^ It's true that such things are sometimes forfeited in good ole KSA.
But not usually in ten months.
Or buy a bike and cycle across Saudi - I did! Trans-Arabia RideOriginally Posted by jimbo
Moon Lander Champion!^ kinda hard to make it to work each day when you're doing that Hippo
Actually, the whole 11 month contract thing seems kind of strange. It's an 11 month contract, but the last month (July) is a paid holiday. Seems like they're trying to avoid paying 2 months holiday by not giving the full 12 months.
I see it as 10 months + 1 month bonus, but it might be seen from a different angle. What do old Saudi hands think?
Does experience count for anything? I'll have five years in September.
Last edited by barfomcgee; 17th June 2009 at 20:56. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
...The institution I worked for gave us 2 weeks off at Ramadan and another 2 weeks at Haj. Additionally, we had 6 weeks off in the summer....however, folks were never penalized for coming back a week or two late if classes weren't in session, so 12 weeks yearly was the usual amount of vacation time.
Our contracts were one year renewable...and an employee moved up the salary scale with an annual raise every year for 8 years, after which time the raises were awarded every two years...one month's bonus salary was given for each completed contract year...
...I don't know what kind of contract you'll be working under, but it sounds fairly good for someone interested in short term work...
And what if you're an American Yid? I'd like to buy a house soon, but I'm thinking that Saudi is not a particularly safe place for a dude like me, the worst possible infidel. Am I wrong in this thinking, or do I have a shot at that gold mine as well?
more time for wastin'
You need to do an MA to avoid the bottom feeders like ELS, Berlitz etc.
And to get the best deals you need to commit to three or at the very least two years.
A ten month commitment will mean you don't get the best job - they realise that many people don't want to be there any longer than ten months.
Since you (quite understandably) haven't been specific about your offer, it's hard to say whether it's a good one. But from what I can piece together about where you are in your development I'd say that you should be looking at about 3 thousand US a month right?
If the offer is that or better than that and you're satisfied with the other aspects then I'd say give it a shot. Though as I mentioned, Jimbo and TC's perspectives are worth more than mine on this one.
Last edited by Cyrille; 17th June 2009 at 22:21.
...unless your name is an obviously Jewish one that even Saudi admin might recognize as such (Rabin, Netanyahu, etc), you might get in by declaring you're a Christian every time you're asked...I think I worked with 2 American Jews in Riyadh, both of whom stayed for 3 years...discreet Sons of Abraham, they were, frequently mistaken for Arabs...
I did a 4 year stint with BAE Systems (a while back) and we had a few Yanks on the compound. Big compound though with plenty going on. They seemed to have a good time with no particular problems.
That 4 years set me for life.
Moon Lander Champion!Yes, I was pals with a "Hochberg" who never had any specific problems.
I'm with Tom, it's a decent offer for a first AND short stint in the sand. If you have any bargaining chips with this deal, use them for the housing locale and try and get set on a small (at least) compound. Cite: security reasons.
Last edited by jimbo; 18th June 2009 at 06:07. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
I'm finding this thread very tempting as I've been considering Saudi to be my next move, sometime next year (inshallah
1. What is the bullshit factor over there? (Surface over substance and that kind of thing)
2. Is internet use restricted or monitored?
3. Are relationships amongst foreigners frowned upon? (i.e. non martial relationships)
4. How do the students compare with Thai students? (motivated? shy?)
5. I'm a non driver, is that likely to be a blessing or disadvantage?
6. English language books, I assume there will be half decent bookshops in the main cities where I can keep stocked up?
7. Religious police, are foreigners subject to harassment by them?
Thanks. Allah Akbar!!!!
"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." George Orwell
"The struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting" Milan Kundera
Moon Lander Champion!1. What is the bullshit factor over there? (Surface over substance and that kind of thing)
-Like everywhere it varies from person to person, org to org. If you can swing a Western managed place, take it! If not, you may get some horseshit factors.....I got lucky my first go. It's hard to answer. Everything tends to be tomorrow "Bukrah inshallah"
2. Is internet use restricted or monitored?
It's restricted. Many, MANY pages are blocked....but only regarding porn/drugs. I never checked religious ones.
3. Are relationships amongst foreigners frowned upon? (i.e. non martial relationships)
Sexual ones?.....Yes, and illegal. You must be very careful and secretive when dating and take several precautions. If you're caught in public together, you could be very fuked!
4. How do the students compare with Thai students? (motivated? shy?)
They don't compare easily. Mainly motivated IME....but can also be very lazy. Depends if it's a work-led program or a personal sign-up sort of operation. If the boss is paying....they'll often laze out on you....if they're paying, they'll try and get their money's worth. They're champion cheaters, (ime)...in the former program.
5. I'm a non driver, is that likely to be a blessing or disadvantage?
Both. It's hair raising on the highways around Riyadh, and downtown Jeddah. The public transport (buses) is cheap, but trashy and you're usually the only cracker boarding it. Taxis are cheap tho and nice. Every ride is a negotiation.....don't use the meter....ever!
6. English language books, I assume there will be half decent bookshops in the main cities where I can keep stocked up?
There will be, but the pics of women, women and men (even charicatures) will (often) be black-markered out.
7. Religious police, are foreigners subject to harassment by them?
Everyone is. It's always possible. (Tomcat may disagree with me on this but...) I say stand your ground with those fukheads! If they have no uniformed policeman with them, they have no authority. And I have seen them turn tail and run away several times when an angry Westerner has shown agression towards them.
Doubtful they'll fuk with you if you're alone (or with a guy friend) minding your own business and not drunk!
On the other hand, if they are with a uniform AND you're doing something wrong,...(IE; drunk, talking on public phone during prayer, walking with a female friend)....you should either run like hell, or deal with them politely and pray (not aloud!
Ironically, MANY "religious police" are ex-cons. Saudis can petition the courts (after committing certain crimes for early parole with the condition they serve in these positions for a number of years.
Last edited by jimbo; 18th June 2009 at 11:10.
...Saudi officialdom frequently confuses marble floors, splashing fountains, and Filipino-maintained ficus with progress: many fine buildings peopled by clueless tribals and nepotic residue...saving face with moronic pronouncements is just as important there as it is here...
...I would add to Jim's list: pages critical of the Saudi government/ruling family/Islam in general/Islam specifically/Islam not of the Saudi sub-type/pro-Israel, Jewish expansionism, etc... in general, whatever pages the Saudi government disagrees with (and that's a huge number, more than paranoid China, I would suggest).
...Agree totally with Jim: all canoodling should be confined to secure compounds. Fortunately, men are expected to hang around together, hold hands in public, kiss cheeks, and entertain each other at home...wonderful for gays...
...I had the full range from chair-squatting tribal to (relatively) sophisticated city dweller...in general, they are respectful in class and friendly outside of it...some motivated, some not...some perky, some awkwardly withdrawn...no katoeys as we know them here...
...agree with Jim...
...shakey assumption...I always shopped for books in the States or here in Thailand...if I thought there would be a problem (I had "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" taken from me by vigilant customs officials), I would tear the cover off....that seemed to put them off the scent when I brought in Islam for Dummies...
...Jim and I do disagree on this one...religious police are mostly mongrels who have previously had no authority over anyone...a beard and an ill-fitting uniform entitle them to question and demand answers from anyone they suspect of wrongdoing (i.e. mumbling Christian prayers to yourself in the central market area)...don't confront. Show your Iqama (government ID) and walk away, imo....
Moon Lander Champion!It must just be LaLa land!!
...as if all of Thailand were like Nana...
...oh, wait...
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