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tony87
Joined: 21 Jul 2015
Posts: 43
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 Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 3:44 am Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
Dear tony87,
So, you're not there, I take it? Were you ever there?
There's real competition for good jobs everywhere. Of course, if you're only qualified for bottom feeders, maybe the competition isn't as bad.
Regards,
John |
I'd never step foot in Saudi Arabia. I'm just here to let any potential applicants there know how life really is in that place.
FACT: 50 degree heat
FACT: No bars
FACT: Most places don't provide compound accomodation, just an 'apartment'. So you'll have no freedom.
FACT: Religious police are everywhere
FACT: You cannot live with a woman of the opposite sex unless you are married.
FACT: No sex unless you're married.
FACT: You can't even enjoy a drink of alcohol in the privacy of your room.
FACT: Censored internet.
FACT: Prayer 5 times a day.
FACT: The only thing good about the place is the flight out of there when your contract finishes. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 5:09 am Post subject: |
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Have you been there ?
Most of your "facts" listed above are simply not true. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 5:21 am Post subject: |
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| tony87 wrote: |
I'd never step foot in Saudi Arabia. I'm just here to let any potential applicants there know how life really is in that place.
FACT: 50 degree heat
FACT: No bars
FACT: Most places don't provide compound accomodation, just an 'apartment'. So you'll have no freedom.
FACT: Religious police are everywhere
FACT: You cannot live with a woman of the opposite sex unless you are married.
FACT: No sex unless you're married.
FACT: You can't even enjoy a drink of alcohol in the privacy of your room.
FACT: Censored internet.
FACT: Prayer 5 times a day.
FACT: The only thing good about the place is the flight out of there when your contract finishes. |
Your personal list doesn't offer any new info to those seeking work in Saudi Arabia. Besides, some of what you mention isn't true for everyone --- male and female. |
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santi84
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Posts: 1317
Location: under da sea
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| Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 5:36 am Post subject: |
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| Tony, have you been anywhere else in the ME? Even the more "moderate" countries will greet you with the blaring call to prayer. Live with the opposite sex while unmarried? Good luck! Not sure if Egyptian internet was censored or not - I never managed to get a page to load. |
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RustyShackleford
Joined: 13 May 2013
Posts: 449
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| Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 6:15 am Post subject: |
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| tony87 wrote: |
FACT: 50 degree heat
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https://weatherspark.com/averages/32777/Riyadh-Saudi-Arabia
"Over the course of a year, the temperature typically varies from 8°C to 43°C and is rarely below 3°C or above 45°C."
https://weatherspark.com/averages/32766/Jeddah-Makkah-Saudi-Arabia
"Over the course of a year, the temperature typically varies from 18°C to 39°C and is rarely below 15°C or above 41°C."
LIE. I wouldn't be surprised if it ever climbed to near 50 or even hit it in some areas, but the simple fact is that it's rarely the case. Bloody hot to be sure, though!
Some compounds will have their own make-shift facilities but, officially, this is true. That said, there no end of stories of drinkery in Saudi that this statement is rather misleading.
| Quote: |
| FACT: Most places don't provide compound accomodation, just an 'apartment'. So you'll have no freedom. |
No idea. I live in a decent compound.
That said, I think an apartment would technically give more freedom than a compound where one must check-in and out and there is an ever-so-slight worry of someone camping out and committing violent acts on you.
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| FACT: Religious police are everywhere |
Give you that. That said, they can't be everywhere at once. (See point above)
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| FACT: You cannot live with a woman of the opposite sex unless you are married. |
Given. Lots of stories of expats maintaining regular girlfriends however.
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| FACT: No sex unless you're married. |
See above. Not officially permitted doesn't mean "can't happen."
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| FACT: You can't even enjoy a drink of alcohol in the privacy of your room. |
See point above about drinkery in Saudi.
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| FACT: Censored internet. |
There are ways around that for as little as $30/year
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| FACT: Prayer 5 times a day. |
Given. Get an app that tells you the daily prayer times and plan the day's shopping around it. The Spanish siesta period really frustrated me so I empathize with this.
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| FACT: The only thing good about the place is the flight out of there when your contract finishes. |
As well as the good food, coffee, and high TEFL salaries!
I'm not saying that paradise is here, nor would I recommend it to everyone. However, so far, I'm pleasantly surprised by this place. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 6:21 am Post subject: |
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Rusty
You will be condemned as delusional and as a paid apologist for the regime in Riyadh ! |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 8:52 am Post subject: |
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| RustyShackleford wrote: |
| So far, I'm pleasantly surprised by this place. |
That's because you have low, realistic expectations, which will help you adapt to the culture and environment. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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"I'd never step foot in Saudi Arabia. I'm just here to let any potential applicants there know how life really is in that place."
Thank goodness - we finally have an expert about the Kingdom on the forum who can refute all the guff you guys love to spread. 
Regards,
John |
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bigdurian
Joined: 05 Feb 2014
Posts: 401
Location: Flashing my lights right behind you!
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| Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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I'd never step foot in Saudi Arabia. I'm just here to let any potential applicants there know how life really is in that place.
FACT 1: 50 degree heat
FACT 2: No bars
FACT 3: Most places don't provide compound accomodation, just an 'apartment'. So you'll have no freedom.
FACT 4: Religious police are everywhere
FACT 5: You cannot live with a woman of the opposite sex unless you are married.
FACT 6: No sex unless you're married.
FACT 7: You can't even enjoy a drink of alcohol in the privacy of your room.
FACT 8: Censored internet.
FACT 9: Prayer 5 times a day.
FACT 10: The only thing good about the place is the flight out of there when your contract finishes.
This has got to be a troll post surely but.......
1) Rarely went over 45 in Riyadh. Summers are hot but that's when you get your holiday so you're really only there for May, June and Sepetember when it's really hot. Riyadh was cold in winter and I remember my children seeing their breath for the first time.
2) There are bars. And places with bands, DJs etc. Just got to know where to go.
3) Depends on the employer really. The better employers will normally provide a place to stay, lesser employers may have a company block or give an allowance.
4) Not my experience. In 3 years in Riyadh I saw them less than ten times. I was never stopped by them, although my wife got told to put her headscarf on a couple of times in a mall. No big deal.
5) Officially yes, but that doesn't mean people don't. It's the same in Dubai believe it or not.
6) Maybe in your case, LOL!
7) Do you realise how ridiculous you sound?? Do you really think the police are going to come charging into your living room for someone having a drink. Why do you think Saudis have big walls?
 True, but just by using Hola as a Chrome extension you can access all the porn you like! Ever been to China?
9) Just like in any Muslim country they pray 5 times a day. 1st one I'm normally in bed. 2nd one I'm at work and it's a break. 3rd, 4th and 5th times need to be known for shopping purposes. Annoying sometimes, yes,
but it's not that difficult.
10) Apart from the good family life, great social life, never ending parties, great friends, BBQs, pool parties, warm weather, picnics, desert camps, and salary.
You wouldn't like it. |
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psychedelicacy
Joined: 05 Oct 2013
Posts: 180
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 4:28 pm Post subject: |
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| tony87 wrote: |
| I'd never step foot in Saudi Arabia. I'm just here to let any potential applicants there know how life really is in that place. |
The first sentence contradicts the second.
Shocking how thick some people are on here. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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"I'm a troll,
Fol-de-rol,
................." |
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tony87
Joined: 21 Jul 2015
Posts: 43
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| Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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| bigdurian wrote: |
This has got to be a troll post surely but.......
1) Rarely went over 45 in Riyadh. Summers are hot but that's when you get your holiday so you're really only there for May, June and Sepetember when it's really hot. Riyadh was cold in winter and I remember my children seeing their breath for the first time.
2) There are bars. And places with bands, DJs etc. Just got to know where to go.
3) Depends on the employer really. The better employers will normally provide a place to stay, lesser employers may have a company block or give an allowance.
4) Not my experience. In 3 years in Riyadh I saw them less than ten times. I was never stopped by them, although my wife got told to put her headscarf on a couple of times in a mall. No big deal.
5) Officially yes, but that doesn't mean people don't. It's the same in Dubai believe it or not.
6) Maybe in your case, LOL!
7) Do you realise how ridiculous you sound?? Do you really think the police are going to come charging into your living room for someone having a drink. Why do you think Saudis have big walls?
True, but just by using Hola as a Chrome extension you can access all the porn you like! Ever been to China?
9) Just like in any Muslim country they pray 5 times a day. 1st one I'm normally in bed. 2nd one I'm at work and it's a break. 3rd, 4th and 5th times need to be known for shopping purposes. Annoying sometimes, yes,
but it's not that difficult.
10) Apart from the good family life, great social life, never ending parties, great friends, BBQs, pool parties, warm weather, picnics, desert camps, and salary.
You wouldn't like it. |
There are no bars in Saudi Arabia. There is no dating in Saudi Arabia. There's no sex (if you're straight) in Saudi Arabia. It's not allowed by the state, and unless you're in a compound you'll have to abide by those rules. And even in a compound, pickings are gonna be slim, since single women age 18-30 (i.e. the sort you want to be with) don't come to Saudi Arabia.
Never ending parties in Saudi? Pool parties? Great friends? LOL.
Also, brewing your own beer? Right...bet that tastes like crap. Not like you can just go down to the 7/11 and get yourself a few bottles is it? And again, if someone finds out, you'll probably be stoned or have your hands cut off, or some other barbaric method of punishment. |
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grahamb
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
Posts: 1945
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| Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 4:04 pm Post subject: There's many a good tune... |
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| Quote: |
| single women age 18-30 (i.e. the sort you want to be with) |
There's nothing wrong with ladies over 30, kiddo. Aintcha never seen The Graduate? |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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grahamb
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
Posts: 1945
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| Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 12:20 am Post subject: Prize-giving |
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Said award to be presented by an over-30 female.  |
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