Job Discussion Forums

lucreziaborgia · Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 177

O! well! I don't need to adjust. I was looking forward to silence being interspersed with prayers.
I walk a lot through the Old Town (where I live) during the day and around Hoan Kiem Lake at 6am when there isn't any traffic. People are out exercising, the air is fresh and the only sounds are birds chirping and people in conversation. It is a beautiful time and I will miss it.
Vietnamese people have are genetically encoded to constantly blow the horns of their motobikes, taxis, cars and buses irrespective of the traffic conditions. Even after curfew in Hanoi when the streets are empty a lone motorbike rider will be blowing his horn. I was hoping...for...silence.

johnslat · Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 7:27 pm Post subject:

Dear lucreziaborgia,

"Have you ever been to Viet Nam?"
Indeed I have - however, that was long. long ago (1965 - 1966) when I was in the Marine Corps, and dodging traffic was not our main concern as much as dodging bullets in fire-fights and incoming mortar-fire from the Viet Cong.

What Cleopatra wrote is most accurate. I would add a few specific perils:
1. under-age male drivers (I have actually seen some so short that they had to sit on something on the seat so that they could see out the front window)
who are chauffeuring female family members to various locations (I'm very sure you're aware that it's illegal for women to drive there.)
2. Left-hand turns at traffic lights from drivers who are in the extreme right-hand lanes.
3. Yellow-lights mean floor it and red-lights are, depending on the driver's distance from them when the lights go from yellow to red, often invitations to press the pedal to the metal.
4. Drivers from "under-developed countries" who often have no licenses and who are getting "on-the-job" driving lessons.
5. Old Saudi maxim: No need for brakes; all you require is a horn.
6. Pedestrians are rare, so if you are one, you are an endangered species, especially (but not only) when attempting to cross a street.

But I also did not find Riyadh to be unusually noisy for such a large city, except for those incessant horn blasts, the sound of squealing brakes, and the often subsequent sound of crashing metal objects.

But if you can manage to get outside the city, into the surrounding desert, it's VERY quiet and peaceful. Great night skies, too.

Regards,
John

desultude · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 614

Prayer times start at 3:30 to 4 AM. The morning call to prayer is in the damned middle of the night- and it is loud. I thought the morning announcements in Hanoi were annoying until I got to the Kingdom.

As for traffic- from what I saw in Hanoi, HCMC, and in the countryside, people knew how to drive in the chaos. If you threw a Saudi driver on a Vietnamese road, he would be dead in 5 seconds and would take out a dozen others with him. Saudis are the worst drivers I have ever seen, and I have driven in Korea, Vietnam and Mexico City. Delhi pales by comparison to the Kingdom.

The good(?) news is that as a woman, you won't have to drive in the Kingdom- just be sure to get a mature, competent driver.

As for clothes, I wouldn't worry too much about the details- the malls and shops in the Kingdom and Bahrain have everything. If you have big feet (size 10/40 or higher), bring enough shoes! I have the same size shoes as one of the princesses of the house of Saud, and she told me she, too, had to leave the country to get shoes!

reneebcc · Joined: 26 Jan 2009 Posts: 60 Location: Georgia

desultude · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 614

large clothes are no problem. Arab women do come in the larger sizes. The situation with shoes is annoying, as there are also lots of women with big feet. But I have had the same problem in Mexico, Asia and Europe. It seems feet larger than 9 to 9 1/2 are unacceptable.

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

Or if you have narrow feet of whatever size... bring all the shoes you will need. (I also have the same problem in Mexico, Asia, and Europe)

VS

lucreziaborgia · Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 177

I have sweet little feet; size 7 1/2 or 38.
Johnslat, I worked with people who may well have caused you a spot of bother way back then. They were fabulous.
Do you hire a driver or catch taxis? I think transport is provided where I'm going to be working - to and back from the University and also around town for shopping expeditions. Is it standard to have a cleaner who also does your laundry? Can you order your groceies and have them delivered?
O! Joy!