Job Discussion Forums

dudette · Joined: 27 Feb 2003 Posts: 72 Location: Ontario, Canada

I just received a travel advisory from my embassy, urging travellers to refrain from going to Saudi because of the threat of impending terrorist attack(s) there. Just wanted to tell my ESL / EFL colleagues there to please take special care of yourselves and your families.

ohman · Joined: 09 Sep 2003 Posts: 239 Location: B' Um Fouk, Egypt

Dudette, thanks for passing on the embassy info. However, Khaleeji (Arabian Gulf) teachers have been getting those weekly warnings for over a decade. Essentially they say watch your back.

dudette · Joined: 27 Feb 2003 Posts: 72 Location: Ontario, Canada

Thanks ohman. I didn't want to be crying "wolf", but it's just that this warning seemed especially serious, as if an attack was imminent. I hope it's not the case, and that this is just another weekly warning. So please continue to cover your backs out there!

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

There are dozens of countries with travel advisories and I've been to many places with those warnings. What a lot of fun you'd miss if you believed them all.
The reports are often done for insurance purposes.

johnslat · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2003 1:52 pm Post subject: Better safe, etc.

Dear Gordon,
Agreed - but even a broken clock is right twice a day. And Ramadan would, I think, be an attractive time to terrorists for a number of reasons.
Regards,
John

run-jp · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2003 11:27 pm Post subject: Broken Clocks and broken records

Yes John, a good analogy. Some nut cases are stll here, even despite the recent figure of 600 arrested since may 12 (what I heard).
Of course given the unadultarated quality of BOREDOM in the riyadh area, one sees why some Bozos join groups for something to do besides figuring a way to drive 110 kph and trim your toe nails and adjust your gutra at the same time. I was shocked how many people w/ psotions of trust here have admitted more or less to using "uppers" to me & going to parties w/ drugs present. A lot of saudis drink like sailors...and then accuse us of being decadent. as ramadan starts, Ss will have a (semi) new excuse for not feeling well in class and dozing off.

As w ith all humans you have to blame some ther group. that means USAers and Brits these days. As we saw with the massive arrests of those who assembled peacefully nothing will change here soon.

If the inittial poster wants to see some real fatalism, wait till you see the KSA papa with 4 kids in the car (none with belts or kids seats) flying down the road shoulder at 130 kph! Rolling Eyes

when you see that most things are insane or just plain stupid here (...did I mention Boring...cant wait to go diving in Jiddah and Xc skiing in germany.) at that point you ll see you need not warn people here.

Happy nap times to all KSAers!

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

"Hallo. Meine dispatcher says there is something wrong mit deine kable?" "Mit eins cable ich bin expert! ...Dios mio, man...what would Walter and the Dude do?

Can someone explain this please ?

ohman · Joined: 09 Sep 2003 Posts: 239 Location: B' Um Fouk, Egypt

Scot, Walter and the Dude are characters in the Big Lebowski--a Coen Bros. flick. The plot involves three German techno musicians ala Kraftwerk--one of whom plays a cable repair guy in a porno movie--trying to extort money from a tycoon, sort of.

Saddam Hussein is in there somewhere handing out bowling shoes. And a sex offender who calls himself "the Jesus."

Great soundtrack.

johnslat · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2003 1:21 pm Post subject: O Brothers, Weird Art Thou

Ah, you have to be a little warped ( or maybe more than a little ) to fully appreciate the Coen Brothers' movies. Fortunately, I am. From " Blood Simple " to " The Man Who Wasn't There " ( haven't seen " Intolerable Cruelty " yet ), I've watched them all and there isn't a false note anywhere. The difficulty is in trying to pick a favorite: " Fargo "? " Raising Arizona "? " O Brother, Where Art Thou "?( talk about great soundtracks ), " Barton Fink"? ( with a truly amazing performance by John Goodman ). Just can't do it.
Regards,
John

AK · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 36 Location: with God

what would Walter and the Dude do?

I'm pretty sure they'd go bowling. Very Happy

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Trusting, as always in the judgement of Pappy Johnslat, I went out of my way to get a copy of " O Brother, Where Art Thou"

Good stuff !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

johnslat · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2003 5:07 pm Post subject: A Man of Constant Sorrow

Dear scot47,
Very glad you liked the soundtrack -it's "old-timey" music, the REAL hillbilly, bluegrass, down-home stuff. I'm no Country and Western fan, but
this recording has the purest, uncommercialized strains of blues, folk and gospel. I'm especially fond of "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow" by The Soggy Bottom Boys. I was humming it for weeks after I saw the movie.
Regards,
John

johnslat · Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2003 10:27 pm Post subject: Yet another warning

Just in case you guys and gals over there haven't seen this one yet.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&e=3&u=/nm/20031107/ts_nm/security_saudi_usa_dc

Regards,
John

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Yes

I picked up the warning last night. I am a bit sceptical of these warnings.When something happens it is usually without any warning.

The US Embassy in Riyadh and Cosulates in Jeddah and Dhahran are closed indefinitely while the situation is reviewd.

johnslat · Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2003 10:35 pm Post subject: The madness continues

Looks like that "stopped clock" was right for once:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=1&u=/ap/20031108/ap_on_re_mi_ea/saudi_explosion

And it would seem that it was the locals who were - perhaps - the main target this time:

"A U.S. Embassy spokesperson said the attack targeted the B2 compound, which is in the Nakheel neighborhood near the Muhaya shopping center. It's a residential area, with mainly Saudis and other Arabs with a few foreigners."

Hope you're all OK over there.
Regards,
John