jeddah

[simone]

Hi all

My husband and I will come to Jeddah at the end of 2008.  We are both going to teach at Jeddah Private for Boys.  I have a million questions.  We have a 9 year old girl and a 5 year old boy.  Our children will have to attend an International School.  I have been looking at The American School, Jeddah Prep and The Brittish International school (which seems very expensive).  We will not stay in a compound but in a house that belongs to the school.

Questions:  Will we be O.K. not being in a compound?
Which school can be recommended.
Does one adjust to the heat?
Are we allowed to bring Cd's and DVD's from SA?
What TV is available to watch - the kids worry about Disney Channel
Knowing that Christianity is a no-no - are we allowed to meet with other Christians e.g. a homegroup?

We are very excited and I am starting to feel more nervous as it is becoming a greater reality.

Thanks

Simone

[Bokka]

Hi Simone,
Welcome to the Kingdom!
The advantage of living in a compound is the freedom not wearing an abaya inside the compound as well as all the facilities in the compound, shopping busses etc.  You can also mingle with other expats. 
The British schools (Continental and Jeddah Prep and Grammar) are the best but unfortunatelly also very expensive.
There are a few compounds that have their own church sermons on a Friday.  I also heard that the British Consulate has a sermon there on Sunday evenings.
In our compound we have certain DSTV channels as well as some Orbit channels.  You have to find out from the school if they will provide a satelite service otherwise you have to get one yourself.
Good luck and I hope this info will help!

Bokka

[Robone]

Questions:  1. Will we be O.K. not being in a compound?
2. Which school can be recommended.
3. Does one adjust to the heat?
4. Are we allowed to bring Cd's and DVD's from SA?
5. What TV is available to watch - the kids worry about Disney Channel
6. Knowing that Christianity is a no-no - are we allowed to meet with other Christians e.g. a homegroup?

We are very excited and I am starting to feel more nervous as it is becoming a greater reality.

Hi Simone
1. A compound is better. I am not sure what it is like living outside of one, but I will probably soon find out as accomodation in compounds is becoming difficult to find
2. Can't give any advise
3. Yes you will adjust to the heat quite quickly. Dec and Jan are quite cool. Best time to arrive in Jeddah
4. Yes you can bring CD's and DVD's. I have never had a problem.
5. With satellite TV, anything is available.
6. Yes. You read a lot about what you can't do wrt to religion, but no one checks and keeps an eye on you so you can do what you like. Just dont flaunt it

[simone]

Hi Guys
thanks a lot for the info

as i think of more questions, i'l be back
now i hae to teach my grade 4's some geography

Simone

[Sharkie]

Simone,

Good to hear another SA person coming to Jeddah - its a great place.....

Just a word of warning check and double check the teaching contract and ensure all the tees are crossed and the Is dotted....have had friends working as teachers before and they got caught....lets leave It there for now.

I also suggest living in a compound - there are many but again you have to decide what you want - cheap and nasty or a western compound with a western life style.. Most of us choose the latter for simplicity as things on the out side get complicated at times. How ever security in the magic Kingdom is great so living in or out of a compound for this reason is neither here or there....really very safe.

As for other issues you really need to network with others - British, SA folk and even Aussies as they have some activities that are held weekly ......enough said here as well......if you want more please contact my private message box - some things are better not made public.

As Rob said we have a brilliant TV network and cartoon networks etc are available - private networks are also available - Showtime, Orbit and others....enough said here, as like before send message....

As for the heat - simple - yes you do over time, December is winter here and July is Summer the opposite of back home - so you will adjust fine but in Jeddah watch out for MR.Humidity........you will see.

Recommended schools - Jeddah prep and Grammer (500 SA teachers there) Intercontinental school, American school of Jeddah, or International school of Jeddah run by Johan and Benito from SA - the cheapest of the lot as well.
School fees range from about SR 3500 per child per month - around R7000 a month, very expensive - plus registration fees, uniforms, books, etc......a small fortune but a good investment - my two boys love school here and have grown in leaps and bounds.....

Bring your DVDS and CDS but you can get a lot here - DVDs are cheap and plenty available whist Cd's you must find the stores - network..

All in All its a beautiful experience and one to enjoy - however the first few months can be a huge shock - culture shock! SLAP BANG IN THE FACE - but then you become accustomed to things and it feels like home......

Well not quiet but close enough - take it from someone who has been here close on his fourth year.

[Pottie]

Simone,

Everybody gave there piece of advise, all is fine and very nice, we arrived a few days before Ramadan and then Ramadan hit us like ice water, straight in the face. Getting home and Bokka need something from the shops, you have to take her, problem is the shops only open at 21:00, for that period your day become night and vice versa, only that you still need to work during the day.

Following that is Eid and all banks and Government are close and you have a free leave period. Luckily everything is back to Saudi normal, the shops are open during the day except from about 1pm - 5pm. These people never sleep.

Sharkie is right, the humidity can get to you sometimes, but it is not that bad and yes it is quite a huge cultural shock.

One thing that you and hubby can practice from now till arrival is if you are not in a mood to do something, just reply "inshala", as you will hear it thousands of times a day. A beautiful remark but totally abused here.

You also must except that we are in "THEIR KINGDOM" and will need a lot of patience as the pace are very slow and they do it their way.

As teachers, I think the two of you have made a great decision and will be very happy. it will take you a while as well to realize you do not have to look over your shoulder the whole day to ensure you will not be hijacked etc.

We got friends staying in a outside compound, (almost like our town houses) with no security and they are very happy. The fact that you and hubby work together will make this living easier as the working hours is the same, he can easily take you to where you want to be, otherwise it is a taxi ride, this is an adventure ride,  better than Ratanga Junction and cheaper. Ha Ha

There are a lot of negative things published about KSA on the net (Not this Block), all of it is nonsense except that they drive like mad (our taxi driver are angels) and Africa time is turbo time in comparison with here.

We enjoy every moment and welcome.

Pottie

[simone]

thanks to all for the responses

Sharkie do you have more detail re: 'International school of Jeddah run by Johan and Benito from SA'

another question does anyone 'praat die taal' when in jeddah?

simone

[Petrovsky]

Hi Simone

You can check http://www.jischool.org/

Check your PM.....

P

[Pottie]

Hi Simone,

To answer your question, "Jy sal meer Afrikaans hier praat as Engels in die SA Expat gemeenskap.

Ons is baie Boertjies, sorg net dat julle so gou moontlik inskakel, gaan as jy genooi word, en glo my jy sal genooi word. The beautifully thing is that all expats will invite you, does not matter from which country.

This is really nice over here, the more you get out the more you will enjoy.

Blou Bul Groete

Pottie

[Ted]

Hi Simone,

Everything seems to be covered by the over responses. Just on living off the compounds, more and more people are starting to do this due the shortage of compound space and it is fine. You would just need to make arrangements for a driver and an extra car otherwise you might find yourself a bit stranded. Taxis (or limos) are all over the place so that too is an option but it depends whether your accommodation is on a main route or not in terms of attracting the attention of the taxi drivers outside your accommodation when you need a taxi.

I do not know what the costs are for drivers but I should imagine a monthly salary of about SR1500 to SR2000 would suffice plus the cost of the car (cheaper than SA). But then again you husband's company might have a driver allocated to you.

On DVD's & CD's - they sometimes hold the DVD's & CD's for a week or so to check them. Don't panic if they do - if is sometimes the procedure. But in the time that I was here before, they checked only once. It happens less and less nowaways.