Job Discussion Forums

[lyndalorient]

I have just discovered I will be sent to Al Ain if I take up a job with Chouefait.

I have tried doing research on Al Ain and very little is coming up.

To my dismay it is not beside the beach, it seems really traditional and not at all what I am looking for in the UAE. It doesn t seem touristy and that really worries me.

There is nothing about the school, the accomodation, absolutely nothing....
I have signed the contract but I heard alot of people don t show up anyway. They haven t started processing my visa or plane tickets yet. I think they are waiting on me to do this?

Is it even possible to ask for Abu Dhabi or Dubai?Could I chance it? As I really cannot see myself going to a place like this. I think I would it would be such a culture shock and unbearably hot without the seaside. Is it like Cairo?

I am worried I would have to cover up, be abused and be one of the few foreigner, Frankly I am terrified now....

Does any one know a thing about this place? Or is there anyone who can reassure me as this sounds like a nightmare to me.....

[eha]

Al Ain is NOT like Cairo! And it's far from a nightmare; I liked living in Al Ain (the job was the problem, but don't worry, I wasn't in Choueifat). It is a long way from the seaside, but the advantage of that is that it isn't as debilitatingly humid as Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Dubai is about an hour-and-a-half drive away; Abu Dhabi two-and-a-half--- maybe less. It's got several-- 4 or 5 now--- international hotels, with pools and sports facilities; the accommodation is mostly very nice--- can't answer for Choueifat, mind you.
Only problem: you sound YOUNG. It's a great place for older people; young people, esp. if you're single, find it a bit boring. But you can drive up to Dubai at weekends -- if you like shopping malls. I'd call it 'suburban-living-in-the-desert'.
About the job: have you checked out Choueifat? Again, it isn't every teacher's dream-- highly structured, I hear; not much freedom for teachers, etc. But then, where is there any of that for teachers nowadays?

[lyndalorient]

Thanks for your reply. I admit I was a bit worried when I posted this topic. I was just shocked as I had been told it would be Dubai or Abu Dhabi. As I know that these places are ok. No one seems to have been to Al Ain and thats what made me panic.
Of course when I did research all I saw was desert and souks.
Tripadviser has hardly any topics on it which made me freak out even more.
Don t get me wrong I loved Cairo but I couldn t possibly live in a place like that. I am used to my comforts and western living thats why I thought Dubai and Abu Dhabi would be perfect for me.

I am 22 but I don t like drinking and clubs. I just like socialising, meeting up for coffee and cinemas. In the evening I d like to sunbathe and swim thats why I was so dismayed that there is no beach. i like the heat (not too much but I am a sunworshipper) Is there anyhotels near the school (if you have ever seen chouefait in Al Ain)?
Maybe I was a bit too hasty to judge Al Ain. Its not poor is it? Is it terribly conservative? Are there beggars? Is there some things to do? i.e. water parks, decent malls, social clubs what transport like.

Now that I know where I ll be going is different I really don t know what to do. I want western comforts in a nice sea side environment in a place where I can feel safe and not worry about being a female on my own.

I don t know if I can ask to change but they can t force me to go somewhere I don t want to go.

[veiledsentiments]

[Bindair Dundat]

[cmp45]

Bindairdundat said:
They'll waste the mountains soon enough. If you could see what they've done to Jebel Hafeet, you would cry.


Now that you have left us hanging...what have they done...with the mountains... that would make you cry????

I lived in Fujairah for 3 years and was fortunate as it was nestled in between low mountains and ocean. It was ungodly humid though! I liked the low keyed lifestyle of Fujairah and for a small place there were an amazing number of bars and clubs etc.

I visited Al Ain a few times and thought it was okay; a well organized smaller city, if sprawling, lots of flowers and greenery.

I agree, it would be a wise move to get the Gulf experience. Perhaps once in the system you can try for a transfer?

Al ain is not in the boonies, you will have all your western creature comforts there, I am sure there are cinemas, etc and if you need the crazy big city life then its only 1 1/2 hours away. As stated before if you are young 22yrs you may not find many people in your age range...but then again I could be wrong...

[lyndalorient]

The Int'l Schools of Choueifat
Recruitment Dept
P.O.Box 15997
Al Ain
United Arab Emirates

Can anyone tell by looking at this address if it is in the city centre? I am warming to the idea of going here as people seem to have far more negative things to say about Dubai, ABU and Sharjah.
Anyone I have asked seems to like this town. There will definately be other expat teachers, won t there?
If the emritis are friendly I would be very happy. I would like more of a cultural experience (though the likes of Egypt and India would be far too much for me)


As I have stated before I just want to get some experience before getting my teachers qualification in Uk or Ire.
The problem is finidng out info on the actual school itself. I cant find anyone who worked there

[veiledsentiments]

Lynda

A quick lesson on the Emirates... they don't have addresses. I saw a wonderfully humorous article about that some years back. Streets may have a sign, but everyone will call it a different name... buildings lack numbers. You give directions by landmark, and it all works out much easier than you think it will.

Al-Ain was for years the main oasis of the Emirates and home of Sheikh Zayed. He made sure that it became a real garden spot in the desert once the oil wealth poured in. But, it has grown in rather an unplanned organic manner. I'm not sure if it has a 'center.' Nowhere in terribly far from anywhere else though.

It is the home of the main university UAEU, HCT, and some international schools, so never fear... there are plenty of other expats. Chouefat is a chain school, so the basic situation is the same in most branches. One just has the vagaries of management... and we get few teachers here who are not tertiary which is why it is hard to find any to talk to.

And since you are only going for one year, you will barely be unpacked and have found your way from home to school by the time you must repack to head home!!

VS

[eha]

lynda: Go on, give it a try! Al Ain is CRAWLING with expats! And as VS says, a year is nothing. I think the school is quite multi-national; a lot of the university & college staff send their kids there. And Al Ain is a small town--- well, city, now, I suppose; the school is not in the 'centre', but it's very easy to get around AL Ain--- well, it used to be!

[NadiaK]

[spicegirl]

lynda: check your personal messages - I sent you one yesterday. As I said, there's plenty to do in Al Ain, and it's much less humid than the towns + cities by the sea. Anyway, Dubai can't really be described as being 'by the seaside' - it's a big city with beaches not too far away.

On a Choueifat salary you'd be far more likely to be able to afford membership in a health/sports club in Al Ain than you would in Dubai or Abu Dhabi - prices in Al Ain are generally noticeably lower than in Dubai for most things, for sure.

There are expat teachers like yourself employed by other schools, not only Choueifat, and you'll bump into them for sure.

Choueifat isn't in the town centre - there are mostly only shops and banks there. It's in the area called Manaseer Jadeed, where most of the schools for expat children are. Distances aren't considered that important in Al Ain - no taxi ride anywhere is likely to take more than 15 minutes, with the average being about 10.

There aren't any water parks yet, but I heard that one is planned for completion in 2010, set in a complex with a hotel, cinemas and another shopping mall. Is Al Ain set to have the new Wild Wadi?? The Sheraton is now under construction, too, so we'll have another hotel in a couple of years. Al Ain is growing.

[lyndalorient]

I am getting used to the idea of Al Ain after the initial shock and having never heard of it. No one seems to dislike this town. The comments have been very nice.

I was worried Al Ain was going to be a real empty town. When I was in France I made the mistake of selecting a gloomy town in south brittany with horrible weather loads of unemployment, drunks and homelessness. It was a terribly grey town. Al Ain does not sound like this. At least there is some info on Al Ain. Does anyone have anyother photos of this town?

In some ways Al Ain might be best for me. I don t like drinking to get drunk , I just like going out with friends for a meal, coffee shops and cinemas and of course some shopping. I also like pretty towns with some .history and scenery and as far as I know Dubai doesn t really have that,

I was getting put off the idea of Dubai as it does sound like a big construction site. Sharjah didn t sound very appealing neither

I was thinking about giving the guy who interviewed me a ring to ask for a contact in the school itself.

I d just like to know there is a place like a pool with some chance of sunbathing in the evenings.


As I know the work will be tough it would be nice to have some relaxing time.. I was worried about being stuck indoors all the time.

Do you need taxis to go everywhere or is it all mainly walking distance?


Do you think I should chance asking for Abu Dhabi or do you think Al Ain will be fine for what I am looking for?

Lynda

[Stephen Jones]

[veiledsentiments]

The history that I read was slightly different... how a tribal dispute on borders was infiltrated by the British vs American attempting to take over what they knew was going to be lots and lots of oil... and so it goes.

For centuries Al-Ain was fought over for its water... the last battles were for its oil. The Saudis (and Americans) lost that one and Sheikh Zayed inherited all that oil.

And so it goes... the more things change the more they remain the same...

VS

[scot47]

The Buraini Dispute in 1955 nearly brought Saudi Arabia and Britain into armed conflict. The area was claimed by Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Oman. International negotiation gave it to Oman and Abu Dhabi. Buraimi proper is now part of Oman. The rest of the oasis is Al Ain - now part of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. KSA, much to the chargin of Aramco and Riyadh got nowt.

I thought it was a fairly anodyne modern town with lots of Indians and Pakistanis. Hilton Hotel. Intercontinental Hotel and lot6s of 'expats' having a post-colonial lifestyle.

Not for me but might be nice for a twenty-something year old bright young thing. I will stick to Saudi which is perfect for crusty old men like me.