Job Discussion Forums

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

How many of these unhappy TEFLers have I met in KSA. They blame the environment, the country, the job, the students, the government, their colleagues for their fate. They will be okay - they fool themselves - in the next job. And so they continue their unhappy trail of unhappy jobs from Abu Dhabi to Qatar to KSA and back to Abu Dhabi.

If only they could see inside themselves ! ''Wid some power the giftie gie us to see irsells as ithers see us."

Arab Strap · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 246 Location: under your bed

Hope you're not referring to me there Scot47!

I left Jeddah because I was offered a better position with increased salary in Riyadh with the same company.

I left Riyadh because I wasn't paid for 3 months, they refused to sort out visas for my family and because of the security issue.

I left Jubail because my wife wanted to work and the bad air was giving my kids asthma.

I'd still be in Jeddah had I not been blinded by the offer of more money and so easily conned by a bunch of heartless, money pinching sheikhs.............then again that's private education in KSA for you!

Still I know what you mean.........

Moanin' never did nae guid nae guid
Moanin' never did nae guid

Matt McGinn.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Oh Strap of the Arab, Bohemian Beerdrinker and Denizen of No Mean City !

I was not referring specifically to you. In fact I was thinking of others I have met. Lots of them. And reflecting on my fate when the paycheques stop !

Arab Strap · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 246 Location: under your bed

My auld dear just sent me a DVD about the No Mean City itself.

I'm proud to say we are now the Murder Capital of Europe and have the highest number of gun deaths and intravenous drug users.

Perhaps I was safer in Riyadh.

Roll on the British Empire Games 2014!

Arab Strap · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 246 Location: under your bed

Scot et al, going a bit off topic here but anyway since this topic is flowing along nicely without the usual mud slinging here goes

..............with the dollar at an old time low, and looking like it'll continue to fall are any of you reconsidering your postions in the Magic Kingdom?

I know I'm feeling the pinch in UAE and the dinar is worth a wee bit more than the riyal. Life is quite comfortable (still) but it's getting harder and harder to save and what you do put by is worth less and less............all very worrying.

Cleopatra · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 5:17 pm Post subject:

Apparently the Emiratis have been making noises about possibly abandoning the dollar peg in favour of a 'basket' of currencies. Fat chance the Saudis will do the same, unfortunately.

Arab Strap · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 246 Location: under your bed

Naw, not much chance of that here either...............and inflation is running at about 20% p.a. Petrol is cheap but it's still 3 times more than in KSA and believe it or not, although booze is freely available here I still miss the auld sid..............no hangover, or guilt the next day.

Cleopatra · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 5:31 pm Post subject:

Here's an article about current mutterings re. the dollar and Gulf currencies:

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=/data/business/2007/November/business_November486.xml&section=business

Could it be that the Emirates could abandon the peg without stirring up too much trouble, while if Saudis did so - given their much greater importance in the oil economy and their role as de facto leader of OPEC - it would really upset the apple cart?

Arab Strap · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 246 Location: under your bed

They've been talking about doing that for months now...............

Rents are going through the roof in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and the knock on effect is effecting everybody.

Although I'm not in either of these bigger cities I am still finding that my dirham isn't going as far as my Riyal used to.

The Gulf currencies have reached an all time low again today, such a common event that nobody's commenting on it any more............how low can you go?

I am based in the Czech Republic, back in 2001 the Riyal was worth over 10 Czech Crowns, it's now worth less than 5..........

Thing is do you sit on the little that you've managed to save and keep it in the bank here in the hope that the dollar will pick up or do you send it home now before it gets any worse?

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Save ? If you don't save it then you don't have the problem of working out what to do with your riyals/euros/dollars/lek/forint. Spend the bloody stuff I say !

Jeddah Aquanaut · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 9

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 6:07 am Post subject:

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

I would actually recommend Jubail over Riyadh for someone with a young family, though much would depend on the employer. The medical care at the RC health system is likely to be better, there are loads of beaches and parks in the residential area of the RC, and there is very little traffic (you can still bike around and so could your kids).

For the single person Riyadh would win out.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

"Compound Ken and Kathy" Hmmm. Not sure that I know what they would be like. I have seen ARAMCO in Eastern Province and I must admit that the place looks a bit like the Canal Zone. Not for me but maybe that is sour grapes !