Job Discussion Forums

[machita]

As I understand it, I need to ask my employer permission to exit the country. Have any of you been denied?

Are there many places I could go out to eat?

And what kind of shoes should I bring?

I hope the A/C is good, I'm sure it gets sweaty under those abayas.



Here's an interesting link:

http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2010/06/a-girls-guide-to-saudi-arabia.html

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

Funny...as a male, if I were to call a woman a "girl", I'd be the scum of the Earth. I guess it like a minority thing where you can call each other words that will get you eviscerated by others for or considered a "hate crime" if yer not "in" that group.

There's no help for us without colour!

NCTBA

[scot47]

"Without color" ? You one of those transparent dudes, huh ? personally i am a sort of off-pink with brown bits where the sun has changed my skin color. And I have some freckles.

[veiledsentiments]

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

I'm more pink than the non-p.c. non-colour.

Fortunately for my wife and son, they are "coloured" therefore are not required to suffer the "guilt" that I, being of non-slave-owning Canuck stock am required by polite society to bear...

NCTBA

[Mia Xanthi]

Machita, regarding your question about shoes, I would advise that if you have a favorite brand or type of shoe you wear regularly for teaching, then bring a couple of extra pairs. Shoe soles wear out very fast in the Saudi heat.

However, that being said, shoes of every type are available in the multitude of shopping malls, but not shoes of every size. If you have to wear large or wide shoes, don't count on finding them in KSA. Bring them with you.

BTW, even though they look silly under an abaya, you should have a good pair of walking/running shoes with you. The shopping malls are where you will do most of your walking, and I found it impossible to make it through the massive malls without wearing running shoes

As for asking permission to leave, it all depends on your employer and your type of visa. If you have an iqama and a multiple entry permit, you shouldn't have to ask permission. I went to Bahrain frequently without anyone's permission. However, always keep in mind that they can put a stop on that exit visa any time they want to. If you are doing a runner in the night, don't let ANYONE know about it.

The A/C is usually freezing everywhere you go, and in public buildings it almost always works. A/C units tend to break down in older compounds, apartment buildings, or school/university buildings. Dress lightly under that abaya - very fine and light Indian cotton skirts and blouses would be perfect.

[veiledsentiments]

[cmp45]

[quote="veiledsentiments"]

[lizziebennet]

I don't understand how people can say you can't find big shoes. My feet ar very wide and have never had a problem. If your feet are longer than size 41 you might have a problem but I know very few girls that have feet like that.
They have every brand imaginable in Saudi even charles and keith which is Singaporean.
Off the top of my head anyone should be able to pick up shoes at New Look, Marks and Spencers, Pay less (U.S brands), Next, Bershka, Mango, Zara, Nine West.
For plus size woman you can get big shoes at Dorethy Perkins and Evans. Just millions of stores where you can get shoes and everything imaginable in every size.

They have all the big sports brands here too...

In Korea it is a struggle to get anything big. Only place I could get big sizes for westerners was itaewon but Saudi is the opposite and they have every international brand available. Google your fav brands and see if they have then in Saudi.

Don't waste your limited baggage space on shoes or clothes. I went to Saudi with a case and returned home this vacation with an entire new case of clothes and shoes. I did put on like 15kg's because of lack of exercise especially in Buraidah where the gym had like 4 machines and where women get harrassed by stalkers if you try to walk.

My advice is bring exercise dvd's you can't really find then... Although you can get some famous workout dvd's on compounds.

Bring stuff to do for a hobby. Not many hobby shops around. If you like scrapping etc bring stuff for that.

They don't sell good tanning oil with spf protection and sunscreen is expensive, bring that if you are gonna be on the private beaches.

For guys who like computer games, you can download but only on piratebay. Better to bring those strategy games you like with you. X-box games (american football or canadian hockey etc or not really available). Bring the games and you can buy the machine here...

If you are in a small town with nothing to do it might be useful. My husband used to organize fifa 10 tournaments with our co-workers.

Boardgames: you can buy scrabble, monopoly etc but if you have a fun one bring it.

Unlike Korea where you had to go to that red door store in itaewon to buy some special American goods and get some stuff sent home you can get every type of food you want at danube (at least in Jeddah).
I mean everything! But only in big cities, smaller ones just have panda which is limited and they do not have tampons in smaller towns at all so girls bring thosee if you have to have them.

They have loads if underwear stores in Jeddah and H & M has a special female only underwear shop with changing rooms in the mall of arabia. You can also get your basics even in bigger sizes from Marks and Spencers but again that's in Jeddah. If you are gonna live in Buraida or a small town bring a lot with you as there are no women working and no changing rooms.

Books: they have twilight and all those books available at jareer. Comes in a bit later due to issues with inappropriate covers but all the big names generally available. Still bring a few books that you might like to read.

Vitamins and health stuff can be expensive. Available just double the price so bring some from home.

Your favorite Christian book or one or two cd's. I have never had a problems with bringing a bible and stuff in for personal use only don't be stupid and bring tracts or anything in.
Better to just download them on your laptop (CD's not tracts!!!).

I honestly can't think of much stuff they don't have except for some American candy. They have normal brands like peanut butter cups etc but not so much hersheys or anything.

Scuz the errors I typed this all on my blackberry and the screen is so small!

[lizziebennet]

V.S if you were here I'd have to take you shopping lol. Narrow shoes are available

Oh yah, getting around...

In Buraidah (al qassim) we were recommended taxi drivers by the CID who actually phoned the CID and told them where they were dropping us off.
I had a guy who drove me alone but he got in troublr for that with the local muttawa so refused to after that.
I trusted my driver and called him for everything.

In Jeddah I caught taxi's alone day and night but I did not feel comfortable at night at all. I guess it's the South African in me.
I usually went with a friend (safer and saves money). Taxi's are cheap if you can barter.... Walk away and take the next one if they don't wanna give you your price.

Dunno about Riyadh someone else will have to answer.

[veiledsentiments]

[lizziebennet]

Interesting information on foot sizes. In my country I know of few people with such big feet. But my european friends have longer feet. Mine are size 6 and a half in South Africa (40 I think)
but I usually buy one size bigger.

I could never buy shoes in most shops in Korea because all their shoes are narrow. V.S I think you'd have no trouble getting narrow shoes in Asia

[veiledsentiments]

We are wandering a bit off topic, but I did look for them in Hong Kong and Singapore with no luck. Their feet are small... but not narrow.

VS

[007]

[Cleopatra]