Job Discussion Forums

[Queen of Sheba]

I just wonder if anyone has figured out the secret yet. The reason why so many teachers in KSA are nuts or simply go nuts after their first year or so teaching in the kingdom? Is it because they lie to your face as they sweetly plan their attack on you? Maybe its because you assumed your boss would be competant and polite instead of a aggressive red faced manic? Is it because they are so unprofessional that any semblance of professionalism scares superiors into thinking you are after their jobs? Could it be because once you are under an employer's sponsorship you are their purchased property - never to be released...even after your contract has finished? Is it because the majority of expats attracted to KSA are losers in their own country thus they come here and dont care one bit what they do or dont do to improve the system and students? Maybe it is the fact that the converts come over with the intention of fooling the rich Saudis into giving them cash and charity and they end up actually teaching their jail bird acccents to the spoiled rich kids who dont know any better-as you sit back in awe that they are actually employed at all when they were merely running a polygamy factory back home? Does anyone hold the secret to the insanity that is teaching in Saudi Arabia?

[veiledsentiments]

What's a 'jail-bird' accent? Never heard that one before...

VS

[Cleopatra]

I do think that a sizable proportion of the expats in KSA are here because they would be unemployable elsewhere, or, at least, unable to find a job with the relatively generous pay and conditions they can get in KSA. This may be because they are underqualified, or perhaps because they are, shall we say, past their prime. In other cases, of course, they may be just downright weird - and that's another story.

I do think, however, that this environment brings out the latent weirdness-ses which exist within each of us (don't they?) The boredom and claustrophobia, confined with living in what most outsiders perceive as a rather strange society, can bring out the worst in people. The lack of diversions and the frustrations which are part and parcel of life here can lead people to seek outlets in rather odd ways. That said, there are some folks here who manage to retain at least some of their sanity against the odds (pun intended).

Aren't there?

[scot47]

The paradox is that Saudis are actually quite tolerant of foreigners. Maybe because they are not quite sure what foreigners do or how they behave at home, eccentric behaviour amongst their guests is overlooked.

I regularly come across 'expats' (ie whites) here who are clearly barking mad by any yardstick. As long as they are going through the motions here they will get away with it. people only notice they are mad when they go back home to Des Moines or Tooting.

A way to avoid this if you have gone over the edge into insanity is to choose a permanant domicile in some place like Thailand where you just become another crazy 'farang'. From mad 'Khawaja' to that is an easy trasnsition.

[nanosecond]

Large amounts of time spent alone with one's own negative thoughts is unbalancing. So Saudi Arabia is basically an exercise in how well you can live with your own thoughts. Most teachers are doing a job they despise here, teaching students they'd rather not be around, being bossed by incompetent management. They put up with it for the coin. But negative emotion weighs heavily on the mind. Actually any teacher who manages to stick out even a small amount of time here should be applauded for his perseverance, strength and discipline. Enough of this "we are crazy losers" stuff. We are doing a difficult job under difficult circumstances for relatively little salary compared to other expats. We should be applauded.

[Queen of Sheba]

VS- A jail-bird accent is my own vernacular I accredit to someone who has converted to Islam in jail, and then came to KSA because they may get preferential treatment and safe haven from the endless sea of rejections to the ex-cons in their own countries. There is another sort of convert I (and some of my students!) have come accross, who are smart enough to realize if you convert to Islam you get benefits from some Saudis. I wonder if Mike Tyson would have made a good English teacher, or better yet, Micheal Jackson is a convert... and he lives in nearby Bahrain!? I am a Muslim by birth, and I feel certain benefits exist in KSA and possibly the Gulf in general for Muslims, maybe that's why its so blatant to me and I feel comfortable commenting on it. Having said that, everyone is entitled to preferences, but when it comes to employment, promotion and the like, it should be based on merit not religion, creed, color or sex. I personally feel uncomfortable otherwise, as I have been on both sides of the stick in Muslim countries and Western ones as well, and I think things should be fair and just especially as we are in academics and our degrees and experience are what ultimately matter, but then again I am in Saudi Arabia arguably the land of wasta.

Nanosecond- Applause to you, your kin, and us all for persevering, may we all reach our goals.

I agree, Saudi does seem to bring out those deep thoughts since the quiet moments of introspection prevail. Maybe its what we do with those thoughts and ideas that matter in the long run.

[veiledsentiments]

Ah... is that a jail bird accent in English or Arabic? or perhaps both.

Actually it is the first I have heard of Michael Jackson as a convert. No gift to the world of Islam that would be... I quite shuddered at the pictures of him dressed in what appeared to me to be traditional Gulf female garb.

But we are digressing... or perhaps not... it is about nuts in the Gulf, and though MJ doesn't teach English, he is nuts and there...

VS

[scot47]

The place is full of whackos ! Jacko must feel at home !

[Bebsi]

[The_Prodiigy]

" .... We are doing a difficult job under difficult circumstances for relatively little salary compared to other expats. We should be applauded...."

How true.

I sympathise with your sentiments. KSA is an extremely difficult, challenging, preposterous place to live in. And the Saudi hierarchy do not make it any easier.

Good luck and I advise always keep a multi-entry visa in one's passport and a bag packed for a quick exit.

Have you ever thought of lifting the veil of one abaya, winking and boldly announcing, "I can see you!!" ?

[Cleopatra]

[nanosecond]

You make some disparaging remarks about English teachers here calling them "fly by night." If that be so it has taken me eight years to actually fly and many teachers stay for a number of years. You also imply that it is immoral to accept a salary if one does not like his job or the place he works. In that case then , I expect that you have given back salary for each day you have secretly cursed your students or Saudi Arabia. Next, I expect you will tell me that if I don't like my job, I should quit and get out. I believe it takes a lot more character to stay and continue fighting rather than flee everytime we have a bad feeling. Incidentally, what's the going rate for a Russian working girl? I may be fat, red-faced and British but I'm still willing. I bet they're paid a lot more than we petro-teflers (and know a lot more about sex than our students do about English.) Whoops! Almost let slip one of the trade secrets of we fly-by-nighters.

___________________________________________________

A nanosecond is the time it takes for the traffic light to turn green and the Saudi driver behind you to hit the horn.

[Cleopatra]

If there's one thing worse than a lame troll (and it appears that there is), it's a multi-handle lame troll.

[nanosecond]

Cleopatra, it would be more helpful if you could make some pertinent comment about Saudi Arabia. But as it appears you are not even based here, that may be impossible. You appear to have some kind of feud going with the Prodigy. However I can assure you I am not also he or she, if that's what you are saying.

[veiledsentiments]

Nanosecond... I wonder if you have actually read many of Cleopatra's posts. Most of your criticism is wildly inaccurate at best. I can confirm that Cleo is not only there, but gets no more frustrated with her students than do all teachers in all parts of the world. Like Scot47, she has always been quite open and honest about the pros and cons of teaching in the KSA.

Not to mention that many teachers in this trade are 'fly-by-night' sorts (nothing in her post suggested that she thought all of them were) and they tend to be the ones who come and do the most whinging on these boards from what I've seen.

VS