Job Discussion Forums

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:06 pm Post subject:

Echo dat, John...echo dat. We've had some thin-skinned 'uns recently. This "Matt" fello is a breath o' fresh air! Very Happy

NCTBA

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:14 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:49 pm Post subject:

Dear matthew156,
Perhaps you're already aware of this, but just in case . . .

Be always aware that there are certain subject areas that are taboo - or at least very wise to avoid: religion, sex, politics, women's rights, alcohol, pork products, etc. (if I've left any out - and I probably have - perhaps some other posters can supply more examples.)
Students will sometimes try to draw you into discussing such topics (e.g. "Teacher, what whiskey?", said with a grin). Don't let them.
Remember - it's their ballpark so they get to make the rules. You may not agree with those rules, but your only choices are either to follow them or leave (or be very careful and don't get caught breaking them.)
You will accomplish far more if we cultivate patience and courtesy rather than getting irritated and shouting. That will be only counter-productive.
Keep that sense of humor - you'll need it often.
All the best,
John
P.S. It's "snide" not "snyde" - and I hope you won't think that was snide of me.

007 · Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:13 pm Post subject:

matthew156 · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 140 Location: The Majik Kindom

Good I already knew about sex, drugs and rock'n'roll. I mean religion and politics. As for my earlier inconsistencies I believe that there are a few factors to consider here. First of all �diachronic linguistics". Could it not be that I am a catalyst for this process that Swiss linguist Saussure emphasized? Furthermore, let me put forth "comparative historical linguistics". Could I not be the harbinger of language change? And finally "change from below". As it appears I am really starting from the bottom of the scale.

Rewgards.

Matt

johnslat · Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:33 pm Post subject:

Dear matthew156,
Diachronic linguistics? I think you'd better stick with synchronic. A catalyst?
Catalysts tend to get canned. A harbinger? Harbingers get the old heave-ho.
Change from bellow? Well, you're right about your being at the bottom, but change is not high on the priority list of almost all of those who will be above you.
Ideals are wonderful, but they're excess baggage for a trip to the Kingdom.
Do your job, fade into the woodwork, don't make waves and you should last a long time.
But of course, you were only being ironic, I hope.
Regards,
John

matthew156 · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 140 Location: The Majik Kindom

Dear johnslat,

Of course I am being iconic. My colleagues were always wanting to disembowel me for my corny jokes which I thought were inconceivably hilarious.

Regards.

Matt
ps I will take heed and follow your advice though.

johnslat · Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:21 pm Post subject:

Dear matthew156,

"Of course I am being iconic."

That's either a good pun or a bad typo.

You may be puzzled by my not being sure whether or not you were being ironic, but believe me, this forum has seen some incredible examples of perfectly sincere, though disastrous, misconceptions about what it would be like in the Kingdom.
And, embarrassed as I am to admit it, I had my own share, despite having done a fair amount of research before going. Nothing, however, can adequately prepare anyone for the reality itself, I believe.
I played Devil's Advocate, trying to prepare my wife for what it would be like for her over there, minutely detailing all the restrictions she would have to tolerate. She listened, nodded her head, and assured me that she understood, that she would have little difficulty adapting.
A few days after her arrival, she came and asked me querulously:
"Why didn't you TELL me it was going to be like this?"
Regards,
John

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Yes, I have learned to my cost that wives, rather like other humans, do not listen !

matthew156 · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 140 Location: The Majik Kindom

In my case my significant other has done most of the reasearch and has informed me on what to expext there.

johnslat · Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:45 pm Post subject:

Dear matthew156,
Well, I certainly hope not. And since my wife was a woman (as most wives tend to be), her experiences in the Kingdom are not really comparable to what a man could anticipate.
It probably wouldn't be amiss, though, to expect the unexpected and to imitate the chameleon rather than the leopard.
Regards,
John

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 3:45 pm Post subject:

matthew156 · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 140 Location: The Majik Kindom

update......

I hear my visa is going to be ready tomorrow. So this may be one of my last nights here in Bahrain. Well the plus side is the visa expenses and hotel stay is totally covered by the employer.

My wife (female gender) will be joining me after she completes her Trinity TESOL certificate program in Canada. She's leaving Ankara FRIDAY THE 13TH for Canada then joining me in the Majik Kindom. A fair amount of time will pass by then and I have already put out some feelers for her as to employment in the same institution. The prospects seem good for her to get a contract in the women's section.

Oh and one more thing that will make our lives better will be the company of our cat which she will be globetrotting with.

Regards to all

Matt

ps. oh yeah how hard is it for cats in Saudi?

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 7:13 pm Post subject:

Gosh! I hope that you find more in Saudi than I did! Everybody on this board knows my mantra...Saudi sux, Saudi sux, Saudi sux,,,but then again, after a decade of labo(u)r, I have a house free and clear.

Good luck

NCTBA

matthew156 · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 140 Location: The Majik Kindom

Dear NCTBA

I've always admired your pint of Guinness and the words that you tap out on our monitors. It will be an hono(u)r to keep on reading your insights and experiences in the ME.

Respectfully.

Matt