Job Discussion Forums

[flowerpower822]

What the??????? I thought page one was so helpful, but it seemed to go downhill after that....how much to save turned into how to dress and where people shop?!?!

[veiledsentiments]

Welcome to the way these boards tend to work. Once the questions seems to be answered, side discussions can occur.

A specific question can usually bring it back. This is such a vague and nearly impossible question to answer anyway. So much depends on where you are, contract, and your personal priorities.

VS

[scot47]

If you have dependants you will save very little. I struggle to get this idea over to would-be Saudi hands. They have heard the stories of teachers leaving KSA after a few years with MILLIONS - or even SQUINTILLIONS. Must be true and this wicked Scot is just trying to fool them all !


Until you have actually seen the WEIRDNESS of some of the EFLers out there, you cannot beileve it ! Stealing toilet paper from work to save 2 SR !??????????????????

[flowerpower822]

...if you cant beat them, join them:

How come you all have avatars?!? Is it because ur super posters?!?!?
I didnt see anywhere to add a pic

[johnslat]

Dear flowerpower822,

No, it's not because we're all "superusers" (although I DO have superpowers )

If you go to your profile page, you should find this:

Avatar control panel
Displays a small graphic image below your details in posts. Only one image can be displayed at a time, its width can be no greater than 80 pixels, the height no greater than 80 pixels, and the file size no more than 6 KB. Current Image

Delete Image
Link to off-site Avatar:
Enter the URL of the location containing the Avatar image you wish to link to.

unless you need a certain number of posts before you can get an avatar, maybe 50, maybe 100. Here's a thread about it:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=50091&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=avatars&start=0

Regards,
John

[flowerpower822]

Oh thanks.

Maybe not superusers...but enough post for an avatar
I dont have an avatar control panel yet...oh well

[rainbowprof]

above 100 posts and the avatar control kicks in

[pink_islands]

100 replies eh for an avatar? i wonder how many for PM magic powers....

I plan on working in Saudi, but not primarily for monetary reasons. I have limited experience compared to most of you in teaching and am still in my 20's. I also do not plan to be a teacher for the rest of my life- I am using my teaching experience( if i go to saudi) to help me obtain my MBA as well as my life dream of creating an arab- american institution. That being said, I have shopped in the middle east( dubai egypt ect.,.) it gets quite expensive!! I personally find cute suits from nordstrom, saks, and bebe. However, when I was in dubai the juicy couture tshirt i purchased was around 250$ in usa it would have been 80$.
-- shopping in the ME IMHO is "hella expensive"
If i go to saudi I plan on wearing an abaya- I am wondering if any of the teachers wear abaya?

[johnslat]

Dear pink_islands,

"i wonder how many for PM magic powers.... "

Only 5 - you're magic now

" I am wondering if any of the teachers wear abaya?"

Some do - if they're women - to and from work and when they go shopping. Some don't, especially in places such as Jeddah, which are (relatively) more cosmopolitan, less xenophobic.

Where in Saudi do you hope to work?

Regards,
John

[pink_islands]

I have been doing "extensive research" aka reading over all your posts +google. I have a BA+ few years experience+TESOL but I am 25. Many of the employers require 27+. I speak saudi arabic so there is no way I will let a shady contract come through! I have heard some scary stories on this board... I have looked at the recruiter skyline global, and am looking at ICEAT and SBC. I have less experience than many individuals in this forum, and cannot be as picky as some of the others. That is why I really am trying to read as many of the posters' experiences as possible.
I am hoping for a place that is "tolerable" on the scale of "it's saudi no place is great, but I can deal with this option" - I just don't want to be in a situation where an idiot recruiter places me in some disorganized place that gives me some BS tourist visa, refuses my pay, makes me work ridiculous hours and then screws me over on my exist visa--- I pick " not great but tolerable" over the latter any day. - BTW i am a very open person so suggestions or places you recommend me to look at i would be very grateful for =)

[flowerpower822]

hilarious! Funny stuff...i didnt know about the age requirement. Im right above that requirement I guess, but I dont have much school experience.

[nomad soul]

[pink_islands]

I'm not one to read posters' experiences to develop a confirmation bias. I do not read your comments and pick the good parts to confirm what I want to hear. As I mentioned, I have read there are " tolerable" "slightly above average" " almost tolerable" recruiters lol . I have yet to hear of the dark handsome clean cut thobe wearing recruiter who jumps off his white arabian horse and says " yala ya bint we are the perfect, honest, helwa recruiter" jus sayin' ....

Saudi is part of my future goals. Trust me at age 25 who wants to spend a year or two in an area with no male contact, restricted movement,spoiled kids ....? oh and im not doing this for the $.... But I am ready to be an adult put up with the bull $*&* that will come my way to reach my future goals. Since there are no good recruiters I am looking for the slightly tolerable one who doesn't leave me stranded at the airport and maybe I can sweet talk and throw my "wasta" around to let him keep my passport.

Korea would be way easier. But I have not invested this much time to see what happens to" a dream deferred"..

[nomad soul]

[cmp45]