Job Discussion Forums

[scot47]

I am going to set up a school to teach immigrants how to speak Scots. They will learn OR ELSE !

[With Malice Toward None]

Whatever you do, don't turn around and do that kilt act I saw in Braveheart.

[Grendal]

[ummkhadija]

Hello, Grendal

Harsh living conditions? So, living in Hai'l is close to the living conditions of a third world country? I completely understand that any move can be a challenging to any family, my oldest child is 4 years old. If I decided not to travel to KSA or any place in the ME, I would be homeschooling my child.

So, if push comes to shove, I would do the same in ME (regardless of the country). I wouldn't subject my child to anything that I deemed harsh, it would be more harsh if I left my family for work, only to come back for them when "work" was good. From what I gather most people don't/haven't enjoyed their ME experience. And the ones that do stay in the ME for many years, still warn people not to come to the ME because of "bad management", "bad contracts" and so on.

In my family we stay very close knit, I work split shifts and my hb is self employed for this exact reason, so that we always stay together. Therefore, choosing to go the ME is a decison that we want to experience together.

Thanks for the warning, but it seems that for many people having a family or even a spouse can help in these specific living conditions, because you have someone there who supports you and someone to spend time with.

I may not choose KSA to begin with, but our move to the ME is something that we feel would be helpful for us in the long run.

UmmKhadija

[scot47]

Your husband will be self-employed in Hail ? Doing what ?

[Mia Xanthi]

It is true that being in Saudi Arabia (especially in a rural location) can be very good for a family. There is absolutely NOTHING to do, so even a close family will find itself being that much closer because you spend so much time together.

That being said, think many times before you and/or your husband accept one of these jobs. The thing that most families don't pay attention to is the fact that you can get stuck in KSA with no way to get an exit visa. This means that you could have a very sick child out in a place where there is no decent medical care, and your workplace could refuse to give you an exit visa to leave in order to get proper medical care for your child.

While Saudis in general are nice people, Saudi employers are famous for their lack of compassion when an employee or an employee's family member has a serious, emergency situation. Check the job out carefully, and be sure that you will be able to hold on to your passport AND have a multiple entry/exit visa at all times. And even with these conditions, you still have to worry about the times when your iqama or visa have to be renewed. In my case, it took up to two months to get these renewed, and both I and a couple of my colleagues were unable to leave when emergencies arose during these times. Bank accounts get frozen when visas or iqamas are out of date, and you can find yourself, your husband, and your children literally stranded out in the boondocks with no real medical care. And believe me, the chances are that your employer won't give a damn about your situation as long as you are still coming in and teaching.

It doesn't happen to everyone, but it could happen to you.

[scot47]

I think UoH now provide multiple exit/re-entry visas. I am not sure about contractors who provide teachers for UoH.

It is a difficult place and not I think suitable for a family, unless they are exceptionally pious Muslims with a high tolerance for being tested.

[ummkhadija]

Hello:

Scot47

No, no..My husband is self-employed here in the US, I was just stating that we, as a family try to stay together at all times. So him being self-emplyed lets him complete his shifts at different hours of the day, depending on what we have planned that day.

We plan on not having him work while we are abroad, he will watch the kids, and I will work ..And yes, we do try to live very pious and find that the conditions, as far as the restrictions can be dealt with not much difficulty.

Mia Xanthi

Thank-you for the information. I do realize that even in the US, getting proper medical care can be difficult. But, I thought I had read that VS (correct me if I am wrong), stated that in KSA many times they take your passports, but give them back when you need to travel?

So, do I ask an employer upfront, if I get to keep my passport or do I ask them if they are planning to give me an entry/exit visa, before even entering the country? Which from reading many posting about the ME, even if its in the contract it doesn't mean it will be like that when I get there?

I do know that my children or even I or my husband can get sick, but I guess I will have to deal with that when it comes. Which I always pray will not occur here or in any country that we decide to live in.

UmmKhadija

[Mia Xanthi]

[ummkhadija]

Hello: Mia Xanthi

Thanks so much for the information. It is greatlty appreciated

I will definetly be asking these questions. I have a few interviews this week, and they are specifically from Saudi schools/universities

UmmKhadija

[scot47]

if you are supporting a family on one salary do not expect to save much.

[lucylu]

Hashim99uk,
do you mind telling what exactly happened to turn you off to Hail so much? I read one of your previous posts stating that you were quite happy there. I'm curious because I'm thinking of going there. but now not so sure.

my specific questions are:
1) what happened to drive you out of there?
2) does the school keep your passport?
3)is there any kind of social life at all on the compound with other expats?
4)besides living accomodations, what does the compound contain--any type of exercise facility or game rooms or restaurants, etc?

[scot47]

Another thread on Hail. there are many. You still want to go there after reading this ?

[ssn]