Job Discussion Forums

chuckMC · Joined: 15 Apr 2015 Posts: 75

I am a first year American ESL teacher who is planning to become CELTA certified in August. I am doing so to make the transition to teaching in the Middle East. I have read what one of the posters from Poland said about his experience of working in the Mid-East for 10 years and being able to save a lot of money. He now plans to semi-retire in Poland in a few years. I want to do something like that myself. How do i go about achieving that? Where are the best places to work in the Middle East?

Thanks

Grendal · Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 12:20 pm Post subject:

Where in Poland do you want to semi-retire?

g

Grendal · Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 12:33 pm Post subject:

transition: noun

movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., to another; change:
the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

I'm sorry to say there is no transition period here. None that I've experienced anyway. I basically got dropped in the middle of a dessert, where they decided to build a city and call it a capital, and I had to start life from the beginning again. Forget everything you know about the exotic life that's portrayed in the movies about Arabia. There are no belly dancers and midnights at the oasis's here. You will however experience a plethora of self centred narcissistic individuals that proclaim the whole world is living wrong and that only they know the way to real happiness.

grendal

ps maybe they're right because I'm definitely not happy here, and each year it gets worse. thank God for yeast, sugar, and non preservative natural grape juice (that you can find abundantly here).

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Ah those desserts. Bad for the waistline !

johnslat · Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 10:44 pm Post subject:

Dear scot47,

And a waist is a terrible thing to mind.

Regards,
John

Gamajorba · Joined: 03 May 2015 Posts: 357

bigdurian · Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 9:37 am Post subject:

[quote="Grendal"]transition: noun

movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., to another; change:
the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

I'm sorry to say there is no transition period here. None that I've experienced anyway. I basically got dropped in the middle of a dessert, where they decided to build a city and call it a capital, and I had to start life from the beginning again. Forget everything you know about the exotic life that's portrayed in the movies about Arabia. There are no belly dancers and midnights at the oasis's here. You will however experience a plethora of self centred narcissistic individuals that proclaim the whole world is living wrong and that only they know the way to real happiness.

grendal

ps maybe they're right because I'm definitely not happy here, and each year it gets worse. thank God for yeast, sugar, and non preservative natural grape juice (that you can find abundantly here).[/quote]

Try mead. 46 SAR for 3kg 100% Sary honey. No added sugar needed. Add water and fruit or juices for different tastes. You have a lot more options of things you can do with it than your regular Daniya/Ceres.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Reliance in mind-altering substances to cope with reality ? Strong drink and/or strong religion have been the downfall of many.

I tried KSA as a performing alky and as a dry alky. Living without the stuff is better, believe me.

Here endeth the lesson.

johnslat · Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 12:24 pm Post subject:

Dear scot47,

Well, one man's mead is another man's poison. Very Happy

Regards,
John

jaffa · Joined: 25 Oct 2012 Posts: 403

I'd avoid the booze if I were you. Seen a fair few casualties and I'd say it's responsible for many a runner. The admin and students will easily spot the drinkers.

One of my students once gave me a bottle of Scotch ('hidden' in about 7 bags) which I drank half of watching TV one night. The next day was awful (should have saved it for the weekend) and so when he asked if I wanted anther bottle, I declined. Been desert dry for the last 5 years.

Great fun when you get out though. A real novelty and you don't need to drink much for it to hit the spot. Sandy drinkers tend to be permanently pissed off and very short-tempered. Aramco, for example, is full of those types.

Last month in Diggers Bar, Bahrain, I was chatting to a big fat Saudi who drank 12 pints then got up and drove back to Dammam. The barman said he did that almost every night. Legendary Smile

Gamajorba · Joined: 03 May 2015 Posts: 357

hash · Joined: 17 Dec 2014 Posts: 456 Location: Wadi Jinn

bigdurian · Posted: Sun May 10, 2015 4:50 am Post subject:

There's a big difference between having a few drinks at the weekend socially to being a problem drinker.

Each to their own. Some people can and some people can't.