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mideast..herewecome
Joined: 22 Aug 2010
Posts: 3
Location: Los Angeles
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 Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 4:12 pm Post subject: family living; teaching at IPA |
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Hello,
I have a few questions...
My husband has a MA/TESOL and will most likely begin working at the IPA. Our daughter (16 mo.) and I are staying behind in the States for one year until we are certain that its worth moving us over there as well. I have read some posts and brief descriptions from you all (thank you) about the family housing compound for IPA.
1. Would it be possible for you to provide a better description? I am basically getting the impression that it is not a desirable place to live...is this true?
2. I have a MA in Public Admin and have many years as an education coordinator through a municipal agency...what do you think the chances are of getting a job at a female university/college?
3. Where in your opinion (of the teaching insitutions) has decent family housing conditions, or decent family housing compound? Decent= on site day care, pool, westerners walking around without abaya, security....
I am completely prepared to do as the saudi's do in regards to the headpiece and abaya, but it would be nice to have an opportunity to take it off at the family compound...
Thanks... |
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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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I am sure, IPA would be willing to connect you with current married teachers already living on the compound, if you have your husband make a request...these IPA teachers would be the best people to offer the detailed info you are seeking.
However, teachers are on summer holidays now coupled with the fact that Ramadan is currently underway, you may not beable to get much of a response.
Which is why you are inquiring here... right!?!   Good luck... maybe some others will chime in...
From what I know of the IPA compound...it is pleasant & decent enough, the housing varies from large 3-4 bedroom villas to small 1-2 bedroom and often depends on availability regarding what type you get stuck with, but don't know much beyond that... |
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mideast..herewecome
Joined: 22 Aug 2010
Posts: 3
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 6:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks CMP45...good suggestion... |
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I Rub Ruchi
Joined: 23 Jun 2008
Posts: 45
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 5:16 am Post subject: |
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read my next post
Last edited by I Rub Ruchi on Sun Aug 29, 2010 5:32 am; edited 1 time in total |
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I Rub Ruchi
Joined: 23 Jun 2008
Posts: 45
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 5:29 am Post subject: |
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IPA family housing is probably OK after you clean your home , set up a home gym, and get the internet working.
Don't expect any services on the family compound when you arrive, you you will have to do with only you and your family for the most part. I'm sorry, but it seems that all teachers have been met at the airport when they arrive in KSA (many new teachers are not greeted and have to somehow find their way to thier housing and employer).
They do wear the Abaya on the IPA compound, but why do you ask? There is nowhere to go on the compound except stay at home. Probably you can get your child into a playgroup and have some social life there.
Expect your husband to work in the evening at the IPA, there always seems to be overtime for us here.
Last year three married couples arrived, but the wives were not employable in the ESL market. They are now gone mostly for having bored wives. They were nice people.
Another of our male teachers left, but he will return with another contract at another school and will live on the compound that is provided for his wife.
You sound very employable in KSA.
If you come to KSA, come on your own package without your husband sponsoring you, then there will be many more benefits for you (paid vacation). Benefits are not always extended to local hires. Every organization applies their rules differently each year, so I cannot provide accurate information. Speak to your recruiter and read between the lines.
Have you lived overseas in the past? Then you will probably survive in KSA. Or do you have friends from other than your country? If not, then you probably will have more adjustments to make. I find it strange that so many people say they come to KSA to know other cultures and yet they have never had an Asian friend while living in their home country.
Remember that ESL folks don't have the best packages, if you can accept that, then you will be OK. Be prepared to pay our of your pocket to be happy here.
Single males might be happy since they can walk to work in ten minutes, this is the only benefit that IPA has over other schools/colleges/universities in KSA.
Married teachers must live outside the city and fight the worst traffic jams I have ever seen (yes, worse than Seoul on a Saturday afternoon). |
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Big L
Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 2:48 am Post subject: |
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Amuses me , people even considering bringing their kin
to Saudi. What a joke. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 11:03 am Post subject: |
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| My older daughter (now 16) looks back with nostalgia to her time at the American School in jeddah. She has never forgiven me for leaving employment with the Airline ! |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Big L wrote: |
Amuses me , people even considering bringing their kin
to Saudi. What a joke. |
And I've never understood people who go overseas to teach and leave their family behind for years and years. Why even have a spouse and children if one never sees them?
VS |
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mideast..herewecome
Joined: 22 Aug 2010
Posts: 3
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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I appreciate your replies and your insight...especially the mention of taking a position independently without the sponsorship through my husband. Yes we have traveled quite a bit, have spent many months living abroad in different countries, and living in CA has provided us with an opportunity to become familiar with a variety of ethnic groups and cultural tendencies. Our backgrounds are in cultural anthropology and philosophy...
Yes, perhaps the idea of moving kin to KSA is absurd, but life is too short to have to live without your spouse or family for an extended period of time...
I RUB RUCHI: would you suggest bringing linens, towels, vitamins, hygiene products with us from U.S.? I read someplace that one is not allowed to enter the KSA with vitamins or medications (advil, nyquil)...?
Does the IPA have house cleaning/drycleaning services at additional cost?
I suspect that once everything is finalized we will find out all of this after talking with the HR person, but im just curious and anxious to find out... |
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TeresaLopez
Joined: 18 Apr 2010
Posts: 601
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Big L wrote: |
Amuses me , people even considering bringing their kin
to Saudi. What a joke. |
Why? It seems to me that having one's family along would make it a lot more bearable. The idea of working in a place where there isn't "anything to do" actually appeals to me - I would have time to read all the books I haven't had time to read, write actual paper letters to people, learn to knit and do all kinds of things that my hectic life here doesn't often allow for. Besides that, I wonder why someone else's choices in life are a "joke" just because it isn't what you might choose for yourself. |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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| TeresaLopez wrote: |
| Big L wrote: |
Amuses me , people even considering bringing their kin
to Saudi. What a joke. |
Why? It seems to me that having one's family along would make it a lot more bearable. The idea of working in a place where there isn't "anything to do" actually appeals to me - I would have time to read all the books I haven't had time to read, write actual paper letters to people, learn to knit and do all kinds of things that my hectic life here doesn't often allow for. Besides that, I wonder why someone else's choices in life are a "joke" just because it isn't what you might choose for yourself. |
TL, whilst Big L is being a Big J (Jerk) trolling on this thread, I can see the point that's being voiced. Until you have YOUR family face the make-yer-own-fun kind of existence...or barely escape death myriad times on the public streets...or yer loved one being constantly accosted by the God Squad to "cover"...or being turned away at the airport and missing yer vacation flight even tho you have all yer papers in order, but the jerk at the police station didn't enter the fact that you paid off that parking ticket into the computer system that'll keep you from exiting the country...or having a saudi brush past you in line, after waiting patiently, as if you didn't even exist...or...or...or; you won't understand the kernel of truth to Big L's comment...
NCTBA |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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| mideast..herewecome wrote: |
| ...would you suggest bringing linens, towels, vitamins, hygiene products with us from U.S.? I read someplace that one is not allowed to enter the KSA with vitamins or medications (advil, nyquil)...? |
This is Riyadh... the capital of a very wealthy country. They actually sell sheets and towels.  More seriously, unless you are very picky (like me who only likes knit or flannel sheets), linens are available. I believe that there is a GNC in Riyadh. That said, I always took my vitamins with me since they may not carry the full lines in the overseas branches.
As to OTC medications... they are all there already at a fraction of the price in the US. You just have to know their actual name... like Naproxin or Ibuprophen etc. The same with prescription medication. It is rare to find a pharmacy that doesn't have more than one English speaker. They are very knowledgeable and many of us use the pharmacists for basic medicare - free doctoring in effect. Many of the brands are from Europe or wherever... and VERY cheap by American standards. I still have friends bringing me medications from the Middle East. For some of my meds, I can get a 3-4 year supply for same price as a month in the US... even made in the same factory sometimes.
If you are taking some obscure new prescription medication, it may not be available there... that you might want to take with you.
VS |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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If Panadol did not exist, neither would the Middle East...
NCTBA |
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I Rub Ruchi
Joined: 23 Jun 2008
Posts: 45
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 6:38 am Post subject: |
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In Riyadh you can get most anything; pills might be the best part of it all at a reasonable price. I do enjoy going to a pharmacy since it is very affordable and the staff is friendly.
GNC is very expensive in KSA and they are not always in stock with everything. I have trouble getting fish oil.
Sheets are plentiful and there are lots of discount stores for shopping as mentioned by V.S. There is an IKEA.
I do enjoy the company of most locals, I am always surprised by thier opinions. I don't spend too much time with them since I always seem to work a lot and leave for each holiday period.
Most people who enjoy KSA are not counting every Riyal, but try to get out and be with some of the interesting folks here. It does take effort to get to know people outside of your work community.
Read the above with caution since I am one of the few who loved my life in Korea, but left to save a bit more. |
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