Job Discussion Forums

Bradtheexpat · Joined: 25 Jun 2007 Posts: 3

Hi,
I am thinking about moving to saudi arabia (and will be teaching english if i do so)in the next few years and I am looking for information.
1) What is the average pay for English teachers with 10 years experience and a degree in App. Ling?
2) How are the work conditions(also hours, vaction, etc...), and are there any employers to avoid?
3) Last, and most important, I will be with my wife (korean) and i am concerned about bringing her to a country that is rather notorious for it's poor treatment of women. Will she be able to go out in public wihout me and how are things like shopping, entertainment and all that stuff that she can enjoy while i am at work? Could she get a job as an english teacher (she has degrees in english) or is that not possible?

We want to move somewhere where we are both foriegn before we settle in Canada and we would like to make decent money where we go, right now we are looking at the middle east or maybe singapore.
thanks in advance for your advice
brad

Cleopatra · Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 5:53 am Post subject:

canadashirleyblue · Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 162

It would depend on how low your wife would go in terms of salary and her command of English. Saudis pay by nationality. They like to hire people who have no right to work in Saudi so they can pay cash and fire them when they feel like it.

There are no cinemas in Saudi.

As for going out - most of the year it is far to hot for anyone to go outside walking. There are rarely any sidewalks, either. Women can and do go out by themselves. If she is wrapped up in her abaya (which she will HAVE to wear) and her face is covered it would be difficult to know where she was from. The principal's wife and daughter were stopped on the street and taken to the police station as suspected prostitutes when the principal dropped them off to go shopping. I suspect this was because they were black.

Women can not go into an internet cafe. Men and women are segreted for most things. If you want to send a fax or pay your phone bill there is the men's entrance and the woman's. If you go to McD's there is the men's entrance and the "family" entrance. Restaurants do not generally permit women on their own to eat because it is assumed they are prostitutes. Women may not go to a restaurant with a man who is not their husband, son, brother or father.

There is lots and lots of shopping. There are lots of western shops. There are lots of health clubs which are for women only. She would need to socialize in women only groups unless it was a private event in a private home.

Everything shuts 5 times a day for prayer. Men who look Muslim can and are picked up by the matawa (religious police) if they are not in the mosque praying at prayer time. Of course, they let you off later - after you have spent 5 or 6 hours in the police station. Christian (or any other) worship is illegal.

There are loads more thrilling details I could tell you! I actually liked it there! But then there are those who question my sanity. Rolling Eyes

Cleopatra · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 5:51 am Post subject:

007 · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:24 am Post subject:

Cleopatra · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:41 am Post subject:

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:01 am Post subject:

Robski · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 50 Location: Middle Europe

Dear Brad the expat.

Don't - your wife may never forgive you for it.

Unless the company you intend to work for will provide all the creature comforts your family needs, such as quality housing in a western compound, car, sat TV etc. or so much money that you can go out and buy it all for yourself without making it an economic nonesense being Saudi Arabia because you are spending so much money, then just don't. She will probably not be toooo happy about being there. The thing is, if you decide you don't like it, and your company have your passport in a safe while they get your documents done, you won't easily be able to change your mind.

I would never have taken my partner to SA. So much that you take for granted outside the Magic Kingdom, such as driving a car, going for a swim in the sea with you wife, making friends (other that just the blokes you work with), having a BBQ at the weekend etc. just cannot happen.

I would also suspect that as a Korean she would not be treated with the same level of respect as other nationalities.

Cleopatra · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 12:19 pm Post subject:

007 · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 4:35 pm Post subject:

Cleopatra · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 4:50 pm Post subject:

canadashirleyblue · Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 162

It's true they have trouble telling who looks Muslim. That's why they sometimes make mistakes. My taxi driver, who was a Phillipino and Christian, was picked up with a group of men who were not at the mosque at prayer time. Presumably the rules don't apply to the matawa. They are too busy saving the nation. There seem to be lots of men wandering around outside at prayer time. I suppose they can't catch everyone. Hell, I can't explain it but I believe the driver was telling the truth.

I was happy there. I had friends and no one bothered me. I was (still am) a woman and I don't feel I was badly treated. They have a lot of strange rules but if you follow them I don't think you are likely to run into trouble. Unless, of course, you are black, Asian or Phillipino.

Forgot - I was told to leave McDonalds because I was a woman on my own!

007 · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 8:54 am Post subject:

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 9:23 am Post subject:

007 · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:10 pm Post subject: