Job Discussion Forums

[PeterDragon]

Hello,

Recovering from a financially devastating divorce that left me a single dad. Looking for a good place to go to make money in my chosen field (ESL), but will need to have my 5-year old child in tow. How logistically possible would it be to bring a small child with me? Is child care available? How about schooling? Is this something that employers or the visa process supports?

[nomad soul]

Some things to consider given your situation:

- Your son might not be able to join you in country until you've passed your probationary period of three months. Even then, you'd have to figure out when you could fly home to get him.

- Moving across the world is traumatic enough for any child whose parents recently split. KSA will be a even a bigger shock for your son due to the culture change. Plus, you won't be available every minute of the day for him.

- Child care, as you know it in the US, UK, Canada, etc., doesn't exist in the Kingdom. Moreover, due to the Kingdom's gender-segregation law, as a male, you wouldn't be permitted to have a nanny (woman) care for your child in your home.

- You're limited to employers that provide a housing allowance.

- Not all employers provide medical insurance nor an education benefit for dependents. Be aware, school isn't cheap if you expect to save money. There's also the cost of hiring a private driver to take your child to/from school.


Others might have more to add, but I think you get the picture.

[sicklyman]

Cringed a bit with nomad soul's second piece of advice. I'm sure you're more than aware of the trauma that your own son has been though and whether he would benefit from being overseas or not.

And as someone who was in exactly the situation of your son when I was 9 years old, I can speak from personal experience and say that being overseas was the best thing that ever happened to me at the time.

if you have a relevant MA then the only kind of employment that might... just might... make this doable for you is direct hire with Aramco. That would get you accommodation and school fees and mean that, living on a compound, you would be able to even have childcare at home if you needed it. But those jobs are very hard to come by... particularly if you're not a young-un from the US.

Other than that, there's very little on offer that will meet your criteria. Saudi can be really stressful and the impact of that stress on yourself and your family should be carefully considered before taking the plunge.

[nomad soul]

[scot47]

Difficult. I would not recommend it - even if you can find one of the good employers.

[nomad soul]

Depending on your qualifications, you might try the UAE for its more family-friendly environment and benefits. Typically, a related MA + 3 years' experience at the tertiary level is required for university foundation year English teaching positions (such as those at HCT). For international (k-12) schools, you'd need a teaching license relative to your degree major (see Teach Away's site).

[PeterDragon]

I have an MA TESOL, 4 years of university teaching experience, as well as a few years tutoring experience in business English and test prep. A few years experience teaching kids, but no teaching cert, so that might not be worth the bother.

I'll look into Aramco and also give carfeul thought to whether this would be good or bad for my son. (He's 4 years old....)

Given my credentials, does anyone else have thoughts on what kinds of jobs I might have a shot at that would work for me/my situation, either in Saudi or other decent paying Middle Eastern countries? I've become particularly interested in the region, not only because a lot of ME countries pay well, but also because pretty much every Middle Eastern student and professor I've worked with in the states (I work in international higher ed) has been someone I've really gotten along with.

[PeterDragon]

Also, @Nomad Soul--- I was thinking the UAE might be a bit more me/my son friendly, but don't you need previous Middle Eastern experience to work there? I've worked with students fromt he Middle East, but I've never worked IN the Middle East.

[nomad soul]

PeterDragon:

I sent you a PM.

[baa_baa]

[baa_baa]

A really good school in Riyadh is American international school. Aka AIS-R. You and your kid would be happy there during school hrs. It's all American expats.

[veiledsentiments]

[The Fifth Column]

You seem to be slowing down in yer postings, VS. On the road nowadays or what?

[baa_baa]

[veiledsentiments]