Job Discussion Forums

[Super Modal]

I was supposed to arrive in KSA in the middle of August, but my visa application was delayed because I didn’t have the necessary documents from my employer. I’ve been in KSA for 2 weeks now at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences in Jeddah teaching at the women’s college. It is about 20-30 minutes outside Jeddah.

I arrived, was met at the airport, helped to buy a cell phone at the airport and groceries at the small on campus grocery store. I was taken to my temporary housing for 4 days. I had no contact information for anyone in KSA. I had no map of the Medical City and there were hardly any people in the streets. I felt weird and wondered what I was supposed to be doing. I had terrible jet lag so maybe it was for the best to be just left alone. Finally, I was contacted by HR/my Saudi recruiter. He asked me to come to his office, but was unable to give me directions to his office or which bus to take or a phone number of a taxi. I had seen a bus stop outside my building, but no buses so I went outside and waited until I finally saw someone to ask about the buses. I was taken around and introduced to some administrators and then to the women’s college. The teachers were so friendly and happy to see me. I felt better after that.

I got the number of a taxi driver and spent a few days running around doing paperwork like getting a badge, iqama application (very irritable and rude woman in charge of this), medical tests etc. all without a map or bus schedule. I had to go into Jeddah to get 8, 2 x3 cm, photos for the iqama application because my recruiter didn’t tell me I needed them. I was given an advance of 3,500 riyals, but the other people in my group from the Phillipines, India etc. were given much less money. I moved to my permanent housing and finally got a map and bus info from a teacher and a neighbour. There were no sheets, pillows, blanket, plates, glasses, cutlery, pots, pans, towels, etc. So, I took a taxi to IKEA after a long day of running around and moving. The next day, I got groceries from a big grocery store. There is only intermittent internet/wifi, no oven and only a small half fridge. However, it is nicely furnished and decorated. It’s completely new. The laundry is shared by all of the tenants and has only 2 washers and 1 dryer. Right now, there are only 8 people here so it isn’t a big problem for me. It has alternate floors for men and women. All singles.

The second week, I started teaching. The students are mostly enthusiastic and sweet-natured, but some are near native speakers (American and International school graduates) while others are low intermediate level. After a couple of days, I got a computer, email account, and a phone in my office. We have to wear a white lab coat, like a doctor, but not an abaya on campus and in class. I guess I’m a grammar doctor lol. My colleagues have been great and have helped me tremendously. My supervisor seems nice too.

Now things have settled down a bit and I’m glad I came to KSA. Hopefully, I’ll be here for a long time.

[sicklyman]

glad things are working out for you after a rough start... I hope the trend continues upwards.

You disappointed me though... I came here expecting to hear about the exploits of some fashion shoot in the Hejazi capital

[veiledsentiments]

It sounds like your arrival went well... not too many glitches, and you seemed to be able to cope with those that came up. Arriving to an empty flat was the usual in my experience. My first job had an arrival package that you had to return with bedding, a towel, one pot, one place setting... and the oddest selection of food that rather made me laugh. Fortunately after that long flight, I wasn't hungry anyway. Every job after that, I arrived with my minimals - a kitchen pack, a clean sheet, and a little travel pillow - and was unsurprised to find nothing.

[Super Modal]

Streaming is one option, but another would be just to give them an entrance test and exempt those who get very high scores. If they stream them, they could give them English related to their area of study-such as nursing, engineering etc.

[veiledsentiments]