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CVN-76
Joined: 28 Mar 2014
Posts: 171
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 Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 6:02 am Post subject: |
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| MuscatGary wrote: |
It is getting tougher to get the alcohol permit. The Dean of the College where I work refuses to write the NOC as he's a straggly beard/short dishdasha guy so no chance. Fewer and fewer places are allowed to serve alcohol unless they serve it with food.
Thanks for the nods and best wishes! btw I DID fail students on multiple occasions. The grade was changed during the semester break!!!! Teachers are not told and only realise when they see the student is on the next course! |
I think you guys in Oman or going to Oman should demand the contract address getting an NOC within reason. If you are still employed someplace, that should prove your employer has no objection with you while at work. What you do after hours should be your business only.
I've seen grades changed. I've seen students I've flunked being automatically advanced to the next levels. They knew ahead of time they'd be passed automatically. The teachers were told any student cheating or being apathetic would be flunked and expelled. Sweet nothings those assurances were. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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It is very confusing to call the permission forms to get a liquor license or driving license an NOC. In fact, this is the first time I have ever seen this term used for these two processes.
It is not the same form as the infamous NOC that one needs in many countries to change employers.
Getting these forms in a timely manner is another reason why one should pick one's employers carefully. I never bothered with an alcohol license, and at both employers in Oman, I got my permission letter for the driving license a half hour after asking, and then their 'fixer' would drive me down to the office to get the license... and take me back to work with the license in hand.
VS |
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MuscatGary
Joined: 03 Jun 2013
Posts: 1364
Location: Flying around the ME...
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
It is very confusing to call the permission forms to get a liquor license or driving license an NOC. In fact, this is the first time I have ever seen this term used for these two processes.
It is not the same form as the infamous NOC that one needs in many countries to change employers.VS |
True, it's not actually a form at all. It's a letter on official notepaper with a stamp and stating the nature of your employment (some occupations are prohibited from having a liquor permit) and your salary (you can only have a permit which allows a monthly purchase of up to 10% of your salary). However if the employer refuses to issue this letter (usually on the grounds that it offends them) then you can't get the permit. The issuance therefore implies that the employer does not object to you having the permit, hence the use of the term. You also have to declare your religion whilst at the licensing office and pay a fairly hefty fee (a 150 OMR permit costs 146 OMR but it does last for two years). Omanis can't have them but get their Indian employees to buy one, issue a fake letter inflating the Indian's salary and wait for them (usually, but not always, outside the store). They also often have memberships of private social clubs which allow them to buy takeouts. A year ago the ROP ran out of the permit books and it took them four months to get new ones printed! |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 10:53 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Gary... it was a letter back in my day, but thought that they may have changed it for a "form."
VS |
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CVN-76
Joined: 28 Mar 2014
Posts: 171
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 2:05 am Post subject: |
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| MuscatGary wrote: |
| I'm leaving. After 3.5 years I've had enough of their whingeing and cheating. Time to go.... |
I wanted to add that working in Oman may damage your morale beyond repair. Understand that what you see in Oman and Saudi you'll possibly see in other places later, especially at private schools. When you see it again, you'll probably have a flare-up of here-we-go-again-osis, a condition that plagues those who have taught in Oman and Saudi. It's not really burn-out. It's a revulsion of the incompetence, apathy, and unfairness. The rejection of conditions we promised ourselves we wouldn't endure ever again in the final days of earlier gigs we fled. It's the dark side of having several years of experience. And being a realist. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 2:16 pm Post subject: |
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It needs to mentioned that these conditions are NOT in every employer. Certainly not at SQU or many of the private institutions. These Ministry jobs that are mainly for keeping the boys corralled and off the streets for a few years are the main difficulty - as most are not academic material.
Nor can living in Oman be compared to living in Saudi. Women teachers have few restrictions in Oman like they do in Saudi. They can drive, wear their own clothing (but towards the conservative is best), and can go out freely in public - with common sense. There is alcohol available and the sexes can mingle freely with the caveat that one keeps in mind that it is a Muslim country and one should "behave" in public. (no touching between the sexes... even holding hands is haram)
And another key difference is no requirement for an exit visa in Oman.
VS |
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MuscatGary
Joined: 03 Jun 2013
Posts: 1364
Location: Flying around the ME...
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
| There is alcohol available and the sexes can mingle freely with the caveat that one keeps in mind that it is a Muslim country and one should "behave" in public. (no touching between the sexes... even holding hands is haram)VS |
I see plenty of drunken Omanis doing a lot more than holding the hands of Asian women in the bars....whether the Asian women want them to or not! |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 2:33 pm Post subject: |
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Not sure that I would consider a bar "public" as you are already with a bunch of "rebels."  I was thinking about walking down the beach or in a shopping center where more average citizens might be offended - and call in the police. As to the activity in the bars... I wouldn't want to risk whether an expat could get away with such.
VS |
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MuscatGary
Joined: 03 Jun 2013
Posts: 1364
Location: Flying around the ME...
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 2:52 pm Post subject: |
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I think the reality is that the country is actually TWO countries, a fact that used to be recognised by the old name of 'The Sultanate of Oman and Muscat.'
What is ok in Muscat definitely is not ok in Rustaq or Ibri or Nizwa and so on. Muscat Omani women walk around the malls in Muscat with abayas wide open and very tight clothing exposed underneath. Their head scarves are worn loose showing their hair and some. not all, greet Western males with French style bisous. Western couples do hold hands and nothing is said but there is always the risk...
The times they are a'changing...although probably not so much in a few weeks when Ramadan starts..... |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 11:42 pm Post subject: |
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| MuscatGary wrote: |
| I think the reality is that the country is actually TWO countries, a fact that used to be recognised by the old name of 'The Sultanate of Oman and Muscat.' |
Very true... a common urban/rural difference true everywhere to some extent. And the expat Omanis who came back in the 70s and 80s versus those who never left. Add in the old north/south divide in Oman. All in all a topic that has spawned some interesting books.
The key for expat teachers is to think about where you are... and act accordingly. Always best to err on the conservative side.
VS |
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smokesignals
Joined: 06 Mar 2014
Posts: 22
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| Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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Muscat Gary:
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| I DID fail students on multiple occasions. The grade was changed during the semester break!!!! Teachers are not told and only realise when they see the student is on the next course! |
Yes, me too. Or, on appeal (lots of moaning from failing student) during teaching time, an Omani co-ordinator and I moderated, and hey presto, the student passed because he or she had written a very low % of a report in their own words (3rd attempt, refusing all help from me). However, just enough for the Omani co-ordinator to up the mark to a pass.
You can see these ill-equipped students studying their majors, who have come up from low-level Foundation all the time at CAS Oman. How do they pass through all the levels? Too long to list.
It begs the question, why not slowly switch to Arabic medium in teaching in the next 5 years or so, especially in popular areas where there are enough Omani teachers and ex-pat Arabic teachers qualified to teach at university level, eg Business and IT majors. Keep the Foundation course but 1 year, not 2, and keep the maths, IT, and English tailored to the student. If they leave Foundation at only Elementary level, no problem, as they will follow their major in Arabic. Many of these students when they graduate will never leave Oman, and will only need to communicate in mainly Arabic, Hindu, Urdu, and basic English etc. If they need to upgrade their English skills later at CAS, during their majors, fine. However, it should not be a big pressure on them to progress to studying their majors.
Omanisation is here, and it is here to stay.
"Hats off" to you Gary, for moving on. It sounds like Oman is going down the pan, in terms of entertainment options. I had many a happy night out in Muscat. What a pity. |
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MuscatGary
Joined: 03 Jun 2013
Posts: 1364
Location: Flying around the ME...
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| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Today's news: Bachelors are to be banned from some of the beaches... |
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pat blake
Joined: 21 Nov 2006
Posts: 31
Location: Kuwait
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| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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| While I've only visited Oman a few times--and loved it--I had a friend who worked at the U in Muscat. They called it the glue factory for ESL teachers. A few of these people had worked in Kuwait and actually preferred Kuwait. |
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MuscatGary
Joined: 03 Jun 2013
Posts: 1364
Location: Flying around the ME...
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| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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| pat blake wrote: |
| While I've only visited Oman a few times--and loved it--I had a friend who worked at the U in Muscat. They called it the glue factory for ESL teachers. A few of these people had worked in Kuwait and actually preferred Kuwait. |
SQU is an exception, the best students and a good gig. However the country is becoming less welcoming. I worked fo the MOD in Kuwait, worse place I ever worked and a total dump. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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| pat blake wrote: |
| While I've only visited Oman a few times--and loved it--I had a friend who worked at the U in Muscat. They called it the glue factory for ESL teachers. A few of these people had worked in Kuwait and actually preferred Kuwait. |
Not sure which "u" they were referring to, but SQU has one of the better reputations in the Gulf as a place to live and work. I would say that for university teaching, the only better gig in the Gulf is AUS.
Perhaps the "glue factory" reference is due to the fact that teachers are hired there... and stay... because they like the work, the country, and the students... and a mostly sensible management (in Gulf terms). It certainly isn't for the money.
I have to say I can't imagine anyone preferring Kuwait.  But my experience there left much to be desired. While I liked my students and my neighbors... not much else appealed and one year was plenty.
VS
(Hi Pat!!) |
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