Job Discussion Forums

bigdurian · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 11:42 am Post subject:

[quote="nomad soul"][quote="bigdurian"]But going [b]from my own experience[/b] of living in Saudi and Asia I would say that we spend more in a month here than we did there. We probably live on around 5000 SAR a month here which is a bit more than before, and we paid rent before too. The difference is in the disposable income left at the end of each month.[/quote]
Which is why these "how much can I save" questions are pointless. No one can really answer that for someone else; it's completely subjective. For example, two unmarried men with seemingly identical salaries and benefits aren't going to have similar personal spending habits and financial obligations; and therefore, their actual savings will differ. And frankly, this is no different than living/working in one's home country when weighing the salary and benefit package of a job offer based on one's personal spending habits, debts, tax status, the cost of living, etc.[/quote]

Nail. Head.

Yasuke · Joined: 10 Jan 2014 Posts: 178

Any other information on your experience earning and saving in KSA will be greatly appreciated.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Save too much and you will end up insane.

MuscatGary · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 2:09 pm Post subject:

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Not always a runner. Some stay, unable to contemplate being parted from that lovely tax-free salary. They live out their days as paupers while accumulating cash in the bank.

johnslat · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 2:24 pm Post subject:

Dear bigdurian,

"All of that is just like anywhere, it's what happens to people in life. There is no magical Saudi effect."

If you really think that, then you must see Saudi as no different from any other EFL posting.

I would disagree.

Regards,
John

bigdurian · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 3:50 pm Post subject:

[quote="johnslat"]Dear bigdurian,

"All of that is just like anywhere, it's what happens to people in life. There is no magical Saudi effect."

If you really think that, then you must see Saudi as no different from any other EFL posting.

I would disagree.

Regards,
John[/quote]

There are certain local factors particular to Saudi, more cultural though IMO, not related to EFL as such. I don't live very differently in Saudi compared to anywhere else.
At the end of the day you're still doing the same thing at the front of the class. Tenses, passive voice, subordinating conjunctions, these things don't change as soon as you get to Saudi.

Have to agree to disagree.

johnslat · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 4:33 pm Post subject:

Dear bigdurian,

I was not, of course, talking about the classroom - although some night argue that dealing with Saudi students/administrators tends to be, shall I say more frustrating, than the "norm."

What I was referring to was the society and the culture, which, for many/most "Western" EFLers can seem considerably less tolerable than say, Indonesia's or Europe's.

But perhaps you are not affected at all that way. In which case, my congratulations. My personal opinion, after having lived and worked in Saudi for 19 years and witnessed the reactions of literally hundreds of EFLers to the "ambiance" there, is that many/most would react differently from you.

But we can certainly agree to disagree. Very Happy

Regards,
John

Yasuke · Joined: 10 Jan 2014 Posts: 178

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I did 17 - in bite-size chunks.

johnslat · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 6:06 pm Post subject:

Dear Yasuke,

Well, first of all, it wasn't 19 continuous years. I took breaks in a vain attempt to preserve my sanity.

But the secrets for me were these: good employer, almost all good colleagues, and mainly good students; not needing much "outside entertainment" - in the 80s I read a lot, an awful lot. It got easier when the Internet was allowed, but I never owned a TV there; having a goal - which, admittedly did get "sidetracked" a few times, thus necessitating 19 years.

While there WERE times when I got a bit depressed - and when you live on the 5th floor, it's probably a good idea to stay off the balcony then - in the main, I actually enjoyed my time there.

Everybody's different, though - what worked for me (or much of it, anyway) likely wouldn't work for another. I have known others who put in 10 years or more, and while there are some "common denominators," they didn't do all or many of the things that got me through.

Most last a year or two, some more make it to five for the bonus, but I don't think too many get into double figures.

Regards,
John

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

And then there was that photo on Yahoo of the impressive abs that John worked on... obviously seriously... in his last years in Saudi. Put the young whippersnappers to shame he did. Laughing

VS

bigdurian · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2014 4:40 am Post subject:

[quote="johnslat"]Dear bigdurian,

I was not, of course, talking about the classroom - although some night argue that dealing with Saudi students/administrators tends to be, shall I say more frustrating, than the "norm."

What I was referring to was the society and the culture, which, for many/most "Western" EFLers can seem considerably less tolerable than say, Indonesia's or Europe's.

But perhaps you are not affected at all that way. In which case, my congratulations. My personal opinion, after having lived and worked in Saudi for 19 years and witnessed the reactions of literally hundreds of EFLers to the "ambiance" there, is that many/most would react differently from you.

But we can certainly agree to disagree. Very Happy

Regards,
John[/quote]

I did over 10 years living in other countries before moving to Saudi which was good preparation for being here. By that I'm used to different ways of doing things. There are badly run schools everywhere. Personally, I've been pleasantly surprised by the Saudi students. I was expecting a lot worse from what I read before moving. I find them all quite nice kids. Not the most studious but I do genuinely like them.

One thing that makes a big difference is having my wife and two kids here with me. We have a normal life and go out and do family stuff together at the weekend.

We also have a lot of friends in various compounds so there are bars we can go to and live music bands etc. We probably have more of a social life here than we did in our last place, the City of Sin AKA Bangkok!

I find it very relaxed here and I quite like the quiet life. But it's definitely not for everyone.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Choose your master wisely and longer spells in KSA are manageable - if you have nice long vacations.

Trying it with one of those chickenshit contractors and you will have a nervous breakdown.

Johnslat did his long spell with IPA. Most of mine was done in two government institutions - Saudi Arabian Airlines and KFUPM.