Job Discussion Forums

Demigod · Joined: 15 Dec 2009 Posts: 77

Nizwa Apartments is being recommended by a 3rd party company.

a little out the way, but favorable reviews

I have read so many stories about slow internet.

This worries me alot because I like to stream movies and Tv shows.

Will it better to just get my own apartment in Nizwa?

If so, will transportation and proper internet be an issue?

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

You'll figure out your housing situation once you get to Oman and actually see what your options are. Besides, you can't rent a place while outside the country anyway.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

danshengou · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 2:49 pm Post subject:

Is this U Niz?

edd_moseley · Joined: 24 Jun 2009 Posts: 26

We lived in nizwa hotel apartments for a year, and now we have our own place. The hotel is fully furnished, newish and 2 bedrooms. They are also opposite the college, so you can walk to work. We moved out because we wanted more room and an outside space. The internetnt was OK, we got our own line installed with omantel, which was great and easy to do.

You won't find any other furnished housing in nizwa, so this place is great in that respect, especially if your moving here from out of the country. If you live in your own housing, you will need a car. I guess it all depends on how long you plan to stay, we liked living at the apartments. However, are you working for Al nawa? If so, I think they are making teachers share apartments. This is definitely something to consider.

Edd.

Whatever will be · Joined: 05 Feb 2014 Posts: 303

How many people in one flat?

It's well known that Al Nawa is cheap, but _that_ cheap?

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2016 2:36 am Post subject: Re: Housing

Tazz · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 512 Location: Jakarta

Sharing a cell with someone you don't like could well lead to murder in the oman interior! Shocked

Whatever will be · Joined: 05 Feb 2014 Posts: 303

Makes me wonder what Al Nawa thinks of next to squeeze a few more Rials out of their slave teachers.
Meanwhile, Al Nawa staff live in big, posh villas with all amenities and drive fancy new cars.

Just imagine your Indian flat mates' horrified look as you whip up a _beef_ stir fry in the shared kitchen.

If you're teamed up with a Muslim (from Tunesia, Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan...). you'll be in for a whole lot of trouble if you cook pork (e.g. bacon and eggs for breakfast), have alcohol around or - heaven forbidd- drink some water during daylight hours in Ramadan in your shared flat. There are keys to lock the fridge and nobody is stupid enough to drink tapwater.

Sharing with a Westerner seems unlikely in the interior as not many would apply and those who do are very "special".

Good luck!

danshengou · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2016 6:54 am Post subject: Re: Insane

danshengou · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2016 6:56 am Post subject:

Whatever will be · Joined: 05 Feb 2014 Posts: 303

Oh, there is no geographic orientation (e.g. here is the next supermarket for grocery shopping, laundry/dry cleaner for your clothes, bank/atm to set up an account or get some cash from your savings...) nor is there ever any cultural orientation to the Arab/ Muslim world.

Whatever will be · Joined: 05 Feb 2014 Posts: 303

Omani guys who pick-up the expat from the airport (in their fancy new cars), take away the foreigners' passport and drive them to the clinic for the medial check (x-day, blood work, urine/stool samples..); the police (fingerprinting, biometrics, background check...) and Immigration (resident card, work visa) as well as to the hotel, where one has to stay until all the administrative work is completed. Then, the slave...sorry, teacher is dropped off at the workplace. From that day onwards, the salary is counted and received a couple of months later minus the accommodation cost.

There is no help in setting up a bank account or other necessary infrastructure.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Whatever will be · Joined: 05 Feb 2014 Posts: 303

Basic information is available but does not cover the intricacies and complexities encountered in daily life.
SQU has an extensive induction booklet for newbies, which is most helpful. However, other places have squid all.

There are also no Arabic language lessons on offer to assist expats in the assimilation process.

Culture shock is one of the reasons some Western teachers have left after a week or two in the country. The other reason was the lack of support in settling in, specifically from the recruitment agency.

It's rough being picked up from the airport, having to stay in a backpacker style hostel, being carted to the clinic, police, immigration and then dumped at the workplace without any assistance at all.

Having taught in Asia, I experienced a full briefing, a big welcome party and lots of help (e.g. in setting up a bank account, phone, internet, TV...). Some of the places where fully furnished with a full fridge. They made a real effort to welcome new staff, which paid off in terms of staff's loyality and devotion.