Job Discussion Forums

[nomad soul]

If you're new to Saudi Arabia and arrived in the Kingdom within the past month or two, how has it been for you so far in terms of your work environment, colleagues, students, living situation, cultural adjustment, etc.? Any disappointments? Pleasant surprises?

[scot47]

The Newbies are keeping quiet in case the boss reads what they have to say ?

[myohmy]

The newbies remain silent because they fear the old-timers will pig-pile them with sarcasm, arrogance and condescension.

[RustyShackleford]

The newbies remain silent because they just arrived and are still forming a proper impression.

I don't love the condescion by the oldtimers but they are entitled to their opinion.

I also don't love the moaning by those who didn't Like it. That goes for virtually any country.

[nomad soul]

[scot47]

My buckets of sarcasm, condescension and bile are locked up this month.

[buravirgil]

[BajaLaJaula]

If you stay long enough you can add a third category...

Honeymoon Period - Wow! How interesting that they are such traditionalists. They still insist on closing businesses during prayer times.

Reality Bites Period - What a nuisance it is to have to wait outside because businesses close during prayer times. Especially during meal times, I find that I have to rush to get to a restaurant so that I don't have to wait outside for 30 minutes. LUNCH time = dhuhr prayer, DINNER time = asr or maghreb prayer, LATE snack time = eisha prayer. I didn't include fajr because it is so early that businesses don't usually even open until after it is over.

Acceptance Period - How wonderful it is to add an extra 30 minutes to all of the errands I need to run depending on which prayer is going on. It is a good time to strike up a conversation with anyone else waiting outside, that is if they are brave enough to wait instead of going to the mosque to pray.

[RustyShackleford]

I wouldn't even say I'm having a honeymoon period, because that would imply I'm having a grand ol time. More accurate to say I'm just acclimatizing. I would appreciate not having words put into my mouth.

There are many things I'm already not too fond of, but, reflecting on how badly I experienced Spain, I know what my emotional rock bottom is and how to avoid or at least mitigate it.

I'm just glad that my place is decent and that I wasn't lied to in my interview. Everything else is just window dressing and all I can do is take a wait-and-see attitude.

[nomad soul]

[RustyShackleford]

Fair enough.

[buravirgil]

Over just a few years, I found my ability to ignore prayer times without consequence came and went through phases. I might slip in and out of town, or do this or that, and just miss the potential inconvenience for weeks at a time. And then a week of bad luck could really get under my skin. I didn't find using an alarm, like an app on a tablet, helped much. I couldn't help gaming it, anticipating this or that business would reamain open until the very last minute.

My mental acceptance of it took this interpretation: Grandfather clocks. That's what it reminded me of, some rich man's grandfather clock in a great hall outside my doors, outside my windows. I came to like it. I even miss it sometimes. And hearing the slight differences of vocalization across the Muslim world intrigued me as well.

Anyone can grouse about it. Most people do. Quaint.

[gregory999]

I think the majority of newbies to the Magic Kingdom will go through four stages (of culture shock):
1. Honeymoon
2. Anxiety
3. Adjustment
4. Acceptance & adaption

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_shock

I think the majority of newbies will experience boredom (job dependency) in the Magic kingdom.

I guess the people who have been more than 10 years in the Magic Kingdom have developed bi-cultural concept within their life in the Magic Kingdom. Others may exit from the culture of the Magic Kingdom after stage 2 of the culture shock.

[nomad soul]

[buravirgil]