Job Discussion Forums

Emile Cioran · Joined: 15 Aug 2010 Posts: 26

Cooeey! I'm still here Scotty.

Well, I have my Iquama and I've been here for over 3 months already. I'm perfectly happy paying 2000 SARs per month to live in a decent enough flat out of my 12,000 SAR per month salary despite some blatant lies that I would be looking at a minimum of 3,000 p/m to live in a half-decent flat in Jeddah. Actually I'm only paying 1,4000 because I'm sharing the flat with an Egyptian friend (and colleague) who sleeps in a bed in the lounge. I will be updating my progress here at 3-monthly intervals to show how foolish you were in under-estimating my determination and fortitude in surviving here for any extended period of time.

Good day.

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

WTF? Is this satire? Sounds like a bottom-of-the-barrel situation to me.

johnslat · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 3:35 pm Post subject:

Dear Sheik,

I'm not sure the barrel in Saudi HAS a bottom - every time you think you've heard about it, yet another "bottom" appears.

Regards,
John

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I hope that you and your Egyptian male friend are very happy together.

Emile Cioran · Joined: 15 Aug 2010 Posts: 26

Sorry to disappoint you but we are not "together" in the mischievous manner in which you seem to be implying. It's called having a flat-mate.

I will make you take back your words about my, as you seem to see it, inability to withstand the challenges and hardships of living in this country. That will then teach you that you can't go around making premature judgments about people online without running the risk of ending up looking like an embittered fool with an axe to grind. I hate to break it to you but you're not the only western guy in the world who has the inner strength and resilience to get through a few years in this purgatory.

johnslat · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 10:10 pm Post subject:

Dear Emile Cioran,

Well, it's been quite a few more than "a few years" for scot47. Hope you last there as long as you want to.

Regards,
John

Grendal · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 10:41 pm Post subject:

I'm SCARED now.
Will run home with tail between legs.

G

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

Sorry, but it really is a bottom of the barrel job if you have to pay rent out of that salary... and share your flat with some poor fellow in an even worse situation that has to rent your sofa. Rolling Eyes

I don't believe that anyone was suggesting anything other than that it sounds rather sad and pathetic for both of you.

Sounds like a nightmare scenario to me... entry level for new graduates or those with no credentials. Good Luck... hope you manage to save some money in this borderline servitude.

VS

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

I agree with the other comments, by your despcription you appear to be in a bottom feeder situation. The good news is you can move up wards in time...depending on your desire to do so.

No shame in sharing a flat, but it does indicate that the people you work for are ripping you off. They should be providing a proper housing allowance separate from your salary.
After all this is KSA, not Kansas.
Good luck, feel free to report back at the end of your contract, perhaps your situation may have changed by then. Then again, maybe not? Rolling Eyes

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 4:58 am Post subject:

Hush, everyone! He's rolling in his glory and making the rest of us feel...well...inadequate! YOU GO, GIRL!!! Laughing

...

...

NCTBA

Neil Down · Joined: 08 Dec 2010 Posts: 3 Location: SAUDI

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

If you let a few online comments bother you so much then you are very fragile !

My first New Year in KSA was 1970.1971.

I think this one - 40 years later - may be my last in the Magic Kingdom. Next year in Caledonia, God Willing !

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 7:25 am Post subject:

This is a bizarre post.

So you're in a job which pays seveal thousand rial less than most qualified teachers would accept, and you also have to share a flat? And you think you've got yourself some winning deal? Everything is relative, I suppose, but I bet most posters here wouldn't touch your job with the proverbial bargepole. Your triumphalism is a little misplaced, I should think.

Markemark · Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 82 Location: ksa

Aren't these penny pinching backpackers simply wretched?
Yeah, life must be great as you dig deeper into that not so very deep well of resilience. Still, didn't you just score big time when you paid only 15 rials for that taxi ride, and not the 20 the cabbie asked for? Yeah, dude, see how smart you are.
3 months. Hehehe. Now that's a long long time, more than enough time to declare we're all wrong and you're right. But then you are right- because you really did think you were flyng into hell and you'd crack on day two, didn't you. Course you did.
The Egyptian on the floor? The lousy salary?
You will crack and it's going to be very painful. Can you keep us all updated and don't go getting no feelings of self worth and not letting us all in on your inevitable crack up, because that's cheating, and you'll need the drama anyhow. Crack baby, crack.

tillymd · Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Posts: 114

Hello Everyone and Happy New Year,

I've been following this forum for quite some time and have enjoyed most of the clever comments, however, this thread really bothers me on several levels.