Job Discussion Forums

[joe_soccial]

As I wait for my visa to get processed, I'm thinking about packing and shipping. My school is offering a furnished apartment, so I don't need furniture. SO: what should I bring and how should I bring it. Obviously, the wife and I will have air travel suitcases.
* How much more should than should we bring?
* If we want more than two suitcases of stuff, should be bring excess baggage on the plane, or should we ship boxes?
* What's a good way to ship boxes, and how much I expect to pay?
* What will I be sorry that I didn't bring?
* Cell phone: buy one in the states, or wait and get it in Riyadh?
All advice gratefully accepted.

[nomad soul]

You can easily purchase inexpensive phones in KSA; it's something you'll want to do within a day or two of arriving. In fact, you can buy just about anything in Riyadh; there are plenty of malls and specialty stores. That said, what is it that you think you need to ship from the US?

Also take a look at:

"Survival Kit"
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=111335

[Cletus]

Most items you need can be purchased in KSA.

[sicklyman]

very much depends on where you will be located. Jizan doesn't, as yet, have an IKEA.

But, Riyadh, yeah... shopping is very much part of local culture. And, bear in mind that if you don't need to go shopping, there'll be nothing else to do anyway.

[hash]

Like many people who ask for advice, you offer your readers very little crucial information needed about your situation before relevant advice can be given. Are you, for example, American, with children, location of workplace in KSA, ever been in the Gulf before, approx. age, Moslem, length of contract, and so on.

You have to be very explicit and "transparent" with this type of information. Without it, the info you get will be very "general" and sort of useless. For example, are either of you ( I assume there are only 2 of you at this point....but again, you didn't mention any children so all I can do is "assume" you're a couple only) anyway......are either of you on "medication" of one sort or another. If you are, you have to investigate how this will be taken care of.

In general, I would say CLOTHING is essential to me. While it is true that you can "find anything you need in KSA", I've always considered that statement a vast over-simplification of the true state of affairs.

For example, yes, you can find regular type T-shirts.......but probably not in the size you're used to. Clothing here are sized with wildly different systems (Chinese, Japanese, Philippino and on and on). Basically, SIZES printed on clothing and shoes don't mean anything. I once went and shopped for T-shirts and found one sized XXXXLarge but when I got home, it was basically TINY and is now used as a rag....I could never put it on. That kind of thing. Quality is low on just about everything......buttons come off with regularity etc.

So my advice.....bring a good supply of clothing that you consider essential......whatever that may be.

[Pikgitina]

If you like cooking and your coffee, I would recommend a few basic items like a good pair or set of knives, ground coffee, a mug, a plunger, your favourite pan even. I've always found it helps a lot to have a good cup of coffee and my favourite breakfast that first morning in a new country/city/flat.

It is true that some things can be hard to find. Or more specifically: the specific kind of thing can be hard or impossible to find. For example, as far as I know, it is impossible to find black peppercorns in the small town where I live. No lies. I've looked everywhere.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, pack those little things that you don't like being without and which make your life a little nicer and more comfortable.

[nomad soul]

Bring your favorite brand-name products, if that's important to you. Many of the big stores carry major brands, however, your wife may want to pack a good supply of any specific feminine products she uses as some particular styles of brand-name items are not always available in KSA. Additionally, if she wants to purchase an abaya while still in the US (preferable), East Essence is a supplier of inexpensive garments --- I've purchased clothing from them over the past 10 years. She should get a basic black, loose-fitting, light-weight abaya regardless of who she orders from.

By the way, Amazon delivers to KSA. Ask some of your western PNU colleagues about receiving purchases from abroad.

[hash]

ADDENDUM: (mainly for females)

With reference to my previous post advising on CLOTHING:

I just returned from the local WALMART (here in the USA). I don't mean to imply that you regularly shop for clothes at WALMART, but nevertheless, the apparel they have for sale for their female clientele is indicative of what many women wear in the USA during the summer.

I would say, without a doubt, that about 95% of the female clothing for sale at a regular USA Walmart would be totally banned in KSA at even the most "progressive" mall store.

This is because - I don't know any other way to put it - most USA clothing (for females) is structured to reveal as much as possible whereas in KSA clothing is structured to reveal as little as possible.

Therefore, if you MUST have regular USA summer clothing at least at home in KSA, you better bring it along with you from the USA 'cause you ain't gonna find it in even the most haute couture shops in KSA.

[pooroldedgar]

Do the malls in Saudi sell Playstations, does anyone know? All the games? Or is all the stuff haram?

[nomad soul]

[nomad soul]

Joe_soccial:

Since you'll be in KSA way ahead of your wife, I suggest you get the email address from the spouse of one of your western PNU colleagues who can be a resource for her and answer questions about clothing and such.

[joe_soccial]

Everyone, thank you for your excellent responses. I had lost track of this thread, and only found it because Scot47 directed me here.

Follow up:
ME: White American male, Buddhist (but willing to hide it), mid-50s.
WIFE: Japanese, late 50s.
Moving from California to Riyadh, first time for both of us to the Middle East. So our big question is, what of our stuff do we throw away (replace after arrival) and what do we bring? If we bring stuff, how do we bring it? We would only bring clothes, books, and laptops. If we brought every stitch of clothing we own, it would be under 10 boxes. So we have nowhere near enough for a container, and I don't think I'm being offered any moving allowance.
HENCE: What do we need to bring and how do we get it there?

Any follow up advice gratefully received.

[nomad soul]

[joe_soccial]

The reason I'm asking about my clothes and books is that are not leaving/storing anything here in the US. Anything we don't bring gets disposed of, and I'll never see it again. So it's a big decision. For everything we own, it's either pay to bring it to KSA or say goodbye forever.

[nomad soul]