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Post by KSE on Feb 19, 2012 23:24:18 GMT
Thank-you so much for your responses, I will keep reading, find this entire forum very informative and very much appreciated.
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Post by Overland on Feb 21, 2012 14:13:43 GMT
Hi:
I am new on this forum also. Hoping to be in your position shortly and have been searching to see what I am about to get myself into...
You should take the time to read the last year's postings. I did that in a matter of a few hours. You will find that a lot of your questions will be answered. Even read the threads that don't seem to pertain to you. There is always some additional wisdom lurking within them. Here are a few things I learned that may apply to you.
You will not be given a choice on your location. The company will send you where they need you. That should be disclosed to you before you make the decision to move.
You will not get to choose the dwelling in which you live. Your husband's upper management classification will help you obtain better housing than most. However, you will only be able to take what is available within that housing type. After some time with the company (sounds like 2-3 years), you can be put on a waiting list for better accomodations. Choice takes time. Sabr is the first word of Arabic you might want to know.
Don't sell all of your belongings! You will only get a fraction of its value when you sell it at home. When you arrive you will find that new is likely more expensive than at home. Big net loss overall! However, expect upwards of 10% damage or loss to contents during the surface transport. Important items should go by air when you fly out. Buisness class allows extra cargo without a fee.
Your piano is a maybe. Very heavy and file. Might be best to acquire locally.
I am sure that the others on here can answer your other questions. This seems to be a really accomo......... group!
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Post by vpainter on Feb 22, 2012 9:33:50 GMT
if your husband arrives first and you arrive within 90 days, he will be assigned your family home and he could have it painted. If you arrive over 90 days from his arrival, he will be given bachelor quarters until right before you arrive, somewhere in a month's time. Can be the same week and he may or may not have time to paint before your arrival.
Shipping your things versus buying here, is a personal preference. If you enjoy having your things around you, bring your things. many people are glad they did and some who waited to buy here wish they had brought their things. Choices are very limited here - furniture, appliances, bikes, and pianos. You can always sell what you brought and buy new if you find something you'd rather live with.
If you have a good shipping company your piano should travel just fine, but no guarantees of course. I do have a friend that brought here grand piano and it made it just fine. We bought ours here.
You will need to purchase a boat or other craft once here, hard to get them registered, I understand, and people pass them around (selling). There are beaches for different types of boat owners and a beach for those without a boat. Friends with boats allow for boating fun!
There is a large NAUI diving club and yes kids can participate, and a PADI instructor at the DHA Jr High, who holds classes for some students in his elective class (at least he used to).
Where you live is determined by the company housing department and will be included in your offer. What type house you receive is dependent on GC and number of children.
Yes, you would be unable to get a job until you are in kingdom. Lately, I've been hearing it is much harder for spouses to get jobs, but there are exceptions to everything. Apply when you get here, if they really want you, they'll make a way. But do be prepared mentally and emotionally to be a stay at home mom, if a job is not forth coming. You will be constantly busy, even if you don't work, if you are one to get involved.
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Post by Carolina on Feb 23, 2012 10:22:50 GMT
o Vpainter has answered everything and including advice concerning your piano.
We have extensive experience of moving from country to country and we decided not to move our piano here to KSA - if your piano is very dear to you and I am sure it is - I would personally not ship it as Vpainter reports it maybe ok and then again maybe not - I was lucky that my neighbour retired and sold her beloved piano to me as they were retiring to Thailand and she felt that the piano would not do well on the journey there.
I never had a piano for such a long time and it is such a joy now to have one again - yes you can buy pianos here and sometimes one can get lucky as we did when people leave and sell their pianos.
Good luck
Carolina
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