Job Discussion Forums

[scot47]

What has happened to the throat-slitters and beheaders ? It seems to have gone very quiet all of a sudden.

I hope it stays that way until after I get out later this week.

[justcolleen]

For the sake of those of you who are living on the edge, I hope it's not the calm before the storm.

Where are you on your way to?

Colleen

[Stephen Jones]

And a couple of hours ago in my holiday retreat in Sri Lanka a suicide bomber decides to blow herself up in a police station in the High Security Area of Colombo. First bomb since the ceasefire in 2002. Perhaps the Tigers were worried about losing therr number one position in the world rankigs for sucide bombing to Iraquis or Palestinians.

Perhaps I should have stayed in Saudi for safety reasons :)

[scot47]

I belive Belfast is quite peaceful these days. Maybe that is where to go for our hols.

[Cleopatra]

Scot,

If I were you I'd postpone that Belfast trip for another week or two.

The "Glorious twelfth" is fast approaching, with all the fun and games that invariably implies...

[well-travelled]

Good Lord Stephen - you're on holiday for f***'s sake. What are you doing logging on to Dave's? Withdrawal symptoms?

Relax.......... and Sri Lanka is a lot safer than Saudi, in spite of the recent incident.

well-travelled

(not so seriously!!)

[Stephen Jones]

Safer! Now we've got provincial council elections! This means that you can't do anything because they close all the liquor bars and install a military type curfew, which starts before the election and finishes anything up to five days later depending on the amount of post-election violence. In 2001 I met a group of English tourists who had only been let out of their hotel to change money at the bank. They'd been there a week but not seen anything of the island because no tour could get there and back before curfew time. The last elections were relatively peaceful, except in the North and East and even there there was little actual violence apart from half-a-dozen murders because everybody was so scared of the Tigers (a bit like Iraq under Saddam - ends up being more peaceful because all the opposition is dead or terrified).

Still it's a holiday, even if it's raining all the time (monsoon season) and when it's not I'm catching up on the house building that's been put off by the rain.

And closer to home, just what the nervous need: Decapitation Insurance
http://www.gnaa.us/pr.phtml?troll=gnaa-insurance

[scot47]

Well it is the 12th of July and no news of ructions in Belfast. Maybe that is where we should head.

I feel that I have had enough of the Arab World and need a change of air.

[scot47]

Well having tasted the waters outside KSA, I think I will return.

I am hooked on that Saudi money. And I tried working - I prefer TEFL-ing in KSA.

[Rice Paddy Daddy]

So, the die hards remain.

It's always the vets that stay anchored, eh?

Does this mean you would be willing to advise newbies to come to KSA to teach at this time or not?

[scot47]

Vets do better. Lots of newbies have difficulties in adjusting to the strangeness of KSA. I am fortunate (??????) in that I first worked in KSA in 1970. It is easier today. Do not believe what looney romantics like Thesiger say about the corruption of the pure bedouin lifestyle by wetsern influences. I have lived in KSA without airconditioning and running water. Today is better !

And as for the threat of decapitation - well I have decided to accept it as a hazard like the chance of a driving accident (surely pretty high here !)

[Caroline]

To Scot47,

I remember a while back reading postings where you seemed sure you would be out of Saudi Arabia for awhile. So, I am curious: What made you decide to come back? (I am sure the money was a factor, but you must have some saved up by now, haven't you?)

Was it weird adjusting to life outside of S.A.? I imagine a lot of teachers there have maids, cooks, etc. Is that true? If yes, is not being able to afford the same in other countries a problem?

One last question, do you speak Arabic? (I figure people who do are probably a bit safer, right?)

Hope these aren't too many questions. I have a friend who just went to Iraq (mostly for the money) so maybe that's why I am curious to hear your reasons.

(FYI, I have taught in Italy for the past five years and taught in Ecuador a year before that, so I am also becoming a bit of a professional expat. Am not sure it would be easy to return to USA!)

[Cleopatra]

"I imagine a lot of teachers there have maids, cooks, etc. Is that true? "

Not wanting to speak for Scot or anything, but the only teachers I know who had maids were those with families. I never heard of any teacher, or indeed any other "Westerner", having a cook, though perhaps the household help can cook up a roast too?

[scot47]

"you must have some saved up by now"

Well yes, but how much is enough ? I own a house which my family live in. I have a few thousand dollars. In 8 years time I will get a very small State Retirememt pension from the UK National Insurance system.

Meanwhile my wife and two kids expect to eat on a daily basis. People have kids sometimes - not all of us have made the decision to live as barren solitaries.

In my adopted country - Bulgaria - salaries are about US120 a month and it is not possible to live on that.

At my age I will not very easily find a job in my country of birth. So going back to KSA was a rational decision - even given the risks involved !

[guest of Japan]

I haven't checked this forum in a while. Scot47, I must admit that I too was surprised by your decision to return to the house of the rising saud. I understand you reasons and wish you peace and prosperity in your choice. No matter how frustrating things get, try not to lose your head. Sorry that was a terrible joke.