Job Discussion Forums

[Saabirah]

Dear Musaafira.

I am African-American and worked in Saudi many years ago. Some high school students, who were not mine, laughed at me on more than one occasion while I was passing.

A few years ago, I applied to a university in Saudi, on my friend's recommendation, and an interview was scheduled. Upon receiving my photo, however, the interview was cancelled. It was confirmed later that the reason indeed was the color of my skin.

I do, however, know of African-Americans who have had positive experiences.

[AnneCO]

This negative reaction to black skin seems so weird given that SA is right next to Africa. Also Prince Bandar looks so African. Apparently his mother was Afro-Yemeni.

[Puddlesz]

I am a Canadian of East Indian descent and had no problem getting a job in Saudi Arabia. I didn't receive much racism from my students (I think it was mostly good-natured joking anyway I didn't mind). The most racism I encountered was with people outside work such as cab drivers, restaurant workers, etc. and even that was limited. I had a co-worker who was Pakistani but apparently looked Egyptian to the students and he was treated worse than me!

Having said all this, I would be more than happy to work in Saudi Arabia again

[scot47]

I had some British colleagues of non-British ethnic origin. They were invariably asked by students, "But where are you REALLY from ?"

You think Saudis are racist go and check out China or Japan !

[al-Californian]

[johnslat]

A new category?

1st conditional: I wonder what they'll ask the indigenous teacher if he is teaching in such an environment.

2nd conditional: I wonder what they'd ask the indigenous teacher if he were teaching in such an environment.

3rd conditional: I wonder what they would have asked the indigenous teacher if he'd been teaching in such an environment.

Mixed Conditional:I wonder what they'd ask the indigenous teacher if he had been teaching in such an environment.

Mixed-up Conditional: I wonder what they'll ask the indigenous teacher if he were teaching in such an environment.



Regards,
John

[sharter]

The Gulf is the most racist place on earth. Have a car crash and as an ajnabee it's your fault. Slap an national who abuses your wife and it's your fault. Have an argument with a student and you'll lose. It's not necessarily a black white thing. Try marrying a Muslim woman as a Christian. The place is based on bonded slavery.

[al-Californian]

[johnslat]

"That's the way to own English. After teaching in Saudi, you are now spending quality time studying my sentences for grammatical correctness with the 10 dollar words and all. Bravo"

Just a little defensive there, al-Californian. Nope, I don't "own" English, but I do know how to use it correctly. Moreover, I certainly didn't have to "study" your post for grammatical incorrectness - it leapt right out and made understanding your post very difficult.

If you're going to complain about such things as the "native speaker fallacy," try to use the language correctly; otherwise, you're undercutting your notion that it's a "fallacy."

" . . . with the 10 dollar words"

What 10 dollar words? Most of them are your words, and I don't see one that would be worth more than a nickel, tops.

[al-Californian]

[johnslat]

No correction- your "you can't tell me nothin" means that I can tell you something, which I entirely agree with.

"In the future, don't concern yourself with a reply that is not addressed to you."

Sorry - I'll concern myself with what I please. But feel free to do the same.

" . . . since you like to show how important you are by using English "correctly"."

And you apparently like to show how unimportant you are by using it incorrectly,


You're quite welcome for the humor - I think you're pretty much of a joke.