. She'd always wanted to live overseas and "wasn't finished serving" others, she said.

Marinoff, a former Southwest Roanoke resident, learned about the teaching position in the United Arab Emirates from an organization called Search Associates. The organization has placed more than 800 administrators, interns and teachers in international schools all over the world, according to its Web site. Marinoff filled out an application and was invited to attend one of Search Associates' recruitment fairs in Cambridge, Mass.

Her intention was to apply for teaching positions at schools in more "desirable" locations such as Europe, she said. But when she got to the fair, Marinoff saw that many other applicants had the same idea. Long lines made it nearly impossible for her to get interviews with certain recruiters. Marinoff took a chance and interviewed for a job in Cairo, Egypt, and was offered the position in the United Arab Emirates, which she later accepted.

"I just felt totally at peace with it," Marinoff said.

Even though the United Arab Emirates is near a war zone, Marinoff said she has felt completely safe since she arrived. The people of the country, which is located between Oman and Saudi Arabia, are friendly to Americans, she said.

At American International School, Marinoff teaches an American curriculum in English. Most of her students are either locals or expatriates from countries such as China, Cyprus, Italy, Pakistan and Tanzania, she said. They typically speak English as a second language.

Sue McCunn, elementary principal at the school, described Marinoff as "personable" and a "loving teacher," two traits that make her a good fit for the teaching position in the United Arab Emirates.

"I think that she is accepting and likes the kind of kids that we teach," said McCunn, who is originally from Montana.

Marinoff's job has allowed her to do a lot of traveling. The school is open 10 months out of the year but is closed for breaks during Islamic holidays. During the past year, she has visited Jordan, Oman, Sri Lanka and Turkey.

Marinoff isn't a Roanoke native, but she spent more than 30 years here. After a three-year stint in the Army, Marinoff moved to Roanoke to attend Radford University. After graduating, she spent nearly 30 years as an educator in the Roanoke County school system. Besides Glen Cove Elementary, she has taught special education students and various grade levels at Cave Spring Elementary School, South Salem Elementary School (when Salem schools were part of the Roanoke County school system) and now-closed Pinkard Court Elementary and Roanoke County Occupational School.

After her two-year contract in the United Arab Emirates expires next year, Marinoff may choose to stay another two years in the country or apply to teach in another country through Search Associates, she said. She's considering teaching in many different countries, including China, Indonesia, Prague and Thailand.

Her goal, she said, is to experience many cultures. She has already made connections in the United Arab Emirates community she lives in, but doesn't want to get too comfortable being in one place.

"It's real easy to get caught in your comfort zone," she said.