Job Discussion Forums

[nstick13]

My English major friend said there are 13 tenses.

On an Expat forum someone just posted that they're paying 3000 LE for a flat for 10 days in Heliopolis. Must just be because it's short-term.

Any thoughts on the ease of getting high-speed internet?

[veiledsentiments]

Heliopolis would be a major commute (an hour+) even if it were cheap. It is probably a fancy furnished expat flat with AC, TV, etc... There are some fancy areas in Heliopolis.

As to high-speed internet... things could have changed, but don't count on it. Your only option is likely to be the neighborhood internet cafes and the speed varies slow dial-up to pokey DSL type speed. When I was there in 2001, I could have linked into AUC's internet which was a decent speed, but it was a shared telephone (with my landlord down the hall) which is very common. He said no...

You might want to ask BC what they have and if you are able to use it when you are studying there.

VS

[nstick13]

Heliopolis is also where my Egyptian friend grew up, and where his family still lived. I have found much more affordable, furnished apartments there just looking on the internet.

Funny side story, I'm trying to help him expedite the process of acquiring his Green Card. He leaves March 25 and may not get it in time to have it with him when he goes on his trip, making it difficult to come back to the States.

Oh, and I wasn't looking at getting a ride BACK to the airport in a month, but rather on getting picked up if I am in at 2:30 in the AM. Regardless of how close I am to friends, that is not a way I want to make a first impression, and a burden that would annoy me if it could be avoided if the tables were turned. It's a moot point....just a tedious detail on top of all of it.

My lady friend just found out on Friday that she received a "Critical Language Scholarship" for Arabic for this summer. It's June-August in one of several locations, depending on her level. Everything is paid for. So, I am now looking at the July program at BC, with her doing October. I think this will help my chances in finding a job, and I'm anxious to get out of the state of Ohio anyway.

I was reading through the guide today, and one of the sections is on renting, and the prices were all pretty similar to what I figured, but the kitchens and bathrooms were always described as "awful" except for the most expensive places. Should I be expecting that?

[veiledsentiments]

Yes... have very low expectations. If you want to PM me an email address, I can send you some photos of some of my flats... that were considered VERY nice. Keep reminding yourself that this is a "developing" or "third world" country.

Don't worry about arriving at 2:30 in the morning. In the Middle East, one seems to always arrive at this time. There are plenty of taxis if you don't have a hotel that picks you up. I always used the "limos" that cost a more but are arranged near the luggage area - which avoids the scrum of taxi drivers that greet you when you exit - and they windows that rolled up (a real luxury and shockingly uncommon) and were usually Mercedes in decent shape.

VS

[nstick13]

VS:
You'll have a PM. E-mails seems like the best way to continue the convo, since we're the only ones having it. I certainly check it more frequently than this site.

[nstick13]

So, I'm hoping for some additional help here.

I have submitted my application materials for BC in Cairo, but have not heard back from them other than saying that they received the materials.

Am I correct to assume that were I not qualified enough for an interview they would inform me of that, right?

I sent my application in around the first of this month, and the last I have heard from anyone there was the 3rd of March. I have changed the date of the program for which I will be applying from October to July, and am trying to find out ASAP if I can be accepted, so I can start taking care of flights, accommodation, etc.

I even called the woman with whom I have interacted and the main BC office today, and neither answered their telephones.

What's a guy to do?!

[veiledsentiments]

You could try calling BC Cairo and check the status there... and keep trying the other office.

VS

[nstick13]

you have an e-mail, too, VS.

[veiledsentiments]

Yes... I'm so behind...

VS

[nstick13]

I interview tomorrow morning....

And hopefully book a flight (finally) tomorrow afternoon....

[nstick13]

fyi you've got mail VS.

ANYONE else have thoughts on BC in Cairo?

[veiledsentiments]

I answered it, but at the moment it is stuck in my inbox. ?? If it doesn't go out tomorrow morning when I turn the computer on, I will move it to another email account.

VS

[maccaliam]

I was wondring if anyone has any (good or bad) experiences working for the BC in Cairo? If so, would you mind sharing?

[veiledsentiments]

I could be wrong, but I doubt that we will have a poster show up with BC Cairo teaching experience. As you can see, there are not many people who come on from Egypt regularly. I was in Cairo during Tutankhamun's reign and used their wonderful library regularly. Over the years, there haven't been any complaints here, nor have I heard any good gossip from friends in Cairo.

British Council is one of those employers that is almost always dependably a good employer anywhere in the world... rather like AMIDEAST in the Middle East. They will pay on time and while BC management sometimes has a reputation for being cliquish, it is predictable.

Naturally they prefer British passport holders, but I've known a few of other nationalities that did part-time for them in Cairo. I'd certainly take a contract offer from them without too much concern if I were in that market.

VS

[nstick13]

I'll let you know after they hire me?

It would be great though--I imagine they're one of the better employers in Cairo, based on the fact that I've had e-mails received and returned in a timely fashion, something I cannot say for other schools.