Job Discussion Forums

[BajaLaJaula]

....or.....

Come for the money and put up with the people (culture) for as long as you can....Of course not all Saudis are difficult to deal with and to be fair it has more to do with the hassle of living there.

Saudis (most of them anyway) don't get to leave to work in the US or EU, so they just have to cope with the backwards system that prevails there.

Living in Saudi is very stressful for those that cannot adjust and adopt some coping mechanisms.

Coping mechanism number 1:
I don't care that everything is chaotic. It is not my country. I am just here to make money. LOCALS CAN USE THIS ONE TOO. This is seen when they make a loud sort of sucking sound and a sweeping of the hand to indicate that they don't care.

Coping mechanism number 2:
I don't go out after 5:00 p.m. I simply go back to my compound and save my money until my next vacation.

Coping mechanism number 3:
I drink the local hooch and stay inebriated so that I don't have to think about how I am wasting away my life living in this hellhole.

Coping mechanism number 4:
I play sports and stay active. If I stay busy the time will go by quickly until I can get out of awful country.

Coping mechanism number 5:
I have embraced their ultra-conservative form of religion which teaches me to be patient and accept whatever happens as having been predetermined. THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST ONE SINCE IT IS WHAT A LOT OF LOCALS ARE ALREADY DOING.

If you are unable to find a way to cope with living in KSA, you will self-destruct and will do something foolish as a way of being forced to leave.

But then again....quality of life in the western world seems to be on the decline. So might as well make some money and find a way to cope with it.

[akoo1]

"Come for the money and put up with the people (culture) for as long as you can"

is exactly the bad attitude I'm talking about.

If there is a problem with the hassle of living there. I suggest people find their niche.

"Saudis (most of them anyway) don't get to leave to work in the US or EU, so they just have to cope with the backwards system that prevails there"

This is not true for everyone, they often travel if they can afford it and many can.

"Living in Saudi is very stressful for those that cannot adjust and adopt some coping mechanisms"

Well the i suggest those people return to their hometowns where they can cope better.

Coping mechanism number 1:
I don't care that everything is chaotic. It is not my country. I am just here to make money. LOCALS CAN USE THIS ONE TOO. This is seen when they make a loud sort of sucking sound and a sweeping of the hand to indicate that they don't care.

I have no idea what this means

Coping mechanism number 2:
I don't go out after 5:00 p.m. I simply go back to my compound and save my money until my next vacation.

This is probably a good way to save money, a tactic of the Order of the 500 however it will lead to complaints. One must engage Saudi people (and not just teach on company time and F off for the evening). Of course, that's not a healthy lifestyle anywhere. One must engage the locals (off hours as well).

Coping mechanism number 3:
I drink the local hooch and stay inebriated so that I don't have to think about how I am wasting away my life living in this hellhole.

I don't have any sympathy for teachers who complain about a lack of vices. Or are always escaping to Bahrain for a drink.
They should just give the Middle East a miss and go to Vietnam or Columbia. Their greed keeps them here (with all the complaining that goes with it)

Coping mechanism number 4:
I play sports and stay active. If I stay busy the time will go by quickly until I can get out of awful country.

Wrong attitude toward exercise. The point is to keep your mind occupied and not just distract it. Those people who computer games to pass the time, for example. Totally useless activity and does NOTHING to engage the locals, which is the key to happiness in KSA.

Coping mechanism number 5:
I have embraced their ultra-conservative form of religion which teaches me to be patient and accept whatever happens as having been predetermined. THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST ONE SINCE IT IS WHAT A LOT OF LOCALS ARE ALREADY DOING.

Sounds like they're fitting in.

But then again....quality of life in the western world seems to be on the decline. So might as well make some money and find a way to cope with it.

EXACTLY.

[bigdurian]

My take on these points:

1) Is it really that chaotic in KSA. My admin department might not know there arse from their elbow, but as far as the rest of the country goes it's fairly peaceful and very laid back. When I walk out my door in the morning I don't really feel any sense of chaos. It's not like living in Venezuela with perpetual queues for food, or enduring the manic craziness of Manila. In comparison KSA is a fairly stable peaceful place. It's not Ohio though.

2) WTF?? Seriously?? Who on earth does this? and why would you? It might be busier after 5pm, but guess what, most people are working in the daytime. This is just so lame.

3) There are people who don't drink at all and there are problem drinkers. The majority of people fit in somewhere between the two. I would say that many people seem to drink more in KSA than in other places, but I would put that down to a very social expat community. I have come across more problem drinkers in other countries. And that attitude that KSA is a hellhole is such a negative that no amount of booze would get rid of that.

4) People play sports everywhere. It can actually be a positive that in KSA you might have more time to do it. Some people do actually enjoy playing sports. It's not that unusual.

5) Up to them, whatever floats your boat.

What kind of bugs me is that attitude that KSA is a place to be endured, or put up with. You can have a great time here. For myself, I have loads of time with my family, we have a great social life at the weekends with parties, concerts, BBQs etc, and we're saving some good cash too. I would even go as far to say that I like living here.

We have friends here, Western and Asian, who have been here for 10,20 and in some cases 30 years. They're all pretty normal people just getting on with life. None of them are pissed off permanently about KSA.

Some people need to lighten up a bit more. If you go somewhere telling yourself how cr** it's going to be, then it probably will be.

My only major negative about living here is that driving in Riyadh is mental.

[scot47]

KSA is an ordered society. It is a bit zany and some of the rules are a bit strange, but there is order.

Do not expect it to be like suburban Ohio or Harrogate.

[akoo1]

There is order because of the strict rules. No other country has stricter rules. Perhaps we can say there is a correlation between strict rules and ordered society.

Durian, i like what you said however I noticed you said you have Western and Asian friends. Where are your Arab or Saudi friends?

Have you tried driving in the desert?

[bigdurian]

We do have Arab/Saudi friends and they are fine. There was a great Saudi guy I knew last year but he's moved now. Some of my wife's friends married Saudis too. But because my wife is Asian, our social life tends to revolve around her friends and spouses, and believe me, they like to party!

I do like going to to desert for picnics etc. There are some nice spots we go to just outside of Riyadh to the west following the Mecca Road.

Because of my car though I tend to drive to the desert, not in it. That will hopefully change next year when I get the 4x4 Hyundai Tucson I want for Xmas!

[akoo1]

Nice!

Are you interested in dune bashing? The more Saudi friends you have, the better. It's key. Even acquaintances, just something. See if you can find someone to take you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwMMmGzlcBM

[Tazz]

How can anybody be such as an expert after such a short period of time as the above? Enjoy yer 'dune bashing' with your new Saudi chums pal-just watch you don't take a bashing yourself.....seriously.

[akoo1]

I don't know what you're on about but nobody is claiming to be an expert.

Also, why would the Saudis bash me? Did they bash you?