Job Discussion Forums

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

It around that time when contracts are up and teachers move on. Fortunately, for those of us staying, we get the hand-me-downs!

One teacher recently left all kinds of goodies, about 30 teaching books, and other classroom material. He decided that he needed to simplfiy and was sick of carting all of his stuff all over. Lucky us!

With hand-me-downs, you never know what you will get, music, tolietries, clothes, books, movies, even kitchen things, I once got spices and a can opener.

Its a win-win situation for everyone, those who are leaving feel like they are purguing themselves and simplfiying everything..."I just know that I can fit my whole life into a 4000 cubic inches bakcpack. . . " and for those of us who are staying, it feels like Christmas.

Have you ever gotten or given really good stuff, or really strange things? I'm still waiting for a laptop, or camera, who knows, maybe it'll happen this summer.

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

I am hoping someone will get tired of his Porsche and let me have it when he leaves. Fat chance,on the kind of money we make.Anyway,THINK BIG!
An interesting post, naturegirl.
When I was at a certain venue in Saudi,those leaving tried to SELL their stuff. What a mercenary bunch.One guy even tried to sell his cruddy used toothbrush and a lot of other nauseating junk.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

i've even heard of people trying to sell light bulbs when leaving the Gulf.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I guess people are much nicer in Asia, they give it all away. BUt then again, the Gulf is known for attracting people who like money, which is not usually the case for China.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

In Saudi Atrabia there are huge differences in how people behave when leaving. Some (few) generous souls give everything away. Others sell everything in that recent introduction to the Middle East - the "Yard Sale'.

They will spend a morning supervising a yard sale in which they take in less than a hundred riyals. I do not like sterotyping but I will leave it your imagination to figure wich nationalities in Saudi Arabia are the meanest when it comes to disposong of their accumulated junk. Clue - they are NOT from Scotland !

johnslat · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2003 9:17 am Post subject: A hanging offense

Dear dmb,
" i've even heard of people trying to sell light bulbs when leaving the Gulf. "
And, believe it or not, hangers. That one I know for a fact. Won't mention the nationality, either, but he wasn't from the USA. However, you get skinflints from every country - although I'll admit it does seem that some nations may have more than their fair share.
Regards,
John

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

So, has anyone ever gotten something really nice for free?

stevey · Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Posts: 142

hows about things WE will be giving away when we leave? hmmm....i cant think of anything im giving away....the only thing is maybe my mahjong table.....but im giving that away to my gfriends mother..

dandan · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 183 Location: Hong Kong

I got some melons once.

stevey · Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Posts: 142

Steiner · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Posts: 573 Location: Hunan China

Hey, you're in the wrong place. I think you guys want the Korea forum.

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

Stevieboy should go over to the Korean Forum.He could post something like"Succulent Melons(YUMMMMM!!!) Desperately Sought!!

On the other hand,given some of the other topics over there on that board(you name it, they got it)...his post on cassabas might cause nary a ripple! Laughing

Cleopatra · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2003 7:51 am Post subject:

Am happy to find that other people, just like me, find those "Ma'assalama" sales mercenary and demeaning to all concerned. Nearly every week there's one advertised in the place I live in Riyadh: people grasping at that last rial for their warped plastic strainers and dog-eared book. And these people have been earning untold thusands of rials over the years! When I leave, I do hope to get rid of big things like my TV or VCR - but the rest I'll either dump it or give it away. You have to draw the line somewhere.
A few months ago a friend and I couldn't resist defacing an ad for a sale in which this particular woman was touting her shoes (!) and used kitchen utensils. So we wrote something like "Come and get your socks, bras and knickers here!" Actually, it wasn't that big an exaggeration!
Another friend and I were running an informal competition to find who had put the worst item in their "MA'assalama" sale. I reckoned a used chopping board was bad, but he beat me with a tale of his boss who had tried to sell his razor blades. People say "Oh, but people are prepared to buy this stuff, so that means it's OK". I still say it's pure meanness - have these people made money, but not friends, in their time in KSA?
By the way, if that story about the used toothbrush is true - is it? - then it beats any of my stories hands down! And yes, I do agree that one particular nationality shines when it comes to Ma'assalma sales. It's big, English speaking, not the US and ... that's all I'll say!

Guest · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2003 9:05 am Post subject:

I can't believe how tight some people are. Leaving Japan I gave away books, CDs, a lava lamp (which I'd inherited myself), clothes, my bike, kitchenware, my hairdryer. I thought this was common practice. Certainly it was where I lived, and I'd already benefitted myself. The only thing I made any money off was my stereo, which I sold really cheaply to a friend.

If we all give a little more. We'll all get a little more back.

Sherri · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2003 10:18 am Post subject:

Where I used to work in Japan, a girl was selling off her stuff before leaving and brought some clothing and odds and ends in to work. In the pile we found stuff that had been GIVEN to her by some of us, now up for sale!

When I first arrived a guy I hardly knew gave me a stereo, an oven and a few other things. He told me to "repay" him to extend the favour when I left and to give away my things to people who would really appreciate them. And that is what I intend to do--if I ever get out of here!