|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
ghost
Joined: 30 Jan 2003
Posts: 1693
Location: Saudi Arabia
|
 Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:41 pm Post subject: Al Khobar arabic lessons, and getting around without a car.. |
 |
|
Are there any institutes in Al Khobar which cater to foreigners who would like to learn classical arabic?
How easy is it to get around town if one does not have a car? I have been told that riding a bike is dangerous, but are there any 'side roads' away from the main ones, where bike riding is relatively safe in Al Khobar? And is it possible to cyle all the way to Dharan? Are there any alternative roads, besides the main roads?
Any cycle clubs or triathlon clubs in Al Khobar?
Thank you.
Ghost in Korea |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Nowhere that I know of. I would suggest finding a private tutor and doing it 1-1. Costly but the best way.
Cycling to town or in town is not a good idea. You can cycle on the pavement within KFUPM or from KFUPM to Dhahran Mall. There are also free shopping buses. Many people use taxis. Taxi to town or one of the malls is 20 Saudi Riyals.
Of course if you use a taxi the 300 Club will immediately blackball you. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ghost
Joined: 30 Jan 2003
Posts: 1693
Location: Saudi Arabia
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 12:18 am Post subject: re |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Of course if you use a taxi the 300 Club will immediately blackball you. |
What's all that about?
Ghost in Korea |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 3:50 am Post subject: The 300 |
|
|
Dear ghost,
Well, it's not the Spartans - but then again, in a way, it is.
The "300 Club" is that (imaginary??) group of thrifty (penny-pinching?)
ex-pat teachers (and others?) who have vowed not to spend more than 300 riyals a month while in Saudi.
I can be done, but with inflation, I'll bet it's getting harder to do.
Regards,
John |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ghost
Joined: 30 Jan 2003
Posts: 1693
Location: Saudi Arabia
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 6:25 am Post subject: re |
|
|
| Quote: |
Dear ghost,
Well, it's not the Spartans - but then again, in a way, it is.
The "300 Club" is that (imaginary??) group of thrifty (penny-pinching?)
ex-pat teachers (and others?) who have vowed not to spend more than 300 riyals a month while in Saudi.
I can be done, but with inflation, I'll bet it's getting harder to do.
Regards,
John |
That's unreal! 300 riyals is equivalent to about $80 u.s. dollars a month, or $20 u.s. a week, or just under $3.00 u.s. per day.
In Korea, there is a teacher in my town who saves around $2000 a month from his $2400 a month Language Institute job, and those who know him consider that guy to be an expert at saving money, so spending only $80 a month is off the charts, as far as teachers in Korea are concerned.
In Korea, most teachers save around $1000 u.s. per month, from their typical $2300-$3000 jobs, with accommodation free. But in Korea, we have to pay bills for our 'free' apartments, and in winter Korea can get cold, so spending up to $200 u.s. per month is common - in summer, humid heat means the same amount is spent for air con. In Saudi, the advantage you have is that bills are paid for, as far as I can gather.
I save about half my salary in Korea, and that is living a modest lifestyle, cooking mostly at home. The money just goes. Fruit is very expensive in Korea. A small bunch of grapes can cost around $10 u.s. I spend about $50-$70 most weeks on groceries. As I eat French bread (baguettes) and fruit every day, the bills are substantial. At my College, meals cost around $3 u.s.
Also in Saudi, with less opportunities for 'wine and song' further savings can be made.
It will be interesting to see some of these characters who manage on 300 riyals a month. They would provide good material for a novel on the subject.
Perhaps Saudi attracts those kinds of teachers who are willing and able to 'sacrifice' a lot in the name of saving for the future. Does not seem like an exciting way of life though.
Does this mean that one can eat for free in the cafeterias at Saudi Universities? How else could someone survive on $3 u.s. a day for three square meals a day, unless they were living on rice and water?
Ghost in Korea
Last edited by ghost on Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:39 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 6:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
The "300 Club" is that (imaginary??) group of thrifty (penny-pinching?)
ex-pat teachers (and others?) |
Imaginary? I think not.
| Quote: |
| In Saudi, the advantage you have is that bills are paid for, as far as I can gather. |
Not neccessarily true, and becoming less frequent.
| Quote: |
| How else could someone survive on $3 u.s. a day for three square meals a day, unless they were living on rice and water? |
300 Klub members often eat in on-site cafeterias, where food is free or subsidised. They also stock up on 5 kilo bags of rice from the Asian grocery shops, supplementing it with whatever cheap veg is in season. This could stay under 10 SR a day. Of course, 300 Klub members are not averse to enjoying less frugal friends' hospitality when it is offered.[/quote] |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 6:39 am Post subject: Re: Al Khobar arabic lessons, and getting around without a c |
|
|
| ghost wrote: |
Are there any institutes in Al Khobar which cater to foreigners who would like to learn classical arabic?
How easy is it to get around town if one does not have a car? I have been told that riding a bike is dangerous, but are there any 'side roads' away from the main ones, where bike riding is relatively safe in Al Khobar? And is it possible to cyle all the way to Dharan? Are there any alternative roads, besides the main roads?
Any cycle clubs or triathlon clubs in Al Khobar?
Thank you.
Ghost in Korea |
It is best to wait until you arrive.
Once you are settled in country you will have a better chance of finding someone that can assist you in finding an Arabic tutor or language training course. You could also try advertising on www.expatriates.com there is a section for Saudi and is free. It 'may' be blocked unless you have a satellite internet connection.
Secondly you will soon discover if bicyling is appropriate or not once you arrive. If your desire to ride your bicyle is strong, you will eventually connect with like minded people that share your passion and find the appropriate clubs and areas to ride your bike.
It is very difficult to get current answers on a forum as the people that have the answers to your questions most likely will not be reading this forum! Also every one has a different opinion...best to just wait until you arrive and you will eventually have all your questions answered - just by being in the country... be patient you will see. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mark100
Joined: 05 Feb 2003
Posts: 441
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 5:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
You can forget about cycling around Khobar unless you have a death wish.
I had a big four wheel drive and was still scared when driving around Saudi.
The road is not for the faint hearted.
As for the 300 club i know there were some guys in BAE who managed to live on 50 rats a month but they had everything paid for.
I don't see how you could do it.
Call me extrravagant but you will have a nice life style in Saudi on around 2k rats a month.
If you want to live in misery and poverty that is up to you but better to do yourself a favour andtry to enjoy Saudi as much as humanly is possible. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 5:46 am Post subject: |
|
|
300 SR a month is 10 SR a day. You can live on that. Whether you would choose to do is another matter. The 300 Club is a very small group.
Contracts offering free food are not common BAe is one of them.
I would say that for a single teacher 2000 SR would cover a reasonable lifestyle in Saudi Arabia. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ghost
Joined: 30 Jan 2003
Posts: 1693
Location: Saudi Arabia
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 1:14 pm Post subject: re |
|
|
| Quote: |
300 SR a month is 10 SR a day. You can live on that. Whether you would choose to do is another matter. The 300 Club is a very small group.
Contracts offering free food are not common BAe is one of them.
I would say that for a single teacher 2000 SR would cover a reasonable lifestyle in Saudi Arabia. |
That sounds more reasonable. 2000 SR is around $533 u.s. per month, which gives a person around $17 u.s. per day.
This also means that on an 'average' Saudi University salary of $3000 u.s. per month, a frugal teacher could save 80% of his salary. When compared with Korea, savings in the Gulf are higher.
In Korea, teachers who do well usually save no more than 50% of their salaries. Food and groceries are more expensive in Korea, and the fact that bills and utilities have to be paid for (in Korea) also cuts down on savings compared with the Gulf countries.
The members of the 300 club remind me of those expats who, when in a city anywhere in the world, walk into 5 star hotels to use the 'free' facilities, like bathrooms and free newspapers, and in some hotels, even avail of the free breakfast buffets, as those breakfasts are often not carefully monitored by hotel staff. I knew a teacher in Cairo who used the Cairo Hilton for that purpose, even though he did not reside there or have any connections to the plush hotel. He even used the pool and the gym, as the security system was so poor.
Ghost in Korea |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:08 pm Post subject: Re: re |
|
|
| ghost wrote: |
I knew a teacher in Cairo who used the Cairo Hilton for that purpose, even though he did not reside there or have any connections to the plush hotel. He even used the pool and the gym, as the security system was so poor.
Ghost in Korea |
He must be a Scottish or a Canadian!  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
