Job Discussion Forums

[KiteBiker]

where to stay, try the Al_Bustan Residences run by a chap who works at the MoHE college in Salalah called Saeed Shanfari.

Aloofness: my experience in Salalah is that the expat community has a strange brew of Teahcers, quasi-academics, and military mercenary personnel which when stirred together makes for a very unsettling experience. Information hunting and ferreting is a common passtime and sport leading to all kinds of rumour-mongering, character assassinations, professional undermining, and a whole lot of nosey neighbors that take it to extreemes. If you've ever lived in a small town where everyone knows the personal and intimate habits of everyone elese, magnify it time 10 and throw in a good dose of culture shock. You'll have the Salalah expats down pretty accurately. Used to be dominated by the British, but I see all kninds are now moving into Salalah and the results are not any better.

Thus are my .02 cents CDN worth ...

[eha]

"all kinds of rumour-mongering, character assassinations, professional undermining, and a whole lot of nosey neighbors that take it to extremes"

None of this is exclusive to Salalah.

Oh, and by the way, you forgot 'denial', 'projection', 'blaming-the-victim', 'shooting-the-messenger', 'abusing-the-good-guy', and all the other Games People Play when they lead empty lives.

[KiteBiker]

true enough.
I tend to restrict myself only to areas where I have first hand experience and knowledge, which is Salalah and occassional forays into Muscat and Dubai with close colleagues in Sur, Rustaq, Nizwah, Sohar, Ibri. Also note my experience is 3 years old now going on 4.

the additional array of sordid phenomena you outlined is also present in Salalah as I'm sure - wherever you are situated now.

[Duffy]

Ian,

Zola6666 is well know to us here in Salalah, I will only say, talk to others and do not accept her very myopic view of life here. Us teachers who work at the College, like any other place of work where there are people from different countries, all have our idiosyncrasies. Though she was correct about the Irish teacher. There are other teachers here who consider themselves to be too good to be teaching such groups as Foundation and who are constantly debasing the students and their efforts, thankfully, hopefully along with Z6666 they will be leaving never to return.

There are, thankfully, a group of teachers in Salalah college who genuinely want to teach and who are not like those others, who are here merely here to collect their Ministry salary to promote their lifestyle.
If you have been in this profession for a while this will come as no surprise. You will find your own way and make the friends you want.

Do not bring a printer or even a computer,(except a laptop of course), the excess baggage will most probably cost you more than it is worth. A decent Hewlett Packard 1400 series 3in1 printer, scanner,copier, can be bought for around 35-40 OR/-, that in Sterling is about 45 to 50 Quid. Because there is no VAT here things are that much cheaper. To fill an average car with petrol, it costs about 6 OR/-, about 8 Pounds Sterling. That is for 10 gallons.

Believe it or not there is life outside of the college. You may not want night life and all that, but if you do enjoy a drink with a convivial atmosphere then go to the Oasis Club down by Salalah Port. Not only does it supply cheap alchoholic beverages, the food is really excellent and they have a full on, 4 lane american style bowling alley.

If thats not your thing, there is plenty other things to do, but you will soon feel the need for your own transport.

Look forward to meeting you in September.

Duffy

[Zola6666]

As for housing, Ian, if you're hired through CfBT, you may not have a choice. One CfBT teacher did manage to get out of that place but I don't know how she did that. Some teachers do a 10-month rental of HUGE houses down by the beach. CfBT teachers were assigned to Al Bhustan place. The apartments/flats are smallish, UK sized, not the more spacioius Omani size. Most flats are 10-month rentals because the Khareef - monsoon - tourist season. Salalah becomes flooded with a daily, misty rain and thousands of Gulf tourists as everything turns green.

That al Bustan Centre also puts you into the thick with your neighbors being colleagues and all the problems attached to that reality.

Of course I meant for you to buy your own printer here. There's a great computer shop with two brothers from India who are wonderfully competent and helpful. Plus repair prices are extremely cheap - nothing like the high fees in the USA.

[Duffy]

From what I have been told the villas at Al Bustan have two bedrooms and plenty of living space and are actually all year round accomodation. Not like those on the beach where the teachers have to move out for Khareef.

As for being in the "thick with your neighbours being your colleagues and all the problems attached to that reality". You have a key to your front and back door and you may open and close them to who you wish.

Duffy

[Aliskander]

I am getting a little bored by the continued negativity by some posters on this forum. I just wanted to say a few things and clear up a few 'mistakes' stated by other posters.

CFBT give you a choice of accommodation or an allowance.
Under Omani labour law either party is allowed to terminate a contract with the 3 month probation period with out giving any reason. This is what the MINISTRY NOT CFBT did in the cases in Salalah.
If the college is SO awful - leave.
If Salalah and the expats there are SO awful - leave.
No one is forced to work or live anywhere that is not their choice, so if everything is as bad as people say on this forum, then they should make a change in their life.
If you are not on a CFBT contract, please don't condemn them as a company and make false accusations.

How about saying some of the positive things about Salalah and the college. There are many many good things in Salalah, in the college, with the staff and the expat community in Salalah. Let's hear some of them.

[veiledsentiments]

[eha]

I wasn't referring to the Gulf. I know these sordid practices occur everywhere--- but, as I keep having to repeat to people who seem to think that universality is an excuse for bad behaviour, does that make them right? Believe me, I'd be saying the same thing--- HAVE said the same thing, everywhere I've found the kind of unprofessional behaviour that prevents development. And in my own society, I'd say them much sooner and more forcefully than I say them here.

Could we focus on professionalism, rather than on location? I personally don't give a monkey's who's behaving badly, where s/he comes from/ what colour s/he is/ what s/he is wearing, etc. If it's not acceptable in the professional environment, then someone should be saying so---- pc or not pc. (Actually, of course, someone should be DOING something about it, but that might be asking for too much).

[scarlie]

These posts are several years old. What is living and working in Salalah like now? Which is the best university/college to work at?

[nomad soul]

Several years old??? More like 7 years old.

[Tazz]

Jeez.....why resurrect this olf dinosaur of a thread-why not start a fresh one about Salalah?

[pooroldedgar]

Because then three people will pop in saying, "Why didn't you do a search?"

[scarlie]

Exactly!

[nomad soul]