Job Discussion Forums

[Urban_Kitten]

[Mikalina]

Didn't exactly do a 'pope' and kiss the ground when I arrived home, but was sooooooooooo relieved!!

According to the Consolate, Kurdistan visas are the same as monopoly money. But, of course, when you are at customs, you do as they say cus you are trained to.

There are many different centres of power in Kurdistan and I was fortunate to fall in between two who weren't sure what the other was doing so let me through.

If you are going to have any 'visa probs' do them in Erbil or Suli, not Dohuk. Dohuk belongs to the scary people.

Thanks for encouragement. Gonna stay home for a while - until the feet start itching again........

[veiledsentiments]

[Mikalina]

urban_kitten

No probs - happens to many - http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?read=36560

vs
Got kidnapped in Uganda, dumpled in the north of China at 1am, kicked out of accommodation with nowhere to go in Thailand and was dumped at a hotel in Erbil cus flight was delayed and subsequently propositioned by a slimy turd - so part of me thinks it's my fault anyway.......

[veiledsentiments]

[Mikalina]

Thanks for your wisdom, VS (on both threads) - I'm old enough to know it's usually earned the hard way.

[veiledsentiments]

Glad to help what little I can. The one advantage to age is that you've had to chance to have made plenty of mistakes.

Now you can move on to a new adventure in education.

VS

[Desert Jasmine]

You just need to have an honest employer you can trust, and knows the ropes, in order to get a Visa extension in Erbil, Kurdistan, like I do at The American International School in Kurdistan.

[veiledsentiments]

[Desert Jasmine]

No management here....just someone who looks with both eyes...not a poster who doesn't know the true story, and only speculates.

There are two sides to every situation: better to be objective about input if you're not sure! No problem with visas...problems was former disgruntled employees who enjoy drama and disharmony........apply somewhere else!

[veiledsentiments]

Sad to say, but on the "internets" your post ends up having no more validity than mine... applicants beware. You say that you are there... and say that you are not management, but if I were applying, I would check, double-check... and if I couldn't get proof, I'd move along.

VS

[Desert Jasmine]

Good post VS-I would always check first before jumping into a new job situation....information is power!

[Mikalina]

'Negative stories' about previous employees is the management's way of keeping you on-side - "well, of course the management had to act as they did - oooh, I'll never be like that".

Anything visa related is not down to honest employers - it's down to knowing the right people and having the right clout - Russian's call it "the umbrella". Honesty is a nebulous commodity in Kurdistan.

You sound very naive, Jasmine. Report back in six months as to what you are experiencing and then I will respect your opinion.

[eflnoil]

My personal view is this.

If you:

1. Do the job that you have been asked and have agreed do in a manner that satisfies both students and management
2. Don't make waves and cause the management problems
3. Respect and behave in line with the local culture
4. Come to work on time
5. Relate in a mature manner with colleagues, students, management and the general populace
6. Can work as a team for the good of the organisation
7. Tolerate aspects of life there that might be different from those in your home country
8. Don't interfere in things that don't concern you.
9. have a happy disposition

then, I think your employer has a vested interest in keeping you with the organisation and will, therefore, do whatever is required to be able to do so whether it be matters pertaining to visa or anything else.

If you can't handle slight annoyances in life abroad - particularly in the Middle East - then you should stay at home.

People who constantly complain about both present and past employers are generally - but admittedly not always - those who don't act as suggested above but, rather, do the contrary.

I have had several employers in the middle East and Central Asia over the years and have NEVER had problems with any of them. On the contrary, they have made every effort to make sure that I remain with them.

The only time I have left an employer is to seek more professional positions which offer better conditions of employment. They have all been disappointed to see me leave but have understood my reasons for leaving. However, I have always promised to keep in touch with them and have made a concious effort to do so. Some of my ex-employers are now friends and I am sure, as they themselves still say, that I would be welcome back at any time.

This is what sets apart those who never have anything good to say about an employer and those who do:

Prove to your employer over the first month or so there that you are going to be an asset to the organisation and you should have no or very few problems.

If you don't, then expect problems. It is the ME and Central Asian way of 'telling' you that you are no longer wanted.

ENO

[Mikalina]

Things that don't concern you like:

Students not being given certificates until they pay the administrator (extra to what school wants);

Wealthy students given pass certificates even though they only attended a few times;

Wealthy students put into higher ability classes even though they know no English;

Students entered for Cambridge exams they can't pass cus school gets fee;

Native teachers' salaries reduced by a quarter even though they have bigger classes;

Student teachers used as speaking examiners in Cambridge exams;

Female teachers bullied and intimidated;

...and the response from the administrator when questioned - "I have a gun in my car. Do you want to see it?"

You talk of a sane, western world NOT the Kurdistan I experienced.