Job Discussion Forums

[veiledsentiments]

Hey JohnS

Now some of us might consider 'geezerettes' to be sexist language!! Remember that you are now back in the land of political correctness - where they can not even ask you if you are a geezer, no less what sex you are.

Good to see you anyway. I hope you're enjoying your freedom.

I do know a number of people in their mid to late 50's teaching in the Emirates, although most of them were hired in their pre-geezer days. The UAE is one place where the details of your CV and ability to pass muster in an interview are important. I do think that these two things are considered more important than your date of birth for many of the employers.

VS

[johnslat]

Dear veiledsentiments,
Hey girl - Whoops, that word's non-PC now, too, isn't it? Unless applied to a person of the feminine gender under the age of about 8. But remember what Humpty said to Alice, something like " words mean whatever I want them to ". And considering the definition of " geezer " that I gave ( i.e. "
experienced, feisty and worldly-wise " ), heck, who wouldn't want to be one - or a " geezerette "? Under that meaning, I certainly consider YOU to be a prime geezerette. As the the UAE and the age issue, I have only second-hand knowledge. But a fair number of very well-qualified, highly competent employees at the IPA were turned down for UAE jobs while other IPA staffers, less qualified and less experienced were hired. The ones turned down were ALL over 50; the ones hired were ALL in the 30s or younger. Could be just coincidence, but . . . .???
Regards,
John

[veiledsentiments]

Very interesting, John -- I know people that were hired this year who are into their late 40's - at least one over 50. The last job that I was offered in the UAE was a few years back when I was just 50.

I DO think that there is a certain amount of discrimination (for want of a better word) against 'geezers' who have been in Saudi for too long. I have heard recruiters say that they felt that some of them were a little too used to the light workload of KSA and weren't ready for the high pressure long hours that places like HCT require.

That is why going for face-to-face interviews at TESOL Arabia is so important. Many of these places require you to sell yourself. (so to speak --)

Are you listening Scot47??

VS (note that I avoided comment on the non-PC stuff -- commendable restraint on my part I think -----)

[johnslat]

Dear veiledsentiments,
Ah yes - those " light work-loads ". Well, at the iPA, while the contract calls for 22 classroom hours a week, I put in an average of 32 a week and many of my colleagues did about the same. Ten to twelve hours of " overload " ( at 123 SR an hour ) was not at all uncommon, though there were some teachers who opted for only two extra hours per week or even none at all. All those " rejected geezers " I can recall were " over 30 hour a week guys " at the IPA. After all, that's what most of us are/were there for - the money, not the night life. How many classroom hours a week is par for the course(s) in the UAE - though I realize that probably can vary considerably? I noted your admirable restraint, but would expect no less from an experienced, worldly-wise geezerette.
Regards,
John

[veiledsentiments]

Hi John

Well, you may have noted that I suggested that this was the interviewers perception, not that it was necessarily correct. I'm sure that the variance in institutional demands is broad in both countries.

As one example, at HCT I had 20 contact hours a week (average was probably about 18 --), but we were required to be chained to our desks for almost 40 hours a week in a rabbit warren of cubicles with at least 5 phones ringing at all times, so any meaningful work was impossible. It was run like a secondary school, so we had to teach extra courses weekly referred to as 'activities' like perhaps a sport or another language or a craft. ??? Then there were all those little expositions that the students were to organize for weekends - fairs and such - where the majority of the work seemed to be done by their Filipina maids and the teachers, while they swanned about. BTW, there was no extra pay for the extra work or hours. I heard some rumble from HCT teachers last year about teaching contact hours going up.

I have heard (or seen here) a number of KSA teachers who say that they could teach their classes and go home. I haven't heard of any place in the UAE like that. They seem to have what I have always called the 'factory worker' mentality - which seemed to me to suggest that we teachers couldn't be trusted to complete our preparations and corrections unless they watch us while we do them.

Speaking of restraint of speech, I was always the teacher who pointed out to management that this policy was disrespectful and suggested that we were untrustworthy and/or unprofessional.

VS

[johnslat]

Dear veiled sentiments,
At the IPA, the work hours were/are from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm ( unless you have evening overload hours, too ). On the plus side, we all had private offices ( which could be LOCKED ), and, during grading times, I took advantage of that, and, in addition often turned out the lights in my office. I really didn't need to have hordes of students coming in, imploring me to " Help " them ( and it was always the hopeless ones, of course ) while I was trying to correct their exams and figure out their final grades. And no " activities " or " weekend expositions " such as you wrote about, thank Allah. I believe the teaching classes and then splitting is common at many/most/all? university jobs in the Kingdom, although there may be some " office hours " in addition to the classroom ones. As for your " restraint of speech ", well remember - geezers and geezettes are " feisty " and highly unlikely to suffer fools gladly ( Why? With so little time left ) or to " veil their sentiments " when they see stupidity, wrongdoing, incompetence or injustice being perpetrated. Good for you VS - we should never allow idiocy - or worse - to run rampant.
Regards,
John

[scot47]

Well I made it back and now it does not seem so bad. As for UAE at the age of 56 I think am too much of a Geezer. I will either stick where I am or leave the region altogether.

Let's see how it goes. But to those thinking about coming to the ME. a word of warning. The money is addictive. I am now hooked on all those nice things that money can buy. It could happen to you. Maybe you should stay Tefling in Cambodia or wherever, living on a bowl of rice and a smile from your concubine (or gigolo).

[khmerhit]

Well, i'll tell you Scot, my 1100usd a month went pretty far in Cambodia, considering i had a girlfriend and a daughter. It was vastly better than living in the uk, cost-wise. Not too great for the health in the long-term, however. If i was earning any more i would probably be dead by now, given the price of products from the golden triangle, if you catch my meaning. Fortunately, i left before temptation got the better of me -- in that respect, at least.

No, you're better off in the ME, and besides yiu can invest or bank the leftovers; that's what Scots do, innit? We bogtrotters tend to piss it up the wall....

[johnslat]

Dear scot47,
Still interested in Jack London or any other books? Let me know and I'll go on a used book store tour and see what I can pick up. After all, over there reading's what mainly helped preserve the small shreads of sanity I have left - and we don't want you going completely bonkers.
Regards,
John

[scot47]

John

Jack London is my man. See if you get something. Complete Works ?


Regards

[johnslat]

Dear scot47,
Will do - I'll start checking around today and see what I can find. I'll keep you posted ( so to speak ).
Regards,
John

[scot47]

Once back here and in the swing of things I do not feel so bad. As I have said before with a decent employer FOR SOME PEOPLE, KSA can be okay.

My dilemma is : "How much is enough ?" I want to save a bit more, but how do I know when to stop ? It is a good idea to have a medium and/or long-term plan.

e.g. " I want to save enough to............... and then I will quit."

Some people never leave. Be carfeul ! You get addicted to those pictures of King Abdulaziz. Most countries do not pay EFL teachers this kind of money.

[ohman]

Sharra Al Bakr

"This desert city makes you feel so cold
It�s got so many people but it�s got no soul
And it�s taken you so long to find out you were wrong
When you thought it held everything. . .

Another year and then you�d be happy
Just one more year and then you�d be happy
But you�re cryin�, you�re cryin� now."

Garry Rafferty

[johnslat]

Dear ohman,
Not to be pedantic ( yeah, right ), but that's Gerry Rafferty, and I've been carrying around " Baker Street ", " Sleepwalking " and " North and South " around with me for many years. I still recall first hearing " Baker Street " just before I left for Saudi Arabia for the first time in 1980 and thinking how great those sax riffs were. Bought it and took it over there with me. I haven't heard the newest one - " Another World " - yet, but think I'll pick it up soon.
Regards,
John
P.S.
Is your avatar a " still " from the Coen Brothers' " Miller's Crossing "? Lordy, that was one heck of a flic - but then, everything those guys do is great. John Goodman should have won an Oscar for his role in " Barton Fink ".

[manonatrain]

my god i just turned 30. if i was in SA for
10 years i would be very wealthy. havent you
saved ENUFF ????
I have been here for only a couple of years and saved tons of loot.

Unless you are all gay men or married....how could you stand it?