Job Discussion Forums

[ecocks]

My negative opinion?

Quite the contrary. For instance I asked for folks to give their top three reputable recruiters for the ME without a single response. While I was pursuing one position with the approach of "how bad could it be?" I received all "negative" PM's and emails saying just the opposite of your statement, that I was over optimistic and too willing to believe that things were being taken care of by management and remaining staff.

One person on the forum stated that life was too short, another added it was especially too short for those of us in our 50's. There is more than one thread in the last month or two in which numerous others with experience are trying to politely dissuade the females who keep plaintively questioning whether there might be somewhere in SA that they can teach without dress restrictions, go shopping without a male, or grab a cup of coffee without having to sip through the veil, little of that has anything to do with me as far as I can tell. In fact, I don't think I posted in any of those threads but went to them looking for some means of rationalizing working in the ME by finding positive references to schools or universities.

Take a gander through the last month or two of postings and notice the general ratio of positive to negative comments about life and employers, draw your own conclusions.

[It's Scary!]

[cmp45]

Okay...fair enough...I did not choose Saudi as my first ME teaching experience. I went to the UAE which was a better way to ease into the culture....and when I had enough of the crazy UAE bling life style and looking for a more reclusive quieter one where I could actually accomplish some of my personal projects and save some money without the temptation of all the "fun" distractions, I chose Saudi Arabia. I knew what it was going to be like before I came here.
I do not think of my time in KSA as a paid prison sentence.

Perhaps I was lucky as each of the 3 jobs I had turned out okay. Perhaps I have a higher tolerance for BS than the average joe or choose not to sweat the small stuff and never ( knock on wood) had any major problems with management trying to screw me around.

I guess people that are content with life in KSA are less likely to post all that often...and yes, the Saudi board, I agree is full of negativity, but of course that just means people continue to make bad uniformed choices.

Taking jobs with lesser known companies, start up schools, language centers, going through recruiters and coming over on a business visa, not knowing or understanding the restrictive lifestyle, etc etc.

Nevertheless...Is Saudi all that bad???
Personally, I don't think so, but it is what you make it...and of course the usual mantra ...choose your employer as carefully as you can.

[ecocks]

[ecocks]

[cmp45]

Anyone wishing to know my secrets of success living and working in KSA are welcome to send me a pm along with a one time 100 riyal fee

[johnslat]

Dear ecocks,

How one adapts to Saudi depends primarily on two factors: the employer one has and the type of person one is.

Regarding employers, there are some good ones, and they have been mentioned in this forum:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=91229&highlight=employers+saudi

Regarding the type of person you are, well, there's no way we other posters can know that, so all we can do is give general parameters, based on experience:

People who have a healthy sense of humor (especially "black" humor) and who are very patient, discrete, polite, considerate, tolerant, mature in judgement, self-sufficient, not dependent upon substances that are illegal there, and are able to entertain themselves without relying much on outside diversions tend to do well.

People who have few or none of these attributes tend to do badly, sometimes VERY badly.

Regards,
John

[It's Scary!]

[CamTam]

If you want to know if it is really that bad here in Saudi Arabia, you have to come to find out. It may be as bad, worse, or better than you are lead to believe on this forum. I can tell you that many men do not like it here and count the days, months, weeks before they can head back to wherever home is.

We all need money to survive. How much do you need? When do you need it?

These are the usual questions teachers consider before they land in Riyadh or another Saudi city. Then, they summon up their courage and grin and bear the rest.

They might complain a bit, but too much of that is bad for one's mental health and doesn't really make for good company. Here, having friends is very important for one's sanity.

Good luck with whatever you choose. You might or might not need it. It depends on you and the employer you choose. So know yourself and choose an employer you have researched if you do decide to go to Saudi Arabia.

[ecocks]

Good advice for anywhere you go Cam. Fair and balanced comment as best I can tell. Thanks for the wisdom.

[ellethom]

@Cam,

Well said, and true of anywhere you choose to work. One never knows what to expect with any employer, and Saudi is definitely not for the faint of heart or week of composure.


As a woman, it has been a daily challenge, but one i see as a necessity. I like to be able to pay m bills and save a little cash. Do i miss Western amenities? Often. Do I complain? Sometimes. But, one of the biggest strengths i see in people who have been here a long time has been their ability to shrug their shoulders, bite the bullet, and keep buggering on.


If you are considering life in Saudi, do your homework, decode how much you can handle, and give it a try.

[nomad soul]

You also have to be a bit of a risk taker---often stepping outside your comfort zone. However, if you're an impatient type and are easily annoyed by petty issues even in your home country, then Saudi Arabia most likely won't be a good fit for you.

KSA is the third Mid East country I've lived in, and I've traveled solo to half a dozen other countries in the region as a tourist. I make my way around the Kingdom just fine as a single woman. But I also speak some Arabic, which helped me adjust rather quickly when I first got here.

[aridion]

It can be quite disconcerting hearing all the negative remarks about SA on various forums. I am in the process of applying to both Saudi and Qatar. I have already passed the Saudi interview and was offered a job.

I reckon if one is going to Saudi they need to have a strong motive. Mine would be primarily for the chance to save cash. However I quite like the idea of working in an entirely different cultural scenario as well.

Previously working in Thailand (easy-street) and South Korea (not so bad, but could present a few challenges), I feel that I am ready to move to the ME.

[posh]

[ellethom]

Posh, you now owe me a new coffee, made me do a spit take on that one.

Thanks for the giggle.