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Post by Agustina on Apr 27, 2013 13:30:49 GMT
We are Jordi and Tina, and in few months we will move to Abqaiq and frankly, we do have lot of doubts about the move. :?
We have decided for cash so we are not going to do a complete move but, after reading some good advises here, I'm thinking to send some boxes using DHL or similar. Besides my loved little kitchen appliances, a vacuum, coffee maker and all the things I haven't thought about, there is something more we should pack?
I have spent hours reading thru the forum and many doubts have been cleared, but I still have many more (cat, work possibilities inside the community for non-Aramco workers, books, toys, music) and would appreciate any help to clarify the remaining ones. So if someone offers to answer, we will be eternally in debt. :wink:
Tina and Jordi
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Post by vpainter on Apr 30, 2013 23:12:39 GMT
Welcome to Aramco!
I will send you an email in a couple of days (OOK right now) on things people have written about what they wish they had brought.
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Post by Agustina on May 2, 2013 19:52:53 GMT
Thanks vpainter. It's hard to me to determinate what I want to bring, what I must (and can) bring and what I shouldn't bring (althought I Any info will be welcomed. PS: I haven't received your e-mail yet  |
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Post by vpainter on May 8, 2013 18:05:21 GMT
I have sent you an email.
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Post by Jose on Jul 9, 2013 12:46:59 GMT
Hi Tina,
I'm also moving from Spain to ABQAIQ very soon. I hope everything is going great for you over there.
Can you send me a PM to tell me about your experience about the relocation and living in ABQAIQ. I can't find how to PM you :?
Thanks,
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Post by Ferreg on Nov 13, 2013 18:20:04 GMT
Hi. Also from Spain and hopefully moving soon.
This is a question for vpainter : I tried to send a private mail but not capable-: (please answer on a PM if you think answer is specific for this case).
We have 3 kids and our idea is to enrole the 2 older ones ( 9th and 10th grade next school year) in an OOK school. (The small kid school is not an issue now).
Our first setup is that I will first join as bacor and my wife will remain at home with the kids until this school year ends. All my family will join me end June
Our second option is that they join me April 2014, the kids finish their actual school year in an Aramco School and then we send them to an OOK school for the 2014-2015 school year.
As getting visa number is taking longer than expected, I have several questions in order to arrange things efficiently:
1- is it possible and easy to enroll them in an ARAMCO school for the 3rd trimestrer for 8th and 9th grade?
2.- they can manage in english but are not bilingual. What is your recomendation based on this?
3.- if due to this language issue we finally decide that they finish their actual school year in Spain and all familly joins end June, would they be eligible to benefit from the EAP for an OOK school for this 2014/2015 year.? ( the issue is that my wife may not spend 180 days in kingdom if you consider 2014 calendar year wilst for sure she will be almost 360 days if you take into account 2014/2015 School year).
4- last but not least: Can I start all process as bacor once being in kingdom or do I need to be in familly status - and my wife with me in kingdom- to start all this EAP paperwork.?
Thanks and looking forward to meet all of you soon.
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Post by vpainter on Nov 14, 2013 4:54:58 GMT
You must complete the approval process prior to receiving PM privileges.
We brought our boys in April and allowed them to finish the school year in the ARAMCO school. It allowed them to make friends for the summer when many families are OOK and it is much harder, not impossible, because so many are out.
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Post by vpainter on Nov 14, 2013 5:05:11 GMT
The ARAMCO schools does have a break the end of March through much of April. Aramco schools have kids moving in during the entire school year.
If you are a new hire and your wife and kids come, then you would be eligible for EAP for the next school year.
The 180 days is from Jan to Jan, not the school year. Aramco knows if you are a new hire you would not be here for the 180 days depending on when you join.
EAP is only available to those on family status. Your wife must come for you to do the paper work. You cannot do the paperwork on bachelor status.
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Post by Ferreg on Nov 14, 2013 6:40:40 GMT
Vpainter. Many thanks for your promp answer. what is your view based on your experience refering kids english knowledge/level?
And for the following years, do most of 10th grades move to OOK schools or there is a population of teenagers in the compounds?
Also when you say that i have to be on familly status in order to start process does it mean that my wife has to be physically in kingdom or can I join first and give her time to arrive along with kids.( lets say, I arrive end December and family joins on April in time for 3rd trimester start)
Thanks
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Post by vpainter on Nov 15, 2013 5:08:11 GMT
The Aramco schools are taught in Emglish. The kids will need a level of English in which to do the work. The schools know English is not all kids' first language, but they do need a functional level of English.
In previous years about one third of the DHA 9th grade students went to Dhahran High School. Not having children in school anymore, I do not know what percentage stays in kingdom for high school now. Dhahran High School is a college preparatory school and does give students an excellent high school education.
You may arrive first. You may even fill out the paperwork, but it will not be accepted for OOK boarding schools until your wife arrives in kingdom and you are on family status. This may not be exactly accurate if your wife arrives within 90 days of your arrival. If she arrives in the first 90 days you will be on family status upon arrival. I am not sure if they will accept the paperwork in that instance prior to her arrival.
If you do your senerio you will come on bachelor status because she will not be arriving within 90 days. You are not eligible for EAP tuition assistance on Bachelor status with kids living with the mom.
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Post by Radiance on Nov 15, 2013 9:06:20 GMT
Thank you very much VPainter. We are in the same kind of position, although we are not from Spain. I find your explanation very helpful, it's good to know that EAP assistance will not be processed until "the wife" has arrived in the kingdom.
I think this would be relevant to most families, who have children in school and who are thinking that it will be to their children's best interest to finish the academic year in their point of origin before the "big move".
It might be a good idea for your explanation to be moved to a different heading, as it's very useful to families who are in this kind of dilemma and who are not necessarily from Spain.
Regards.
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Post by vpainter on Nov 15, 2013 13:07:40 GMT
Radiance, good suggestion. Unfortunately, most users do not read Frequently asked questions.
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Post by Cororf on Dec 22, 2013 10:56:23 GMT
Dear all,
We are also a half Spanish couple (my wife is Spanish) being offered a job in Dhahran and told that we will be housed in Abqaiq. We are looking for any info, feedback you can possibly provide wrt to the living conditions in Abqaiq, the daily commute to Dhahran and the presence of a Spanish / Spanish speaking community in the compound. We are a family with young kids...please feel free to pm me if you think you can can help us out....
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Post by vpainter on Dec 23, 2013 21:11:04 GMT
Bus ride from ABQ to DHA is anywhere between 45 mins to an hour and a half depending on traffic, where your office is located and where your home is located.
There are Spanish speaking families in ABQ.
Sent you an email.
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