Job Discussion Forums

[geoboz]

As breathtakingly beautiful as the city of Constantine is, and as amiable and helpful as the general population is, this university is an administrative and organizational disaster. I have worked here for several months on a special project, but disorganization and chaos proscribe any possible advancement. There is no academic calendar, there are no up-to-date class lists, classroom assignments vary from day to day, and when all of these things are attended to, students frequently "go on strike" because of the mayhem that frequently ensues. There are no textbooks, no curriculum, no office supplies, no NOTHING!
For me, the people here have made this situation bearable. Should you brave Mentouri University after being forewarned, all I can say is be ready for anything.

[princessofquitealot]

geoboz - Having said that, I'm interested to know how you got the job in the first place, how long you have had it, what your accommodation is like, etc., etc. We don't hear much about Algeria on these boards.

[Pikgitina]

I would also love to know more about the things princessofquitealot has asked about.

[geoboz]

Now that the project at Mentouri University is finished, I have a few things to share with the next person who takes this assignment. All of the suggestions here come through personal discovery as opposed to any assistance from the sponsor of this project.
First, I cannot stress strongly enough the importance of having direct contact with the host institution(s) here. Any mediation in communication will muddle any clarity of understanding of the most simple expectations. Everything from classes assigned, textbook availability, student class lists and sizes, classroom assignment, administrative policies and procedures will all be obscured if you don't have direct communication with the the department head of the university itself. In conversation, I strongly suggest asking pointed questions that clarify these issues. It's utterly essential to know exactly what courses you will teach because you must prepurchase all textbooks and supplies and take them with you. ABSOLUTELY NO TEXTBOOKS AND VERY FEW SUPPLIES ARE AVAILABLE THERE, so you must bring exactly what you will need for the entire year. The best way to prepare for this project is by having direct communication with the department head.
Second, ancillary support for this project through the sponsors, although seemingly available, suffers from multiple agency involvement issues that stifle any organic effectiveness. Because you will be an independent contractor working for these agencies, their direct support will all but evaporate upon arrival when it comes to every day life issues. As well- stitched-together these agencies seem to be, they fall short of supporting in-the-field agents in very practical matters. The support is ostensibly present but that is all. If you cannot work without supervisory input or direction, your work will suffer and you may personally suffer as well. Although the project indicates a supervisory presence, for me, it was all but nonexistent. In fact, at the end of the project, the hiring agency and its governmental overseer will not write letters of reference because no one will observe your actual teaching or work in general. If lucky, you may get a simple letter that verifies dates of employment, but the letter will not address any aspect of your effectiveness in the project because of this lack of oversight.
Third, money is a huge problem there, and it is best to go forearmed with the best and most current information. Because your pay will be deposited into your American bank account, you will not have ready access to it in Constantine. I found only 2 ways to get money from America to Algeria while there. First, you can wire it to yourself by Western Union, which is both expensive and tedious. Second, there is only 1 credit card machine in all of Constantine that can swipe your debit card for a cash advance, which is also very expensive and tedious. This is at the Credit Popular bank in Belle Vue (lower area). YOU CANNOT ACCESS YOUR MONEY THROUGH ANY ATM MACHINE THERE! What makes matters even worse is that no bank is permitted to send money out of Algeria (some kind of federal law), so if you have money in your Algerian bank, you cannot send it home. The only way (and this is amazing) that you can convert Algerian Dinars to US dollars is through the Black Market in Algiers, which is both illegal and immoral! But with no alternative, even through the US Embassy bank, you will have no other options. No other agency will (or is allowed to) do this! And this is hideously expensive, costing in excess of 30% fee to make this conversion.
Don't get me wrong. I already miss my friends and students in Constantine, and we have frequent contact. It is an amazing opportunity to travel to and work in this amazing country, filled with gentle and generous people. But the issues raised above are very real and can make your life a living Hell if you are unprepared for this level of chaos. So, if you go, go prepared and ready for bear!