Job Discussion Forums

[johnslat]

Dear mnruman,

"Have you been . . ."

Not the present perfect - the past. I worked for the same institution, the Institute of Public Administration, from 1980 to 2003 (not continuously - I took breaks in a vain attempt to preserve my sanity).

I worked in Jeddah (4 years) and Riyadh (15 years). If I had to choose between the two, I'd say Jeddah is better, mainly because the locals there tend to be "more used to/tolerant of" foreigners (as is the case with most port cities as opposed to most mid-country cities - e.g. New York versus Oklahoma City).

But the key yo lasting a long time in Saudi is, in my opinion, twofold:

1. Your employer/workplace environment have to be good (And, back in those days, at least, the IPA was good in both respects. They pretty much left you alone and let you do your job, and my colleagues were almost all easy to get along with).

2. Your nature/personality/character: you need to be very self-sufficient, able to entertain yourself without many outside resources, very patient, very tolerant, very tactful, very adaptable, and having an at least slightly bizarre sense of humor is an asset, too.

Regards,
John

[cnthaiksarok]

Just started my 8th year. I'll do 10 more and retire, in'shAllah.

3 years in Riyadh - 3 years in Khobar and now 1.3 in the SW region.

I liked all locations, but prefer it down here due to the weather (I can garden and seriously produce veggies!)

3 different companies, two of which = military contracts and 1 = language school.

I quit my first job circa 2002 because during the mass exodus my boss said I would pay for my housing up front and he'd reimburse me over the course of the year (in each paycheck) ha!

2nd deal didn't get their follow-up contract.

For me, (still w/o the lengthy endurance of John and others...) one key is having wheels. I've had a car in each location and the months of being without, well....I can see why some hate it.

As for the rest, I've outlined elsewhere...keep busy, get involved, don't over-indulge in the poison, stay focused on your goal(s) and be positive.
Not saying I've always been able to live that creed, but I try.

[Hatcher]

I wrote this before but I think a certain personality does best in Saudi.

I was there for just over 2 years and hated it.

I would say to surround yourself with positive people and work hard to stay busy.

I knew one guy who was there 25 years and he was a loner. Everyone is there for the money.

Oddly, you can make more in other countries. I hope I dont go back but if I do it will be near the bridge to Bahrain.

[caliph]

3 contracts,

Two with military contractors. (DOD contracts, very good. Cuts through a lot of Saudi BS.)
One with Civil Aviation Presidency.

All in Jeddah. 7 years total.

I had a great time!

Did a lot of sailing, SCUBA, fishing. Big parties every weekend on the compound. Battle of the Bands with groups from all over the Kingdom, mostly very talented Filipinos. Ladies from the "girl ghetto" (nurses and stews), in Jeddah happy to get to a normal environment for the weekend. Unlimited imbibing and other stimulants/depressants available.

I was there for the big bust at the Sharbatly compound when the police arrived with ladders to scale the walls thereby avoiding the gate guards who would have warned us. 80 some people arrested, most deported. I avoided being captured by slipping into the swimming pool.

Old timers like Johnslat and scot may remember this. It was the talk of Jeddah for weeks.

Those were days.

Sun, Sand, Sid, S*x, and Surf. The 5 S's (pillars) of SA.

What's not to like.

[cnthaiksarok]

[Enkates]