Saturday, March 10, 2012
It's a Small World After All!
One of my new co-workers told me that she was moving overseas. When I asked her where-she told me Saudi Arabia! "What?!" I said. "My family is moving to Saudi Arabia!" Then, it turns out that my co-worker, Delores, also lives in my neighborhood-3 houses down. What a small world, right? It also turns out that Delores' daughter is in my daughter's class. Well, they just got their VISA's and today was D's last day of work. Her realtor is also the same realtor that sold us our first home-9 years ago! Although we won't be in the same city-we will be in the same country, about 9 hours away. We are planning to visit each other when there. I am just a little jealous that her adventure is beginning before mine.
Landing a Job in Jeddah!
I am in the process of accepting a job! Yeah! Here is the latest update. I have been offered the position of Curriculum Specialist and Teacher Trainer. Over Spring break (this coming week!) I am being sent to Denver, Colorado to the corporate headquarters, for training. It is a 5 day, all expense paid trip! I am so grateful to my parents for taking care of and entertaining my kids during that week. My sister will also be popping in, over to Denver, to visit. What a great "pre-bon voyage" time it will be!
All the kids passports are in, along with mine and now the VISA process will begin. The VISA's are our tickets to actually get into Saudi Arabia. Our plan for arriving in KSA (the kingdom of Saudi Arabia) is early to mid-June. The last day of my current teaching job contract is May 31st-and the last day of school for the kids. I am still loving my job now, but cannot wait to be rejoined with my handsome hunk of a husband. June is getting closer, though-yeah!
Here is a little more about what I will be doing.
I am so excited to be able to use all that I learned in my Master's degree program for Curriculum and Instruction! My chances of landing this type of position in Texas was very slim, as about half of the Specialist positions in my current school district, were eliminated in 2011. I am happy that I will not be completely out of the classroom. I will actually have the best of both worlds-teaching, training teachers and adapting the current curriculum for the company that has hired me.
*update* The school is under construction and may not open for at least one year. The process is slower here, for sure!
All the kids passports are in, along with mine and now the VISA process will begin. The VISA's are our tickets to actually get into Saudi Arabia. Our plan for arriving in KSA (the kingdom of Saudi Arabia) is early to mid-June. The last day of my current teaching job contract is May 31st-and the last day of school for the kids. I am still loving my job now, but cannot wait to be rejoined with my handsome hunk of a husband. June is getting closer, though-yeah!
Here is a little more about what I will be doing.
I am so excited to be able to use all that I learned in my Master's degree program for Curriculum and Instruction! My chances of landing this type of position in Texas was very slim, as about half of the Specialist positions in my current school district, were eliminated in 2011. I am happy that I will not be completely out of the classroom. I will actually have the best of both worlds-teaching, training teachers and adapting the current curriculum for the company that has hired me.
*update* The school is under construction and may not open for at least one year. The process is slower here, for sure!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Picture Friday: Mosque
From now on I will attempt to make every Friday a Photo Friday. Wait till next Friday for another amazing picture of Jeddah mosque or architecture.
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| Star trailing behind the mosque in Al-Naeem area in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Wasta: Connection and a way of doing business in Saudi Arabia.
To be successful in Saudi Arabia you must have WASTA, which is translation for connection in Arabic. It is not what you know, it is who you know.
Top 5 Questions and Answers about our trip to Saudi Arabia
1. Can we take Christmas items to Saudi Arabia?
This thought never crossed my mind until another American I met, who hired a shipping company to ship her items from the US to KSA warned her to not pack Christmas items. If she did they may be removed. However, Sohail said as long as we pack Christmas items that are not in the original packaging, then we can still take them. This applies only to items that we pack in our suitcases which we take with us to the airport (2 suitcases each and 1 carry on). So, if I want to take Christmas items there (which I do and will) then I should not plan on sending them via a shipping company.
2. Can I take my bible there?
The customs information for KSA states that "no religious materials" can be brought into the country. Sohail said that bringing my bible in my carry-on should not be any problem at all. He said that American citizens are not hassled at customs. At least, he has not seen it, nor was he hassled
3. Will I have to wear a head covering when I am out in public?
No. However, most women do. What is required, though, is for women to wear an "abiya" which resembles a black choir robe. This is to be worn at all times out in public. The good thing is, is that it will cover all my curves!
4. Can women drive there?
No. I would never even want to drive in any country on the eastern side of the world. When I lived in Taiwan and visited Cambodia and Kazakhstan, I was scared to even ride in a vehicle. It took me two years of living in Houston, before I braved up and started driving on the freeway!
5. Will me or the children ever get "stuck" in Saudi Arabia and not be able to come back to the US?
Luckily, Sohail is an American citizen, as well as I and all of our three children are. If he were a Saudi citizen and then our children were born there, then they would not be able to travel outside of Saudi Arabia without Sohail's permission. I am so glad that we do not have to anticipate such problems.
This thought never crossed my mind until another American I met, who hired a shipping company to ship her items from the US to KSA warned her to not pack Christmas items. If she did they may be removed. However, Sohail said as long as we pack Christmas items that are not in the original packaging, then we can still take them. This applies only to items that we pack in our suitcases which we take with us to the airport (2 suitcases each and 1 carry on). So, if I want to take Christmas items there (which I do and will) then I should not plan on sending them via a shipping company.
2. Can I take my bible there?
The customs information for KSA states that "no religious materials" can be brought into the country. Sohail said that bringing my bible in my carry-on should not be any problem at all. He said that American citizens are not hassled at customs. At least, he has not seen it, nor was he hassled
3. Will I have to wear a head covering when I am out in public?
No. However, most women do. What is required, though, is for women to wear an "abiya" which resembles a black choir robe. This is to be worn at all times out in public. The good thing is, is that it will cover all my curves!
4. Can women drive there?
No. I would never even want to drive in any country on the eastern side of the world. When I lived in Taiwan and visited Cambodia and Kazakhstan, I was scared to even ride in a vehicle. It took me two years of living in Houston, before I braved up and started driving on the freeway!
5. Will me or the children ever get "stuck" in Saudi Arabia and not be able to come back to the US?
Luckily, Sohail is an American citizen, as well as I and all of our three children are. If he were a Saudi citizen and then our children were born there, then they would not be able to travel outside of Saudi Arabia without Sohail's permission. I am so glad that we do not have to anticipate such problems.
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