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Dervish Finkelblatt · Joined: 13 Nov 2009 Posts: 32 Location: West Hollywood

After more than a decade away, I am considering returning to a position in the Gulf. I have a M.A. in English and one in Applied Linguistics plus twenty years teaching experience mostly at University level ...including 3 years in Abu Dhabi/Al Ain.
My main concern is this...my parents have recently retired to Tel Aviv and I'd like to visit them there as often as possible. Would it be easier for me to live closer to them... in Jeddah for example, or northern KSA...where I could travel to Jerusalem by land via Jordan (I've done this several times in the past) or should I look for work in the UAE (the preferred destination) and just change planes in Athens or Cairo? It's been a good 15 years since I've done this, so the situation may have changed.
Another thing...what exactly is the situation in the Kingdom at present? We saw on the BBC today that thousands (?!) of refugees are fleeing a war on the border with Yemen. As this is happening in Saudi, further information was not exactly forthcoming.
Security has always been tight in the Persian Gulf...has anyone noticed any changes?
Thanks.

sr · Joined: 05 Oct 2009 Posts: 62

Hi Dervish,

Just a question for you are you Jewish? If yes how can you work in Saudi? I don�t mean anything bad about your religion it is just Saudi has a thing about Jews.

Dervish Finkelblatt · Joined: 13 Nov 2009 Posts: 32 Location: West Hollywood

I am a Jeffersonian Humanist by conviction....a child of the Enlightenment.
BTW...I know how to spell "Methodist" on a landing card....I forgot to mention I spent a year in the Fabled Kingdom.

sr · Joined: 05 Oct 2009 Posts: 62

I did not mean anything bad about that they are funny about things like that.

Citizenkane · Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Posts: 234 Location: Xanadu

If you plan on making frequent trips to Israel, I take it you have a second passport and will not be using the same passport in which your Saudi visas are stamped? It should be obvious why I'm saying this, no?

As for the war with Yemen, I'm surprised it hasn't attracted more attention on this board. It has the potential to become quite serious. Funny how people think Saudi Arabia is unsafe because of things happening in places like Iraq or Israel, and yet when there is actually a war on the actual borders of this country, nobody appears to be paying attention!

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I assume that you are not a troll. If you go ahead with your plans I would advise that you stay SHTUMM about your visits to You Know Where. Even if you do there is a good chance that the Saudi Authorities will know what you are doing.

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

And expect hostility if you use the expression "Persian Gulf". "The Gulf " is much more neutral.

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

scot47, u r furthermore correct, AND the icing on this cake. Persian Gulf? Never heard that used in a TEFL context, unless it referred specifically to a teaching situation in Shiraz or Isfahan!

Dervish Finkelblatt · Joined: 13 Nov 2009 Posts: 32 Location: West Hollywood

What's wrong with Persian Gulf? That's what we always called it when I was there. What do you call the Pacific Ocean. or the Alps?
Anyway...not that it matters...but I am not Jewish...it's just that my parents are very religious and have decided to live in Israel for part of the year.
I used to make this trip relatively often when I was in the Emirates,...the Israeli authorities just slip a piece of paper into your passport and remove it when you leave.
I was just wondering if anyone has had experience doing this lately...It was fairly easy in the late '90's, but as we all know security concerns and controls have increased just about everywhere since then.

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 11:36 am Post subject:

If you live and work in Arabic countries, you want to refer to it as the "Arabian Gulf" full stop!

NCTBA

sr · Joined: 05 Oct 2009 Posts: 62

I remember some of my friends doing that (when they lived in Saudi) in the mid 1980�s, and yes you are correct on what you say the Israeli authorities did do what you said. I only remember them doing it once, but if you intend to do it a lot then the Saudi authorities will get suspicious. If you are going as a direct hire then you might have a problem when they do a background check on your family.

InterRick · Joined: 18 Jul 2009 Posts: 86

007 · Last edited by 007 on Sun Nov 15, 2009 2:31 pm; edited 1 time in total

Noor · Joined: 06 May 2009 Posts: 152

Koreans have a similar problem with the Sea of Japan, as if there aren't more serious things on which to expend energy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Japan#Naming_dispute

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_gulf#Naming_dispute