Job Discussion Forums

run-jp · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2003 5:53 am Post subject: Staying well-wired in KSA

As working in KSA seems like it could maybe, actually happen for me, I gotta ask a couple questions.
#1. If you don't live on a compound but in a modern block of flats (say in Riyadh), you can get a good hook-up right?....and are there some cyber-police controls? (in my Tricky Dick Nixon voice) " I am NOT a porn fiend!" (at least in US terms)... In the same vain, what TV channels can you get if you are of the unwashed masses outside the compounds. I was particularly hoping for some media to keep up my French and (so-so...so desu-ka) Japanese.

#2. Are foreign book sales restricted there? Can I order most novels from some book store or do you schlep it all in initially. Some people may laugh at this Q, but i know that books like "The Nan King Massacre" are STILL banned in Japan A year is too long to spend reading someone's hand-me-down Patricia Cromwell (no offense) police pulps

... maybe if i am lucky John S will email installments of his Saudi memoirs to keep me occupied (sorry, completely engrossed) for those HHH-less weekends.

Tom[/b]

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2003 7:17 am Post subject:

Internet connections are OK - whether or not you're on a compound has nothing to do with it. Yes, thousands of sites are banned, but seeing as you're not a porn fiend, that shouldn't affect you. Other banned sites include 'subversive' political ones and anything which goes against the strict Saudi interpretation of Islam.
As for books, the selection here is limited, and most new titles don't come here for a tleast a year - I suppose it gives them time to check that they are 'suitable'. There's no prob getting stuff from Amazon etc - just make sure they don't have anything vaguely 'sexy' on the cover and that they're not obviously 'subversive'. In general, photos are much more of a problem than text, so be careful with DVDs or Cds which do sometimes get shipped back by Customs.
As for TV, satellite is fairly easy to get - not sure about Japanese channels though. All told, I can honestly say I'm better informed about the world here in KSA than I have ever been - too much time on my hands, I suppose!

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

It is much better with books in the K of SA than a few years back. People get stuiff from Amazon and other suppliers. Jarir Bookstore is okay but not fanstastic. If you are in Jeddah, check out the British Community Library, currently housed in the grounds of the British Consulate. It has a good selection of fiction and non-fiction. You do not need to be a UK citizen to take out membership. Saudi Citizens are not permitted to join, but then for most of them there is only ONE book.

abudhabi · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 34

In Riyadh if you buy a Hotbird satellite dish you can get two Japanese state run channels, ee desu ne? And you can get oodles of French channels if you wish, depending again on the satellite dish you buy. TV5 is available on most satellite offerings.

Sayonnara Smile

run-jp · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2003 3:41 am Post subject: Thanks all!

Thanks to all for the good tips. Also glad to see how learned and cultured my co-expats will be, contrary to the CW that KSA is simply full of avarice heathens Wink