| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
eslteacher2014
Joined: 08 May 2014
Posts: 66
|
 Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 4:27 pm Post subject: small towns in ksa? |
 |
|
Hello
I'm currently working in Riyadh. I was looking at jobs in abha, jizan, najran, al hasa, hofof , al jouf ect......does anyone have any expeirence in living in small towns in KSA.
The advantage of Riyadh is
1. Easy flights to dubai, doha, London washington d.c ect
2. Alot of nice American resturants such as applebee's Dominos, mcdonalds ect
But Riyadh traffic IS SO ANNOYING. I can't stand it, and its SO BORING and its all desert........ 
But I'm worried that the small towns are also just as bad.
Maybe all of KSA is the same? Just make your money and go back home. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 5:15 pm Post subject: Re: small towns in ksa? |
|
|
| eslteacher2014 wrote: |
| Just make your money and go... |
Probably the best advice you could give yourself. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 1:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
I would expect that the small towns would be even more boring with even more desert. And there would be few familiar restaurants and foreign trips would be more inconvenient and costly.
Seems a no-brainer to stay in Riyadh... and think about your bank account during all trips in the local traffic...
VS |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 6:01 am Post subject: Re: small towns in ksa? |
|
|
| eslteacher2014 wrote: |
Hello
I'm currently working in Riyadh. I was looking at jobs in abha, jizan, najran, al hasa, hofof , al jouf ect......does anyone have any expeirence in living in small towns in KSA.
The advantage of Riyadh is
1. Easy flights to dubai, doha, London washington d.c ect
2. Alot of nice American resturants such as applebee's Dominos, mcdonalds ect
But Riyadh traffic IS SO ANNOYING. I can't stand it, and its SO BORING and its all desert........
But I'm worried that the small towns are also just as bad.
Maybe all of KSA is the same? Just make your money and go back home. |
Like any bottom feeder job in the KSA you take your chances. Never ever sign a contract for a job that is part of an overall drive to provide vocational training to Saudi's that have been out of the work force for years and years ie. mountain men that are dumb, lazy and unemployable, in the smaller cities. You will have nothing but trouble with the most likely sketchy company and the students as well. "We want a teacher that speaks Arabic". Five minutes before class ends "Teacher I showed up" "I had to pray at the mosque". Eventually the students will sign a complaint that one of the students types up. They did that for every single native English teacher at a program like that where I worked.
Avoid those programs at all cost.
On the other hand teaching regular students at a university in a small school can be easy. Classes that never show up. Sitting in your office relaxing doing whatever you want.
When deciding if you want to accept a small city job make sure you avoid my first example. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 6:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
| veiledsentiments wrote: |
I would expect that the small towns would be even more boring with even more desert. And there would be few familiar restaurants and foreign trips would be more inconvenient and costly.
Seems a no-brainer to stay in Riyadh... and think about your bank account during all trips in the local traffic...
VS |
Maybe boring but they do have broasted chicken fast food restaurants and ethnic restaurants. Housing is cheaper so you are less likely to be sharing an apartment. Which you really don't want to do in Saudi Arabia, believe me. Riyadh may have a lot of restaurants, but its a nasty place to be. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 2:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
[quote="plumpy nut"]
| veiledsentiments wrote: |
I would expect that the small towns would be even more boring with even more desert. And there would be few familiar restaurants and foreign trips would be more inconvenient and costly.
Seems a no-brainer to stay in Riyadh... and think about your bank account during all trips in the local traffic...
VS |
Maybe boring but they do have broasted chicken fast food restaurants and ethnic restaurants. Housing is cheaper so you are less likely to be sharing an apartment. Which you really don't want to do in Saudi Arabia, believe me. Riyadh may have a lot of restaurants, but its a nasty place to be.[/quot
Nasty traffic
Last edited by cmp45 on Wed Dec 03, 2014 4:00 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sheik Yerbuti
Joined: 02 Dec 2012
Posts: 105
Location: the promised land
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 2:22 am Post subject: |
|
|
If you drive, the smaller places are much better. Still plenty of mayhem,
but manageable. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bigdurian
Joined: 05 Feb 2014
Posts: 401
Location: Flashing my lights right behind you!
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 4:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Why all the negativity about Riyadh? A lot of it depends on your situation I suppose. I go to nice parties on various compounds every weekend, have a good circle of friends. I have more time to spend with my wife and family here than in other places. Yes, the traffic can be annoying but there are other places in the world where it is a lot worse. Personally, I like the desert, and I take my wife and kids out there for picnics fairly regularly. It's what you make of it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
awardtour
Joined: 19 Sep 2014
Posts: 13
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 3:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Under no circumstances should you ever consider the Al Rass Social Experiment/German College sponsored by ICEAT.
You have been warned. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
psychedelicacy
Joined: 05 Oct 2013
Posts: 180
Location: Beijing
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 5:33 am Post subject: Re: small towns in ksa? |
|
|
| eslteacher2014 wrote: |
| I was looking at jobs in abha, jizan, najran, al hasa, hofof , al jouf ect. |
I've lived/worked in two of those. Al Jouf isn't a city. If you don't like Riyadh, it would be unwise to go to a smaller city, because they are just little (and poorer) versions of Riyadh with even less to do. The scenery can be very pleasant in my opinion, but you don't like the desert, so that's that out. The only real advantage of moving to a small city is the traffic situation. Personally, Riyadh is one of my preferred locations in the Middle East because of its dry climate (compare Doha in August to Riyadh - the former is truly insufferable).
All Middle Eastern cities are basically big or small versions of the same thing. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are different because they are so highly developed, and Doha is going in that direction, but even in those cities, there are areas that look identical to any scruffy city in the Middle East/North Africa. Same dusty, desert conditions, same nightmarishly bad driving, same architecture, same, samey, same.
Don't ever go to Jazan. I'd be very surprised if there's a worse location in the entire region. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 10:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
Jizan has been luckily selected for a U.S. State Dept. "don't go and if already there leave" designation. The border is very porous and there is constant engagement with security forces the area. I never taught there, but I heard the students were "mountain men", always complaining about the teachers on a whim or some cultural aspect.
In Abha, as far as walking around and scenery the city is nice. It's in the mountains so it's cool. The students there are atrocious whining little 'ne'r do wells' who have sat around with their families for years and years, always friendly and helpful when in return they automatically get good grades. Generally stay away from Abha.
Al Baha is a very nice city in the mountains with quite a few shops and restaurants. If offered a job where you teach at Al Baha university, I would recommend taking the job. The students don't show up for class after about two weeks and then simply cheat to get good grades on the exams. You will get your own office there and can talk with your friends in the spacious English building there.
Last edited by plumpy nut on Thu Dec 04, 2014 2:35 pm; edited 2 times in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mushkilla
Joined: 17 Apr 2014
Posts: 320
Location: United Kingdom
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 12:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I like Abha city, especially Al-Souda mountain and park.
The red sea is only about 120 km down from Abha, especially Shukik beach where you can enjoy your swimming and fishing.
Abha city and tribe culture:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRpEMGdYpj8 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 2:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Dubai is different because it has been modelled on Disneyland. be wary of taking advice from people who have never been in KSA. Mushkilla is right. Abha is good. Small towns are different. Hofuf is nothing like Jouf which is quite unlike Abha !
Avoid the towns in the Nejd, even if you are seriously into the Wahabi lifestyle ! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
