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Post by Wedge on Aug 28, 2014 15:25:44 GMT
Pat1703 and OEGEngg
Now I'm hoping that the DTower fills up before we arrive mid-Nov so that I end up somewhere else. Oh dear, has anyone got a good word to say about the DTower?
Thanks, W
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Post by vpainter on Aug 28, 2014 15:28:29 GMT
Obvious you did not read the rest of the posts in this discussion group.
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Post by space99 on Aug 28, 2014 16:50:46 GMT
I have been told by my relocation advisor that another block of apartments in khobar will be available from late october / early november. A friend of mine from Aramco mentioned that rumors are this new block of apartments is not as luxury as DT. Not sure why Aramco is going after apartments when sentiments here shows that people prefer houses in compounds.
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Post by Pat1703 on Aug 28, 2014 17:54:59 GMT
Like Vpainter says the tower does not belong to Aramco it is what it is and will likely stay as is...
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Post by vpainter on Aug 31, 2014 9:37:38 GMT
Easy, there are no houses available, employees are still coming in and require a place to live. The company cannot stop business because of the housing shortage. The company is acquiring the best local accommodation available.
This is not the Aramco of recent old. It is the Aramco of today. If people want to work here, they will come and make do just as the thousands who came before them from the very early days, even up and into the 1980's.
The accommodations provided today are much better than they were provided in the 1980's and previous. People came back then and made do with what they were given.
If you want to work for Aramco, you will come and enjoy the benefits and make do with the things that are different than you expected or wanted.
If you want an adventure, come.
If you want to travel, come.
If you like vacation and holidays, come.
If you want to work for an International company, come.
If you are coming for a standard of living equal to where you are coming from, don't come.
If you are coming with unrealistic expectations, don't come.
You will choose to be happy or unhappy here. It is what you make it.
Just don't come here and complain and be constantly negative. Most of those of us who are here choose to make the best of it all and enjoy the adventure. We hope you will also.
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Post by aussie hopeful on Sept 6, 2014 4:30:14 GMT
Wedge,
Hubby has been here 9 weeks and me and the children (4 girls) have been here 3 weeks. We are in the bigger of the 3 bedroom apart so our perspective may be different, but we like it. yes there is things missing that are in the aramco compound but it also has a lot to offer. The apartments are nice and anything that needs to be repaired or pictures put up etc is done very quickly. The pool, gym, sauna, steam room and jacuzi are great. we have a women's coffee morning every work morning, a lot of families jump in the pool in the evening, we have just had a return to school pool party. A play room has been put together for us 3 mornings a week and the towers management are open to suggestions. Martial arts has just started and progress is being made in getting yoga and zumba started. There is talk of a coffee shop and mini market being put in. We are close to the malls and private drivers are not expensive. Yesterday hubby took the girls to main camp to play in a park and I used a driver to do the food shop, I have not had any concerns going out by myself and haven't felt unsafe. I have only come across a couple of rude people but there are plenty of them in Australia as well! The lifts can be interesting!! there has been a couple of occasions of them getting stuck, the school transport is still being worked through (the residence association is very active in resolving these issues) and the driving is crazy and takes some adjusting to. If you are coming with the intention to stay within the walls of a compound then DT may not suit, we came with the view that we wanted to explore Saudi and get out and about so really looking forward to getting are own car next week. we are also close to the causeway to Bharhain and there is a 4 days holiday coming up so that is where we are heading. Feel free to ask question and I will answer as best I can.
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Post by shayer on Sept 10, 2014 19:39:15 GMT
Excellent post O&GEngg.
We also like Sara are anxious to avoid upset at Customs. We have decided it maybe safer to leave our DVDs and any books which may offend at our parents.
Do you know what the general rules are? It is probably safer to leave powders eg salt and baking powder, baking soda at home, or am I being silly?! Herbs and spices too...in fact any food product? How indepth are the customs checks?
Any non-obvious things we should be aware of? We are mortified if we accidentally bring anything which may offend or cause trouble. How about our family holiday album with photos at the beach? Piggy bank?
So many potential points to offend. Safer to leave at home if in doubt? How does everyone else do it?
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Post by Shammal on Sept 10, 2014 22:03:46 GMT
My spouse is concerned about what customs would do to her collection of printed photobooks that include vacations on the beach. There's nothing in them that wouldn't meet dress code at the company beach at half moon bay(no bikinis), but they'd be ruined if someone at customs decided to use a black marker to cover up legs, necks and shoulders.
I thought we could try shrink-wrapping the books so that any markings could be peeled off later.
Probably too simplistic to work and not something that should be discussed on the forum anyway.
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Post by daveangel on Sept 11, 2014 17:45:17 GMT
I think people are perhaps making a bit too much about these customs / import restrictions. I for one haven´t even personally met anybody who would have been thoroughly inspected at the airport. Yes, they xray all the bags but usually that is it and you get through without them being opened. I would dare to say that this is especially true if you are travelling with children as Saudis tend to be very respectful towards families. So, relax a bit.  I received a couple of books about yoga (with pictures of scantly clad people in yoga poses) in the mail. The box had been opened and inspected by the customs but they didn´t seem to mind that, so I would think your personal holiday pictures are safe. Having said that, nobody can of course absolutely guarantee that it won´t happen. |
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Post by vpainter on Sept 22, 2014 5:06:24 GMT
If you put your photobooks in your shipment, they may be taken to the Ministry and blacked with a magic marker or pages torn out. 6 of our shipment book boxes were taken and looked through.
Don't bring anything you could not live with losing, you may not lose it, but there are no guarantees.
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Post by MissingSki on Oct 12, 2014 6:14:23 GMT
O&G Eng
I am here now. just sent you a PM.
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Post by yyctosa on Oct 23, 2014 19:58:30 GMT
Dear O&GEngg;
I found your post extremely helpful. Thank you for sharing your experiences. My family and I will be moving to the Kingdom in mid-November and I do have some questions. Would it be possible to contact you via email? Please let me know.
Thanks,
yyctosa.
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