Job Discussion Forums

expatella_girl · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:02 am Post subject:

MrPost, just some meandering thoughts here....

If you are offered/take this job you will probably be issued a Tajik visa sponsored by the US Dept. of State.

If your visa is so issued, and you are a contracted employee of the State Dept. you will need to be very VERY careful at all times and in every situation about what you say and do, with whom you speak, where you go and who you associate with, and everything about your statements and demeanor.

It is strongly possible that you will be issued some kind of US govt. contracted housing. This housing will come with a lot of contractual strings attached (furnishings, damages, responsibilities). I hate to sound paranoid (but I speak from experience) that if you are assigned some kind of US govt contracted housing in Tajikistan that you carefully inspect all furnishings and outlets/ducts/appliances/lighting fixtures/etc for possible surveillance devices. Assume that all of your phone calls and home internet transactions will be monitored. Caution and mum's the word. If internet privacy is necessary, find a Tajik internet cafe outside of your home.

Be prepared for possible surveillance when out in public. It can happen.

Be exceeding careful, or better yet completely steer clear of, any kind of political discussion of even the most innocent kind--with ANYBODY anywhere for any reason--Ever--. Trust no one.

This could be a very lucrative position which could easily lead to even more better jobs with this employer. It is worth it if you can do your job, stay afloat, and keep your mouth shut.

Best wishes in your endeavor. Central asia is a fascinating place and this can be a great opportunity.

But heed my warnings. I do not make this stuff up.

MrPost · Joined: 13 Dec 2011 Posts: 11

Thanks for heads up, ella girl... chances are they are reading this now:)... I didn't get the job Sad

; they "hired locally".

Please continue to post any relevant (and interesting) information like this tho!

expatella_girl · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:37 pm Post subject:

In the hiring process, did you get as far as the myriad of backround checks?
Just curious.....

Unless you're prepared for what I described, and more, maybe you're better off without them. Know what I'm sayin'?

kazachka · Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 220 Location: Moscow and Alaska

expatella_girl · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:38 am Post subject:

конечно

ComradeBL · Joined: 28 Aug 2010 Posts: 72 Location: 'stan!

Kazpat - My bad! I meant NW of KZ...I have mild dyslexia and can get my directions reversed.

As for English in ALA, yep, not an uncommon thing. In some ways, that's why I am glad to be here in the provincial capital where NO ONE speaks a lick of English, short of "Hello!"...It's really forcing me to pick up Russian, which is a good thing. It's taken 7 months, but we are getting Russian classes starting this week....AH-LEIGH-LU-YA!

MrPost - Sorry to hear it didn't work out on your end. I will say that this part of the world is really hopping. Unless you have major comittments at home, I'd say take something piddley to get you here, which you can use to build from there. Good Luck, whatever goes!