Job Discussion Forums

was4iem · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Saudi Arabia

I've been offered a job at the Royal Guard of Oman Technical College. Does anyone know whether this is a good employer? I have a family so I don't want to make the wrong move.

carnac · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:45 am Post subject:

A very good employer, with the following caveats:
-You state "Family". Be sure that your official status is "Family" not "Single". (But "single" only means that you have to find housing and medical for the family. Medical stuff cheap here compared to most Western places, but find a Western doctor.)
-They may be offering a Grade 6. If you are a native-speaker with at least a BA and a certificate, Grade 5. Masters, Grade 4. There is room to dicker. Even a PhD will get you no higher than a 4, as far as I know. Grade 5 is Captain (civilian); 4 is Major. 6 is Lieutenant. (which for reasons unknown to me is pronounced "Lefffff -tenant" in the British manner - where Lefff derives from Lieut is a mystery)
-Be aware that as a military employee, you are subject to military regulations and timetables. If the boss says "jump", you ask "how high?"
You will love it here, I'm certain. A great place, for individuals and families. So much to do and see.
(I find it difficult to believe that the unthinking software for this website "beeped" the word which means "to haggle" and begins with "di" and ends with "er". And a "ck" in the middle.)
Take THAT, mindless software drones somewhere in cyberspace.
Brgds - Carnac

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

In terms of salary, what do these grades equate to?

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

Since the British organized the military in Oman, no surprise that they use the BrEng pronunciation. I too have often wondered how they came up with that. Laughing

I know of no other word in the English language where 'ieu' is pronounced as 'ef'...

Anybody know why?

VS

carnac · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 3:05 pm Post subject:

In terms of salary:
Here, I am assuming that Royal Guard pay is standardised with Air Force and Army pay, and I see no reason not to believe so:
A Grade 6 is roughly RO820/mo; Grade 5: 920, and Gr4 1020. On top of this, however, there is ordinarily free housing and a fairly good transportation allowance. No taxes.
Bearing in mind that the Omani Rial is pegged to the US dollar, US passport holders will have a regular fixed income. UK passport holders are given a variation in pay dependent on market fluctuations, so the pay is steady. Other passport holders are subject to changes in the amount of pay dependent on the market value of the Rial/USD versus the world market: unfair, but that's how it works. Some of my NZ and AU friends get beaten up with this from time to time.
For a decent currency conversion website (which I usually use) see http://www.xe.com/ucc/ .
If you are a passport holder from a non-Western English-speaking country, your pay drops significantly. Highest paid are UK and American, followed by Aussies, Kiwis and Canadians. Maybe someone can explain this: I can't.

Duffy · Joined: 29 Oct 2005 Posts: 449 Location: Oman

As far as I am aware lieutenant is pronounced "lootenant" over the pond and "leftenant" in Britain. There are some who insist on pronouncing the word as "lewtenant"

gone off topic here a bit eh!! Laughing

carnac · Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:46 pm Post subject:

Ah, Duffy, you betray Canadian leanings, eh?
How many letters are in the Canadian alphabet?
52.
A, eh?, B, eh?, C, eh?, d, eh?.....................

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

carnac · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:19 pm Post subject:

also see http://www.bartleby.com/61/66/D0206600.html
If anyone is interested, also go to the main site, http://www.bartleby.com/ , in my view the greatest web resource for literature, free, copy paste print and use.

carnac · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:40 pm Post subject:

So Stephen, any guesses why my use of the word was beeped and yours wasn't? Maybe because yours was italicised and mine wasn't?
Maybe it just likes you better. Let's try it again:
dicker
(yes, yes, Mr. Kaglionieski, it's off-topic. But the question about the censoring software is not, so get outta my face.)
There you go. I just tried it again and it was beeped. Let me try an italicised version:
dicker
Ok, we'll try everything available for this legitimate English language word, boldface, italics and underline.
dicker
No again.
Beep this beeping son-of-a beep program that beeping beeps you whenever you use a word that contains beeping elements of a word ordinarily beeped. The beeping programmers should beep themselves and learn beeping English to beeping avoid this kind of mindless beeping obstruction in a note about beeping language.
Decode that, software drone. Beep you!

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

Stephen is just a wizard... Cool

But considering what you see on some sections of this board (China?), it is understandable why Dave chose to use the strictest censorship sofware.

VS

carnac · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:47 pm Post subject:

Hi, VS. Strict is one thing; stupid is another. The old acronym: GIGO. If a certain combination of letters is detected, it is beeped, regardless of perhaps being a combinatorial letter word fragment contained within an innocuous word.
Or, in the immortal rephrased words of Bill Clinton:
"It's the programming, stupid!" (not you, vs, the programmers)
Let's try the word harass , to annoy in an inappropriate manner. Also we'll try woodpecker, pussycat, titmouse, and harass.
Let's see: go to "preview:
Aha! Everything ok.
So why is this single word singled out?
Here we go again:the same word
"dicker"
Then, the word for a false shirt front, backwards ykcid
dicky
How about the author Charles snekcid
Is this stupid or what??
Dickens

carnac · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 4:10 pm Post subject:

Anyway, back to the original question, I believe the Royal Guard to be a good job posting. One of the long-term jobs, not a casual "I'm just passing through" deal. Teaching military students is very different in a lot of ways from teaching civilians: there will undoubtedly be an appointed "class leader" who will, if you wish, take care of attendance and is expected to explain any students not in class; you will have a military rank which outranks any student; they will be expected to achieve and will be held accountable if they do not. You will be treated with respect (unless you lose it) and regarded as Teacher/Daddy/Brother/Friend, all of these if you desire it. These guys are considered the elite of the Royal Army and as such are to be treated at all times with respect, even when they screw up. This does not mean that classroom discipline should not be maintained, but discipline should, with any Omani, never be confrontational. Always smile before gently hanging them. You will find cheating endemic. It is never to be tolerated, especially with the Royal Guard. Suggestion: Sometime during the first week, explain the concept of cheating, how it is not conducive to learning, and the penalties for doing so. (In the Royal Army, the penalty is dismissal, regardless of wasta.)
These guys are expected to come to school, on time, every day, listen and shut up unless asked to speak, do any homework assignments or else, pass their exams or they will be sent to drive trucks or wash garbage cans. On the other hand, they expect to be treated as men, as adults, and with respect, which is not unreasonable.
It is military, and works on military rules.
Your classes will be interrupted at unannounced times for military reasons. Never fret that your carefully (or otherwise) lesson has just been torpedoed. Go to the office, have a cup of coffee and read a book. Leave a note on the board: ("When you return, come get me.") and relax. Consider giving your mobile phone number to the class leader (with dire threatened consequences if he gives it to anyone else) so he can keep you advised of schedules. The students always know 2 days before you what the plans are.
Consider organising class dinners after important events, like big exams. Learn to eat rice and goat with your right hand. The students will teach you, take care of you, and love you for joining them.

The two most important phrases you should know:
"Al Hamdulillah!"
Literally, "God be praised", but really meaning "Everything is fine!" or "Wow, great news!", said commonly with no big religious overtones. How are you? (Keif halak?) Al hamdullah! How was your trip? Al hamdulillah! It's Wednesday, the weekend is here! Al hamdullah! How is your family" Al hamdulillah!
The other:
Correctly, Insh'Allah, with a slight catch of the throat at the parenthesis.
"God willing". I'll see you tomorrow, inshallah. (respose: Inshallah, with sincerity) You will do well on your exams, inshallah. I heard you were ill. I hope you are better. [Inshallah]
Welcome to Oman!

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

You know carnac... I was pondering why every combo seems to be bleeped. I wonder if it is because there are so many ways we misuse it, such as ---head, ---wad, ---less wonder. Another example is the word relating to male chickents.

Ah well... in the whole scheme of things... so what...

VS

omanized · Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Posts: 152

Great post with details of Omani students and culture ! One other important detail to mention re the RGO job - they do want to keep you for years and will give an allowance at the beginning for furniture etc. In case you don't stay for the multi year contract / agreement you have signed, a portion of the allowance is due to be returned before any settlement is made - it could mean 1000-2000 rials cash that you need to pay before leaving and no, you can't settle it on paper with your final settlement and take any balance - it can be difficult to leave even though you have put in 2-3 years of excellent service.

omanized