Job Discussion Forums

[schaeen]

I'm moving to Sohar at the end of August and would like to make some contacts there as soon as possible. I would PM some people that have said in these forums that they live there, but I haven't made enough posts to do that.

So, will somebody be this newbies friend?

Where are some expat hang-outs in Sohar? Anybody teach at Colleges of Applied Sciences? Except Israel ten years ago, I've never been to the ME. Any advice would be appreciated!!!

[jdl]

Never mention Israel again not even to your closest esl confident/colleague.

[veiledsentiments]

Have you done a search? A poster named Geronimo posts now and then on the goings on of Sohar.

It is a smallish place and rather quiet, but there are worse places in the Oman in that regard. It isn't a long drive to Al-Ain and Muscat, so you will probably want to get a car.

VS

[jdl]

Schaeen,
Here is some advice I passed on through email to another new employee at U of Sohar. It applies to new employment in any institution. It is unsolicited but I hope it is useful to you. It is advice I have followed in the past and it has served me well and saved me a truck load of grief:

Advice part one
I have not worked in Sohar so I can not help you with first hand advice. I did know the Dean there but that was a couple of years ago so again not much help.
The salary sounds very competitive.
I would not take too seriously much of what is said in the forum since many posters have axes to grind and the forum is really the only place where they can express themselves without responsibility.
My advice is
1. listen more than you speak
2. remember who you work for and who pays your salary
3. be very flexible and try to understand what appears at times to be incomprehensible at first...there is always a logic to all that happens
4. Do not voice opinions freely until you have found the lay of the land so to speak.
5. work hard and conscientiously but do not take yourself too seriuosly
This is advice I give to all new employees, regardless of job, employer or country. The advice if followed usually results in a happier more well adjusted stay.
Sorry I can not be of more help. Good luck

Advice part two
One additional bit of advice and probably the most important: stay as far away as you can from the negative element that exists on every faculty. The element is self serving and will seek you out for support to satisfy its own agenda. I have seen many new employees get 'sucked into' this vortex unwittingly.
I have no doubt that some needed 'house cleaning' has taken place in Sohar so you should have a fairly fresh start with the injection of new staff. In fact you may have been hired precisely because you represent a much needed 'freshness'
This has been my experience as an teacher and school administrator over the past 35 years.
You will be fine.

Advice part three
An additional note. If you check the Oman board you will see that instructors are complaining about the College of Applied Sciences in Sohar as well. You get alot of complaining on Dave's and that says more about the posters than it does about the institutions.
Make your own way.

[jdl]

Sohar is a hub bub of activity/construction/growth with the aluminum plant and port expansion, so as can be expected it suffers its share of challenges related to rapid expansion.

As VS says it is almost dead centre between Muscat and Dubai/Khor Faqan/Abu Dhabi so there are many weekend choices. The highway is 4 lane, in excellent condition and very busy. Although I have not worked in Sohar I have spent time there visiting friends...I liked it but preferred the slower life inland or the lusher life in Salalah.

You will be fine. It will be a great experience and a place your friends and family can visit.

[veiledsentiments]

Isn't it still a 2-lane road from Sohar to Al-Ain? I loved the scenic drive, but traffic is surely increasing. It would cost a lot of money to make it a 4 lane.

VS

[schaeen]

[jdl]

You may be right...probably are. I do remember the road 'narrowing' toward Khor Fakan...but my memory has been known to be selective
It is a nice drive! Especially on motorcycle! But then again all drives are better on a motorcycle!

[schaeen]

[jdl]

You won't be deported...it is your colleagues you will have to contend with. What you say in confidence to a 'friend' one day can very well find its way around the staff room the next. If you can picture your days in Junior high school you may get an idea of the social dynamic. General rule: say nothing or do nothing with which you will feel uncomfortable if reprted in tomorrow's staff news.

[veiledsentiments]

[jdl]

VS,
I will take you for a ride one day!

[veiledsentiments]

Been there, done that... in my much younger days. thanks, but no thanks...

Besides you'd have to come to "Amrica" to deliver...

VS

[jdl]

Offer always open

[Geronimo]

Hi schaeen,

The expat newsletter "Sohar Source" provides listings
of social activities in the Al Batinah region. It can be requested
via its new email address:-
[email protected] . (It is emailed in .pdf file format).

The listings pages of the March 2009 edition are available online at:-
http://soharsource.wikispaces.com/Page11March2009

Expats involved in the port development work, as well as teachers from the local colleges, get together at
the Sohar Beach Hotel - www.soharbeach.com ;
at the Al Wadi Hotel -
http://www.omanhotels.com/alwadi/ ; and,
more recently, the Sohar Crowne Plaza Hotel -
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/SORCP?hotelCode=SORCP

There's a new City Cinema in Sohar, too.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20090408041816/Sohar%20entertainment%20landscape%20changing/

As some of the best 'special offers' on new cars
are on offer during Ramadan,
you may wish to decide whether or not to splash the cash
sooner rather than later.

"TheWeek" features adverts placed by the
main car dealerships.
It's available online at: http://www.theweek.co.om/ .

I hope that you enjoy your time there!

Geronimo