I had been unemployed for three months when I applied for an English teaching position at a private academy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Needless to say, regardless of all the warnings I read on websites and forums about the violation of human rights, the lack of alcohol and entertainment and the tendency of Saudi’s to treat their foreign workers as slaves, I decided to come and collect my money. I was desperate!
Everything has its price it seemed.
On my arrival my employer confiscated my passport (afraid I might attempt a midnight run) and informed me that they will only pay for two weeks stay in a hotel, after which I had to find my own accommodation. No assistance provided regarding this matter. Bare in mind I’m in a foreign Arabic country and now I have to perform a transaction, using body language, with a landlord just to get a roof over my head. Thanks to helpful students I managed to solve this issue within my two week limit.
“You’re in for a hell of a ride,” I thought to myself. “This is not Africa, it’s worse!”
My fellow teachers represented a wide spectrum of nationalities – Filipinos, Egyptians, Kiwis, British, the USA and South Africa. I was overwhelmed by the mixed comments and advice they gave me, ‘Get out!’ ‘We give you a month then you’re senile!’ and ‘This place is a dump!’.
Trust good old Saffas with the best advice, “Just go with the flow, play by their rules and try to stay positive. If things get tough – just bullshit yourself! We’re here to collect our tax-free oil money. Don’t forget that!”
It was when I entered my first class and got introduced to my students that I realised this might be an awesome experience. In front of me were warm, welcoming Saudi people. Eager to learn English as well as about me, my country (‘Is South Africa underneath Egypt – next to Sudan?’) and my culture (‘Teacher, why aren’t you black?’). More than that, they were eager to teach me their customs and culture and set things I’ve heard about them in the media, straight.
“You’re in for one hell of a good ride,” I thought to myself.
