Korean Job Discussion Forums

sparkx · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: thekimchipot.com

Since starting my new job here in Korea 6 months ago I've been to about 6-7 different countries. It's in my contract that wherever the company wishes to send me I must go.

Today I found out that I'm off to Saudi Arabia for 2 weeks at the end of July; 3 different areas in Saudi (not exactly sure where yet), Oman and Dubai.

All joking aside, how fricken safe is this for a white bread boy like myself?

peppermint · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 4:48 am Post subject:

Talk to Bucheon Bum, who's in that part of the world now for some on the ground info

barrybrown · Joined: 18 Apr 2004

1.Wear Kevlar
2.If you look too white wrap a towel around your head

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

i'd like to go... but i think i'd get home everynight with skidmarks in my shorts from every bang or surprise i got during the day...

i spose there are plenty of us there at the moment and everything is fine.. if you sit in your safe house in a western (eastern) country and watch the news and read the papers, it might make you think more about the bad things than the good..

when i came to korea i was really worried about the dmz and the north.. i didn't know hardly anything bout the joint, just what was on the news...

just stay in the populated areas and don't venture to far from home is all i could possibily presume to be good advice..

have fun

ryleeys · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, MD

Four days before I got here in October, my dad got back from a two week trip to Abu Dhabi and he had no problems... The UAE and the other small Gulf states are safe enough. Saudi Arabia... I'd have my concerns.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

During last week's attack, the US asked all it's people to leave Saudi Arabia. If you are American, I think that spells it out for you.

I suspect the same would be true if you are British.

My advice is to put a French flag on your backpack.

Harin · Joined: 03 May 2004 Location: Garden of Eden

Wear a T-shirt w/ a Canadian flag saying, 'I am Canadian.' Wink

itaewonguy · Joined: 25 Mar 2003

you're safe as houses!!!

Dubai and saudi arabia are meccas.!! Dubai is like Tokyo! if not better!
very great modern city etc.. and far from the war on terror!! dont sweat it
I have friends there. they havent had any problems..
have a good time!!

TJ · Joined: 10 Mar 2003

I have a friend who has been in Dubai for about 30 years. As far as I know he is still there so it can't be too bad.

The Lemon · Joined: 11 Jan 2003

I wouldn't worry about Dubai. It's the "three places in Saudi" that would concern me.

On the other hand, thousands of westerners have lived there for years and survived (ok, some don't). You're just breezing though. It mght be a little like people worrying about visiting Seoul for a week because the North might invade.

Sarah-in-Korea · Joined: 20 Aug 2003

Um, don't we live next to the DMZ which is supposedly the last frontline of the Cold War and one of the most dangerous places in the world???
Oh that's right, it's only scary if you WATCH THE NEWS!!!
I'm sure you'll get there and find it quite calm where you are, just stay away from the oil fields and don't go groping any of the local ladies.

Alyallen · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 4:15 pm Post subject:

Why don't you ask people in the job discussion forum? There is a forum for the middle east. That is probably a good place to ask about the places you will be going to.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/index.php

Best of luck,
AlyAllen

sparkx · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: thekimchipot.com

This morning i was told exactly where i'll be heading - Dubai, Oman and Dummam (Saudi Arabia). This last one kind of worries me a bit...for the record i'm definately not the paranoid type...i'm level headed and have good street sense, but after reading this, i'm seriously wondering if my job is worth it:

http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=44e98705-7ea4-4eaa-946c-6b5cfa6e2ff4

Saudi death terrorists still at large Jun 1 2004

Saudi authorities hunted for three suspected al-Qaida terrorists who used hostages as human shields to escape after a weekend assault on a residential complex that killed 22 people, mostly foreign oil workers.

The attackers fled Khobar to nearby Dammam, where they abandoned their truck for a car commandeered at gunpoint from an unidentified driver and drove off with police in pursuit.

My korean bosses just laughed when i told them my concerns (they always think i'm joking around even when i'm serious...pisses me off) and just said, "it's ok...no problems there."

Granted it might be cool to whoop some ass Sly style and then show up on Letterman the following Monday sporting an Eslcafe.com t-shirt with all the fixin's...but i have a weird feeling that in reality it would be my silky smooth ass that would end up being the recipient of a Mid East style curb stompin'.

sparkx · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: thekimchipot.com

simulated stereo