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[bertonneau]

September 2013

To anyone who I argued with about the Al Hussan Taining Center in terms of their treatment I am now eating crow. I just finished one year with this outfit. I am posting mostly just the facts of the institute. My feelings are interwoven as I feel this place deserves the crticism I give it. Why I am the first person in the last year to have to post this I don't know. I have watched many other frustrated individuals leave without doing anything that would inform and/or educate others as to the realities of this place. Again, to anyone I discredited about their posts, I am in the wrong and hope this post will attempt to undo any defenses I previosuly and wrongly gave to this place.

Having worked at the AL Hussan Training Center/Arab Cultural Institute for the last 12 months, I thought I'd share my experiences with anyone interviewing or considering coming over to work for this outfit. Before I start, understand this place isn't a school and isn't even an institute. It is a very disorganized business that uses the word education as a "punchline" for the business activities it tries to do. This place nickels and dimes it's existence, facilities and people to the point where it doesn't run effectively.

Work conditions: They pay in the neighborhood of 3,200 (South Africans) 3,500(Brits) 3,700(Americans) for native teachers for a 40 hour week. They pay on time and do pay overtime work 100 SAR an hour additionally within a month of hours worked reliably. The students are primarily Saudi Aramco apprentices. We were teaching some Sadara students in the past, but a representative from Sadara (an offshoot of Aramco and Dow Chemical) told me after the students had finished that he wasn't satisfied with the discipline, the management and the conditions of Al Hussan Training facility and so future trainees would be trained at other locations in KSA. There is also what is called an ELS (English Language Services) school that runs at night. It is in some state of questionable affiliation or non-licensure. I worked as the Academic Director for a short period of time and was never told the truth about where the school stood in relation to it's actual affiliation to ELS by the head manager of the Institute. I actually emailed the head person in the US who dealt with these issues, who told me that they were still affiliated at least on paper. However, according to the Director of the Al Hussan Institute I couldn't talk to our head office in Kuwait or any of the ELS schools in Saudi to ask any questions about anything I might have because of some strange relations, which were never explained to me honestly. I quit the Academic Director position after three months due to a lack of honesty and transparency, although kept teaching.

Housing conditions/the old housing: For the native speakers, Al Hussan used a Non-Western, primarily Indian Compound called Al Suweiket Compound to house it's Western teachers. This compound was built about 40 years ago and was built to house Americans and Brits coming over to build parts of what is now the existing Aramco infrastructure. In it's day, it was probably a decent, modern, but modest compound. Presently, it is what you'd expect from a facility that was built 40 years years ago that is kept up using the absolute minimum that Al Hussan and Indian management can get away with for the most part. Upon my arrival, these apartments had been empty for years, apparently due to Al Hussan being unable to get native teachers to work here. I complained to my recruiter in the US within two days of arrival and threatened to leave due to conditions not being what was described to me in my contract. Some of the apartments quickly had new flat-screen TV's put in with satellite dishes and basic wireless internet. Also, there were virtually no dishes, pans, etc and so Al Hussan did a minor shopping trip to supply some standard issue plates, utencils and a few appliances. One apartment at least, still has the original carpet from the 60's. This particular apartment reeks of mold. The others seem to have been replaced at some point later on. Some apartments are still basic, but tolerable.


Old Facilities: There is no gym on compound and a pool that is closed 7 months of the year and which is slowly falling apart from lack of or poor maintenance. There is one archaic tennis court, but it is usable. There is a mosque on the compound, which very clearly calls out 5 times throughout the day right out your backdoor, a small commissary and something called a party hall, which is what I believe was once a gym and recreation center, but was gutted, left empty and renamed the Party Hall. There is something that was once a handball court but has now had a very poor quality basketball rim crudely put on the concrete wall. There are many feral cats throughout the compound, that are constantly running around and repopulating and getting into apartments. These same cats are constantly eating peoples garbage as they roam through the facilities.

New Housing: As of June 1st 2013 the teachers have been moved overnight to another compound. The teachers were told that they would be moved to a Western Compound and specifically without any Chinese. Why without Chinese? I have no idea nor do I care, but this was stipulated clearly. We were told that our Western Compound would have Lebanese, Syrians and some other Middle Eastern ethnic group, but I have since forgotten. Not that I care about this one way or the other except the concept of a Western Compound is one which is filled primarily with people from the West. So what do we have here? Saudis and Chinese among other things. I only bring this up as the most recent example of blatant lies from the administration. The whole idea of a compound is to escape from the Saudis and Saudi Arabia if for only around the four walls of the compound. The new compound facilities are equally unimpressive, a tiny hole that is called a pool, like a 20 person hot tub, you can't actually do any swimming in it and a recreation center with machines from 20 years ago that are in various states of disrepair. A pool table without any balls or cues and a ping pong table without any balls or paddles. Oh, how fun! The compound itself is decorated and furnished with modern, but cheap Chinese stuff that is falling apart within it's first few years. There are four men from 30's to 50's living together. Welcome back to the college dorm days with all strange guys from freshman year at school , but now you get to see what they are like 20 years later. Also, half of the native teachers, however, have been put into single apartments in a western style compound. This is not due to any kindness on the part of the Al Hussan Company. This is due to the fact that the large Saudi Real Estate company that has overbuilt has a luxury complex that is half empty and so can accommodate some people for a short time. This will only last until the compound that is being built is actually completed and then teachers will be back to a two bedroom apartment compound. We were told that everyone would be moving in within 2 months, two to an apartment. Five months later there has been no word on completion and a move in date. Construction in many parts of the kingdom has stopped due to the government trying to get construction companies to make their workers actually legal to work in the kingdom this has put a halt on many jobs throughout the kingdom.


Transportation: The only transportation offered is bringing you to and from work. Anything outside of this is considered your concern and cost. Need a ride to the hospital or food store if they are 5 to 10 kilometers away (the nearest real food store at the new compound is 5 kilometers away), that's your deal and won't be worried about by Al Hussan. Recently, there has been a very minor attempt at occasionally. Some better organizations here usually have something more comprehensive in place buses on real Western compounds and some even provide you with your own car and pay for the fuel for the month. Al Hussan does not.


Health care: Health Insurance for those who come over on actual residence visas (Iqamas) and not business visas are provided with level B standard insurance. As of April 2013, the health insurance provided to employees was reduced from level B to level B2 which is a drop in coverage care in order to save more money, this place is not a state whatsoever that requires making these kinds of cost cutting measures for any reason except more money in the hands of administration and owner of the company. The students that we teach have level A, so the teachers here have lesser benefits than the students we teach. In my opinion, anything less than Level A insurance is playing with your health standards safety based on the overall lack of quality in Saudi Arabia. Level B2 gives you access to clinics where you seriously should question if all the staff is licensed and the medical machines are cleaned correctly. If your contract states health insurance is provided, demand that the level is written in the contract before signing.


Vacation: Al Hussan Training Center has no vacations outside of Ramadan, the 2nd Eid AL Fitr and the occasional extra national day here and there. More reputable competitors have additional breaks, usually one to two weeks spread throughout the year in order to recharge and get out of Saudi for a short time.


Management: The two main individuals who manage this place are somewhere between a bit and completely out of touch with the actual workings of this business. On any given day or week it seems that much of the staff is in some sort of confusion as to what is going to happen that day or that week with schedules and work. I can completely and honestly say the main two administrative managers here are liars. These guys will say things to all of their employees that they know full well aren't the truth. In fact, they tell so many lies, that they like some children I grew up with get caught in their own lies because they don't remember what the last lie was they told to the group or individual. If you have ever been around people like this you know exactly the type of person I'm talking about. The list of stories and lies I could tell would take up many pages. Understand, that if you come here, you will be lied to, the extent of whatever lies they tell you will simply depend on what they feel like making up that day.


Quick story: A teacher with several Master's degrees (English and Education) and a world of experience was hired as a senior teacher from the US to help guide the program that is in serious need of reform and improvements. He spent three weeks talking with management and teachers. On week four, in front of all the staff he presented his solutions to virtually all the problems that teachers had been saying for months. Every idea and suggestion he made was shot down by management for one reason or another. On week five, he collected his paycheck and wasn't there for work on Saturday (beginning of the week here). When I went into the office to tell the assistant head manager/Academic Director that the senior teacher they had just hired left. I was told and I'm not paraphrasing, "We don't care, you guys can can go if you don't like it, we don't care." I really wish I had known my future employer didn't care one way or the other before I had hopped on a plane and traveled half way around the world. Well, I know now and can share those details to any future prospective employees that might be thinking about coming here and working for these guys, that this is word for word their outlook towards you. They don't care if you're satisfied or not with the situation here. If the guys from Dumb and Dumber with a serious addiction to lying were to open a language institute, I think it wouldn't look too far off from what goes on here on a daily basis. I wish I were kidding.


The management at the Training Center doesn't and won't issue an NOC, "No objection certificates," that basically says that you left with no problems and completely releases you from their employment. It isn't actually even a reference letter. In the event that you wanted and decided to stay in Saudi past your initial contract, some organizations ask for an NOC. Technically, if you don't have one, you aren't supposed to be able to work in Saudi again for 2 years. This does depend on institutions. The laws were changed, but many companies still play by the old system. This is something to keep in mind for anyone thinking about coming over for 2-3 years and possibly working at any different institution other than Al Hussan, who pays half of what some of the better organizations pay for exactly the same work. This place will make it more difficult, if not impossible for you to work for anyone else after you leave them, even if you were a good employee simply because they would rather make life difficult for you rather than help a former employee. The most recent teacher before me who just left in August was written an employment letter, besides the regular compliments of a year of service etc. the letter specifically stated that he wasn't allowed to reenter the country and work for anyone for two years. What kind of reference letter includes a portion that states that you can't reenter and work for anyone else? A reference letter from an employer that is scared you will be right back in the country working for the competition and so wants to try and stop you from working for any other employer.


Another teacher here wanted his U.S. passport back after having watched several teachers here leave abruptly and worried about not being able to have it. He asked for it and was given several different excuses (lies)over the course of two weeks. Upon telling Al Hussan management that he had called made an appointment and was going to meet the US Consulate in Dhahran (they will at least call your employer and try to negotiate it for you) as well as contact the Saudi Police and Immigration Authorities (MOFA), his passport suddenly appeared within 48 hours. For some reason, management doesn't respond well to well thought dialogue, but very well to threats that may do harm to their business interests. This is a consistent theme that has gone on here for the past 12 months I've been here.

As of September 2013 from September 2012, we have lost 15 native teachers of a staff of 10-12. I am the only native teacher to have completed my full 12 month contract in the last year. One other fellow finished a month earlier, but couldn't/wouldn't stay to make the 12 month mark. He couldn't take one more month here and he was a Muslim. 9 teachers out of 10 simply didn't finish their contracts (quit) and an additional 6 teachers came and went usually within 1-3 months. Most quit and two were fired for incompetence. That's a more than 95% attrition rate in the last year for teachers.


Conclusion: With all this said, I'm sure my feelings have been expressed pretty clearly. I can safely and honestly say this is a CAN'T DO type of company, that truly doesn't care about it's employees, by it's own managers very clear admission. I'm not however, going to be the person that says one way or the other about working here for others. It may be great for some individuals, depending on your standards or state of employment/unemployment/desperation for a job. For me though, I have had to set such a low bar regarding everything, I'm embarrassed and disgusted to say I have worked here. I could write for many more pages about the various antics that are absolutely surreal. This place is really worthy of it's own sitcom. The main point of this was to make pretty clear how things work at this particular institute for anyone looking into future employment here. These are things I wish I would have known VERY clearly prior to arrival. I don't imagine based on what I've experienced and heard from non-native teachers (the only people who have been here longer than one year) that anything will improve in the next few years and most likely will continue to devolve over time.


Before I arrived, I thought I'd done my homework. I spent four months talking to my US based recruiter while my medical/residence visa (Iqama) stuff and application was being processed about a series of concerns I had in coming here. I also talked to a present employee working here at the time, who although didn't lie, wasn't as forthcoming as he should have been, given what he knew about things here. In his defense, he did say things were slightly better when I was communicating with him at the time. If I had to do the Saudi employment thing again, I would strongly suggest that anyone applying to work at any school or organization in Saudi Arabia ask for and expect the names and emails of three present native speaking teachers in the organization to talk to prior to coming here. If an organization/school or business can't provide you with at least three Western people who would advocate for their Saudi employer and job in a generally positive tone than it's probably a job not worth taking. I would also make 100% percent certain and clear, if you don't specifically see something in writing that isn't signed by all parties before arrival in KSA, assume that if something isn't VERY clearly stated in a contract, assume it isn't going to happen. The most obvious of assumptions will be at your loss.


Also, for anyone looking at coming through any recruiter. Recruiters regardless of anything they say have only one thing that concerns them, their money. Their only concern is telling the recruitee whatever they think you want to hear in order to get you on a plane and get their commission. That's it. If you don't SPECIFICALLY see something in writing in a signed contract, assume it isn't going to happen here. If you want to kid yourself that they have any serious care and concern for you, just know you're kidding yourself.


On a final and more positive note, I have heard recent positive comments/responses from present employees working at 1. SPSP/Dammam or any TQ Education based entity, they just received three new government contracts, decent pay, Western management, reasonable organization, great health insurance, 2. KFUPM lower pay than some places, but great long paid vacations and some of the best, smart and motivated students in Saudi (for whatever that means). 3. Of the second party recruiters for the Aramco ITCs, I've also heard good things about the HAK Group from one trainer who still works for them.

[coldcucumber]

Suggestion!
Change to another format.
This is like reading one enormous paragraph.
Almost unreadable.

[scot47]

Too many words. I gave up.

[sicklyman]

this is a fantasticaly informative post written, considering what the poster has been through, with some humility and far less emotion than I would be capable of.

I agree with the crowd about editing the post for legibility though. At the moment, it's a bit like War & Peace: hard to read but very much worth the attempt.