Job Discussion Forums

[NQTabroad]

Hello all,

Im returning to the middle east after a 3 year gap. I ve missed it soo much!

I worked as a teacher in Al Ain, UAE. I loved it here but I left after one year in order to qualify and improve my job prospects as a primary teacher in the UK. I ve missed living abroad so much!
I ve gained some experience and the time has finally come for me to return!

I have been offered a job in a really good school in Muscat, Oman. Im 100% about the school and Im warming to the idea of Muscat.

People often described Al Ain as boring but I absolutely loved it. It was just basically cafes, manicures and the cinema. But I was quite happy there! I made some friends to hang out with. Saved some, travelled and had a ball
Dubai was not the city for me. It was ok for a weekend but it would absolutely annoy me if I lived there. The high rises, traffic, humidity wasn t for me. Also it just didn t seem foreign sometimes especially compared to Al Ain. Al Ain had definately more of an Arabic feel to it.

People have said to me if you like Al Ain you ll love Muscat. Im really hoping I will.

I ve lived in the ME before so I have a good idea of what to expect.
I ve already contacted some people but I d just like to hear a few more opinions on a variety of things.

1. What is it like being a single woman in Oman? Is there much hassle from men? I ve heard mixed things about this. I ve heard Omani men like to talk to you but are quite respectful. I heard as blonde woman you do get alot of attention in hotels and discos but nothing too bad....
In Al Ain not much hassle from men but some men can follow you in their cars if you walk (Im a great little walker and Emiratis could simply not understand why I walked ) I can handle stares quite well and men generally leave you alone if you ask them to.

Also in Al Ain I did have Egyptian and Lebanese male friends. I often went out to the cinema and out to cafes with them on my own. Would this be a problem? I heard Muscat is quite small and people talk but then so was Al Ain and no one cared what I did.

2. Shopping. I ve heard mixed things about this. As long as there is a Carrefour and Souk Im delighted. Im not a fuss pot and the school will be providing alot of my meals anyway. Im going to be in Al seeb. Will there be little supermarkets around? I loved "walking" to them in Al Ain. The concept of walking to the shops seemed so bizarre to so many people
Clothes wise is there a H&M or Forever 21? That was the only place I ever bought clothes in Dubai. Otherwise I just waited til I went back to Ireland. Clothes could be a bit of a rip off in the Emirates and not as nice.
Is there a boots? I like their cosmetics but I d live without it.

3. Clothes. Generally I was just sensible made sure my shoulders weren t exposed and I didn t wear shorts or skirts that went above the knee.
Will that be ok? By the way in clubs and hotels anything goes right? In Dubai people wore whatever they wanted.

4. Transport. Heres the big one. Im trying to pass my test. Even when I do I am a terribly nervous driver hence why i adore walking. I would like to wait a month or two before I am forced to buy a car.
Just how much do taxis cost? Are they plentiful?
Al Ain was a dream come true in that they were dirt cheap and everywhere!

5. Internet. How accessible is the internet? Is it expensive? Can Skype be used?

I d really appreciate some responses!

Thank you in advance!

[NQTabroad]

Oh and 3 more things

6. Cost of living. How would it compare to Dubai? Al Ain was dirt cheap so Im not expecting that plus my salary is higher than the one I was on in Al Ain.

7. Girly question. Manicures and beauty treatments are they pricey? Can you find ones that do deals? Can you haggle? (you d know I lived in the middle east before)

8. Access to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Even though Im not the biggest fan of Dubai I didn t mind the shopping and nightlife (just for a weekend). Is it costly to travel there? Can you get a bus or plane?
Also is it possible to get a bus to Al Buraimi, I might like to return to Al Ain for a visit!

[veiledsentiments]

I can answer some of the questions. I would say that the dress code will be similar to Al Ain, and your employer will be pretty relaxed about it. But, you might ask them if they have a written dress code, so you know for sure. I would dress more conservatively if you are shopping in stores in Seeb (where there are small supermarkets and shops) or the old souq in Muscat than at the nearby Carrefour.

As relates to dating, like Al-Ain, one must (should?) just be discreet and take care with public activities. Such as... in public, women only hold hands with women or men with men. I found the men in Oman to be MUCH more respectful to women in public than in the UAE.

There are regular buses and flights to the UAE and the buses go through Buraimi. And yes... most Omanis will think that you are a bit odd to be walking all the time. But no one ever bothered me more than a hoot of the horn... or a student yelling a greeting.

As I said in our PMs, I think you will like it.

VS

[denise]

Yes, there is an H&M (Qurm City Centre) and a Forever 21 (Seeb City Centre). In clubs, yeah, go ahead and wear little cocktail dresses/normal clubbing clothes. Just make sure to have something to cover up with as you're walking out! Especially if you're going to be taking taxis...

I've heard a lot of people say that "Muscat is small" and "people talk", but if they do, it has never made it back to my ears! You can hang out with whoever you want to.

I don't know about manicures, but I get regular massages here. They are 20ish rials in most of the hotels/spas, and on the salaries here, that means that they are quite affordable. I doubt you could haggle, since they are in the nicer hotels and upscale day spas, but there are special deals out there. The place that I go to has regular promotions.

The attention from males is far less threatening here than in many other places. I've had Omani guys try to buy drinks for me in bars (while I was alone waiting for my companions), and I had a guy try to get my phone number after attempting--very unsuccessfully, and despite my protestations that I didn't need help--to help me with a dead car battery. Occasional cat-calls and stares, but nothing serious.

Internet service is easily available, but crappy and expensive. Most expat-y cafes have wireless. Skype is usually blocked.

d

[Insubordination]

Haven't worked in the ME. Just wanted to encourage you to keep trying to get your driver's licence. I didn't get mine until I was 28, but it changed my life for the better.

[NQTabroad]

Thanks for all the replies, Keep them coming if any one has info. PM s are also gratefully received as well!

[NQTabroad]

Got my driving license so there is one less worry!

[urbanversion]

Now you just have to face the non existent concept of defensive driving and spatial awareness

[eslbear]

Too true, having a car will radically change your quality of life here but you have to be defensive and confident. Being slow is not being safe especially entering the highways.

Watch out for the speedy ones in the fast lane flashing you to move and taxi cars and buses who will slow and pull over without warning as they troll the roads for a passenger waiting on the side.

Otherwise, it's not that bad but I could just be used to it. When I go home, the driving is so sedate and orderly, I find that I am the aggressive idiot on the road ! It takes a few days to adjust back to proper and safe / courteous habits.

eslbear

[DenUk]

[urbanversion]

The student saying we drive like a video game isn't too far removed from the truth.

Sometimes I wonder if driving is learnt from the back of a Frosties box here...two things that annoy...it is essential to rev your engine and accelerate away on a main road (that everyone equally has right of way on!) like it's your own private racecourse, or you are on a track day meetup or something. The second is the need to constantly overtake and go into the ONCOMING lane, despite the notices about radars observing traffic and so on....

[NQTabroad]

Wow the taxi option doesn t seem so bad now!

[DenUk]

[urbanversion]

It is better to find one reliable local driver, preferably who speaks english...the audacity of most taxi drivers here does offend me though...really, 2 rials to sahwa roundabout from carrefour...it's 100 baiza, and they know it ffs!!!

Time for all taxis to be metered, and protect expats and tourists rights. Also issue a receipt for you when leaving the taxi...

[veiledsentiments]