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Post by Chikano on Oct 14, 2011 22:04:38 GMT
this message is designated only for stmayo11and vpainter.
describe please the life in aramco compound. are you happy guys? or do u prefer the life in the states or wherever u guys are from. is it only the money making that making you liking that compound life?
i only want you both to reply because, from my readings here, i felt that you have a big experience in that compound and with that company! hope you help me.
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Post by vpainter on Oct 15, 2011 18:28:20 GMT
Chikano,
Our family have loved it here. We've been here 11 years and felt led us here. We came from Houston, where everyone is so busy working long hours and there was hardly any time for friends except on the weekend and not often then, because everyone was doing the yard work and chores. Working downtown, seeing the kids was even very limited, due to length of the drive.
Here at Aramco, we have plenty of family time, time to coach their sports and be involved in their school activities and after school activities.
We have plenty of time for getting together with friends as well, often and its available daily, weekly or as often as we choose.
The kids were (ours are grown now) active in sports, piano lessons, swimming, scuba diving, youth activities, and received an excellent education. They also became world travelers with family trips and school trips.
They were excepted into the universities they applied to, so had choices.
There are choices for high school now, you can do boarding school anywhere in the world if you want; or you can keep them in kingdom and they'll receive an excellent education at Dhahran High School; or they can do weekday boarding and be home on the weekends in Bahrain.
So was it only money that's made us happy here, for our family the answer is NO.
We've each made lifelong friends and have had an abundance of new adventures.
But I have known a small few of families who were unable to adjust to the culture and they headed back home. But an open mind, realization your not in your home country, and you can have a wonderful time.
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Post by Julz62 on Oct 15, 2011 18:50:46 GMT
I am going to respond to this even though it isn't directed at me. I have only been over just shy of a year but my family didn't come for the money. We came for the experience. In fact we thought when coming that we were taking a pay cut since I wouldn't be working. Pleasantly surprised that isn't the case. The amount of time you have to spend with your family is amazing! With two elementary school kids we could never have done all that we do here in the States. I have meet and know several people who didn't like it and have left in the short time that I have been here but if you come with a positive atude and make the most of it there is so much to see and do and is a wonderful place to raise a family! This Saudi Scenes website might also help. Best of Luck!
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Post by jiluscha on Oct 16, 2011 9:18:53 GMT
I am sorry to respond to this but we have been so happy in RT that I cannot stop myself of answering. We're a family of five and have been here for almost two months. I have met so many wonderful people, my kids love the schools and as a stay at home mom I cannot believe that I can enjoy it so much. If I am not careful enough pretty soon I have to manage an agenda with so many activities. We love it and thank for this great new life.
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stmayo11
Senior Member
ExPats Community Moderator
Posts: 159
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Post by stmayo11 on Oct 18, 2011 17:35:09 GMT
o Chikano,
Compound life is not for everyone. Although there are plenty of negatives of being here, for me and my family, the positives right now outweigh the negatives. We love having the ability to travel to really neat places on this side of the world. If I were still in the US, I would never get to see so many of the places I've already visited. We've just reserved a trip to Athens, Greece. We've been to so many exotic destinations, I wouldn't want to bore you with the details here. For us, we spend a lot of our spare time planning our next "big trip." This keeps us going. THen we start planning our annual vacations. The package Saudi Aramco offered me was reasonable and I took it. It just made sense for me and my family at the time I relocated over here. Yes, we do miss a lot of the conveniences of living in the USA. But all-in-all, I do like living here very much. Again, there are lots of annoyances of living on a compound, but living at RT, we have the sea, and for some of us here at RT, we just love the atmosphere of our camp. We have close friends, lots of social functions, many self-directed groups, sports for the kids (and adults too), a great pool to chill in during the oppressive heat/humidity that comes with living here. (NO - I do not like the heat here during the summer, but we just deal with it...it's part of the package.) No one forced me to come here. But I did do a tremendous amount of research, much of it on this Forum before I made the decision to accept the offer. I spoke to a couple of people who were living here at the time by Vonage, and their experiences were overwhelmingly positive, although both complained of things that I also find a bit annoying about living here, but again, no matter where you live, you'll have things like that. The highways are very dangerous because there is practically no law enforcement to speak of, but the new automated SAHER camera system has lots of folks slowing down in areas around the cameras. It's no exaggeration when people say the highways are dangerous here...they're deadly. But that does not stop me and my family from venturing out to Al-Khobar every other weekend or so for some shopping or an outing to one of the amusement parks inside the malls. There are lots of neat things for kids to do here. We have a large SUV (gas is SO cheap here!) and I try my best to drive very defensively.
When I decide the positives no longer outweigh the negatives, I'll go somewhere else. For now, I still enjoy living and working at Ras Tanura. I do hope this helps.
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Post by Mr Barlow on Oct 21, 2011 17:44:49 GMT
Chikano
Please bear in mind if you are making decisions about whether or not to work here, this forum is not independent. You will hear all the permitted negative comments about the roads, heat, prayer times, government bureacracy but nothing more than that.
Do your own research and look at other expat forums as well to get a more balanced view.
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Post by thisisit on Oct 22, 2011 18:46:55 GMT
I agree with Mr Barlow. Its not all goody goody here. Be ready to make some compromises..
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Post by vpainter on Oct 22, 2011 19:39:08 GMT
I would think anyone would know that when they come to a different country there are going to be adjustments and things not like home. Some people will enjoy it; others will not.
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Post by RohanK on Oct 22, 2011 19:48:28 GMT
We have been here several years. Everything is not perfect here, nowhere is perfect. But the majority of people we know are VERY happy here. Most people stay to retirement because life is good, not because of money. Life here is what you make of it, just like anywhere. Some people complain all day everyday. I think these people complain no matter where they are. Why would they stay if they didn't like it more than any other place :?: Life here isn't compound life unless you chose it. The main thing is women can't drive off compound and dress is casual on camp, otherwise camp is majority Saudi just like outside camp plus camp has lots of activities nearby that makes driving less necessary. If you have a family the opportunities for family activities, education, and travel opportunities are unmatched anywhere we have seen. Compromises, yes, but not for our family! This matters most to us  |
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Post by Chikano on Oct 24, 2011 0:57:58 GMT
from where i come from . Aramco is considered heaven!
i am sure about my decision but i only wanted opinions thats all... thank you guys.
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Post by Carolina on Oct 24, 2011 11:50:38 GMT
o
Interesting debate about life and working for Aramco.
Well this is my story having been moved to 9 countries in 12 years I decided not to come to Saudi 3 years ago when my husband was hired by Aramco - anyway to cut a very long story short he brought me here just over 1 year ago - actually dged me here and it is personally the best decision he made - I am thriving here and wonder why it took me so long - yes as many posts have pointed out anywhere in the world you choose to work and live there will always be negative and positive aspects everywhere and in fact when I return to Scotland for breaks it is entirely the same thing there as well - so again just have an open mind and try it - those new hires have their probationary period which is a very good thing to have and then the person or family can decide whether to stay or leave - incidentally out of all the countries we have lived in this is the first time we have lived in compound life and I personally love it! amazing never thought I would say that but it is the wonderful community that makes it and of course living here in RT now the weather is cooler to walk the beach every day - well I certainly could not do that in Scotland at the moment.
It is all to do with being at peace with oneself no matter which part of the world one lives in.
Kind Regards
Carolina
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