Job Discussion Forums

[leez]

hi all,

is there any place to post questions about essential vs. non-essential gear to carry to SA? am in the midst of packing for a year-long teaching stint and would like to ask those who have 'gone before'...

if this isn't the right place, thanks for directions guiding me to it!

leez

[naturegirl321]

Take only what you need. Lots of stuff can be found here. BUt then again, it might be super expensive. LIke tampons, contact solution, PB, if you like that, and sunscreen are usually expensive.

As are English books, both novels and teaching material. Then again, the place you're working might have all of that ready for you.

If you're big or tall, finding clothes and shoes taht fit will be a problem.

I know this might not help much, sorry, but you'll probably pack too much. I took sheets and towels with me the first time nearly ten years ago.

Now its just the bare min and I barely use taht. Also, think about the climate, bring stuff that you can layer, wear in winter and summer.

Here's some stuff I'd bring
Clothes
Shoes
Purse
toiletries
laptop
Camera
Small towel to use until I bought a bigger one.

Honestly, I wound't bring more than that. Music and movies you can get cheaper here. I woulnd't bring spices because I can't cook, on the plus side, I stay thin AS for books, I LOVE reading, but you can usually borrow from other teachers, or the library. And teaching mat, there's tons of stuff online.

[Justin Trullinger]

Don't forget that South America is GREAT BIG.

What you need to bring, and to leave behind, will vary a lot based on your location- culture, weather, and many other concerns will be different from place to place.

Can't really offer much info without knowing more.


Best,
Justin

[leez]

ng,

don't know whether to laugh or cry. if i have less than 200 pounds ready to go, i would be surprised. linens, towels, (might as well 'fess up), 50# of books, artwork, pottery pieces, dive gear, electronics....if i don't have it, i won't need it.

guess i will rethink it, see if i can at least get my gear to the allotted weight. might save myself a couple hundred bucks.

thanks, i think!

leez

[leez]

justin,

sorry, the SA was for saudi arabia. i will be in the northern outback, provincial, surrounded by desert. understand it will be hot or hotter. will be on a compound a supposed 10 minute drive from the uni, have no idea how from the nearest village. figure my crib is going to be my space for most of my hours spent off the reservation and will have to make my own adventure. feel like it would be worth it to pack comfort stuff (see reply to ng).

then again, always willing to listen to another's story!

thanks,
leez

[naturegirl321]

Good news is that you'll probably be earning a lot, so you can order stuff from Amazon. And from what I kow, compounds are like small villages, with libraries, gyms, etc.

And basic stuff, linenes, things like that, they'll be available there. people live in KSA, it's not like your'e going to the Artic. As for artwork, pottery, etc, don't bring it' it'll probably get damaged.

[denise]

Does your school provide a shipping allowance? I'm in the Middle East (Oman, not KSA), and some people here bring entire households with them as they move from country to country.

Yes, by all means, bring comfort stuff, but leave behind the household stuff--linens, etc. And leave behind anything that you'd really miss if it were to break on the way over. As for books--sure, bring a few of your faves, but as naturegirl said, you should be earning enough to be able to order whatever you want whenever you want it--this is assuming that you're getting a furnished place with a good salary.

d

[leez]

great food for thought from all angles; much appreciated. household gear is gone from the pile, most of my dive gear (that's a load in itself), books i've cut in half (you know what i mean , and i will contain artwork/supplies & pottery to what i can carry on board.

yes, there is furnished accommodation, wasn't as concerned about dragging along a blowup bed as i was to have stuff for my walls. and yes, the pay is decent, so will be using amazon, but figured it made just as much sense to bring along the books already purchased and not yet read!

along a different note, was told to buy an abaya before i left the US and to put it on before i deplane in saudi. serious stuff. at the same time, shall i exchange my toe-exposed summer shoes for a 'serious' shoe? not making fun, really! perhaps i need to start an 'appropriate apparel' thread on the newbie board?

ya'all 'r great,
leez
xo

[naturegirl321]

One more thing about books. YOu could probably borrow or swap with others. Here in Lima, I set up a monthly book swap. All swaps are done on a permanent basis, we do DVDs too. Haven't bought new stuff in years. There's also a bi annual book sale that I church runs, 3 books for 3 dollars. Maybe you could set something up like that. Also, when people leave, they leave stuff behind, so you might want to pal up with those moving on and offer to buy their books.

[denise]

Check on the Saudi board for apparel advice. Yes, it is a serious deal... Regarding the footwear--at least in Oman, sandals are the norm, even for women. It gets kinda frustrating when I try to go shoe shopping, as all I can ever find are 8,000 varieties of gaudy, spangly, sparkly, strappy high-heeled sandals.

d