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Post by dunkinmocha on Jun 17, 2014 21:30:23 GMT
Hi All! My husband and I both work in the O&G field in Houston, TX. We currently have a 18 month old, and we are expecting our second baby earlier next year. My husband had just received his offer from Saudi Aramco, we are both excited and nervous at the same time. I am not sure if I am ready to give up my career to become a stay-at-home wife, but we believe with two children, we can offer them a lot more if we take this offer! We do have a few questions, and would certainly appreciate if someone can help us clarify some things! This seems to be a great community, as I have found so much information already! 1. The offer letter does not state which compound we will stay in (it just says "company housing"). My husband is a GC 13, USA citizen. Is this something we can confirm with HR before we accept the offer? 2. Does Aramco usually pay for the moving expenses? We do not see any moving reimbursement on the offer letter. If we do pay out of our own pocket -- does anybody have any ideas how much it would cost? 3. Would you recommend moving any furnitures over, or do they have local IKEA/furniture stores that we can buy afterwards? 4. Are there any expecting mothers or mothers who moved to Saudi Arabia while they were pregnant? Do you have any suggestions or advices for us? I don't know if I should stay in the US by myself with the toddler until I give birth, since our families are all overseas. Again, thank you all in advance for putting this forum together. We cannot wait to start this new chapter of our lives, and we look forward to meeting you all!
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Post by vpainter on Jun 18, 2014 21:20:41 GMT
If you have received the offer by email, there will be more details when you receive the offer paperwork that will be sent to you also.
1. Sometimes they can tell you and other times they cannot. Housing is based on availability of housing you are eligible for at the time of your arrival. Prior to the housing shortage they used to be able to tell people where they would be living. As it gets closer to when you would be leaving, they will usually tell you where you will be assigned housing.
2. Aramco usually offers you a shipment or cash-in-lieu of shipping. It will be in the hard copy offer.
3. There is an Ikea store and many other furniture stores here. Some people like to buy new, others feeL more at home bringing in their furniture, it is a personnel choice, whatever will help you feel at home.
4. Many ladies give birth here. Hopefully one will answer for you.
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Post by UmmRiyam on Jun 19, 2014 5:51:41 GMT
I had my first two daughters in Dhahran, and my 3rd in America in a hospital. I personally had a better overall experience in the Aramco hospital, especially the postpartum care and meals. The nursing staff in Dhahran were much more attentive and helpful, and they all were able to help me correctly latch my baby on. Aramco Dhahran is a baby friendly hospital that encoues breastfeeding, and baby stays with you. It's so difficult for me to say whether you should stay in USA or come here to deliver because I don't know what kind of birthing experience you want and what kind of birthing experience you had before. For example, Aramco Dhahran cannot offer you a 100% natural birthing experience. The delivery rooms are normal, bright hospital rooms, not made to be more homey with the ability to dim the lights. They don't have bathtubs, and they don't have an option for water birth. If you're willing to sacrifice a little bit of the comfort of some of the American labor rooms, then you can have a great delivery in the Aramco hospital attended by a midwife.
If you want to talk more about birthing options in Saudi Arabia, then you can send me a private message. I'm a childbirth educator, and I also know some Doulas in the Khobar area if you're interested in hiring a doula for your birth.
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Post by dunkinmocha on Jun 24, 2014 13:43:16 GMT
Thank you all for your prompt response!
We've decided to accept the offer (yay!) Filled out all the paperwork over the weekend and sent them to Aramco, now waiting anxiously for our next steps!
Got a few more questions if you don't mind.
1. HR confirmed we will be staying in Rakkah compound (I understand it may change anytime in between). From your experience, do you recommend owning a car?
2. We decided to take half-shipment, half-cash option for moving, because we have stuff scattered around 2 houses (we actually just purchased a new house in Houston...) I read somewhere that Aramco usually assigns a moving company who will pack everything for you. Is this still true? If so, do we just leave everything in one place and wait for them to pack for us? Or are there any specific type of container we should get to begin packing?
3. Do we have some type of "craigslist" market on this forum, where families can sell used cars/furnitures to each other? For instance, we are trying to decide whether we need to pack all the rockers, swings, jumperoos, etc. for babies. If there are hand-me-downs, we don't mind just buying in KSA at all!
4. UmmRiyam -- I am more interested in the postpartum care in Saudi Arabia. I had my first boy in a Houston hospital natually. Can you tell me a bit more about the postpartum care in KSA? I am more worried about having to take care of my 2 year old without family support.
Thanks again for all your help! We can't wait to join you guys!
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Post by vpainter on Jun 25, 2014 10:57:52 GMT
1) yes, I think your family will want a car. You will want to go into the local community to dinner and shop when you want to. Your husband may want to drive the car to work and if you are in Rakah, you may want to take the bus later, pick up your car, enjoy DHA camp activities and facilities. You can the park and take the bus back or you can wait and ride home with our husband when he gets off work.
2) Yes still true, for the Aramco shipment part, just have it separated out from what you are taking yourself or not taking. The packers will pack everything. You only need to fill out the inventory sheets Aramco will provide for you. You can make a list early on paper and transfer it to the inventory sheets if you don't want to wait until the last minute. You can label everything going in the shipment with:
Your name, badge number C/O Saudi Aramco Your compound: DHA-Rakah KSA
You can use return address labels and removable file folder labels (these are for things you do not want a permanent sticker on) to stick onto everything.
There is not a classifieds on the forum. Once you are here and have your Aramco internet set up you will have access to the Aramco Classifieds. This is not available prior to coming here.
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