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al-Californian
Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 96
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 7:05 pm Post subject: How not to go nuts in KSA? |
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I'm back and I come in peace.
I think I really will go crazy, and I don't mean because of my job. I was suckered in to thinking we could live in a small town in the sticks (literally). Many have said Jeddah will cure our boredom if we live there, but I really don't want to be in a destruction derby every time I have to take my family shopping. Riyadh is worse, right? So what's left? Dammam, Khobar, Dhahran, Jubail?
I NEED SOME REAL ADVICE SO DON'T TRASH MY THREAD WITH NERDY BS ABOUT HOW I'M(YEAH NOT I AM) USING CONTRACTIONS OR WHATEVER!
Now I must meditate by counting how many days are left on my contract.
Last edited by al-Californian on Fri Feb 01, 2013 7:46 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 7:20 pm Post subject: Re: Talkin' Crazy Talk |
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Well, you might want to change your subject line to attract useful responses. |
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al-Californian
Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 96
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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How's that ^? |
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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:03 pm Post subject: Re: How not to go nuts in KSA? |
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al-Californian wrote: |
I'm back and I come in peace.
I think I really will go crazy, and I don't mean because of my job. I was suckered in to thinking we could live in a small town in the sticks (literally). Many have said Jeddah will cure our boredom if we live there, but I really don't want to be in a destruction derby every time I have to take my family shopping. Riyadh is worse, right? So what's left? Dammam, Khobar, Dhahran, Jubail?
I NEED SOME REAL ADVICE SO DON'T TRASH MY THREAD WITH NERDY BS ABOUT HOW I'M(YEAH NOT I AM) USING CONTRACTIONS OR WHATEVER!
Now I must meditate by counting how many days are left on my contract. |
There you go! You have answered your own question! The answer to your dilemma is within YOU! Meditate for for however many days that are left on your contract and you will have solved your dilemma! |
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al-Californian
Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 96
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:10 pm Post subject: Re: How not to go nuts in KSA? |
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Great! A philosopher! Is that it, swami?
cmp45 wrote: |
al-Californian wrote: |
I'm back and I come in peace.
I think I really will go crazy, and I don't mean because of my job. I was suckered in to thinking we could live in a small town in the sticks (literally). Many have said Jeddah will cure our boredom if we live there, but I really don't want to be in a destruction derby every time I have to take my family shopping. Riyadh is worse, right? So what's left? Dammam, Khobar, Dhahran, Jubail?
I NEED SOME REAL ADVICE SO DON'T TRASH MY THREAD WITH NERDY BS ABOUT HOW I'M(YEAH NOT I AM) USING CONTRACTIONS OR WHATEVER!
Now I must meditate by counting how many days are left on my contract. |
There you go! You have answered your own question! The answer to your dilemma is within YOU! |
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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:19 pm Post subject: Re: How not to go nuts in KSA? |
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Yeah, it's that simple because by the end of your contract you will be gone from KSA... problem solved!
al-Californian wrote: |
Great! A philosopher! Is that it, swami?
cmp45 wrote: |
al-Californian wrote: |
I'm back and I come in peace.
I think I really will go crazy, and I don't mean because of my job. I was suckered in to thinking we could live in a small town in the sticks (literally). Many have said Jeddah will cure our boredom if we live there, but I really don't want to be in a destruction derby every time I have to take my family shopping. Riyadh is worse, right? So what's left? Dammam, Khobar, Dhahran, Jubail?
I NEED SOME REAL ADVICE SO DON'T TRASH MY THREAD WITH NERDY BS ABOUT HOW I'M(YEAH NOT I AM) USING CONTRACTIONS OR WHATEVER!
Now I must meditate by counting how many days are left on my contract. |
There you go! You have answered your own question! The answer to your dilemma is within YOU! |
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al-Californian
Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 96
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:28 pm Post subject: Re: How not to go nuts in KSA? |
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Eh?Gone from KSA?! Now that's a problem! I like making easy tax free cash and going on as many vacations as a I can just as much as anybody does. I've no problem leaving my current teaching location, though.
Tell me something good.... you're getting warmer... |
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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:48 pm Post subject: Re: How not to go nuts in KSA? |
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al-Californian wrote: |
Eh?Gone from KSA?! Now that's a problem! I like making easy tax free cash and going on as many vacations as a I can just as much as anybody does. I've no problem leaving my current teaching location, though.
Tell me something good.... you're getting warmer... |
You're already nuts, so relax...quit your moanin and groanin, do your job, go home, eat, watch some TV, sleep. Repeat for how many days until your next vacation.
How's that... |
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al-Californian
Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 96
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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Looks like the ingredients to success to me. How long have you been practicing this art of doing nothing? |
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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 9:06 pm Post subject: |
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al-Californian wrote: |
Looks like the ingredients to success to me. How long have you been practicing this art of doing nothing? |
Good maybe you can try it out see how it works for you.
Don't throw this back at me, I don't have this problem. This advice is just for YOU!
Last edited by cmp45 on Fri Feb 01, 2013 9:14 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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al-Californian
Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 96
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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No, I'm serious. Very bored, but serious, and I aspire to develop a similar routine to ride the money train as long as you, dude. How's life in Riyadh btw?
cmp45 wrote: |
al-Californian wrote: |
Looks like the ingredients to success to me. How long have you been practicing this art of doing nothing? |
Good maybe you can try it out see how it works for you.
Don't throw this back at me, I'm not the one with this problem. This advice is just for YOU! |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 13859 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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Dear al-Californian,
Unfortunately, driving skills all over the kingdom are, in my experience, equally abysmal. Of course, if you go to a smaller urban center, there'll be fewer cars, but as you already know, the sticks can drive you bonkers.
I don't think there's any place in Saudi that can offer a cure for your malaise.
Regards,
John |
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al-Californian
Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 96
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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johnslat wrote: |
Dear al-Californian,
I don't think there's any place in Saudi that can offer a cure for your malaise.
Regards,
John |
Say it ain't so, John! Not even Khobar or Dhahran? |
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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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Joking aside...As John says...there is no secret formula. ...it is hard for most expats, no matter where you are in KSA...if it wasn't...then you really would be nuts. Most people that choose to stay in KSA long term just suck it up and get on with it...finding/having a hobby,or interest your passionate about outside of work helps fill the void... at least it works for me.
I like my job which is a plus since I spend alot of time at work. I am passionate about making art which fills alot of my spare time at home, also an avid reader and a novice writer. I take on-line courses, and of course there's dave's cafe The city of Riyadh ...not so much, but have learned to accept it. I have a love-hate relationship with this city. Like most people, I have my good days and bad days. That's life. I count my blessings... as you say, good salary, free accommodation, paid vacations each summer, etc....that alone usually suffices for most people.
Last edited by cmp45 on Sat Feb 02, 2013 5:00 am; edited 2 times in total |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 13859 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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Dear al-Californian,
Everywhere you go - lived in Riyadh for 15 years, and found it tolerable. There's Batha (the old souk), the desert, lots of great restaurants, and, well, not much else, admittedly.
But if an expat wants to last in Saudi, he/she has to have an above-average amount of self-sufficiency, I'd say. Hey, you've got it easy (or easier, anyway) for my first 12 years in Saudi, there was no Internet and no dish TV, just two channels, one all in Arabic, the other in English but mostly religion, football (soccer), and (go figure) American "wrestling. And the "news" on that channel consisted mostly of people lining up for audiences with the king.
It not only could be worse - it WAS.
Regards,
John |
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