Job Discussion Forums

tudodude · Joined: 08 Mar 2007 Posts: 82

This is to those who longer reside in the Kindom but frequent the forum.

Wht do you miss about Saudi?
I never thought I would miss ANYTHING, but I saw a documentry the other day called 'Earth' and it showed a Desert sky. It bought memories back of camping with Hash members camping out in the desert and looking at the sky whilst wondering when I would get laid again.
The sky above the Riyadh desert is amazing.
Over to you.

johnslat · Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 2:41 pm Post subject:

Dear tudodude,

In order of importance:

I miss my colleagues (both non-Saudi and Saudi), and the students (I really liked my work over there.)

I miss the opportunities for travel on the summer holidays and the Eids.

I miss Batha with all its funky souks.

I miss the money.

I miss, as you do, the desert and the night-sky (mentioned in another of my posts.) However, I've got desert and a great night-sky right here, too.

Regards,
John

Middle East Beast · Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 836 Location: Up a tree

desultude · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 614

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 4:58 pm Post subject:

I miss living in such a bizarre environment where I could never predict what was going to happen next. It was many things, but never boring.

I miss being able to have excellent Lebanese (Al Shammy) food delivered to my door.

I miss being called "madam" and "sister" all the time.

I miss iftar parties

I miss having a wider variety of international news programs available.

I miss the excitement of escaping every once in a while over the Bahrain bridge.

I miss being able to afford to hire someone to clean my house every week or every day if necessary.

I miss the smiles of those many kind Saudis who were truly trying to show me the best of their country...not all, but some of them.

And of course, I miss my excellent colleagues and my delightful students the most.

007 · Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 5:13 pm Post subject:

trapezius · Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:00 pm Post subject:

I am still here, but when do I leave, this is what I can think of that I will miss, in no particular order!

1) Best of all, furnished free accommodation on a clean, peaceful, and green compound with all possible amenities. (perk of wife's job actually!)

2) The lazy pace of life and consequent tons of free time.

3) No taxes, rent, or bills. (and consequently all the 'extra' income)

4) Cheap petrol.

5) Cheap Lebanese and Turkish food, as well as all the upscale restaurants with great food but still relatively/very cheap by London, NYC, Tokyo, or Moscow standards.

6) Some of my students.

7) Cheap housecleaners. (SR. 600/month 3 times a week)

Cool

And tied with 1), the 90 day summer holidays (110 days last year! Cool

) and the Eid and Haj holidays.

9) Low cost of living in general (haircuts, plumbers, OTC meds, food, nuts, etc).

10) Fresh dates. (and some Arab desserts and food which will be hard to find in non-Arab countries)

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 11:14 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 11:27 pm Post subject:

Dear Mia,
I don't miss the "lazy pace"; I settled in New Mexico - where it's always "Carpe Ma�ana"
Makes me feel right at home.

Regards,
John

Middle East Beast · Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 836 Location: Up a tree

I miss nothing. I don't like dates (the ones that grow on trees, not the social interactions with the opposite sex), I hate Saudi sweets, some of which are sickening sweet. I don't miss the absence of a decent pizza or decent ice cream (the Baskin Robbins prepacked you find in the local markets will more likely than not be iced from having melted in transit to the store).

I don't miss the hellish heat 6 months of the year.

I don't miss the Saudi drivers or taxis.

I don't miss the difficulty that characterizes attempts to accomplish some of the most basic but necessary tasks of daily human existence.

I'll take the hectic pace here in the U.S. over the so-called "lazy" pace of Saudi Arabia, which at times can be tantamount to watching paint dry.

desultude · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 614

I don't miss the lazy pace, at all. Or maybe it is just the laziness I don't miss.

I love the sweets in the ME, but you can keep the dates!

I seriously miss the food- that is the Lebanese, Indian and Thai food. I also miss the price of the food. But Oman will fill that void, and the sweets.

I seriously miss the news programing in the satellite stations. Any pretense of comprehensive and objective news coverage has long been lost in the US.

Again, I will have that in Oman.

I don't miss the arrogance of too many of the Saudis- especially of the male persuasion. I think I would have started vomiting with the constant preening and head-dress flipping if I had stayed much longer.

And I won't miss being around so many men who are permanently deprived of the company of women. There is a lecherous edge to a lot of the interactions, even on the phone, with men there. And it is just plain sad.

trapezius · Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 12:41 am Post subject:

May I remind our dear posters that this thread is about things they miss, not what the hate or not miss. They are free to start another thread titled "what do you not miss". Rest assured, I will have a 100 points to post in there, as opposed to the 10 in here. Let's try to stick to the topic and not post the exact opposite, shall we?

As for the "lazy pace", just to clarify, of course I didn't mean the laziness and ineptitude of a lot of Saudi office workers. That's something I despise. It is hard to explain what I exactly meant by "lazy pace of life", but those who have been here should know what I mean.

Middle East Beast · Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 836 Location: Up a tree

desultude · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 614

I think the category of "miss" also suggests "don't miss".

Can't have this place go all treacly!

leez · Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 11:19 am Post subject: