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Coming to live in Jeddah soon! Any advice?

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Mercenary Grammarian

Hello everyone,

I will be coming to Jeddah at the end of the month and expect to be living there for around a year.

This will be my first time to live in the Middle East. I am eager to learn about Saudi culture, and anxious to avoid making social mistakes that may make the local people uncomfortable. So if anyone has any advice for me, it would be greatly appreciated.

It would be good to meet up with some of the local expats when I am there, so if anyone is interested in hanging out, please let me know!

I am also hoping to learn Arabic and would be looking for a language exchange. So if you want to study English or Spanish or basic Chinese, French or Japanese, I am willing to help -if you can help me develop my very basic Arabic into a more intermediate level.

I have some quick questions too, if anybody is interested in answering:

1. Should I bring gifts from Canada? If so, what kind of gifts, and when should I give them?

2. I will be teaching English, so are there any special things I should know about the Saudi classroom? For example: can I draw pictures on the chalkboard? Can I teach with rolled up sleeves?

3. Is there anything I should bring from Canada that I will not be able to find in Saudi Arabia? (Do they sell kindle e-readers in Saudi Arabia?)

4. Anything else?

Ok, thanks for reading this, and I hope to hear from some of you soon. =)

MG

kiqzz

Hi MG

Welcome to Jeddah, i will be very happy to meet you and assist you in whatever you need, i live in Jeddah too!

Jeddah is a wonderful city, i like Jeddah!

1. Should I bring gifts from Canada? If so, what kind of gifts, and when should I give them?

(it depends on whom you plan to give them to!)


2. I will be teaching English, so are there any special things I should know about the Saudi classroom? For example: can I draw pictures on the chalkboard? Can I teach with rolled up sleeves?

(yes you can draw and teach with rolled up sleeves if the policy of your school says it ok!) but i have to warn you, stay away from religious teachings or do not speak religion with students so they don't consider you a missionary, do not do anything might upset parents of students or the administration!

other than that, western teachers are very popular with their students, students tend to like westerners on indian or paki teachers (No Offense) but thats what i know,

Again i would be soo happy to assist you and guide you through what ever i know, including Arabic!

All the best

kiqzz

3. Is there anything I should bring from Canada that I will not be able to find in Saudi Arabia? (Do they sell kindle e-readers in Saudi Arabia?)

(I am not sure, because i've never been interested in one of those) but in Saudi you can find many electronics, it's cheaper though to buy electronics from USA or abroad and brin it here later, my advice in electronics is to bring your own rather than finding one here,

4. Anything else?
Enjoy your stay and have fun

1967tazz

Hi MG,

So where are you teaching?

I arrive at JKS in Sept.

Roy.

Mhnd

Hi,



1. Should I bring gifts from Canada? If so, what kind of gifts, and when should I give them?

gifts to whom you mean? if you are talking about the school, no need for that. but if you mean freinds and like this, so I am sure they will like to have something related to your country as a souvenir from Canadian freind.

2. I will be teaching English, so are there any special things I should know about the Saudi classroom? For example: can I draw pictures on the chalkboard? Can I teach with rolled up sleeves?

I didn't teach here but in general I know about the community. you can feel free while you are teaching to do whatever you want no problem, but as they said to you try to br far from talking about two things: religion & politics to not face any trouble with the students and their families , or the school.
Anyway here they are interested to have stern people in any side of work especially in teaching so it will be smooth.

3. Is there anything I should bring from Canada that I will not be able to find in Saudi Arabia? (Do they sell kindle e-readers in Saudi Arabia?)

there is no alcohol ;) and if u found it will be very expensive.

4. Anything else?

in Jeddah there is no cold at all almost hot or nice weather minimum 20 degrees not like canada.
and another thing, Saudi community still closer than western countries or even some other middle east countries like Emirates, Lebanon & Syria, so in the beginning you should be patient till you will acclimate with the situation.

Kathryn D

Hey<

I'm planning on moving to Jeddah in about a month...just wondering how everything is going for you??

Kathryn

Mercenary Grammarian

Hello again,
Thanks for all the replies to my post! I have been delayed for a while, but now have my visa and plane ticket and expect to be in Jeddah on the morning of April 20.
Hopefully I can meet some of you soon!
Blair

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