Job Discussion Forums

[trapezius]

1) Iqamas mention the name of the 'sponsor' of the Iqama-holder. Your sponsor is your employer. Your husband will get a separate Iqama booklet/card, but it will say your name under the sponsor field. Due to that, as far as I know, he will be unable to open his own bank account, buy a car under his name, etc. I was in this very situation four years ago when I was still under my father's Iqama here in Jeddah. Officially, I couldn't open my bank account, but everything and anything is possible in this country if you have 'connections'. A cousin of mine is in a good position in the head office of one of the banks here, and so I was able to open an account. Hit me up when you are here and I will see if I can help. My email address is my username at gmail dot com.

2) As for the hair, there will be no problems as long as he ties it back. If you go out in Jeddah to restaurants, cafes, and malls, you will see plenty of young men with long hair, but it is always tied back. Heck, even some store assistants have long hair in trendy clothing or perfume stores. But it is always neatly slicked back into a poly tail. And I have even seen a couple of Saudi youth so far with dreadlocks! Get this: a good 5-10% of the male students where I teach have long hair tied back into pony tails, probably the highest concentration in one small place anywhere in Saudi! A few of them don't tie it back (inside the college), and a couple of them have really frizzy hair which if left open looks scary And if tied into a pony tail, looks like a ball at the back rather than a tail! Yes, there will be a few stares, but no negative treatment, not in Jeddah (in many other cities, yes).

[meyanga]

Thanks for all the replies. Very useful indeed.

I suppose re the hair issue we will just suss it out when we are there, but at least we know that it is not a major no-no that would offend everyone and we don't need to go searching for the scissors just yet!

Thanks

Meyanga

[scot47]

Do try to interest your students in the Dalai Lama. Ask them if they have ever considred becoming Buddhists. Point out to them the errors of Islam. And then wait for the stay in jail followed by an exit-only stamp in the passport.

That was IRONY and I meant to use it to indicate that you should NEVER broach religious questions with students. EVER. If they are raised by students change the subject.

[meyanga]

Oh no Scot!!! There goes my first lesson plan...!

Actually, in all seriousness, can anyone think of anything, other than the obvious, which turned out to be a tricky topic with students? Anything that you assumed would be ok, but wasn't? Any unexpected things which you have learned from?

Thanks,

Meyanga

[johnslat]

Anything having to do with sex, politics (including Women's Lib), religion,
Israel, alcohol, and pork products.
If you make/gather all/some of your own materials, be sure you proof them first for any references to the above-mentioned subjects.
There may be a few more (some might also include certain science topics such as evolution, but I never had any problem with that), but those, I'd say, are the biggies.

[meyanga]

[meyanga]

Thanks John.

Just thinking about coursebooks and how many references there are to things indirectly related to the topics you have mentioned, e.g. dating, share of domestic duties between husband and wife etc. Are there special editions for KSA/Middle East?

I have just finished a job teaching Eastern Europeans here in Scotland - an anything goes situation. In fact, the more controversial, the better!



Thanks
Meyanga

[a_ibrahim]

There are some texts available in MidEast editions. However, this does not mean that your school will be using those. Also, I'd think it best to simply think about the implications of certain topics ahead of time. Sometimes we substitute or adjust lessons in order to avoid problems.

[Cleopatra]

The list John mentioned is a pretty accurate summary of what not to talk about in Saudi classrooms. However, you should be aware that some of these topics almost certainly will come up in class discussions. As a teacher, the best thing you can do is let the students talk without offering any opinion of your own, and perhaps try to change the subject if you feel uncomfortable. Saudis are used to 'self-censoring' so they will understand, and as you become more experienced, you will get a 'feel' for what is and is not appropriate in the classroom.

[brasscat]

On occassion, someone in the class brings up the topic of the King of KSA.
Watch the comments on what you think of him. Politics are a loaded subject, especially KSA stuff.
brasscat

[Mia Xanthi]

Brasscat is right, and this advice is especially important to American teachers, as we are unaccustomed to talking about/dealing with royalty.

One should NEVER display even the mildest disrespect for any Saudi royalty. Students can be offended by even slight, unintentional disrespect, such as referring to the king by his first name only. One should refer to "King Abdullah" and not simply "Abdullah," as is sometimes done in the western press.

I actually take it one step further. I refer to royalty as "His Royal Highness King/Sheikh/Emir _____", thus reminding students and myself to be respectful.

This, like being respectful for any religious item, is very important in this part of the world.

[sheikh radlinrol]

[007]

[meyanga]

Thanks guys. This is really useful stuff.

[johnslat]

Dear meyanga,

"I would have assumed that students were automatically respectful when referring to these topics."

Not all Saudis are respectful of the Royal Family (all 8000 or so of them), but in the classroom you usually won't hear any complaints (too many listening ears.)
However, outside of class, one-on-one, you might get an earful. The best course is to say little/nothing in reply and try to break off the conversation ASAP. You never know whom you might be talking to.

Regards,
John