Job Discussion Forums

[filmpan]

I anticipate working for PMU (I know, I know; the posts here have been very discouraging, but I can't permit myself to be deterred) in Al Khobar. I've received no information about housing or exericse facilities, or whether one may go off compound to jog and/or ride a bike. Are such activities possible/permissible? Is the swimming in the Gulf good?

[veiledsentiments]

Are you male or female? That could affect the answer...

VS
(my condolences... BTW... the negative posts are sadly accurate...)

[desultude]

Both PMU compounds have pools- neither of them has been functional for a long time. I found the Gulf really useless for swimming (very shallow, very rough and sharp bottom. If you are a woman, you would have to find a private beach. One of the compounds has limited gym facilities, I don't believe the other has any.

If you are a woman, you will be limited to going around the compound for exercise- you may not jog or bike on city streets!

There are a lot of jobs still being posted. Entertain offers that have better housing and conditions.

If you are a woman and like the outdoors, don't go to Saudi Arabia. This has nothing to do with PMU, there are just not outdoors activities for women.

If you are an outdoors sports person, man or woman, check out jobs in Oman- it is an outdoors-person's paradise, and woman are free to do as they wish.

The posts about PMU are true and accurate, and written by people who chose not to renew contracts or left voluntarily.

[karachi]

You can do these activities within a compound (a kind of open prison). However, if you go off compound to jog or cycle you are likely to be a) sexually molested, b) run over or c) shot in a drive-by. The first happened to a male colleague of mine in Khobar 2002-2003, and the last happened to a teacher in Jubail the day after I left in 2003. If it's freedom and sports you're after don't go to Saudi. Try Australia or Hawaii instead.

[desultude]

[karachi]

Yes, that's true. I worked in Oman from 2003-2005 and it's a good place to explore with friendly locals. Plenty of wadis and nice beaches. I only have good things to say about Oman. My point in the previous post was that the original poster doesn't seem to have any idea of what living and working in Saudi actually entails. I have just read another post from him saying that he suffered from depression 15 years ago and asking if this would affect his visa application. This guy should think very seriously about going to Saudi. It only took 8 months of life there to make me seriously depressed. That included receiving death threats in the classroom from psychopathic students. Teaching females- you were lucky!

[filmpan]

I'm a male.... the negative posts are truly discouraging...

[veiledsentiments]

Oh goodness... filmpan... with your history of depression, I would strongly suggest that you do not go to Saudi Arabia and especially PMU. If you have at least a BA + CELTA + 3 years of teaching experience, I suggest that you go over to the Oman board and start looking at some of the jobs there. They are not perfect, but you can do all the activities listed above which keeps one from dwelling on the negatives that any and all jobs tend to include to some extent.

VS

[Stephen Jones]

You can go jogging but remember the temperatures, and expect to be stared at as if you were a lunatic.

[scot47]

KFUPM is a good place to be if you are into all this exercise stuff. Big campus. Gym. Swimming pools.

Not sure about PMU. KSA is NOT a good place for people with a history of depression and/or psychiatric problems.

[Marquess]

[johnslat]

Dear Marquess,
Would this be another "chicken or egg" situation - i.e. does Saudi Arabia cause the problems or do they go there because they have the problems?
Probably a question requiring an "all of the above" answer.
Regards,
John

[Marquess]

One of the best of several pieces of advice I have ever received about KSA is:

Whatever negative aspect of your personality, KSA will make it worse. I have seen it in myself so many times.