Job Discussion Forums

brasscat

PMU new hires, do make contact with the PMU HR department concering your academic documents.

There are new developments about sending your documents to the Saudi Cultural Mission. E-mail or call ASAP and get new instructions.
brasscat

Bob Gorn · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:16 am Post subject:

Brasscat, do you know yet if you will be living in the PMU compound? I think it's called the Oryx. There was some talk of putting new hires into apartment buildings, especially single male teachers. If you don't mind, please tell us if you are single or married and what PMU has told you about accommodation.

brasscat · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 1:58 am Post subject: PMU Housing

I am single.

Yes, people are going into the compound. For the most part single people are being placed in the large apartments with room mates. I know of 4 so far who have been placed in this manner.

I have requested to be placed in a smaller apartment alone. It has been granted, location unknown. The reason I did this is due to indepth writing work on soon to be published manuscripts.
brasscat

Bob Gorn · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 2:22 am Post subject:

Thanks, brasscat. Your reply brings up the exact information I am concerned about. To my knowledge (from close friends) there are no smaller apartments on the PMU compound. The compound is composed of about 70 units, each one having three bedrooms and three baths. If they put you in a smaller aparment, then it must not be on the actual compound itself. There are no "small" apartments on the compound, only large ones.

For your own protection, you need to check into this carefully and make sure you will not be placed in substandard housing. Sounds like you had enough of this already as a Misharista!

I've seen photos of the PMU compound, and although the exterior is bland and nondescript, the inside of the units look very nice and well appointed. If you don't mind some advice from a stranger, I would do what I could to get on to the compound, even if it means having a roommate.

brasscat

I see what you are talking about. Originally I was going to room with a fellow Misharista. It is indeed a 3 bed room place.

So far nothing has been mentioned about apartment location. At the moment is the big confusion about sending the academic documents to the Saudi Cultural Mission in Washington, D.C.

PMU wanted academic docs to be authenticated. Saudi Cultural Mission interpreted it as verification. Difference: Saudis wanted a visa number first before processing.

The Misharistas survived some pretty bum housing stuck in the middle of the desert. Anything will be an improvement.
brasscat

trapezius · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 3:31 am Post subject:

Roommates?

What is this? We aren't high school or college students anymore.

What kind of mentality at PMU (or other places where they put you up with roommates) is at work on this?

For me, that would be a deal breaker. If I applied for a job one day, and I found the word "roommate" in the contract, I would plainly tell them, either put me in a single, or I ain't coming.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I would agree that sharing is a no-no. Grown-ups have their own place. Mind you those fatcats over at BAe share !

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 11:02 am Post subject:

Agree with the last two posters. Asking adults to share an apartment with a stranger is totally unacceptable - life in KSA is claustrophobic enough at the best of times. I too have told prospective employers that having my own apartment was non-negotiable for me. That said, I have heard that there are people who actually prefer to share, though admittedly I have not met one of these people.

brasscat · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:11 pm Post subject: Single Housing

I agree having a place to yourself is a very important job feature. I find the relaxing privacy after a day's work very important.

The housing at PMU is large, two floors, so having a roomy is not the same as a college dorm. I would conclude it is the base from which you could progress towards what you want. Mean while, you have a place to stay.

brasscat

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Cleo I am amazed at the number of people in TEFL (usually outside KSA) who think it is normal for adults to share accommodation with complete strangers. I suppose thes epople have been brainwashed by too many episodes of 'Friends'.

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

I haven't encountered any except for graduate students and those that are well under the age of 30. It seems to me to be an economic issue... people share in the crappy low-pay jobs...

VS