bertonneau
American expat in Saudi Arabia
Forum posts
58
Contacts
6
About me
American
Lives in jizan
Speaks English, Spanish
Registration: 14 August 2015
Farasan Island
A lot of work to get there the island was very disappointing to me. It wasn't worth the effort to get there. Old dirty and just not much to see. Go to Oman wallah or somewhere in the Emirates, not Ramadan, in my not so humble opinion. Read More
Living in Jazan by andyeadie2004
Hi there I have an opportunity of moving over to Jazan for work but would be looking at taking my wife and daughter with me too. I am looking for an info on the area? and also on accommodation in the area i.e. is there compounds etc? Any advice ...
Andy, If you're American you'll understand this. Jizan is like going to Tijuana from San Diego. It's sort of half Yemeni by nature. No compounds Ive ever heard of no schools I'd ever send my kids to. Its definitely not Khobar or ... Read More
fly Dubai experience
fly dubai is basically a non profit airline wheras Saudi Airlines which is far dirtier has to attempt to make a profit despite their horrible stndards Read More
Moving to Abha - Things to do ! by hujja
Hi everyone, I have accepted an offer from *** to teach at King Khaled University in Abha. My visa being processed as we speak and I should (insha'Allah) be in Saudi before the end of the month! I've used the search function on this ...
Abha is safe it's like 200 miles from the border. Any missles shot toward it are shot out of the air by a patriot missle defense system that is along the border before they get close. If you were living in Jizan or along the border regions which ... Read More
Unbearable !!!! by Mr.Sobhy
[b][color=#000000][i]Hello all, I can never believe that you do spend this boring life just the way it is. Do you guys just let the days control you? Do you like being under pressure for all the week days and do nothing in the weekend? It's ...
First, wander around a bit, but no it ain't Dubai and yes compared to most places in the world this country as a whole is damn boring and Ive been around it a bit. Take up reading, writing a novel, go to grad school. It's not party central ... Read More
Offered a job with IIL/NITI in Al-hasa or Abqaiq by zanoo
Salam aleykom va rahmatollahi va barakatu and hello to everybody I've just been offered a job teaching English with IIL/NITI. The pay is 14440SAR/month base. Single, furnished housing either on campus, or 20-60 minute drive away (one-way). ...
NITI is a fancy building that seems to be a babysitting institution. If you're unfamiliar with this kind of situation you may be there a month have had enough and spend any money you made on your plane ticket home. You should request to speak ... Read More
National ****Institute or N***Saudi Arabia by ESL Around The World
Hi there i'd like to get comments from other teacher's experiences at this place. I worked there for six months and really it was the biggest joke on the planet. It's supposed to be the latest and greatest attempt by Aramaco to get ...
Look man I work for the military here and it's the same with Saudi military cadets and they cant do anything. This entire country including every TVTC University etc. is basically like this. It's why this country regardless of whatever ... Read More
In retrospect, would you move again to Saudi Arabia? by Christine
Hi all, If you had to look back on your expat experience in Saudi Arabia, would you heartily say "lets do it again"? From the preparation stage to your actual everyday life in your new country, what did you enjoy the most? Would you do ...
In retrospect, no I would not come here again. I am a hypocrite in that I am on my third and definitely final tour/job of Saudi. I can say having traveled through different parts of it, mountains deserts beaches and andplains that no it isn't an ... Read More
Environmental protection in Saudi Arabia by Kenjee
Hi, Environmental protection is a challenging issue for all the countries around the world. Would you say this issue is deemed of significance in Saudi Arabia? Is the country going green through initiatives like waste management and selective ...
Kenjee, If this nation chose to gets it's stuff together. It could make millions if not billions from the reuse of simply it's own trash in making new products. Unfortunately, it doesn't value this world and primarily the next or so it ... Read More
Best cities to live in Saudi Arabia by Julien
Hi, Its not always easy to decide in which area to settle in when moving to Saudi Arabia. According to you, what are the best cites to live in? Which regions offer most of the job opportunities, a good quality of life, an affordable cost of ...
Dammam is disorganized and dirty and the industrial city for Khobar which is the business executive and mostly expat place to live. Yes, Dammam is a little cheaper but it's a crowded dump. Roads go all over the place as opposed to Khobar which ... Read More
Best cities to live in Saudi Arabia by Julien
Hi, Its not always easy to decide in which area to settle in when moving to Saudi Arabia. According to you, what are the best cites to live in? Which regions offer most of the job opportunities, a good quality of life, an affordable cost of ...
Jubail is an environmentally toxic and polluted pit of a place to live. Read More
Airport , Can i Bring chewing tobacco with me? by sarthak05agarwal86
How is the airport of Dammam ,, Security is strict or not ,, can i bring some kind chewing tobacco with me ? Please share some of EXP related to this issue , Thanks all in advance ,
BS Put it tucked in your underplane baggage and paly innocent and you should be fine. Just say it's tobacco if somehow they check it which I doubt. Tobacco is legal in KSA so you should be good. Read More
Ideas to kill the boredom by BronxMen
Would like to hear from folks working in Saudi what they do to kill the boredom. I would like to get the perspective of North Americans if possible.
Haram is the Saudi term for prohibited. A bottle of whatever juice you like and a packet of yeast with a loose juice cap or small hole in the top of the bottle and a week or two of fermentation time helps kill time on the weekends while watching ... Read More
Ideas to kill the boredom by BronxMen
Would like to hear from folks working in Saudi what they do to kill the boredom. I would like to get the perspective of North Americans if possible.
Lots of time spent on the internet. Getting together with other expats and making homegrown fun. For those who drink, a packet of yeast in a large bottle of juice and one-two weeks of fermentation time. Movie nights. For those with compound access ... Read More
JOB and SALARY by Rohit 111
I am civil engineer from Nepal..I got offer from saudi to work as a Mechanical engineer in the salary of just 2800 SAR...is the offer is good?? And if i want to go in construction side in future i may not have construction experience in gulf. at ...
2800 is a complete joke for an engineer in Saudi. If thsi compay is serious dont waste your time and apply anywhere else. Read More
best bank to open in Jizan?
If coming to Jizan, I would recommend anything with some Western accountablilty. I wouldnt recommend Riyadh Bank. Slow Saudi service which is typical. SABB whihc is half British owned would be my choice. Read More
Living in Jazan - female compounds by Sam334477
Hi Everyone! I'll be coming to Jazan in Jan 2016. I wantex to know is it safe for single females to live independently? And what is the better option: sublet rooms aur independent apartments? One more thing, are there any female compounds or ...
Are you coming as a teacher? Jizan is not Jeddah, Riyadh or Khobar/Dammam. There may be something (compound) here I dont know about since Im a male, but I would imagine it will be very limited options. Not with a pool or anything like that. Jizan is ... Read More
Employer Won't Provide Iqama-Should They? by Neffy
Hi Everyone, I was recently hired by a company in Saudi Arabia to teach at one of their schools. I just found out that they will provide me with a temporary work visa, in which I will have to exit the country during the 6th and 9th months to ...
No Iqama is fine if you work for a good company. No iqama and working in Saudi means you have no labor rights if your company is bad. There no complaining no anyone about any problems you have because according to Saudi you're not legal to work ... Read More
Saher
There need to be more Saher cameras given the way these idiots drive. Jizan has none and needs about a thousand of them. Too bad their not still hidden a little something to make up for the billions lost in revenue as oil drops to nothing here in ... Read More
I need to ship a package from USA
You cant bring a hookah into KSA? Are you sure it isn't a bong? Read More
Employment Visa rejected by qais87
Hi, i Got my employment visa rejected this january from delhi. My profession on visa - Computer Technician My degree - Msc (bioinformatics) attested by Saudi Culture and embasyy. ...
I'd suggest if you cant have your actual degree relabeled that you have someone that knows Arabic translate what bioinformatics is in Arabic and change it to sound exactly like computer science/technician. I would also have someone translate the ... Read More
Place to view in Jizan City.. by Expat351
Any suggestions for a good place to view or go during off days in JIzan city.... Thanks... :)
Are you living in Jizan? If you're to town and sane Ill take you on a tour of wonderful Jizan City and province. Not that much to see overall. Read More
Ejuice vaping in Riyadh by kaydenworld
Hello all, Hope everyone is doing well. I've been vaping for the past two years now and loving it! Vape on my vapaholics ;) Since I live in Riyadh it's close to IMPOSSIBLE to find GOOD ejuice around and when I do it seems to be out of ...
I have my juice guy put nutritional products on the shipping label and it's gotten in. Read More
Jamaicans by evaphid
There is a group of us Jamaicans in Ras Al Khair industrial city on the eastern province
Believe me, my students have often offered to bring me hash. In this country, where they are about to give 350 lashes to a 70 year old executive working for an oil company who has just finished a 1 year jail sentence for having some homebrew wine in ... Read More
Looking for an Academic Position
Try Skyline Global Solutions out of PEnnsylvania or Chase International Recruitment or M2R Recruitment. One of these should be able to give you an idea. Their positions available are listed on their sites. Read More
Teaching English in Saudi by felixortizszewiel
Hello everyone, nice to virtually meet you all. I am a soon-to-be married British national looking to teach English in Saudi and would love any advice that you guy might be able to give me. My partner is also a teacher and we will be looking for ...
Im not trying to scare anyone off. If you assume you'll get paid every month because "who wouldn't get paid by their company and who wouldn't provide health insurance or decent housing" since it's in the contract. If you ... Read More
Amount of e-juice (e-cigarette liquid) allowed in checked luggage by Denice416
Hi Y'all, anybody tried bringing e-juice/e-liquid for e-cigarette in riyadh through checked luggage? 1. how many ml allowed per checked luggage? 2. were you stopped and asked about the liquid in your luggage? i really appreciate your answer ...
I had my juice seized in Bahrain through DHL and sent back to the US. I then had my juice guy repackage the stuff which they opened up and messed up. He reshipped and put nutritional products on a sheet of paper and relabeled the juice with only th ... Read More
On long waiting still now don't get offer letter by Sami9620
I am an Indian and I am Civil Engineer so I was selected for one of the reputed Saudi Company by one of the mumbai consultancy. The consultancy aknowledging me that since 5 months due to some saudi govt issue your process is in waiting & ...
Sami, Welcome to Saudi Arabia. What can be the land of bureaucracy and inefficiency regardless of how big and well established the company you have applied to is. It sounds like you're going through what many go through here. I know it has ... Read More
you Valuable suggestions concerning business to invest? by saquibsher
hi, hope u all be ok, basicall by profession im an accountant, i wana ur suggestions regarding my businees, i have an amount of 50k riyals and wana start my businees but bit confused that what type of business will be fruitful that has rapid ...
Based on my experience both cigs and ecigs. Comparing the two is almost ridiculous. One is a smoke filled carcinogenic device that is proven to kill. The other is basically nicotine and flavored sugar water that only looks like smoking which is why ... Read More
you Valuable suggestions concerning business to invest? by saquibsher
hi, hope u all be ok, basicall by profession im an accountant, i wana ur suggestions regarding my businees, i have an amount of 50k riyals and wana start my businees but bit confused that what type of business will be fruitful that has rapid ...
It's not officaially legal yet, but it will be. Ecigarettes and all related products, juices etc. I believe in a nation that smokes like this one and loves electronic gadgets Ecigs is going to spread like wildfire in the next few years. People ... Read More
Teaching English in Saudi by felixortizszewiel
Hello everyone, nice to virtually meet you all. I am a soon-to-be married British national looking to teach English in Saudi and would love any advice that you guy might be able to give me. My partner is also a teacher and we will be looking for ...
From my experience here with several different places. Always assume the worst, if you give any place here the benefit of the doubt about anything it will be to your detriment. Ask for pictures of where you will live. Require to talk to several ... Read More
E-cigs: Where to buy in Riyadh
Where exactly in the Tahlia/Olaya area? Does anyone have a name or specific description of this or these stores? Street names etc or even an email? Read More
Job Offer Need help if it's good enough to move to KSA by rareshine
What are you asking specifically?/if double your salary is good enough to take the offer? Do you really need someone else to confirm it!!?
Well your salary will heavily depend on your nationality unfortunately. Before you come over to Saudi Id recommend everything is in a very firm contract and know that if your company isnt legit you will have no legal rights once here without an ... Read More
Amount of e-juice (e-cigarette liquid) allowed in checked luggage by Denice416
Hi Y'all, anybody tried bringing e-juice/e-liquid for e-cigarette in riyadh through checked luggage? 1. how many ml allowed per checked luggage? 2. were you stopped and asked about the liquid in your luggage? i really appreciate your answer ...
Well, for what it's worth. I just sent letters to the Saudi ministry of health about the new research that UK public health organization just did (5 days ago) that confirmed that vaping is 95% safer than smoking. I don't know if it will go ... Read More
Where to buy E-Juice / E-Liquids / E-Cigarettes in Riyadh
Hey Denice, What is the name of this shop? Do you know if it's open on Friday or Saturday and the hours? Do you have a number by chance? I dont have whatsapp? Read More
Amount of e-juice (e-cigarette liquid) allowed in checked luggage by Denice416
Hi Y'all, anybody tried bringing e-juice/e-liquid for e-cigarette in riyadh through checked luggage? 1. how many ml allowed per checked luggage? 2. were you stopped and asked about the liquid in your luggage? i really appreciate your answer ...
Man, I hope well for you. I just had my shipment of ejuice stopped in Bahrain going to Saudi that I had shipped from the US. I haven't had this problem before but I'm pissed as I'm about to run out. Never had this problem and have been ... Read More
E-cigs: Where to buy in Riyadh
Hey can you tell me the shop/s in Riyadh where I can get juice. I live in Jizan but might take a road trip amoung other things to find these things. I need some pretty exact directions and the shop name if you have. Read More
Where to buy E-Juice / E-Liquids / E-Cigarettes in Riyadh
HEy man, I just had my ejuice order stopped in Bahrain and is being sent back to USA. Can you tell me exactly where I can get ejuice if I fly up to Riyadh. I live in Jizan and dont know Riyadh at all and would like to go get some and come back here. ... Read More
Amount of e-juice (e-cigarette liquid) allowed in checked luggage by Denice416
Hi Y'all, anybody tried bringing e-juice/e-liquid for e-cigarette in riyadh through checked luggage? 1. how many ml allowed per checked luggage? 2. were you stopped and asked about the liquid in your luggage? i really appreciate your answer ...
Hey Ive gone through exactly the same thing. First, when going through customs make sure the most educated customs guy is there you can find because he has been ejuice even is educated on what. I am having some stuff sent over now from the US. It ... Read More
working in Saudi Arabia by andy009
Hi i have applied for a job in Saudi Arabia i have read a lot of things about working and living there i would like to hear from people who are working there and get there views thanks. Andrew
In general and you can cross check with Daves ESL cafe discussion forum saudi arabia section jobs pay well. To call things teaching here, if you're a teacher would be an overstatement. The standards here if you can call them that are in general ... Read More
Employement in Jazan economic city by Adnin
Dear audience, I would like to know how is JAZAN in terms of living as I' ve received a offer for working in Jazan economical city, I'm a SAP SD professional (I.T field) and the company says their plant is in Jazan economic city somewhere in ...
Hey since you've been in Jeddah froever. Do you know where I can get some e juice for a vapor cig? Im in Jizan and Ive been looking for this in Saudi. Never been to Jeddah so thought I could take a road trip and get my ecig needs taken care of ... Read More
E-Cigarette in KSA(Jeddah)? by ralph-HRD-Dude
Ok guys, im a avid vaper, used to smoke heavily before e-cig has been introduced, back in the phil. there is no problem in getting spare part and e-juices, now im having a big problem on getting juices , so ive planned on getting some in the ...
do you happen to know if they specifically sell/deal with Ecigs? Read More
E-Cigarette in KSA(Jeddah)? by ralph-HRD-Dude
Ok guys, im a avid vaper, used to smoke heavily before e-cig has been introduced, back in the phil. there is no problem in getting spare part and e-juices, now im having a big problem on getting juices , so ive planned on getting some in the ...
Hey are you up and selling vape liquid in Saudi? Im in Jizan and am running short on my regular juice and need a quick order if possible. email me at bertonneau@hotmail.com Read More