Job Discussion Forums

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

As for 'The End of the Sauds" I have been hearing predictions like this since the 1960's. It reminds me of the ravings of the loonier elements of the 4th International about the "Death Agony of International Finance Capital".

Bebsi · Joined: 07 Feb 2005 Posts: 958

Well, you see lots of negativity on this site. What's the point of all these depressing thoughts, anyway?

I mean, in the next six decades maximum, just about every one of us reading this forum will be dust anyway, or in the process at least of our brains, heart etc being eaten away by writhing worms, while above us people will lead normal lives oblivious to our existence that was....some may even unwittingly walk on our graves.

So why have negative thoughts????

Griff-James · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:36 pm Post subject:

You been reading Marcus Aurelias' Meditations, Bebsi?

Surprised

Griff-James · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:39 pm Post subject:

'It reminds me of the ravings of the loonier elements of the 4th International about the "Death Agony of International Finance Capital".'

Made me laugh.

Very Happy

Griff-James · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:40 pm Post subject:

I need a nice chilled glass of lager.

With a sheen of condensation caressing the side of the glass.

Griff-James · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:42 pm Post subject:

Just watched ICE COLD IN ALEX.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Are your drinking habits of any relevance at all to these threads ?

running dog · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 37

I suppose if he's got to post such musings up, he might as well do it here as anywhere else. Anyway, I know the feeling ..... Looks like yours truly will be returning to the lagerless kingdom within a week or two.

Mark100 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 441

The "lagerless kingdom" is not what i experienced.

In fact I have never seen so much imbibing.

running dog · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 37

Yeah, but the imbibing of what exactly? A variety of moonshine that makes bath-tub gin taste like the best quality champagne and could easily pass muster as a WMD. Home-made wine and beer that the guys who spend their time lying on park benches or hunched at station entrances would probably plead with you to take away from them ......Comes a time for most expats in Saudi when they'd give half a month's pay for just one, JUST ONE, ice-cold can of Carlsberg.

trapezius · Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 2:12 pm Post subject:

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

I think he just missed out on an adjective. It should have read "most western expats."

VS

MIKEBUCHAN · Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Posts: 106 Location: Russia

Salaries will rise if England starts requiring higher education of the people that want to be teachers.

As an American, I have met far too many British teachers that brag of having no education other than a paper from some school that qualifies them to be a teacher. And this is everywhere around the world!

And I ain't no colonist - remember those colonists threw you out and you have made many strategic retreats sense then!

The last English backpacker with no education that I met in Baku bragged of being thrown in a Russian prison for public drunkeness his first week there and the BRITISH administrator was proud of him and having no higher education and this was at our first meeting! He also mentioned that he had been doing this - teaching for a few years (how many of you have had to undo this man's teaching?) and travelling from country to country. Usually with British schools - you know the ones that will not hire any one other than a Brit. However, after telling me his story, he asked how to teach an IELTS class.

And you Brits wonder why the salaries have dropped! I worked in the kingdom in the 1990's when $70,000 USD (tax free) annual salary and bonuses and a villa and a car were the base of things and it went up from there.

I can rant about this - I have a BA in English, a MSc in TEFOL, a real teaching credential, a total of 14 years of university course work and 23 years teaching experience - 11 in the US and 12 overseas.

running dog · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 37

Mike, you're obviously a serious guy (even if your spelling and syntax might need a little adjustment). But please take into account that (1) some of us have over 20 years or more experience in this job and might be the holders of not only M.As but also Phds and (2) not all drinkers are rummies. Drinking is one of the great pleasures of life, if not an art in itself (especially when it comes to wine), but if it's just done to get as drunk as possible as quickly as possible .... Please check your dictionary and tell us if the word "colonist" exists (except for someone who goes to live in a colony or is a medical specialist on the problems of the colon)

blackcorsair · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 32 Location: goldcoast

Mr Buchan is obviously keen on telling the world about how experienced and qualified he is, and about how imperialist and ill-suited to teach the British are, as his slightly deranged and prejudiced opinions are there for all to read in the forums for other countries (well, the Russian one for sure). His rants really do speak volumes about his own sense of isolation way out there in the back-of-beyond and hint at why he has been in this vocation, fighting the good fight, as long as he has. The lame and corny defaming of the people of the United Kingdom reveals some hidden issues he has regarding this country. Some competition at work, perhaps? Other teachers stealing the glamour that comes from being the only native-speaking teacher in the village? Either way, he's talking out of his colon.