So how exactly did I iron out the details and get so lucky to live and work in Saudi Arabia for a year, you ask?
I went through a healthcare professionals placement organization from Canada called Helen Ziegler and Associates. They have been placing nursing in the Middle East for years. I found them through google searching and then contacted them several months ago to learn more about the Saudi experience. I have been focused on Saudi Arabia since the begining. They helped me through all the visa process and connecting with the hospital here. Basically after the hospital hired me they took care of the rest of the details housing, set up my flight arrangements, invited me to their country (which is necessary for the visa), etc.
So I arrived to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with minimal hiccups along the way....ok I did fall asleep in the airport in DC and missed my flight to Germany, and yes they did the whole loud speaker "passenger Grap please board the plane now, we are packed and ready to fly" thing and yes I was sitting only feet away from the desk. But no matter, I caught the next flight to Germany and arrived safely to Saudi.
Customs was not bad at all! I was photographed and fingerprinted but not taken to a seperate room like I was warned and I even left the airport with my computer in tow, also a concern from the stuff I had read from the hospital. However, my bags are yet to connect with me. I saw them in Germany ready to be loaded and then watch as they hopped into car and were driven away. I shall see them soon I'm sure!
I was only 1 of 2 women on the flight to Riyadh, and I put on my abaya before leaving the plane as I was instructed to do. The men in the customs line offered me to go ahead of them as they said women have priority in line. All the men and women were in throbes and abayas, respectively. Many of the women even had the full face covering. I was picked up by a man from the hospital and sent along with a driver and another hospital employee to my new home!
On the way from the airport, people in the cars where all celebrating and honking and flying flags, etc. The other employee, who is Saudi, said the king had made a royal decree only hour before that included a 2 month salary bonus for state employees, billions of dollars into healthcare systems, increased job creation, and the establishment of a National Commission to combat corruption along with several other items. The celebration was obviously called for. People were sitting on the windows of their cars and hollering, and sitting on the roofs and hoods of the cars, holding out pictures of King Abdullah, rejoicing in their good fortune! The guy that I was riding with said everyone really loves the king and everyone is very happy with what he is doing. Obviously the King is listening to requests that have been made here and he has been watching what has happened in other Arab countries. A great welcome to this nation!
So I am living in a 3 bedroom apartment with 2 other nurses who just arrived here as well, both are from Eastern Europe. We live in a female and family compound. So no single men can enter. Actually there is a lot of sex segregation (ie the cafeteria, the swimming pool, the shopping malls, etc). We are living on the hospital grounds, so the commute is going to splendid! I'm in a group of about 60 new hires and we are from all over the world including South Africa, New Zealand, Jordan, Ireland, Canada, UK, West Africa, Philipines etc. On the campus there are about 9 housing complexes and each one has a swimming pool, and strangely I hear it is heated this time of year. It is warm here but it is dry desert heat as they say and it is actually quite pleasant, the evenings are cool and lovely. Fortunatedly, I have finally found a place where everyone covers their faces with scarves! As I am not a huge fan of the sun on me, I love the new outfit I got going on...Abaya and head scarve with shades! Suits me quite well indeed!
I went on my first shopping experience today! To the mall and grocery store. There was an ice skating ring and a climbing wall and what looked very similar to a carnival in the middle of the food court! The whole place was sparkling and beautiful! They definitedly take care in the appearance of this place. In the afternoon they had call to prayer (which happends 5x a day) so we had to make sure we were inside the grocery store because shops close during prayer but if you are inside you can keep right on shoppin! The men pulled out a huge mat in the produce section, kicked off their boots and got to prayin! Welcome to Saudi Arabia!!
I went through a healthcare professionals placement organization from Canada called Helen Ziegler and Associates. They have been placing nursing in the Middle East for years. I found them through google searching and then contacted them several months ago to learn more about the Saudi experience. I have been focused on Saudi Arabia since the begining. They helped me through all the visa process and connecting with the hospital here. Basically after the hospital hired me they took care of the rest of the details housing, set up my flight arrangements, invited me to their country (which is necessary for the visa), etc.
So I arrived to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with minimal hiccups along the way....ok I did fall asleep in the airport in DC and missed my flight to Germany, and yes they did the whole loud speaker "passenger Grap please board the plane now, we are packed and ready to fly" thing and yes I was sitting only feet away from the desk. But no matter, I caught the next flight to Germany and arrived safely to Saudi.
Customs was not bad at all! I was photographed and fingerprinted but not taken to a seperate room like I was warned and I even left the airport with my computer in tow, also a concern from the stuff I had read from the hospital. However, my bags are yet to connect with me. I saw them in Germany ready to be loaded and then watch as they hopped into car and were driven away. I shall see them soon I'm sure!
I was only 1 of 2 women on the flight to Riyadh, and I put on my abaya before leaving the plane as I was instructed to do. The men in the customs line offered me to go ahead of them as they said women have priority in line. All the men and women were in throbes and abayas, respectively. Many of the women even had the full face covering. I was picked up by a man from the hospital and sent along with a driver and another hospital employee to my new home!
So I am living in a 3 bedroom apartment with 2 other nurses who just arrived here as well, both are from Eastern Europe. We live in a female and family compound. So no single men can enter. Actually there is a lot of sex segregation (ie the cafeteria, the swimming pool, the shopping malls, etc). We are living on the hospital grounds, so the commute is going to splendid! I'm in a group of about 60 new hires and we are from all over the world including South Africa, New Zealand, Jordan, Ireland, Canada, UK, West Africa, Philipines etc. On the campus there are about 9 housing complexes and each one has a swimming pool, and strangely I hear it is heated this time of year. It is warm here but it is dry desert heat as they say and it is actually quite pleasant, the evenings are cool and lovely. Fortunatedly, I have finally found a place where everyone covers their faces with scarves! As I am not a huge fan of the sun on me, I love the new outfit I got going on...Abaya and head scarve with shades! Suits me quite well indeed!
I went on my first shopping experience today! To the mall and grocery store. There was an ice skating ring and a climbing wall and what looked very similar to a carnival in the middle of the food court! The whole place was sparkling and beautiful! They definitedly take care in the appearance of this place. In the afternoon they had call to prayer (which happends 5x a day) so we had to make sure we were inside the grocery store because shops close during prayer but if you are inside you can keep right on shoppin! The men pulled out a huge mat in the produce section, kicked off their boots and got to prayin! Welcome to Saudi Arabia!!
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