Job Discussion Forums

[fof]

I'm coming to Oman
Oh yes I am
One more week of packing pain
Then I'm on the plane
Leaving my winter coats behind
That I don't mind
Looking forward to my new Omani class
Hope they don't harass me if they don't pass
Dave's had lots of good tips and advice
Oman's going to be fun - real nice!

(Don't worry...I won't teach my students poetry:)

[veiledsentiments]

Mabruk!!

Is it the job you mentioned awhile back? in Muscat?

Keep us informed on how it goes.

VS

[kowhai]

I'm looking forward to being there also.

[williamh]

remember Ramadan starts apx. Sept. 1st, so get as much as you can organized BEFORE then - life gets quieter and everyday tasks get harder to accomplish (unless you like going shopping at 9pm)

one exception is that car prices sometimes come down in ramadan

[veiledsentiments]

For those newbies who would like a drink before dinner (or during or after), be sure to stock up because the liquor stores close for the month. Super markets are normally open all day, but little else.

If possible, try to get your home phones and internet organized before it starts. Driving license too, if possible...

Remember once it begins, no drinking or smoking in public... even no gum chewing.

VS

[kowhai]

Thx for the tips.

(I'm between Seeb & Wiri.)

[spanton]

For a newbie in Oman, it is almost impossible to get anything done before you get your labor card. This is a long process and things don't happen fast in Oman. You will not get a liqor license, internet or phone before Ramadan, trust me! Here's a suggestion.............ask your co-workers who have a license to help you out and you can return the favor when you have yours a few months later. Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[veiledsentiments]

Granted it wasn't Ramadhan, and things are likely slower in the hinterland's jobs, but when I last arrived in Muscat, I had my phone and internet up within a couple days... with the college fixer and my tourist visa and a letter from my employer. But, you do need the labor card for the liquor license although I have never had one. I also had my car (shipped in) registered and carrying Omani plates within 7 working days... with my tourist visa. Everything depends on the efficiency of your fixers and how quickly your employer provides required paperwork. (they had to do 3 different letters to the DMV in two days)

Strangely I went back to US when I left Oman and it took Verizon in the Virginia suburbs of DC nearly three weeks to get my phone/internet up and running. Oman was significantly more organized and easy to deal with... but things really shift into low gear during Ramadhan.

In summary... always be super nice to the college fixer...

VS

[fof]

Well, an exciting and historic day for us all. Hurrah Barack Obama...way to go Americans...I think you heard the collective sigh of relief from around the world..we're not expecting miracles, but one just happened so you never know, maybe more are to come - and the power of belief can go a long way...

Oman: been here over 2 months now - it is a good place to be at this time of economic meltdown - with accommodation provided, a decent tax-free salary etc.. things are pretty good in Oman...In response to one of your comments, I had within the first 5-6 days of arrival my residence card, driver's license, Internet hook-up, bank account...all went amazingly very smoothly.

Driving is wearing my nerves -car has some minor dents and scratches already - guess I will get used to it and I am often reminded by UAE, Kuwait and Qatar escapees how much worse it is there.

Students are lovely as I had read about before arrival - the attempt to negotiate absences and grades is tiring though...

I came with ultra-conservative clothes - unnecessary for Muscat I have found. Fellow employees have commented that I am dressed more conservatively than need be (skirts down to the ground, etc.). Some below the knee skirts have arrived via post and I am looking fwd to the change.

Ramadan was loooonnnggg! But made it thru. Why exactly is it not allowed for non-Muslims to eat/drink in public ? (of course we would all feel too guilty to do so anyway..).

Eid: any tricks to booking Eid holidays in advance when they aren't announced until 2-3 days before the actual holiday (until the official sighting of the moon)?

Thanks again VS for your many helpful comments which helped get me here...

Cheers everyone!

[veiledsentiments]

Yes, yesterday evening was an exciting time in the US. Many of us around the world are guardedly hopeful...

Glad to hear that things are going well for you there. I am impressed that you got everything hooked up within your first week... kudos to your employer. One gets used to the driving - and they are right about the other Gulf countries being so much worse.

My dress actually got more conservative the longer I was in the Gulf. I didn't set my dress by my fellow expats, but by what the local people were wearing. I found the floor length skirts were the most comfortable for all the year - especially during the hottest months.

The trick of figuring out when the Eid will arrive... unfortunately doesn't exist. Oman's conservatism means that it really is decided by the sighting of the moon, not scientific tables. It may be helpful to have a good relationship to a local travel agency...

You will get used to the Ramadhan rules too. In the Gulf, they are strict about everyone following the rules of the religion in public. If you were in a country like Egypt, where there are indigenous Christians, you will find that non-Muslims are not expected to conform. In Egypt, my Muslim students would bring tea and biscuits during class breaks - for me and any Christian students - and insist that we eat and drink while they sat and visited with us. It always made me a bit uncomfortable actually. But, in the homogeneous cultures of the Gulf, they expect everyone to follow the rules. When I was there, women were also told that they had to wear long sleeves for the month - do they still do that? I had to have some lightweight suit jackets made at a local tailor.

Look to management if you need help with the students trying to negotiate for higher grades. It is a part of the culture that can take some getting used to and it too becomes easier to deal with...

Enjoy your time in Oman now that the weather is turning beautiful... as it is snowing outside my window.

VS

[Muscatrealitycheck]

This is addressed to Fof. You sound very content with your job in Muscat. Where are you working, who recruited you and where is your housing? It's part of your contract?

[Sleepwalker]

When I was in the Middle East and had the initial constant requests for extra marks, I would offer to give the marks the students were asking for (ie the difference between the mark and 100%) and said I would keep the mark they didn't seem to want. If it was a fail mark, I would offer to take it away and give 0.

It stopped the requests very quickly.