Post by TheJ4 on Feb 2, 2013 17:57:51 GMT
Well, we have been here in Dhahran just over a month. We found the forum extremely useful going through the hiring/relocation process (thanks all) and promised a moderator that we would pay back with our contribution. So here's some recent experience.
What we brought- (no additional luggage fees):
2 Samsonite oyster suitcases and two large rolling bags- clothes and toiletries etc.
2 big and 2 small (kid size) carry ons- DVDs, Wii games, valuables, small electronics.
Kitchen dish barrel list
Non-stick skillet/Cutting boards/Sharp knives/Grater/Lemon squeezer/Peeler/
Colander/Can opener/Spatula/Salad/serving spoons/Serving dishes/Nylon fish slice/Nylon slotted spoon/Tongs/Measuring cups/Measuring jug/Salt and pepper pots/ Scissors/Dishcloths/Panscrub/Baking tray/Foil/Clingfilm/Lasagna dish/Loaf tin/Whisk/Roasting pan/Timer/Kitchen scale/Kitchen timer/Water bottles
Entertainment dish barrel list
Pillow cases/Towels/Small TV (also could hook up Wii, laptops, DVD player, etc)/Blu ray DVD Player/Wii and accessories/Tea towels/Sheets and duvet covers/Keyboard and mouse/Kettle/Shower Curtain/Tony Chacheres/Bath mat
2x Kid’s Dish Barrel Boxes
As many toys as we could fit- most of the ones we had from the kid's rooms including a bunch of soft toys. Familiar comforter sets, pillows, wall posters and nick knacks (so rooms would be "just like home"... 6 and 8 yr olds)
Air Shipment:
E-box No. 1 list
CD Music collection/Toaster/Microwave/Spices/Iron/Coffee grinder/French press/Q-tips/Pillows/Router- VPN type./Phones (cordless with answering machine)/Large pan/Large stockpot/Barkeeper's friend/Toastie maker/Chef Pan/Small saucepan/Desktop computer (hook up to screen in DBB)./Bathrobes
Ebox No. 2 List
Hosepipe and micro sprinkler system/timer/Cordless Drill/Drill/driver bits/Cordless vacuum /Small toolbag with basic tools/Broom/Dustpan and brush/Swiffer mop and refills/Dusters/Kitchen trash can/Dyson vacuum cleaner
The welcome pack was great- silverware, crockery, pans, utensils, hairdryer (!), soap, shampoo, shaving foam, plenty of food, juice, milk, coffee, tea, sugar, pasta, rice, breakfast cereal and bread to get us started. Linens and towels etc. We got in at 3am New Year’s eve, then ran up to commissary in the late (ish) morning to get more supplies. The right department will supply trash can, recycling bins and fire extinguisher on request. Further details at orientation.
Our house is nice- the furniture won’t stay beyond our surface shipment- but is very serviceable. Large appliances will stay- not worth buying imo since renting also covers repair. Sweet water is OK for making tea, coffee etc. unless you are especially fussy. That said we have a water cooler on the way and will use it.
Things we wish we had brought- backpacks, clock radio, small HiFi, more nightlights for kids to navigate around unfamiliar house at night. Doormats. Maybe a bigger TV in e-box... Plastic stoe boxes. Beef stock cubes. More warm clothes (yes it does get cool- down to 5-10 degrees C in January). Hats, sunglasses- it is easy to get sunburned- especially in winter- and we came from Houston... Loads of stuff is available locally (e.g. IKEA, at supermarkets etc.) but we wanted to make our home our home ASAP and get out and about just as fast.
Driving is, erm. Interesting. Don't take the wrong exit and think you can get back around on a feeder road. Use lanes with a great deal of imagination-but defensively. Watch for the guys passing 2x the speed limit on the shoulder.
Other tips.
Lots of patience is required in getting documents after arrival. Buses and Taxis also fall into this patience category. Taxis can be in very short supply. We got a rental ASAP from Majestic for 120 Sr per day cash including insurance (maybe a week after arrival- but certainly before school started). You need to get a temporary car sticker from Aramco security- or you can't get the car into the camp.
Ladies- be warned- it can be deceptively easy to drive out of the Aramco area- not a huge deal (security does get a bit animated though) and many ladies seem to have done it for a few hundred metres or less (or more) at some point. Not recommended though...
We got a 4G router from Mobily for about $70 per month (you sign up for 3 months including the hardware) and got online within 72 hrs of arrival- that was nice. Basic cellphones are 80 Sr a piece from a place by HyperPanda- Mobily will hook you up with 30SR Sim card(60 mins of calls to local landline) and the 4G router in the Al Midra facility with only your temporary (paper) ID and passport photocopy. Get back with the with your iquama number for top ups. There may be cheaper ways- but we went for this option for convenience.
Make sure payroll has your correct bank details for direct deposit. No problems with us, but one of the newbies found out a bit late that they didn’t, and may have to be paid by check until it is sorted…
Make sure your Arabic name in the Aramco system matches your iquama (mine didn’t)…no problems, but it makes sense and Personnel were very efficient in changing.
Our US ATM cards work great and the exchange rate was very close to 3.75 (give or a take a few cents on, say, $500). Credit cards accepted most places you'd expect. Computer games (e.g. Wii) are more common in US format in KSA, more Europe ones the trend in Dubai, Bahrain (apparently).
You can get contacts for arrival- but to be honest people are great- we had total strangers stop by at the bus stop and give us a ride to the commissary. Our neighbors switched off wireless security for us (though we did not need it in the end). Some offered to loan us their cars. Get involved (e.g. Cubs, Brownies, Women's group, other groups) and you won't go short of new friends.
There’s a lot more, but that’s it for now.
All the best,
The J4
What we brought- (no additional luggage fees):
2 Samsonite oyster suitcases and two large rolling bags- clothes and toiletries etc.
2 big and 2 small (kid size) carry ons- DVDs, Wii games, valuables, small electronics.
Kitchen dish barrel list
Non-stick skillet/Cutting boards/Sharp knives/Grater/Lemon squeezer/Peeler/
Colander/Can opener/Spatula/Salad/serving spoons/Serving dishes/Nylon fish slice/Nylon slotted spoon/Tongs/Measuring cups/Measuring jug/Salt and pepper pots/ Scissors/Dishcloths/Panscrub/Baking tray/Foil/Clingfilm/Lasagna dish/Loaf tin/Whisk/Roasting pan/Timer/Kitchen scale/Kitchen timer/Water bottles
Entertainment dish barrel list
Pillow cases/Towels/Small TV (also could hook up Wii, laptops, DVD player, etc)/Blu ray DVD Player/Wii and accessories/Tea towels/Sheets and duvet covers/Keyboard and mouse/Kettle/Shower Curtain/Tony Chacheres/Bath mat
2x Kid’s Dish Barrel Boxes
As many toys as we could fit- most of the ones we had from the kid's rooms including a bunch of soft toys. Familiar comforter sets, pillows, wall posters and nick knacks (so rooms would be "just like home"... 6 and 8 yr olds)
Air Shipment:
E-box No. 1 list
CD Music collection/Toaster/Microwave/Spices/Iron/Coffee grinder/French press/Q-tips/Pillows/Router- VPN type./Phones (cordless with answering machine)/Large pan/Large stockpot/Barkeeper's friend/Toastie maker/Chef Pan/Small saucepan/Desktop computer (hook up to screen in DBB)./Bathrobes
Ebox No. 2 List
Hosepipe and micro sprinkler system/timer/Cordless Drill/Drill/driver bits/Cordless vacuum /Small toolbag with basic tools/Broom/Dustpan and brush/Swiffer mop and refills/Dusters/Kitchen trash can/Dyson vacuum cleaner
The welcome pack was great- silverware, crockery, pans, utensils, hairdryer (!), soap, shampoo, shaving foam, plenty of food, juice, milk, coffee, tea, sugar, pasta, rice, breakfast cereal and bread to get us started. Linens and towels etc. We got in at 3am New Year’s eve, then ran up to commissary in the late (ish) morning to get more supplies. The right department will supply trash can, recycling bins and fire extinguisher on request. Further details at orientation.
Our house is nice- the furniture won’t stay beyond our surface shipment- but is very serviceable. Large appliances will stay- not worth buying imo since renting also covers repair. Sweet water is OK for making tea, coffee etc. unless you are especially fussy. That said we have a water cooler on the way and will use it.
Things we wish we had brought- backpacks, clock radio, small HiFi, more nightlights for kids to navigate around unfamiliar house at night. Doormats. Maybe a bigger TV in e-box... Plastic stoe boxes. Beef stock cubes. More warm clothes (yes it does get cool- down to 5-10 degrees C in January). Hats, sunglasses- it is easy to get sunburned- especially in winter- and we came from Houston... Loads of stuff is available locally (e.g. IKEA, at supermarkets etc.) but we wanted to make our home our home ASAP and get out and about just as fast.
Driving is, erm. Interesting. Don't take the wrong exit and think you can get back around on a feeder road. Use lanes with a great deal of imagination-but defensively. Watch for the guys passing 2x the speed limit on the shoulder.
Other tips.
Lots of patience is required in getting documents after arrival. Buses and Taxis also fall into this patience category. Taxis can be in very short supply. We got a rental ASAP from Majestic for 120 Sr per day cash including insurance (maybe a week after arrival- but certainly before school started). You need to get a temporary car sticker from Aramco security- or you can't get the car into the camp.
Ladies- be warned- it can be deceptively easy to drive out of the Aramco area- not a huge deal (security does get a bit animated though) and many ladies seem to have done it for a few hundred metres or less (or more) at some point. Not recommended though...
We got a 4G router from Mobily for about $70 per month (you sign up for 3 months including the hardware) and got online within 72 hrs of arrival- that was nice. Basic cellphones are 80 Sr a piece from a place by HyperPanda- Mobily will hook you up with 30SR Sim card(60 mins of calls to local landline) and the 4G router in the Al Midra facility with only your temporary (paper) ID and passport photocopy. Get back with the with your iquama number for top ups. There may be cheaper ways- but we went for this option for convenience.
Make sure payroll has your correct bank details for direct deposit. No problems with us, but one of the newbies found out a bit late that they didn’t, and may have to be paid by check until it is sorted…
Make sure your Arabic name in the Aramco system matches your iquama (mine didn’t)…no problems, but it makes sense and Personnel were very efficient in changing.
Our US ATM cards work great and the exchange rate was very close to 3.75 (give or a take a few cents on, say, $500). Credit cards accepted most places you'd expect. Computer games (e.g. Wii) are more common in US format in KSA, more Europe ones the trend in Dubai, Bahrain (apparently).
You can get contacts for arrival- but to be honest people are great- we had total strangers stop by at the bus stop and give us a ride to the commissary. Our neighbors switched off wireless security for us (though we did not need it in the end). Some offered to loan us their cars. Get involved (e.g. Cubs, Brownies, Women's group, other groups) and you won't go short of new friends.
There’s a lot more, but that’s it for now.
All the best,
The J4
