Job Discussion Forums

johnslat · Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 12:41 am Post subject:

Dear Mia,

You forgot to mention these:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2hGkU2RrDqI/S7Pksj8NkvI/AAAAAAAADsc/YcEbTKjegoU/s1600/ROACH.jpg

Here's a review of the Kaki Hotel:

At first the spacious and tidy lobby gives you the impression that the stay will be great. However despite getting one of the best rooms (105) the stay was still far from medium. First of all the AC was not working well. The room was very hot. The TV channels were either grainy or not tuning at all and I had unexpected crawling visitors. I had to kill 3 cockroaches and an inumerable number of ants during my 3 day stay. I called housekeeping I was given a bug spray and was told I had to spray myself when they showed up. Room service is really nil to medium. Whenever I'd order an item from the menu, the room service personnel would not recognise it. The room service menu that I was given is nothing like what they actually serve.

And that's at a (supposedly) three-star hotel.

Regards,
John

Emile Cioran · Joined: 15 Aug 2010 Posts: 26

Hi again everyone.

I've taken your advice and sent an email to my recruiter asking for a better salary. I explained to him what you have all said about the costs of renting in Saudia Arabia and how I should be asking for 11k + accommodation rather than just 11k per month. I also asked him whether I will be financially responsible for all the incurred visa expenses.

Thank you all for the good advice. Like my namesake, I have a lot of cynicism towards the human race but you have all restored my faith in humanity a little.

I'll let you know what his response is.

Emile Cioran · Joined: 15 Aug 2010 Posts: 26

Well I just spoke to the recruiter and he's told me that the school is prepared to pay me 12,000 SAR a month so they've shifted the salary up from 11,000 up to 12,000 SAR per month.

I'm very happy with that. Currency Converter puts that at �24,700 per annum tax-free. For me that is great money even if I have to spend a quarter of it on accommodation and I would feel really mercenary asking for anymore so I'm going to sign the contract. I'm not materialistic but I have reached a point in my life where I really need to start sorting out my finances and saving some real money.

Thank you for your help everyone. I'm sure that some people here will maintain that I'm still being short changed but it will be my first stint in the Middle East with modest teaching credentials and I would like to prove myself to them just as I'm proving my worth to my current employer. I can see here that I owe a few people a beer or whatever passes as a beer in Saudia Arabia - I've heard you can buy fruit-flavoured non-alcoholic budweisers over there!

Oh and if I befriended an expat who lives in a compound would that enable me to visit the compound to see what it is like living in one?

And are there any pool or snooker tables I will be able to find whilst I am over there? I've heard that there are a few (male-only) bowling alleys but I am more interested in cue-based sports.

Oh and I've heard backgammon is very popular in the Middle East but would I be able to pit my wits against chess players over there or will it be a case of internet chess for me all the way?

Kindest regards,

EC [/list]

Cleopatra · Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 6:31 pm Post subject:

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

Is it possible befriending someone on a compound and visiting? Of course it is! Very Happy

Is pool/snooker available? In the larger cities for sure! Not so sure about the larger professional snooker tables...but know that the smaller variety are available. Just ask around.

Chess anyone? I know a number of Saudis that are into chess, so you would/ could eventually meet or find a player to challenge you.

Depending on where you are located, your work schedule and your willingness to seek out the various activities....all that you asked about are available.
Good luck...

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Johnslat

This guy knows better than we do

Let him get on with it.

Emile Cioran · Joined: 15 Aug 2010 Posts: 26

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 10:35 pm Post subject:

"The Kindom" is rarely, if ever...kind...

NCTBA

Emile Cioran · Joined: 15 Aug 2010 Posts: 26

No wonder you've amassed nearly 3,000 posts if you take it upon yourself to point out every single typo!

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 12:21 am Post subject:

Oh! Lighten up, you! It's one HELL of an irony...which you will discover in due course if you complete yer journey!

If you don't beleive me, jes' hang out by any main mosque in a large (-ish) city (or not) on a Friday jes' around noontime prayers... Shocked

Yer gonna need thicker skin if you plan on spending any time in the k.o.p.

NCTBA

Otterman Ollie · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:22 am Post subject:

Now as a Saudi wannabe I'm gonna be interested to see how this space cadet gets on in the big bad K.S.A. Going by what I have gleaned from this forum and the packages offered, any salary without accomodation or a housing allowance is not a good starting point. The whole message that comes through is that you have to put up with a lot of bs that really does not sit very well, on top of the heat and the cultural differences. Most people stay just because of the money so getting a good deal is the only real incentive to go and teach in the M.E.. Selling yourself short is not a gOod idea! Just my two cents worth.

Emile Cioran · Joined: 15 Aug 2010 Posts: 26

My salary breakdown per month is:

Base Salary: 5k
Housing Allowance: 1.5K
Travel Allowance: 0.5K
Scarcity Allowance: 1K
Experience: 0.5K
Other Allowances: 3.5K

Total = 12K per month = �25,000 per annum tax free (roughly. Throw in the annual free flights and you've got a decent deal I think. It's certainly a hell of a lot more than I'm currently earning for a UK Summer School.

I need a thicker skin you say? Maybe this is so, maybet this is not, but I really don't think I should be having 'the thickness of my skin' tested, measured and commented on when I've merely been posting in a polite manner on a work-related internet forum. If I want my psychological profile done I'll ask for it thank you. As I have not only a degree in psychology but also unmediated access to my conscious mind, I strongly feel that I'm in a better position than you to evaluate my own mental states. Now if you don't mind I'm off now to have a good old cry to get this whole matter out of my head! Wink

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

My prediction is that this dude will not last in KSA

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 2:05 pm Post subject:

In answering the OP's original question...if not mad, then certainly angry... Laughing

NCTBA

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