Job Discussion Forums

[dmb]

I will soon be leaving leaving the Gulf. I was wondering if anyone has done the same(obviously) My question is did you have any work related problems when you took up a new position outside the Arab world?

[johnslat]

Dear dmb,
Heck, I've "left the Gulf, 4 times (and returned 3). One time I went to Indonesia, the other times I taught in the States (all levels - middle school, junior/senior high, university). I never had any work-related (or other) problems during any of those respites from the Kingdom. Well, let me qualify that just a bit. In Indonesia (after having spent 7 years in Saudi Arabia) I found that I was spending more than I was making. I thought of it as sort of "my last hurrah", and I can't say I regret my prodigality. Lovely ladies in that land and, at the time, I was still imbibing.
Is it any wonder I was such a spendthrift?
Bottom line, I'd say, is it depends on the individual. But most of us are highly adaptable - or we wouldn't stay long in this field. All the best in your next job.
Regards,
John

[Cleopatra]

I havne't hade any work related difficulties since leaving KSA, but I still suffer the occasional bout of "reverse culture shock' even though it's almost a year since I left. I still do a double-take every time a car pulls up next to me in the street - I fear it's going to be some bored chabab trying to see what's under my abaya...

As John said, we humans are more adaptive than we sometimes give ourselves credit for. Just like you adapaed to the shock of living in the ME, you will adapt to the - in many ways worse - shock of readapting to "home". I say 'worse' because people expect to suffer culture shock when abroad, and usually get support from others who have been through the same thing. However, when you return home, everyone expects you to fit in as though you've never been away - certainly not to somewhere as "Weird" as the gulf. At least tha'ts been my experience.