Job Discussion Forums

[Cleopatra]

Anybody see the ad on Dave's for a woman toworkas governess in a SAudi home? No mention ofpay or benefits,but a list ofduties (incl "show the children that you do not hold a grudge", "maintaint audi-visual equipment", "help the children express their opinions"etc etc etc) aboutas long as your arm.

Don't know about you,but I would run a mile...

BTW,Scot, have you seen BErlitz Jeddah are advertising again? 7000 SR a month, plus - gasp! - an increment of 1000 after doing300 Berlitz 'units'. What did I just say about running miles?

The tragedy is - for me - that they only want men. But that doesn't rule you out, Scot!

[fat_chris]

Cleopatra,

I saw that ad about the governess in Saudi. This was my reaction to it: .

[Jim Bigelow]

My how us men can only dream of job offerings like the one for Governess!!! I have never seen anything like that!

As for Berlitz then I thought their high turnover of teachers may have encouraged them to offer something half way decent! The stories that come out of these language schools are pretty shocking!
Then again they are only looking for fresh meat with minimal experience and maximum exploitation so for a first time efler then maybe it's not such a bad option?

[Jim Bigelow]

Dear Cleopatra:

You made me remember just how much I laughed when I saw that job posting. I thought maybe a speedy glance again may bring some comic relief to those of us still here in the Kingdom!

I mean if people didn't pay Dave for these adverts then you'd have to think it was a wind up!! I just speed read it again and I just can't believe it

Live-in Female Governess Position: Saudi Arabia

Posted By: Almuaha Recruitment Consultants <[email protected]>
Date: Monday, 10 November 2003, at 8:14 a.m.

Qualifications:

* Minimum of teaching certificate in one or more of the following: English (first language), Science, or Mathematics at a high school or middle school

* Minimum of 2 years experience in high school or middle school subjects

* Have current knowledge of latest educational tools and subjects

* American/European National by birth with English as Mother Tongue.

Job Description:

* Keep a continuous channel with children�s school management, teachers and counselors.

* Assisting children in any school subjects which she feels that she can assist them in.

* Ensure that formal education is balanced properly with other activities that are essential in development such as art appreciation, physical conditioning, music, understanding of current events, etc.

* Assisting parents in establishing a consistent daily fixed routine for children. Purpose: is to devote more time for studies.

* Organize and manage children�s daily school/study schedule including homework as well as dealing with any notes/memos from school admin/teachers relating to remarks on performance, new policies, etc. Purpose: is to keep up with school/teacher�s remarks/policies.

* Supervise other teacher�s tutoring sessions. Purpose: is to get a better understanding of children�s shortcomings/teacher�s efficiency, etc.

* Ensure that all the other services rendered to the children by the other staff at home are up to parents�/her satisfaction and on time.

* Maintain children�s schoolbooks and other resources

* Maintain computer and audio/visual equipment

* Plan developmental and play-time activities

* Oversee social and etiquette training

* Accompany the children to and from activities

* Assist with safety measures

* Be a confidant to parents about children�s educational and social development

* Coordinate and design children�s menu with the cook

* Oversee the bathe, feed and dress the children.

* Oversee the clothing wardrobe and seasonal selection.

* Oversee maintaining their bedrooms and play rooms.

Parent expecting the prospective teacher to:

* Be able to delegate responsibilities to children to develop their ability to be more responsible and reliable.

* In case of bad behavior, governess should address the behavior, not the child, with anger.

* Be able to open very personal and friendly channel with each of them. Children like to be acknowledged.

* Be able to forgive and forget. Able to express anger when necessary and move on. Able to show them that she doesn�t hold a grudge.

* Share children their hobbies and their fun hours, add more to their hobbies (if she can) and stop the useless ones.

* Be able to concrete ways to build resourcefulness, patience, and self-reliance.

* Be able to teach them good manners and good values without lecturing and nagging.

* Be able to develop children�s self-esteem and long-term life skills through everyday tasks.

* Able to be positive when dealing with the children, to make the comments to their positive as often as possible and certainly more often than they are negative. When corrections are needed, this is to be done without rating them.

* Able to be accepting of all opinions even if they are different from yours. Purpose: child is to know that his/her opinion is valued regardless of which side he or she is on.

Benefits:

* Salary: depends on experience and qualifications�to be agreed upon

* Medical Insurance, 10 paid sick days, room/board provided for (private bathroom), maid services, 45 days annual leave, end of service award, initial and terminal economy class air transportation from/to point of origin.

Regards

Mohamed Shaheen

[johnslat]

Yikes - Julie Andrews, heck. They want another Mother Teresa.
Regards,
John

[Gordon]

What do you reckon the salary would be? Not interested, just curious.

[johnslat]

Dear Gordon,
Salary? Hey, you get room and board. You greedy or something? Heck, for that position, there's not enough money in the world.
Regards,
John

[Cleopatra]

Sorry, John, this job is STRICTLY ladies only!

[johnslat]

Dear Cleopatra,
Ma fi mushkila - My, ahem, gender-change operation is scheduled for New Year's Eve ( I figure - the first 60 years as a guy; the second 60 as a lady ) so I'll be sending off my application right away. Of course, my name on that will be janeslat.
Regards,
John (soon to be Jane)

[fat_chris]

janeslat, not janeslut.

[johnslat]

Dear fat_chris,
Having prostituted myself (figuratively speaking - but at least I was an relatively expensive one) all too often in this noble profession, I guess I can hardly complain about your post.
Regards,
John

[Irish]

johnslat wrote:

[johnslat]

Dear Irish,
Let me tell you - it was a decision not hastily taken. But after much reflection and due consideration, it seemed inevitable. I mean, look at the facts:
1. I actually READ directions, and ASK for them when I get lost.
2. I've been known to shed a tear or two.
3. I'm not a big sports fan.
4. I hardly ever use "profane language".
5. I'm "mechanically and technologically challenged".
6. I enjoy cooking.
7. I'm (if I do say so myself) a "sensitive, caring individual".
8. I like to read and write poetry.
Hey, I could go on, but it seems pretty obvious, doesn't it? I was clearly intended to be female, but Father Nature screwed up (yes, Father Nature - Mom wouldn't have made a mistake like that). Hey, it happens. Take a look at Virginia Woolf's "Orlando: A Biography".
Regards,
John - for while longer

[veiledsentiments]

--- oh my --

I am often heard to use profane language due to the unfortunate fact that the first word that my mother taught me (accidently) was s**t. (true story - she dropped her new iron)

I am good a fixing things and can even use a drill or fix a toilet.

I hate cooking or any other activity remotely consider domestic.

I can explain the internal combustion engine (in fact had to teach Driver's Ed when in HS because the gym teacher assigned to teach it didn't know squat about cars whereas I had helped my dad put the new engine in my '56 Chevy)

Does this mean that Cleo was right awhile back when she called me a lad?? I may have to throw off my veil and put on a dishdasha.

VS

[johnslat]

Dear veiledsentiments,
Whoa - the perfect solution presents itself: we get body transplants; you get mine and I get yours. The only drawback I can see is that, darn, I do hate to give up mine, considering all the time and effort I've put in at the gym. Just remember - you've got to keep up the maintenance. So, 3,200 sit-ups & 1000 push-ups 5 mornings a week and three 90 minute workouts weekly. Oh. and you may find it a bit difficult to stop smoking (though you won't inhale). Only one meal a day, too, I'm afraid. But, on the plus side, you do get to eat a lot of M&Ms (peanut and peanut butter-filled these days) every night. Deal?
Regards,
John