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Global Hobo
Joined: 27 Sep 2009
Posts: 32
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 Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
Dear Global Hobo,
Not if you get caught. But then, I suspect you were being ironic. |
No actually, I just heard about men getting sexually propositioned by Saudi men quite often. But you're the expert, I just heard it.
Same for Pakistan; all those women covered up, no sex til marriage. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:13 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Global Hobo,
No, you're quite right about the "getting propositioned" part. That even happened to a geezer such as myself (I was about 55 at the time, which shows you just how desperate some Saudi males are. It was a Saudi, by the way, and if anyone IS gay, he should NEVER get involved with a local.)
But given the consequences if one is caught, I was amazed that some of my gay colleagues there were so adventuresome.
Regards,
John |
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evolving81
Joined: 04 May 2009
Posts: 135
Location: Tampa
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| Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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After reading the comments here perhaps Saudi Arabia (or the ME in general) will be ok. I'm not one for propositioning people here in the US so that shouldn't be an issue.  |
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SueH
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
Posts: 1022
Location: Northern Italy
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| Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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| evolving81 wrote: |
| I'm not one for propositioning people here in the US so that shouldn't be an issue. |
So aside for a semantic discussion on the word "propositioning", how do you suggest to people that you should take your interestn in them further and that they should do likewise?? |
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SueH
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
Posts: 1022
Location: Northern Italy
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| Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
| Additionally, the government of Saudi Arabia is very intolerant towards gender minorities including transgender-identified and transvestite immigrant domestic workers. |
Hmm, the people I think this is referring to, whether male or female (and I know a few in both categories) do not regard themselves as "transgender-identified". They are all very positive and secure about the gender in which they identify!! |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 9:51 pm Post subject: |
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Dear SueH,
That comment was made by a member of this group:
Note from Al-Fatiha (The Opening): An email announcement list for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ) Muslims & their Friends in Saudi Arabia
Sūratu al-Fātihah, "The Opening") is the first chapter of the Muslim holy book, the Qur'an. Its seven verses are a prayer for God's guidance and stress the lordship and mercy of God. This chapter has a special role in daily prayers, being recited at the start of each unit of prayer.
In some Muslim societies, Al-Fatiha is traditionally read together by a couple to seal their engagement, however this act is not recorded in the sunnah and is seen by many to be an innovation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Fatiha
Regards,
John |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 10:50 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Deicide,
Not wise to generalize, though. Think of all those nurses who may be saying,
"Teachers . . . bad experiences with them."
Actually, that nurse I dated - we ended up living together (outside of Saudi, of course) for about six years. Never married - only because SHE didn't want to.) And parted best of friends (we still correspond.) Stranger yet - she actually worked as an Elderhostel group leader for my wife here in Santa Fe. The two of them got along famously - discussing my short-comings, no doubt.
Regards,
John |
John,
Are there places to meet these ladies in Saudi or Oman? |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 10:57 pm Post subject: |
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Dear JZer,
I'll have to let someone else answer for Oman (though I strongly suspect it's a lot easier there than in Saudi.)
But in the Kingdom, the best way to meet ladies is by going to compound parties or ones at the embassies.
You need to make contacts (and have a car, really.)
That's not how I met my nurse, though. I was teaching a course for the University of Maryland (extension), and she was one of my students. That was back in '86.
Regards,
John |
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 2:33 am Post subject: |
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It is painfully easy to meet members of the opposite sex in Oman (at least for us ladies!). It's really a problem of quantity vs. quality.
d |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 2:39 am Post subject: |
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denise,
I may be in Muscat by September 2011. I am looking to start my second career. I plan to study at SIT in Oman. Didn't you get your M.A. at SIT? |
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 4:28 pm Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
denise,
I may be in Muscat by September 2011. I am looking to start my second career. I plan to study at SIT in Oman. Didn't you get your M.A. at SIT? |
No, I went to MIIS, SIT's west coast rival. 
d |
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motown
Joined: 07 Jun 2008
Posts: 68
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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| denise wrote: |
You can get a decent salary in Oman (+housing and airfare) without an MA--if you've got a TEFL certificate. It doesn't match your ideal destinations, but you will be able to make your loan payments, save a bit, and still have some fun.
d |
What type of TEFL certificate is required? Does it have to be one of the big three (CELTA, TRINITY OR SIT TESOL)?
Will any other onsite course be sufficient providing it is 120 hours and has a 6 hour teaching component?
If an MA is not required do they want someone with "X" number of years experience? Also is the instruction mostly with kids or adults?
A little surprised to see a Middle East country not requiring an MA.
I understand that most jobs in the middle east come with 4-6 weeks holidays which would make trips to Europe or India a real possibility.
Do ESL positions come with the same holiday benefits or is it a different kettle of fish? |
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parrothead
Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 342
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 2:25 am Post subject: |
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To the OP
I was in a similar situation a few years ago. I taught in Japan for a short time and paid off a bit of my student loan debt, but my heart was in Europe. I moved there for a year to quench that thirst. After about six months I started making plans to give Japan a more serious effort with a goal of paying off those dreaded student loans. Now I have. It is a liberating feeling for sure.
The urge to travel to a place where we think we will be most happy is unremitting. We can shelve it for awhile, but it is always there and frequently returns to the front of our consciousness. Sometimes we just have to do it. If your experience in Korea wasn't completely disheartening, I say take a little time to quench that European thirst, even if it is just a long holiday, and then give a different city in Korea (or Asia) another go.
Pay off those loans. Advice not to is bad. You'll have more options later when you don't have that debt following you around. |
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
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| Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:47 am Post subject: |
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| motown wrote: |
| denise wrote: |
You can get a decent salary in Oman (+housing and airfare) without an MA--if you've got a TEFL certificate. It doesn't match your ideal destinations, but you will be able to make your loan payments, save a bit, and still have some fun.
d |
What type of TEFL certificate is required? Does it have to be one of the big three (CELTA, TRINITY OR SIT TESOL)?
Will any other onsite course be sufficient providing it is 120 hours and has a 6 hour teaching component?
If an MA is not required do they want someone with "X" number of years experience? Also is the instruction mostly with kids or adults?
A little surprised to see a Middle East country not requiring an MA.
I understand that most jobs in the middle east come with 4-6 weeks holidays which would make trips to Europe or India a real possibility.
Do ESL positions come with the same holiday benefits or is it a different kettle of fish? |
Ooops, sorry for the delayed reply... just saw your questions today.
I was referring to the college jobs in small towns in the countryside. The jobs usually go through recruiters, although there are some private colleges that do their own hiring. As far as I know, any reputable TEFL course will be OK--it doesn't have to be a name-brand. And yes, they will ask for experience.
The classes are in regional colleges--usually in the foundation program, which is a year of intensive English before the students start their degree programs.
Vacation time varies. Many places give 60 days (that's 60 calendar days, not 60 working days--so basically it's two months, which most people take in the summer). Some places offer as little as one month.
d |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 7:16 am Post subject: |
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back to the OP,
I had an interview in Prague for a job with NATO several years ago.
It was for Americans teaching Czech soldiers who had to do UN peacekeeping.
Pay was good and a MA was needed.
I wonder if this job is still available.
The books were bad but Prague is a good city. Back then, pints were just 50 cents.
I decided to go to Japan. I had to pay off my student loans. |
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