Job Discussion Forums

bingmayong · Joined: 27 May 2010 Posts: 24

Hi,

Does anyone have any information or experience teaching in Yemen? I'm curious about conditions, safety, teachers living standard, etc

Thanks!

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Did you try using the search? There are three or four threads on the first couple pages here.

VS

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Safety is an issue.

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I would say that one is likely safe in Sana'a... but it would be terrible to be in Yemen and not get to travel around the country.

VS

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

Yeah would love to find the mysteriously enticing frankincense and myrrh trail.

Sana'a
صنعاء Ṣan�ā�

Sana'a

Sana'aLocation in Yemen
Coordinates: 15�20′54″N 44�12′23″E / 15.34833�N 44.20639�E / 15.34833; 44.20639

Sana'a (Arabic: صنعاء‎,

smedini · Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 178

I have a student here who is from Syria. Just before immigrating to Canada, he had been stationed to work in Yemen for 18 months. He said he and all on the team were terrified the entire time. And that was in Sanaa; it was much worse, he said, when they worked in other places in the country. This is a fairly conservative guy who shares the same religion and language as the bulk of the people in Yemen (not to overlook the inevitable variances, subtle and otherwise, of course) and he couldn't wait to get out of there. Even before hearing that, Yemen was one of the few countries I wouldn't want to visit anytime soon; his declaration only solidified it's place on my list.

IMHO
~smedini

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

An interesting look at inter-Arab relationships. One thinks of so many Levantine Arabs as being educated and cosmopolitcan... and Yemenis are probably as exotic to them as they are to us. Laughing

I've had a couple friends teach there within the last 5 years - in very different situations - and they both loved it.

But, to me there always seems to be trouble brewing just below the surface. One of the two is planning on going back to study Arabic. It will be interesting to see if he decides against it.

VS

007 · Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 9:51 am Post subject:

Well, if you are in Yemen avoid the triangle of kidnapping and death. If not, your resort will be like the two Americans tourists who were kidnapped last month near the triangle of kidnapping and death near Sanaan:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/10146882.stm

sliim · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 55

If you are going to teach in Yemen, you must take some precautions. There is always a degree of instability there, and sometimes there is more than others. Yemen right now is pretty unstable, but that does not mean that one should not go. Here are some thoughts that might help. I've mentioned some before on other threads, but I will try to put some brief points that might be of some help:

(1) Work for a good employer. Go with: Amideast, YCMES, YALI, British Council. Avoid: ALC, MALI. Other locally run institutes are "at your own risk."

(2) Take health precautions. Hospitals are not well-equipped. Only go to Yemen if you are in good health and have no serious or chronic conditions.

(3) Travel safely within the country. Hire a guard to travel in remote areas, or take internal flights (usually quite cheap) from city to city. Buses are also safe as far as I am concerned, and if it is not, a reputable bus company will not let foreigners on anyway.

(4) Do not get involved in North vs. South or Houthi vs. Gov't issues. Stay away from protests and the like. This is generally what to do in any country anyway. No different here.

Hope it helps.

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

Pikgitina · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 420 Location: KSA

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

CDAN · Joined: 13 May 2010 Posts: 18

I had also considered Yemen, but, since the Canadian embassy is currently recommending people avoid all travel there, I have crossed it off my list. A shame, as it looks like a beautiful country.

This is a total aside, but how accurate do you expats find these warnings from your respective embassies?

johnslat · Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 10:01 pm Post subject:

Dear CDAN,

In my experience, it's impossible to make a all-inclusive statement about "embassy warnings." Many of them, I think, are inspired by "CYA" (Cover Your Posterior.)
The problem is that some probably should be taken seriously (and I think the one about Yemen is an example of that.)

But it's like "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." All this hyperbolic ones can make a "real one" hard to credit.

Regards,
John