Job Discussion Forums

[greatminds]

Just got an offer and was wondering how the teaching load is and if it is an enjoyable place. Have read the debate on the air quaility so I am undecided and maybe will wait for other offers. Any comments?

[Paradiselost]

JUC is run by the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, a very large government enterprise that administers economic development in Jubail and Yanbu. You will have to get used to all the endless paperwork, the seemingly purposeless administrative procedures, the snail pace bureaucracy, and the general lack of discipline, diligence, and "don't care" attitude of the local administrative staff. They will be your masters and you, their subject. They love to see you beg and they do that by slowing your paperwork or by simply losing it and by not taking responsibility for their work. You will generally be blamed for what they did wrong.
The teaching load is 20 hours/week as an instructor (18 if you are a lecturer, only possible by your having a MA or PhD in English), although some people have been known to work as much as an additional 10 hours of "overtime", paid at 60 Riyals/hour. The going rate for private work outside of the school is 150 Riyals.
The air quality is questionable as occasionally there is the smell of ammonia on the air and dust from dust storms. But air quality is not a problem. The locals are the problem. The teacher turnover rate is very high, specially for a university. Teachers get fed up and simply don't come to work again. The Royal Commission admin system has a lot of levels and a lot of bosses and is nearly impossible to get anything done that benefits you in any way. Last year even the English dept. manager left without warning. After that, a smear campaign was started to damage his reputation.
The King promised a bonus to be given to all government employees, but only the Saudi teachers got it. The RC left the expats out. Other Universities and even private banks gave bonuses.
JUC has been operating out of modular units comparable to those used at temporary work sites. The "building" has been under construction for the last five years at a nearby site and so far only the land has been cleared. You will never teach inside a real building.
The students are HS grads who have never had a native English teacher, are very undisciplined, disinterested, unmotivated, and often do not bring pens or notebooks to class, but only their TWO mobile phones to use as toys as the teacher attempts to get the student's attention. There are no entrance exams. They will take anybody as a student as they just want to show numbers. JUC is not an accredited Univ.
Note that Jubail is an industrial town. Life there is very very dull. The next reasonable city, Al-Khobar, is more than two hours away by car.
You will pay for your work permit and visas. If you purchase your incoming air ticket, it may take 3-6 months to get it refunded, and only after writing several letters and calling a lot of people.
Why work there? Some people make less in their home country, others have responsibilities and need to make the sacrifice.
Try to read a about others say on JUC, and in general about Saudi Arabia, as most websites with useful information, or BLOGS such as this one, are internet censored and not available for view. The locals DO have a very closed mentality.

[Middle East Beast]

On the plus-side, Jubail does have a cool-looking Chinese restaurant on the Corniche. It's shaped like a Pirates of the Caribbean era ship.

Or they did have it--I haven't been there in years.

Good luck making your decision.

MEB

[greatminds]

Thanks for the replies.

I have already decided to work there....I got a good package and it is a better offer than I got from other places so I am ok with it. I realize the social environment is like that but I have met some others who have lived in Jubail and they liked it. Of course they were on a compound.

I have been reading these blogs and all but still no one has spoken about the actual size of the studios we are to live in......we also have a choice to find our own accommodation for the price of three months salary.

Really, how bad can it be? This sounds so much like other Arab countries.

[veiledsentiments]

Just a quick note... this isn't a "blog" but a discussion board.

VS

[Middle East Beast]

[greatminds]

wow, wonder if i should rethink this? But, is it the same for the women? Isnt their campus better or are both still in modules? Can the female teachers walk to their offices? That would save on transportation costs.

[veiledsentiments]

Two problems could come up with walking...

First off you are swathed in black unbreathable fabric on top of your clothes when it is 40+C outside and walking a half block is a major burden.

Second is that you will draw heaps of unwanted unpleasant attention.

It is NOTHING like life for a female in any of the other Gulf countries where there are no restrictions.

VS

[greatminds]

I see ur point VS. I can bear the heat, even fully dressed in such garb. Luckily. The other, well.

I wonder if the abayas of the westerners look different from the natives? Also the hijabs are probably not worn with the same amount of style by the westerners who probably just toss it over their heads.

But I think that boys are always stalking women to some degree in the Gulf.

I have lived in several GCC countries and even spent time in Yemen and Iraq. I want to see Saudi. It is not a prison sentence. If I dont like it, then I can leave!

[blackwellben]

I'd like to chime in as I work in Saudi Arabia with several women...
VS's knowledge of working here is based on years and years of reading the reports of those that have-- let's call them primary sources. Her opinions are rarely misguided and most certainly informed.

I've seen no difference in abayas worn by western women versus natives, except that most of our western teachers wear the most "standard" version and natives often opt for some demure ornamentation. But, as well, a teacher, or two, have purchased stylish abayas as souvenirs.

We've looked all over for a sleeveless, backless abaya with splits, but to no avail. *joke

Western women and most Asian women do walk about without covering their head and hair, but the abaya is always worn in public. We've had issues with women teachers emerging from their school to a waiting morality police (mutawa) eager to scrutinize that the abaya is fully closed, and zipped all the way down to completely cover the shins, ankles and feet, despite the teachers traveling a distance of only twenty feet to an awaiting van.

Which has resulted in some shouted admonishments from the mutawa, but depending on a teacher's personality, merely an annoyance or mildly upsetting event.

What's particularly troubling to me are tales of western compounds populated with as many adherents to Islam as westerners and a compromising of what respite a westerner has on a compound. Our compound respects the need of westerners to "be themselves" at "home" in order to be "good ambassadors" at work and I often wonder if we're a minority.

Which is ridiculous...we're wisely segregated for the simplicity of it; but, lo and behold, a relative privacy and comfortable accommodation is as often as attractive to Muslims.

I don't know how teachers tolerating hotels do it. A housing arrangement respectful of my beliefs is, to me, a crucial factor in my success here.

Harassment is often an issue for women brave enough to travel/shop alone and in pairs. Mostly from younger and older men. Its character is, thus far, confined to shouting and excited gesture. What's complex, or rather what I've witnessed as complex, is a greater (more lewd) harassment of a woman in western garb having crossed over into Jordan and not yet arrived in a major population center, like Amman.

[veiledsentiments]

[johnslat]

"With the head covering, I'd just see what everyone else is doing... and err on the side of modesty."

The head covering will depend to some degree on just where the OP ends up in Saudi. I believe Western women's not wearing head coverings is generally acceptable in Jubail, but in, say, Buraidah, it'd be a different story.

Regards,
John

[blackwellben]

[posh]

Apparently the wind in Jubail almost always come down from the north or west, so if you live to the north of the industrial plants you should be ok.

I know exactly where the women's branch of JUC is (north of the plant) and located in the best part of town. If your housing is nearby then you could walk and I see two nurses walking to RC hospital every day. But for reasons given above I wouldn't do it. I get harrassed by native males and I'm a man! I'm pretty sure the college would organise a driver for you or a shared ride.

Jubail is fine for me and I'm told that among Saudis it's a very desirable place to live and work. One of the best aspects is relative lack of traffic, certainly compared to Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah, and the RC area in the evenings is very pleasant - middle class, residential with landscaped corniches and parks.

[greatminds]

Thanks for all the responses. I would love to hear about the JUC housing for women. All I know is that it is studios. I have alot of questions about them and it help me know how much of my stuff I want to bring with me. I know it is furnished, but still there are things that I will want to be shipped from nearby as I have friends in Kuwait who travel frequently to Saudi.

I also have concerns about the exit visa.

Every country is going to have its fair share of "stuff" to deal with and from what I read, KSA tops the list. I dont mind having a quiet year but I do want to be able to leave when I need to!!!