Job Discussion Forums

as1310 · Joined: 07 Jun 2005 Posts: 4

just wondering is anyone has any experience, good or bad, in Yemen? any advice on which schools to apply to? and I was wondering how conservative do you have to dress if you are a woman? I know you have to cover your arms and legs, but I don't know if you should cover your head as well, or is that just for Saudi Arabia?
Thanks a lot!

lionbrian · Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 136 Location: Micronesia

Dear as1310,

I know nothing about Yemen, however I am stunned that you, as a woman, want to teach there Shocked

Sorry, by the way the only thing I know about Yemen is that a good salary for an English teacher is Am$ 300/Month. Are you willing to sacrifice your life for this amount? Or just desperate Sad

Good luck!

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Can't answer your questions, but I just saw the absolute worst job ad yesterday on Dave's for Yemen. Shared apt living, 30 hours of teaching/week and $300 US/month. Oh and they need 20 teachers. Good luck!

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

There are people happily teaching in Yemen and a few of them are women. Cool

About the only places that I would consider would be AMIDEAST or British Council, both of whom have a branch or two there. Their pay is more realistic that that strange $300 a month place. That would hardly keep you in gat... Mr. Green

Most Western women that I know who have lived in Sanaa, wear an abaya in public to avoid attention. Not that there is much actual danger, if any. Nor are there any mutawa who might show up to enforce it like in Saudi...

VS

adentea · Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Aden, Yemen

Hi everyone. Yemen isn't so bad. I'm an American female who works as a teacher in Aden.

As VS stated, there are other schools that offer a decent salary besides that one for $300 a month. I think that school isn't even interested in a degree or experience...so for someone just starting out or wanting to see the world and still make a little side money, what the heck?

I know many Westerners (male and female) who live and work here and many of them are quite comfortable and like it.

Don't listen to the 'stero-types' of Yemen. They just aren't true. My sister visited me last year. Before coming from the USA she cancelled her trip three times out of fear of being kidnapped! Finally she came and it turned out to be the trip of her life!

The people here think that if they were to visit the USA they would be shot in a gang crossfire and as we know, what's the real chance of that?

I'm not saying that Yemen is paradise, only that it's not as bad and negative as many think and it's a good starting place for an EFL teacher.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Hey Adentea,

Just wondering... I have friends who choose to wear an abaya in public in Sana'a to avoid attracting attention... Do you wear one in Aden? Or do you just dress modestly. I know port cities tend to be more liberal than inland in most of the these countries.

VS

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

ntropy · Joined: 11 Oct 2003 Posts: 671 Location: ghurba

I worked/lived in Yemen for about 4 years.

Lovely place, lovely people. Severe economic problems.

Besides rural/urban, port/inland distinction there is a huge North/south split. The south is much more liberal and open due to British colonialism followed by being a Soviet client state. The North is more more closed and resistant to new ideas. It is ony recently they united after a civil war with the North winning. This is much resented in the south.

Aden is very different than Sanaa. Both charming, but very different.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

It was a shame that I never made it over to Yemen all the years that I lived in Oman, but somehow it just never worked out.

VS

(dmb... funny how the male mind is like... so predictable... Laughing

Hey... I just noticed that you got your avatar back... )

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

thanks to kent and whynotme they found it elsewhere

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I, for one, had missed him. I've always had a weakness for buck teeth. Cool

But, we digress... again...

VS

grahamb · Joined: 30 Apr 2003 Posts: 1945

A friend of mine worked for the British Council there some years ago. He told me that one of the regulars in his favourite bar used to singe his eyebrows with a cigarette lighter, presumably to impress the foreigners.
DMB, I didn't know that male brains worked in Govan!

KiteBiker · Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 2:00 pm Post subject: Oh Blondie, where art thou?

Ok, y'all. I think you should read Blondie888's lament on Yemen found here ...

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=12809&highlight=yemen

I tried to PM her out of concern for her personal safety but alas, she has not responded nor has she been active on this board since her last message.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Well, I know someone else who was in Sana'a for the last year and had quite a different experience than this woman. But, with the couple I know, she always wore an abaya when on the streets and had spent years living in other Gulf countries. In my experience often the women who run into problems like this have mostly made fundamental cultural mistakes. Yemen is VERY conservative.

One year was enough for the couple I know as the political situation is touchy there... everyone is armed... and riots occur. (like the 3 or 4 days lately over gas prices) Life can be difficult as in any 'developing' country. But they could not say enough about how wonderful the people were that they worked with and taught...

VS