Job Discussion Forums

apollolight · Joined: 02 Nov 2011 Posts: 25

Hello,

I have never been to the Middle East and I am unsure about taking up an offer of work in Saudi Arabia...i have read so many incredibly negative things about life there...i have some interest from schools in Oman so I was wondering if anyone can tell me about life in Oman...and also is Saudi Arabia that difficult to live in? thanks

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

Oman is much preferable to Saudi

Middle East Beast · Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 836 Location: Up a tree

apollolight · Joined: 02 Nov 2011 Posts: 25

you are correct when you say 'that difficult' is nebulous...sorry for not being exact....I generally have a lot of female friends and I think I would find it difficult not being able to have any women in my life. I think it might be difficult teaching all male classes. I don't drink that much but living in a culture where it is completely banned doesn't sound too appealing. These are a few of my concerns...also several people in forum discussions have described living in Saudi like living in hell...seeing as I have never been there I was just asking people how they find living there and if it is difficult for them...thanks

johnslat · Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 4:54 pm Post subject:

Dear apollolight,

Given the proclivities, interests, and preferences you've mentioned, while living/working in Saudi might not be "hell" for you, I'd say that you would likely find it very difficult.

Regards,
John

Middle East Beast · Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 836 Location: Up a tree

Thanks for the clarification! Very Happy

I'd agree with John. You would probably find the lack of available female companionship (casual or otherwise) distressing. Imagine a place where even married couples are forbidden any public display of affection, even holding hands.

Also, imagine living in a country that you cannot leave without their permission.

On the plus side, the money is generally much better in KSA than in Oman (judging from posts here and the ads I've seen--I've never been to Oman).

I think you'd be quite bored in KSA. If you go take a lot of DVD's, books, and your laptop.

MEB Cool

apollolight · Joined: 02 Nov 2011 Posts: 25

thanks for your responses....another question..the company that offered me a teaching position didn't say where in Saudi Arabia I would be..that the company place you once you arrive...which means I could end up anywhere...Is that normal for recruiters to only tell you where you will be once you arrive in Saudi Arabia?

If the job was in Jeddah at least i'd be in a big city but i'm afraid of being put in the middle of nowhere....clearly, my main reason, aside from experiencing a radically differenct culture and way of life, is to save some money so that is very appealing. Then people on forums say that contracts are not honoured once you arrive...it all sounds so risky?

johnslat · Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 5:57 pm Post subject:

Dear apollolight,

"Is that normal for recruiters to only tell you where you will be once you arrive in Saudi Arabia?"

It didn't use to be - but now that more and more "recruiters"/"contractors" are being used as "middlemen," it seems to be more and more the case.

And that can mean you end up in some pretty unpleasant places (as opposed to some not so great ones - Jeddah, Riyadh, Dhahran/Dammam.)

It IS "risky."

Regards,
John

apollolight · Joined: 02 Nov 2011 Posts: 25

thanks again john....are you based in Saudi Arabia? well, like i said i was given a job offer but they didn't specify where..i thought Jeddah would be OK as people seem to say it the most relaxed place in KSA and also it is on the coast...I'm trying to weigh up whether its worth taking the risk or should i just keep on looking for work in Oman and take less pay....cheers

johnslat · Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 7:55 pm Post subject:

Dear apollolight,

I'm back home now, in Santa Fe, NM. But I spent nineteen years in the Magic Kingdom.

Saudi will be a gamble - so I guess it depends on how much of a risk-taker you are.

You may not make/save as much in Oman (although a good number of people in Saudi spend a lot of what they make on trips out in an attempt to preserve their sanity,) but the chances are a lot better that you'll find it (much) more congenial.

Regards,
John

apollolight · Joined: 02 Nov 2011 Posts: 25

jesus john...19 years...you must have liked something about the place????

johnslat · Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 12:00 am Post subject:

Dear apollolight,

Yup, the nightlife Very Happy

.

OK, seriously, I was lucky - I had a job I really liked, almost all good students, good colleagues (or, if they weren't good, they were at least amusing,) good bosses (ditto the above,) and I'm the kind of weird guy who is pretty self-sufficient. Give me a few hundred books, and I'm fine for a year. When the internet came along, it was even easier.

Besides, it wasn't nineteen continuous years; I took breaks in a vain attempt to preserve my sanity. I worked there between 1980 and 2003.

Plus, I liked the money and the chance to see so much of the world.

Regards,
John

Badar Bin Bada Boom · Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 7:47 am Post subject:

Saudi Arabia is a miserable place to be, particularly if you're a bachelor and it's especially miserable if you're in a place like Qassim where you never see a woman or hear a woman's voice. So you need to compare the salaries. Quite a significant salary premium is recommended to make the KSA worthwhile compared to about 175 better countries in the world.

apollolight · Joined: 02 Nov 2011 Posts: 25

Not only would I miss having female friends, I'm also a gay man so that creates a whole other set of problems.....

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

In that case, either would be fine as long as you are discreet. But from what I have heard, Oman is still a better choice... and also you would be working with female teachers. It allows a more normal life.

VS