Job Discussion Forums

shebab · Joined: 17 Sep 2003 Posts: 168

What's the word on this place? Good? Bad? Indifferent? Their ad comes up periodically, and it's up again now!

ohman · Joined: 09 Sep 2003 Posts: 239 Location: B' Um Fouk, Egypt

Today I head back to Taif early. I don't think it is likely I'll be coming down to Jeddah until the day I have my bags packed, cats in their cages and guitars shipped to Bahrain? the UAE? Korea? Japan?

The human rights abuses in this country are too much to tolerate for money. I feel like Judas the morning after. Every ethos, every dubious moral fiber within me will not allow me to stay in this country any longer. If there is anyone who doubts that bin Laden isn't recognized as part Davy Crockett, part George Washigton, part Abraham Lincoln in this country, if you are in complete denial of the way Saudi men physically abuse Saudi women, if you feel that the human rights abuses in South Africa were somehow deserving of sanctions while this arrogant, backwards, barbarous oil rich country deserves a blind eye, then send your CV to Raytheon, take this SALTS job. Me: I miss looking in a mirror and sleeping with a clear conscience.

By the way, they are dreadfully short of teachers. The atrition rate is high for good reason.

Bindair Dundat · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 1123

ohman · Joined: 09 Sep 2003 Posts: 239 Location: B' Um Fouk, Egypt

You will be under the supervision of officers who will see to it that your contract is terminated if dare ask a relevant question like, "Can we rely on class leaders for assistance?" In fact, you are not allowed to talk to the officers.

You will be under the supervision of officers and NCOs who, if they catch a student sleeping in your class, rather than blame the student, you will be duly chastised and reprimanded, fired if they have someone else lined up--which at this time, they don't.

And keeping students awake is 85% of the job. The other 15% is spent trying to keep them from chatting. If an officer catches them chatting, again, you are at fault.

The students are not allowed to fail. Retake upon retake upon retake is the name of the game as they keep lowering the bar to make sure the students pass.

You will be lied to by the people in Boston about your departure date--and no doubt lose a lot of money sitting on your behind waiting for a phone call.

The onus for student behavior is entirely thrown upon the teacher. They are terribly short teachers now for a reason.

You can earn the same money at a university by supplementing you income with a night job, and retain some dignity.

When you first arrive, you will not have your own classes, but you will substitute up to three months with as little notice as five minutes before class to prepare. The other teachers may or may not help you with a lesson plan. Moreoften than not, they don't give an eff. They may tell you to simply read all the books.

During your interview with the Saudi liason officer you will be told that America is responsible for 9-11 then you will spend two more hours in his office as he tries to convert you to Islam and/or brags about how many times he's banged his secretary.

Perhaps in the halcyon days, abusing teachers was no problem--the money is good and in the day, plenty of teachers were lining up for the job. This was a long time ago. A heck of a lot more teachers are going west than coming here in the coming months and there's a reason for that.

You've been warned.

johnslat

Dear ohman,
OK - but other than that, was it a fun job?
Regards,
John
P.S. "lied to by the people in Boston" - come now. As one born and bred there, I can attest to the fact that Bostonians NEVER lie. Of course, those people might have been foreigners from outside of the city.

Bindair Dundat · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 1123

johnslat · Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2004 3:29 pm Post subject: Male call

Dear Bindair Dundat,
Given the context,

"When you first arrive, you will not have your own classes, but you will substitute up to three months with as little notice as five minutes before class to prepare. The other teachers may or may not help you with a lesson plan. Moreoften than not, they don't give an eff. They may tell you to simply read all the books.

During your interview with the Saudi liason officer you will be told that America is responsible for 9-11 then you will spend two more hours in his office as he tries to convert you to Islam and/or brags about how many times he's banged his secretary."

presumably after one's arrival in the Kingdom, I think it's safe to say that the secretary in question was/is male. All the secretaries at the IPA are, anyway.
Regards,
John

Bindair Dundat · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 1123

johnslat · Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2004 4:41 pm Post subject: Leggo o' my Leggo

Dear Bindair Dundat,
Given the pulling that both of us insensitive oafs have been doing to ohman's poor leg recently, I wouldn't be surprised if that unfortunate limb were now a good - well, foot or more (so to speak) - longer then the other one.
Regards,
John

Bindair Dundat · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 1123

ohman · Joined: 09 Sep 2003 Posts: 239 Location: B' Um Fouk, Egypt

johnslat

Dear ohman,
I can understand your being irritated. However, I'm more than a little surprised that anyone who had previous knowledge of Saudi Arabia would:

1. take ANY "promises" without MANY grains of salt
2. be surprised at being "lied to"

Had you been to the Kingdom before? If not, then your disappoinment and indignation are not as surprising.
Regards,
John

ohman · Joined: 09 Sep 2003 Posts: 239 Location: B' Um Fouk, Egypt

Pause for the cause and I'm a long gone Daddy.

ohman · Joined: 09 Sep 2003 Posts: 239 Location: B' Um Fouk, Egypt

Tell me about it John. I suffer from that Anne Frank thing:

johnslat · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 2:28 pm Post subject: On being Frank

Dear ohman,
Well, much as I admire Anne Frank, I say her calculation of the time required for that "phase" to pass is way underestimated. But let me make sure I understand what you're saying - that your were terminated because someone drew the attention of your employers to your postings on these forums? I assume, then, that your employers were actually open and honest enough to tell you why you were let go - if so, that's a rare event, judging from all my experience in the Kingdom. I can't recall a single teacher who was ever given a specific reason as to why he'd been terminated or his contract hadn't been renewed.
Anyway, I wish you all the best in your next job and I hope you'll continue to contribute to these forums.
Regards,
John