Job Discussion Forums

Serious · Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 5

VS, actually, it is not 36+%, as I counted the PYP coordinators and the Asst. Profs too. If 9 faculty members left then it is 50% of the Eng Dept that left. QoS, could you please confirm or anyone else who worked/works there?

If that's the case, that's not RED FLAG, it's VOLCANO ERUPTION flag! There is definitely something erupting there. Has the place always been like that? Any input?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Yikes... but I kind of still stick by my advice. It could still be doable for a contract or 2 if you are one of those with a large tolerance for... err... problems - and need a job in Riyadh.

But, I wouldn't move from another country for the opportunity of testing one's limits...

VS

Linguist · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 202

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Why go to Riyadh ? It does not have a lot going for it !

Cleopatra · Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:27 pm Post subject:

Why go to Riyadh?

Well, for starters it's the capital of KSA, and by far the largest city. Sure, its downside is well-known, and oft-discussed on this board: it is conservative, even by the austere standards of KSA, far from any obvious "attractions" such as the mountains or the sea, and the people are often considered cold and unfriendly.

However, even if much of the above is true, many "ex-pats" are quite happy in Riyadh. As I say, given that it is the capital and largest city, it obviously has facilities (such as embassies) and, umm, social opportunities that smaller cities cannot offer. In any case, teachers - particularly female teachers - don't neccessarily get a chance to pick and choose the city they will work in. Sheer numbers mean that Riyadh will likely have more job opportunities than any other city in the Kingdom, so that is where many teachers will end up in any case.

And it's not as though Jeddah is Paris or Al khobar is New York, so maybe we should get things in perspective. Riyadh may not be most "expat's" destination of choice, but most people would choose it over Hail, Yanbu or Jubail any day. I know I would.

zilzal · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 9

Very well put, Cleopatra! The shopping's not bad there, either! Smile

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

When I lived in Riyadh we used to laugh at a mate's neighbour who was from Buraidah and kept a flat in Riyadh 'cos it was an exciting place to pass the weekends.

Then in Jubail I found myself going to Riyadh for the occasional exciting weekend, and laughing at the guys from Hafr Al-Baten to spend the weekend in Riyadh.

Hopefully the logical third step is not going to happen to me!

Amenti · Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:51 am Post subject:

A word to the wise......
PSU does not give NOCs. So if you choose to take a job there, you will be stuck there. This means that unless they decide to let you go, you can't transfer to another job inside the Kingdom. You will have to go home and stay there for 1-2 years depending.

loribethlarsen · Joined: 19 Jun 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Minnesota, USA

What's a NOC?
Does anyone know one of these people leaving PSU?
Are they leaving because most contracts in KS are one year contracts and what woman wants to live in Riyadh for more than one year? Or is the admin awful? Just wondering if any of the 'teachers leaving' are available for comment...

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

An NOC is a No Objection Certificate. It allows you to move to another job in the Kingdom... otherwise you must leave the country for X amount of time. I suspect that the teachers leaving will not want to identify themselves on the board as the Gulf EFL world is a small one. I just happen to know much of the story. At least two of the teachers were pushed out because of problems with not fitting in to the Riyadh lifestyle... shall we say. Others had completed their two year contracts and chosen to move on to better jobs... and most are staying in the Kingdom.

As I mentioned in other thread, the mgmt was very thoughtless and vindictive, both in the way they ended some people's contracts, and in their choices of which teachers got NOCs and which did not. This is not a place where it pays to do a good job and teach your classes well...

VS

The_Prodiigy · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 252

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 2:49 pm Post subject:

One thing you've got to say for Prodigy is that he's one hell of a fast movin' dude. It only takes him the best part of two months to 'respond' to a post!