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Atassi
Joined: 13 Sep 2004
Posts: 128
Location: 평택
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 Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 1:18 am Post subject: |
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| basiltherat wrote: |
lol. some of the comments on this thread are REALLY funny ? im having a good laugh. anyone else enjoying it ?
best
basil  |
Hi Basil, long time. How's Kazakhstan? Do you miss Syria, or do you still visit there? |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 1:54 am Post subject: |
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Ya Basil... yes, I too enjoyed the thread... and it is good to see you passing through again. 
VS |
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basiltherat
Joined: 04 Oct 2003
Posts: 952
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| Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:54 am Post subject: |
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hi atassi/VS
Thanks. actually, now back in syria for a short contract but hope to be returning to almaty later this year to sign a contract for work in oil/gas company there. The 6 months in almaty was awesome. the city is beautiful. lots of parks/trees, incredibly wide streets (grid system (u know, the old soviet style stuff), great alp-like mountains just outside the city. a booming economy. very western-oriented lifestyle; nothing like middle east despite the majority of the people being 'moslems'. there are some downsides there, i guess; the city pollution, inflated prices for wat one gets (how about a pack of 12 strawberries for the equivalent of 10 bucks !! And that was in a supermarket!), for example but generally not a bad time. unfortunately, didnt spend much time out of the city but will do so in the future, hopefully.
Coming over to Syria again, Atassi ? Temperatures are just beginning to warm up. Let me know if u have anything planned in the short-term.
Keep this thread going guys n girls. Great posts. Makes my day to have a laugh early on.
best
basil 
Last edited by basiltherat on Mon Apr 09, 2007 8:50 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Bindair Dundat
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Posts: 1123
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| Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 8:02 am Post subject: |
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| QatarChic wrote: |
| Bindair Dundat wrote: |
| JRCash wrote: |
| I mean with the stories of what happens in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan? |
You're right. It's terrible here. One of my students called me a dirty heathen crusader pig and hit me in the face with her rifle butt just this morning. Yesterday a bunch of them burst into my apartment, skinned my cat alive, and ate it. Things are getting worse.
I'd say stay away. |
Where do you work BD- Mesaieed?  |
The Industrial Area. |
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Atassi
Joined: 13 Sep 2004
Posts: 128
Location: 평택
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| Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 10:34 am Post subject: |
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| a pack of 12 strawberries for the equivalent of 10 bucks !! |
Wow, quite expensive. I actually dropped by Syria back in February while I was traveling around, but it was only for a week. Would like to spend a longer time there when I get the chance. I'll let you know the next time I go. |
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stoth1972
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 674
Location: Seattle, Washington
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:50 am Post subject: |
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| JR, to get back to the original question, the sarcasm you might have detected in the responses to your question stems from a history of labelling the Middle East as this great, monolithic beast. Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan: Good places to work right now? Ummmmmm....no. They are also unique to one another on a number of levels. Saudi Arabia neighbours the UAE. Is the western expat experience the same between those nations? Not at all. Every country has a unique experience, but MOST of the Middle East is much safer than people would imagine. Violent crime rates are non-existent in comparison with your average, large, N. American city. You're better off choosing countries of interest in the region and visiting the boards...perhaps sending PMs to regulars in those countries in order to get their personal take. "Is the Middle East safe?" is about as vague as asking "Is N. America a safe place?" |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 4:47 am Post subject: |
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| Don't come to the Middle East. We all go in daily fear of ouir lives. I am so busy working that I barely have time to count the money in that box under my bed. |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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| that box under my bed. |
You get a bed! Luxury!
Us newbies have to crawl into the space between the kalashnikovs at the bottom of the tent. It's when you trip over the severed head of your predecessor on the way to the john that you get really annoyed.
But we all know Scot47 is made of stern stuff. His Dad was a member of the Queens Highland Kamikaze regiment that was so successful that in a month it dwindled in numbers from 10,000 to 6 - and the money was so good who wouldn't have been - though picking up the remains from the bottom of Edimburgh Castle did eat into the inheritance didn't it? |
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