Job Discussion Forums

Don Mario · Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 27 Location: Guadalajara, Mexico

Before I make the big bungy jump and apply for teaching jobs
in Oman, what about my woman? Is it possible for foreigners
significant others to get jobs? The tie up is that my girlfriend
is a Mexican national, Fine arts degree holder and billingual
in Spanish/English. I am a Canadian national.
We each have are own passport, of course.
Do women fit in with foreign teachers getting
thier own jobs, living together, assimilating into
Oman society? Any thoughts? Thanks. DM

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

In Oman, as in all of the Gulf, it is illegal to cohabitate without marriage. The punishment tends to be lashes, a prison sentence, and deportation. That said, it is done. The key is that one has to be very low key and private. All of the neighbors will have to assume that you are married. The problem usually comes if a couple are not obviously of the same race. That will draw attention... and attention is what you don't want.

She will have to have a job that provides her with a work/residence visa in order for her to live there. You haven't suggested that she has any skills or education to get a job in Oman. A fine arts degree doesn't normally prepare one for earning a living... and there is no demand for Spanish in the Gulf.

To be honest, if you want to live with this woman in Oman. Marry her. If you want to just live together, I suggest looking at non-Muslim countries.

VS

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 4:12 am Post subject:

What VS said...

BTW, I've been tryin' to sing the song that you posted and, MAN, is it hard! Wink

NCTBA

Vorbourg · Joined: 28 Aug 2010 Posts: 7

I recommend first researching the process of a person with a Mexican visa to get into the country. And girlfriend. Keep it private. Only married couples can apply together. Technically you should be married to live together. Do some more research on the laws of the country you are thinking of applying to.
And the visa requirements for the person in question.

Idea

Buffalo Boy · Joined: 02 Oct 2009 Posts: 80

The problem usually comes if a couple are not obviously of the same race. That will draw attention... and attention is what you don't want.

Anyone care to comment or elaborate on this point? My wife is Vietnamese and will be joining me here after I get my residency. We had a lot of problems living as a mixed family in Vietnam. Will people really care about it here?

eha · Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 355 Location: ME

'My wife is Vietnamese and will be joining me here after I get my residency'

Don't think it would be a problem if you have the right documentation--- marriage certificate, authenticated as requested, etc.

Buffalo Boy · Joined: 02 Oct 2009 Posts: 80

There's no problem with the documentation, just wondering if anyone has had problems living here as a mixed race family. Do the locals or any of the other people who live here have a problem with it, and if so how vocal will they be about expressing it?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

There are many mixed race couples (nearly every combination that you can think of Cool

), and it is absolutely no problem as long as you are legally married. It is just with couples who are living together illegally, a mixed race couple draws attention. If you are traveling around the country or perhaps out very late at night, you may want to have a copy of your marriage papers in the car.

Your wife may need to be prepared for being thought to be the maid (or nanny if you have kids). Hopefully she can ignore the ignorance that this assumption shows. It happens because many Arabs have Asian servants. So, whereas your problems in Viet Nam were because of people that didn't approve, in the Gulf it is more of a failure to recognize her position.

VS

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 1:32 am Post subject:

Also, be vigilant in the souks, South Asian men NOT of Indian/Sri Lankan origin have a problem of keeping their hands to themselves when it comes to Asian women in confined areas...

NCTBA

Buffalo Boy · Joined: 02 Oct 2009 Posts: 80

Thanks for the replys. We are legally married and do have a kid. I talked about this with my wife before we decided to come here and she said she doesn't care what people say about her as long as she doesn't have to listen to continual racist/sexist abuse in her own language, which is what she gets in Vietnam.

We'll be careful in souks.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

And therein lies the advantage of not speaking the local language... Cool

If your kidlet looks more like you than her, they may mistake her for the nanny. The Central American wife of a friend of mine had more problems with that when she was out with her pale-skinned, blond daughter, but not with her darker skinned, black haired son. Hopefully she can meet these minor road blocks with a sense of humor.

VS