Job Discussion Forums

Easy_as_ABC! · Joined: 07 Mar 2012 Posts: 10

The air hostess seems friendly enough as i sit on my seat 32d waiting for all the other passengers to take their seats. i'm finally of to the ELI at KAU and i'm wondering will anybody be at the airport to receive me but of course somebody will be there , wont they? well whatever happens ill keep you updated. [/b]

johnslat · Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 7:59 pm Post subject:

Dear Easy_as_ABC!,

Bon Voyage - may you have a safe and pleasant journey and may there be someone to meet and greet you when you arrive.

Please do keep us updated; hope your time in the Kingdom is to your liking.

Regards,
John

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

Grendal · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 12:14 pm Post subject:

Fresh meat.

Very Happy

Grendal

Easy_as_ABC! · Joined: 07 Mar 2012 Posts: 10

Hello to you all.
Thanks for all your messages and your good will John.
Indeed I felt like fresh meat when nobody received me at Jeddah airport. In fact after waiting nearly 3 hours and feeling miserable due to having no sleep in the previous 24 hours, I really felt like just taking the next flight home. Obviously I couldn't because I didn't have an exit visa but believe me when I say I felt really let down.
After buying a sim card and finally getting through to the University I explained what had happened and the guy genuinely seemed shocked that no one had turned up. Anyway he gave me the name of the hotel (trident) and asked me to get a taxi but stated that the hotel would pay for it but when I arrived they refused and so I had to pay an extortionate 70 riyal.
When I finally asked why I was told that a driver was sent the day before and I was logged as a 'no show' and when I looked at the Itinerary sheet it showed the arrival date as the 21st and not the 22nd but I'll have to find out whether this was a mix up from the university admin guys or an oversight on my part I suspect it could be the latter.
Well to cut a long story short I've recently spoken to the 'university�s approved real estate agent' who I believe is trying to 'fleece me' but I�m just going to stay in a cheap apartment on a monthly rolling contract until I find my feet, get settled, speak to my colleagues and know right from wrong (in terms of property rates).
Nevertheless the positives are:-
1) - The hotel is really nice (but it�s been paid for only 3 nights)
2) - I should have 10,000 riyals in the next few days.
In the end all I can say is that I�ll have to 'suck it and see' and report back on how the next few days turn out.
Bye for now

johnslat · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 4:11 pm Post subject:

Dear Easy_as_ABC!,

Well, you may have to change your user-name since, unless things have changed a lot since I left, nothing is "easy as ABC' in the Kingdom Very Happy

.

I, too, wasn't met when I first arrived - and it was during Eid-al-Fitr (a fact that meant nothing to me at the time.) But I finally managed to get in touch with someone, got picked up, and ended up staying for a total of 19 years (not continuous ones). A bad beginning doesn't have to be a precursor of the future.

You sound level-headed, patient and competent, good qualities to bring, the second-mentioned one, especially (the competence is often a mixed-blessing in Saudi Very Happy

.) So, I'd say your chances of adapting are good.

All the best, and please keep us updated.

Regards,
John

rainbowprof · Joined: 18 Feb 2012 Posts: 133 Location: Penang

ABC, hope all is well there. Everything panning out? Landed on your feet running, I'm sure. So you can log on to this site??

AnneCO · Joined: 11 Feb 2012 Posts: 53 Location: US

Thanks so much ABC for sharing your experience.

Someone said, "Don't trust the taxi drivers." Which seems from your experience to be valid; however what are the alternatives? I wouldn't think you had much of a choice. Do hotels send out vans like in the US?

Please keep us posted. And best of luck.

AnneCO · Joined: 11 Feb 2012 Posts: 53 Location: US

Or should that conditional be:

"I wouldn't think that you would have much of a choice."? Embarassed

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

It's past, not pending.

"I wouldn't think you had much choice."

johnslat · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 1:30 pm Post subject:

Dear AnneCO and ABC,

You ALWAYS need to negotiate the fare BEFORE getting into a taxi. Even if the driver doesn't speak much/any English and you don't speak much/any Arabic,) this can usually be done (e.g. Ramada - 40 riyals). Some haggling may follow.

Actually, 70 riyals from the airport to a hotel doesn't seen all that exorbitant, depending, of course, on which hotel (i.e. how far from the airport.)

Regards,
John

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

rainbowprof · Joined: 18 Feb 2012 Posts: 133 Location: Penang

bulgogi said

'Like I say, those people are vultures.'

Mate, what a farewell!!

johnslat · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 3:44 pm Post subject:

They get you coming AND going Very Happy

.

Regards,
John

Easy_as_ABC! · Joined: 07 Mar 2012 Posts: 10

Things are truly magical here at the kingdom.
Firstly this morning I managed to get my Iqama medical done (thankfully without the need for a stool sample) however their lack of customer service skills was unforgettable to say the least.
When I finally arrived at KAU I was absolutely astonished at how large the campus was (probably the size of my town in England, Walsall). I somehow managed to find the ELI building (number 30) and then slowly but surely they took my qualification certificates and letters of experience and processed my ppw. I then overheard one of the recruitment executives confirm to a colleague that they are not accepting anymore applications from anybody with a BA and the minimum was a Masters. He then looked at me and said I was lucky and was probably the last person to be recruited with a BA at which point I thanked my wife for convincing to me to come now rather than September as I was contemplating.
I'm then told that because I arrived on the 4th week of the fourth and final module for the year that there wouldn't be much for me to do until September anyway. I won�t be granted any summer leave due to me arriving late in the academic year. Nevertheless I've joined the Jeddah outdoor adventure group and I�m looking forward to some snorkelling and hiking soon.

Just want to say that I�m using a VPN to use this site and watch the BBC I player etc.
A friend told me not to pay more than 50 riyals to travel to the hotel I was staying at but after waiting for 3 hours I couldn't care less about the extra 20 but after reading some comments I think 70 wasn't too bad, Oh by the way the driver originally asked for 90 and I got him down to 70. Since then I always agree (haggle) the price before stepping inside a taxi.
On a low note I lost (left) my new smart phone in a taxi today and I am really feeling GUTTED but hey I�ll get over it......... sometime this month. It had pictures of my two little babies and more!!!!!!!!!! I'm such an idiot.
One more thing, I�ve decided not to use the university real estate agent to find a property and after the warm welcome I got from my fellow teachers and coordinators, they've advised and secured a furnished apartment 10 mins from the Campus on a monthly rolling contract until I'm knowledgeable about the are and find my feet etc.
Other than that there's not much to report on and I'm off to bed and I�ll catch up with you guys later. One final final thought guys, apart from a few things it�s not too bad here but we�ll soon see if that changes.
.