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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA
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 Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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I believe it is more common than not for most teachers to pay their own utilities unless you belong to one of the very few so called ...cushy gigs...that offer all the 5 star plus benefits and perks with extreme compound life attached.
sheesh...I am suprised there hasn't been any teachers ask about a special arse whiping service ...no offense to those that may have one or have already asked about one  |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 2:41 pm Post subject: |
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Back in 1970-1972 I paid for my own electricity and water, but got a generous housing allowance.
Since then with 3 different employers I have always had utilities paid for.
I have been fortunate in choosing wise, munificent and far-seeing employers ! |
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Middle East Beast
Joined: 05 Mar 2008
Posts: 836
Location: Up a tree
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 2:45 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| Well of course this will be of great interest to the misers, skinflints and tightwads in our midst. Of such there are many. |
You just can't help it, can you.  |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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M.E.B.
Can you deny the truth of my assertion ? KSA is full of ESL teachers who would watch someone starve to death rather than give them alms. |
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bje
Joined: 19 Jun 2005
Posts: 527
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
M.E.B.
Can you deny the truth of my assertion ? KSA is full of ESL teachers who would watch someone starve to death rather than give them alms. |
Same in the UAE. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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M E B might wish to deny my assertion. It could be that he is himself (for surely MEB is a "he") a member of that Fellowship of 300.
He is certainly a miserable, obsessive m***************er. Probably an Englishman to boot ! |
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Mia Xanthi
Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 955
Location: why is my heart still in the Middle East while the rest of me isn't?
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 3:44 pm Post subject: |
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| He is certainly a miserable, obsessive m***************er. |
Are we to assume (despite the many asterisks) that you meant "miser" ???
You know, most of our colleagues here in the ME are not so young anymore, and every so often you hear of an EFL teacher dying suddenly while over here alone. I always think how sad it would be for one of the 300 Club members to die here, having denied himself/herself even the few riyals to have a decent final meal.
May Saint Stephen Jones protect them! |
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ghost
Joined: 30 Jan 2003
Posts: 1693
Location: Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 5:06 pm Post subject: re |
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Must be tough for foreigners to bargain successfully in the open market, with their limited knowledge of arabic, and the assumption (partly correct) by the locals, that teachers are rich.
What are the food shopping facilities like at Universities like KFUPM? Can one do everything on campus, or is it advisable to shop in town (Al Khobar)?
In Korea, fresh fruit was very expensive, but eating out was very reasonable. Also in Korea, you could visit the supermarket, and have your groceries delivered free of charge. I assume that might be difficult in Saudi.
Ghost |
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Mia Xanthi
Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 955
Location: why is my heart still in the Middle East while the rest of me isn't?
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Must be tough for foreigners to bargain successfully in the open market, with their limited knowledge of arabic, and the assumption (partly correct) by the locals, that teachers are rich. |
I don't think anyone in KSA assumes that EFL teachers are rich! Also, very few teachers would bother to venture to the local markets regularly to bargain for produce. Produce is not that much more expensive in the supermarkets, and the open markets (in my limited experience) are not such pleasant places to shop.
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| Can one do everything on campus, or is it advisable to shop in town (Al Khobar)? |
There are many large supermarket chains such a Geant, Carrefour, Panda, and the Tamimi Safeways.
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| Also in Korea, you could visit the supermarket, and have your groceries delivered free of charge. I assume that might be difficult in Saudi. |
There are also a lot of mini-markets that will deliver the essentials if you are willing to tip. In fact, delivery service here from restaurants is also quite common and inexpensive. |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 6:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Mia Xanthi wrote: |
| I don't think anyone in KSA assumes that EFL teachers are rich! |
Well, I think the locals assume that EFL teachers with white skin and blue/green eyes are rich and 'sensitive'!
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| Produce is not that much more expensive in the supermarkets, |
Well, I find the vegetables, fruit, and fresh fish are much cheaper and fresh than in the supermarkets.
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| ..and the open markets (in my limited experience) are not such pleasant places to shop. |
Why's that Teta Mia? Did anybody harass you in the open market? |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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The Cooperative at KFUPM has a passable choice. There are free buses to the major supermarkets which offer cheaper produce and a better choice.
In general it is families that buy at the vegetable markets because of the quantities involved. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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As Saint Stephen says, the cooperative store at KFUPM has everything that you need. If you really must have a choice of 50 different breakfast cereals then you can head off-campus to one of the big supermarkets. A couple are within walking/cycling distance (Geant and Hyperpanda).
There is free transportation to shops off campus - in the evening or on Thursday morning. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 2:15 am Post subject: |
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As Stephen mentioned, the veggie/fruit souks are great for buying in bulk, but for even a smallish family, you'll probably end up throwing a lot of stuff
away.
We once tried buying for a group of about 8 people, but it turned into more of a hassle than it was worth.
Regards,
John |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 5:49 am Post subject: |
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| the assumption (partly correct) by the locals, that teachers are rich. |
Now, that gave me a good laugh to start my Saudi weekend with!
I know you think you're an expert on KSA, despite the fact that you have never been here. However, even someone with a casual knowledge of the country would see that your statement is obviously rubbish. Saudis may not be as fabulously wealthy as some imagine, but they are far from being impoverished 'locals' who will automatically try to rip off the white man. Certainly, those of us who have worked in private colleges here would never be under any illusion that the 'locals' will look up to as as 'rich'! |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 6:51 am Post subject: |
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| but they are far from being impoverished 'locals' who will automatically try to rip off the white man |
Cleopatra obviously only uses expatriate taxi drivers.
The vegetable markets used to be the preserve of the Yemenis. After they were all expelled during the first Gulf War the positions were forcibly Saudiized, but the Yemenis have been creeping back. |
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