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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA
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 Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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| sicklyman wrote: |
| johnslat wrote: |
Hope I didn't use them all up.
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hmmm... think you might have.
Let's put it another way. What does Saudi have that you would stay here for if you didn't have to work here? |
I like the weather, the free time to work on projects and of course save money. Not such a bad location for departure to other parts of the world.  |
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YouGotFlawned
Joined: 26 May 2013
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| The chance t0 visit public executions ? |
I still feel compelled to see a public execution someday, since Saudi is one of the rare parts of the world in which it is possible. After all, imagine what an unbeatable story one would have back home: "There was this one time, in Riyadh, when I watched this guy get his head lopped off. Yeah dude, you could hear the blood spurting out..."
Stories like that surely get the party started!
On the other hand, what keeps me from heading out to Chop-Chop Square next Friday is the thought of nightmares or other PTSD-related symptoms possibly being induced by having watched someone get put to death in front of my very eyes.
Hmmm.... what to do? |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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| YouGotFlawned wrote: |
On the other hand, what keeps me from heading out to Chop-Chop Square next Friday is the thought of nightmares or other PTSD-related symptoms possibly being induced by having watched someone get put to death in front of my very eyes.
Hmmm.... what to do? |
If you're curious, just check out the ones posted on You-Tube. If you go and watch, the Saudi public may see that as your okaying what they do, and I don't think what they do is OK. |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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| One of the nicer benefits is the chance to hear the daily prayer calls blasted over loudspeakers thru your apartment window five times a day. This starts at 4:30 AM. There's also benefits in risking your life on a daily basis by getting hit by one of the crazy drivers while you're out walking around or by getting involved in one of the ubiquitous everyday accidents. KSA has the highest fatality rates from driving in the world. |
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cnthaiksarok
Joined: 29 Jun 2012
Posts: 288
Location: between a rock and a sandy place
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| Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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| YouGotFlawned wrote: |
| Hmmm.... what to do? |
Be aware...there is a fair chance that a mattawa will spot you, have you grabbed and forced (by the neck) to the front row so you can smell the blood, with an attitude of "oh?..you wanna' see huh? HERE ya go foreigner - SEE.
Other than that, had a nice excursion today....bumped into some pleasant enough Saudis, but they seem to often elude to doing pervy things. I shrug that part off and relish the pleasantries.
On that note:
Empty quarter
Caves
Wadis
Edge of the World (N. of Riyadh)
Al Wahbah Crater
That 5 mile crack in the ground between Abha and Jizan.
Ya know, cool places to check out. |
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DB65
Joined: 27 Mar 2014
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 5:33 pm Post subject: |
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I actually did a fair bit of kvetching during my 5 years in Saudi, but now that I'm back in the West, I have to say there are a few things I miss other than the savings:
1. excellent and dirt cheap Indian/Pakistani food
2. excellent and dirt cheap Nepalese food
3. excellent and dirt cheap Turkish food
4. subsidized fruits and veggies, some of which is surprisingly good quality
5. laid-back attitudes about work (they have a better work-life balance than we in the West, usually)
6. hell of a lot more paid holidays
7. meeting expats from all over the world esp. less developed countries
8. easily bonding with other expats, esp. fellow Westerners, due to a "circle the wagons" mutual self-preservation instinct
9. fresh dates, in season!
10. fresh-baked Afghan bread
11. Arabic coffee
12. ridiculously cheap car insurance (albeit driving there is a nightmare)
13. ridiculously cheap gas
14. mentally undressing women who are covered in black from head to toe based on their hands, wrists and ankles, lol |
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The Angry Brit
Joined: 27 Mar 2014
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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Teaching, management, and professional opportunities to pad your CV.
Interesting people.
Fun driving an 8-cylinder four-wheel drive SUV.
And many more provided you experience them, reach your fill, then get out. |
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cnthaiksarok
Joined: 29 Jun 2012
Posts: 288
Location: between a rock and a sandy place
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 4:51 am Post subject: |
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Ohhhh the food (as has already been illustrated - and quite well I may add - thx @D865)
Cheap, cheap (cheaper n chips) SCUBA diving at the Red Sea is a major bonus! |
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MuscatGary
Joined: 03 Jun 2013
Posts: 1364
Location: Flying around the ME...
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 11:27 am Post subject: |
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| The opportunity to learn about religious tolerance? |
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jaffa
Joined: 25 Oct 2012
Posts: 403
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 1:14 pm Post subject: |
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Swimming and sobriety.
Tameez and fool, although my local bakery shut down about a year ago.
Shopping in Little India part of town.
Lebanese, Pakistani, Indian food.
Newly opened Tamimi 10 mins walk.
And the airport is 40 mins drive. |
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MuscatGary
Joined: 03 Jun 2013
Posts: 1364
Location: Flying around the ME...
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 1:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Actually forget the irony and the joking. It's a disgusting place where ex-pats prostitute themselves whilst turning a blind eye to everyday life. |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 4:19 am Post subject: |
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| MuscatGary wrote: |
| The opportunity to learn about religious tolerance? |
That is if you don't lose your mind early on in the learning process. |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 4:23 am Post subject: |
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| Something else that just popped up in my mind. The chance to read the proselytizing pamphlets they leave behind in your office or classroom. They can be quite concerned that you don't go to hell. |
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bigdurian
Joined: 05 Feb 2014
Posts: 401
Location: Flashing my lights right behind you!
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| Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 5:57 am Post subject: |
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| plumpy nut wrote: |
| Something else that just popped up in my mind. The chance to read the proselytizing pamphlets they leave behind in your office or classroom. They can be quite concerned that you don't go to hell. |
You still have time to change as one student told me. |
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rollingk
Joined: 23 Jul 2006
Posts: 212
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| Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 9:17 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| It's a disgusting place where ex-pats prostitute themselves whilst turning a blind eye to everyday life. |
. . . but we get to see the diverse approaches and methods of selling oneself here. Some folk put on a remarkable show. Who says KSA has no cinema. |
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