Job Discussion Forums

[papa_74]

hello,

I might move to Nizwa by the end of August. Can you please tell me about life their in general, housing, internet and whether it is expensive or not?

I would like to know how much do I have to pay for a furnished small flat. Another question is about the ticket. Will the employer buy the ticket or not?

Hope to get some replies
P

[veiledsentiments]

Who is the employer? What is your offer?

What is your definition of 'expensive'? If your offer is for 500 OR, Nizwa will seem expensive... if it is 1000+ OR, it is probably affordable.

Not a criticism, but without some information, it is hard to answer. I can tell you that life is pretty quiet. If you are into outdoor activities, you will enjoy it more... if you expect a nightlife, you will probably be disappointed.

VS

[Neil McBeath]

Papa74,

MOD edit

If your offer is for OR 500 and/or the employer is NOT paying your ticket, then don't even bother with the post.

You should be making at least 800 rials a month, with some extra side benefits like housing, travel allowances, annual increments, completion gratuity.

A flat in Nizwa should cost between 200 and 300 rials a month, but there is an increased demand for accommodation just now - mainly from students from the University of Nizwa.

A second problem is that Nizwa has recently become a rather vague expression. The University of Nizwa is currently housed in what used to be the Sultan Qaboos School at Birkat al Mooz, and that is a good 25 km from the fort in the centre of Nizwa.

The Royal Oman Police Academy is another 15 km away from the fort, but in another direction, off the road that goes to Salalah.

By Omani standards, the major supermarkets in Nizwa are on the small side, and unlike Sohar, Nizwa does not (yet) have anything like a shopping mall. There are two hotels that function as unofficial clubs for the expatriate teachers who are prepared to pay for membership so that they can use the swimming pools and gym facilities. Obviously, this comes at a cost and again, the Nizwa Hotel is closer to Birkat al Mooz than to the centre of Nizwa.

In other words, how expensive you find Nizwa will depend in part on your lifestyle, and also on where, exactly, you are able to find accommodation.

[Charybdis]

Are you still going to Nizwa? I'm headed there as well, and would appreciate sharing any info you think is interesting.

Thanks in advance!

[Charybdis]

Still going to Nizwa? If so I'd appreciate if you share any info. Thanks in advance!

[Mojoski]

Lots of delays of various types, but I fly tomorrow. It's 40 hours en route since I have to drive to San Francisco to catch the flight and have 8 hours in Dubai airport before connecting to Muscat. I'll be a day late for the start of the term and somewhat disoriented, but such things happen in EFL.

Will be nice to finally be on the ground and start getting settled in.

From what I've gathered, most people are happy in Nizwa. I think it will suit me. I know how to go with the flow.

[desultude]

I'm flying out on Monday.

Heaven knows the rational behind the timing. I have to assume there is some reason for it.

I am also looking forward to finally getting there. My sister, whose air mattress I've been sleeping on for the last couple of weeks (since I was originally told I was leaving) will be happy to have her living room floor back, too.

I also have confidence that things will shake out fine now that Ramadan and Eid are over.

[Pikgitina]

[Charybdis]

I, too, am flying out Monday and have a rather long trip with an 8-hour layover in Dubai (despite a much earlier Emirates flight to Muscat). Hopefully someone has a plan that is not readily apparent to me.

Like Mojoski, I'm looking forward to getting to Nizwa and getting settled in, to what I'm not exactly sure, but it's another adventure.

Travel safely.

[veiledsentiments]

I sympathize with that awful 8 hour layover... that is a killer at the end of what is already a killer flight. I do NOT miss those long flights.

desultude... you're looking for a rationale? I would have thought that Saudi taught you to avoid that sort of a hunt. It might have been flight scheduling problems since this is the end of Eid and lots of people - locals and expats - will be just arriving. Not to mention that they are having you arrive when there will be someone around to greet you... or so I hope... and also there is the whole pay thing.

A shame really... because if classes do start on time, you will have little time to settle in.

My jetlag advice after having done this for umpteen years. Go immediately onto local time. NO NAPS the first couple days!! Don't go to bed until at least 9:00/10:00 at night. Stay in bed for at least 6-8 hours even if you don't sleep. (funny how this works - you're collapsing in exhaustion and can't sleep) I was known to have to stay standing for most of the first day. If you succumb to napping the first day or two, it can two weeks or more to get over the jet lag. With my method, you are normally onto local time and feeling almost human by the third day. Try it... you may not like it, but it works.

VS

[meshibli]

I find VS�s advice quite useful. Thank you VS.

Hello Charybdis, Desultude and Mojoski: Hopefully I�ll join you in November. Please keep me posted on your experience, particularly on transport & accommodation.

Bon voyage and good luck.

[johnslat]

Dear veiledsentiments,
If I may add one bit of jet-lag advice:

If possible, exercise (if a gym is out of the question, even just doing exercises in your residence will help a lot: stomach crunches, push-ups, etc.)

Believe it or not, this is GREAT for overcoming jet-lag.

Regards,
John

[desultude]

Thanks for your advice, my esteemed travel team!

It used to be a much more arduous flight commuting to Korea, by far. I am not happy with the (silly) 8 hour layover in Dubai, especially given that fact that there is room on a flight departing only 2.5 hours after I arrive in Dubai.
I tried to change that flight, but Emirates told me that only the travel agent could do that, and it would cost me $200 US.

The good news is that it is the Emirates terminal in Dubai. There is free wi-fi, and I understand that if your layover is more than 4 hours, you get a free meal at your choice of restaurants. I can kill 8 hours in the tech stores in duty free (better if I hadn't just gotten off a 15 hour flight!).

I arrive on Tuesday, so I assume I start work on Saturday, which gives me a couple of days to sleep. And I will sleep. I know the advice, but when my brain quits, I am asleep. I get over jet lag pretty quickly. There is plenty of sun there to expose myself to, a pool to swim in, and I have started the melatonin drill.

I'm just happy to be on the road. And after a 9 day visit stretched into almost a month, I'm sure my sister and her husband will be happy to see me off!

[veiledsentiments]

Remember that you are going the opposite direction to Korea. I never had any jet lag going in that direction. Flying from the US to the Gulf, I could end up semi-comatose for a couple weeks and completely miserable.

VS

[desultude]