kilted_highlander78
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Post by kilted_highlander78 on Oct 31, 2012 22:27:13 GMT
o my good people...
We are currently enjoying a snack at the Royal Plaza Lounge at Vancouver international airport on our way to Dammam. I can't believe it is happening. This is the first update for the first leg of our new life.... More updates to follow... Looking forward to seeing you all soon.
Kh78 & family
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Post by Golfchic on Nov 1, 2012 7:00:37 GMT
We are on our way today, too! It is hard to believe we are finally at this point... Perhaps we'll see you at the Dammam airport  Safe travels! |
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kilted_highlander78
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Post by kilted_highlander78 on Nov 1, 2012 10:19:02 GMT
o again,
Just landed at Schipol international airport... Boy the business class is awesome and they give you free gifts on klm.... 2 hours to our next trip to dammam. I will post about that once I get connected....
Meanwhile, stay safe and see ya soon.
KH78
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Post by Overland on Nov 1, 2012 13:05:12 GMT
Highlander:
You will be in KSA by the time you read this. FINALLY!! Hope that last leg of the trip was uneventful and that you flew through Dammam airport. Please post your airport experience, regardless, as I am curious to know how you and your family fared. Hopefully you didn't get to sit on the bench for 2 hours like I did last time wondering what exactly the problem was (computer couldn't process my fingerprints).
Best to you and your family as you settle in. Hoping to see you in about a month.
O'land
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Post by northstar on Nov 1, 2012 14:50:08 GMT
Congrats. Wish you and your family all the best in the next phase of your life. Do keep posting your experience especially your DMM airport ordeal and first few days of your transition period as and when you find time. I'm anxious to know if you found everything per your expectations?
Hopefully we'll see each other in DMM if everything goes well in my case.
Cheers
NS
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Post by halfwaythere on Nov 1, 2012 18:38:07 GMT
Have a safe rest of the trip KH. As others suggested, please keep posting your experience.
Good luck
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Post by ohcanada on Nov 5, 2012 18:20:45 GMT
Thanks for the updates highlander. We are all excited for you and your family!
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kilted_highlander78
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Post by kilted_highlander78 on Nov 8, 2012 12:26:59 GMT
Ok folks...here we go...
Ch.1 DMM Airport,
We arrived at 10:30 pm...and there was a huge line at immigration and there were only 3 officers. Remember it was the after Eid holidays so every now and then the officers are greeted by a colleague wishing them happy eid. Anyways, an officer came to us (since we are family) and pulled us from the queue and processed us quckly. Please note that officers might ask you about a discripancy in dates (I mean in Canada and Us we do dates like follows MM/DD/YYY; however, in Saudi they use DD/MM/YYYY).... wasn't big issue at all.. just explained it to the guy. Non of my Home depot boxes were opened or even scanned... so all in all we finished everything in approx. 30 mnutes. Then we were greeted by a colleague of mine (ITC) and taken to the Aramco office at DMM airport. There, an HR rep took our passports, gave us the welcome package and our house key. Then, a driver took us to the house. We found some eggs, milk, juice, bread and fruits (was nice to find some food ready)... also, we found a package from the housing committee.
HOWEVER, there was no phone there (advise, bring your own phone set just in case...we had to suffer all weekend till we got one on Saay). Saay I went to the office and I met everyone.... nice people I have to say. Sunday was our orientation and blood test... pretty long day so get ready. meawhile, my wife took care of the kids' school, gardening, checking the house...etc.
This is it for now, I will talk somemore once I have internet at my home.. Now, I am going with my brother and sister and their families to have some BBQ.... see ya soon Y'all.
KH78
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Post by ohcanada on Nov 8, 2012 15:13:18 GMT
Thanks SO much for the update. Sounds OK so far. And thanks for the advice about the phone! I am also bringing an alarm clock, since I know getting up for work at 5:30 am is going to be a struggle! Was there a coffee maker in the kitchen or should we bring that as well?
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Post by Overland on Nov 8, 2012 20:54:52 GMT
KH:
Thanks for the update! Glad everything is working out for you. Also good to hear about the process at DMM. We will be running that ourselves on the 28th in the wee hours, Insh.
O
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kilted_highlander78
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Post by kilted_highlander78 on Nov 14, 2012 2:44:12 GMT
o again dear friends...
This time, I am writing to you from the comfort of my home,,,, it is 5:33 am in DH and am up. To answer few questions:
1. Oh canada... we miss you so much...when you're coming. And, no there is no coffee maker. The only stuff you would find are a small water heater, small iron, and food....so would be wise to get your coffee maker and alarm.
2. I have to say that our transition period had been smooth as much as possible,,,you know except few heck ups here and there... however, the best advice I can give you once you land is RELAX AND LET IT HAPPEN (a story with a morale: I have this Brit new hire guy at my office who, in 3 days, sent more than 30 online requests for landline, internet, stickers...etc and he had to go to the Division's manager and hear about it....just relax and let it be).
3. Be prepared to chase after several things the first few days... my director is a super nice guy who understood that and let me leave whenever I felt like it.
This is it so far....
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Post by jp_fizzer on Nov 14, 2012 3:52:27 GMT
Hi KH78, it sounds like your routing might be the exact same as ours. We fly out of Vancouver on Nov. 25th (Sunday), through Amsterdam and arrive in Dammam at around 10:30pm on the 26th.
Did you use Dish Barrel Boxes by any chance? We are pretty much using them exclusively but I am very nervous as they are a total of 64" (2" over the max). I have seen a lot of posts that they are accepted by the airlines but that would be terrible if they have changed their policies and are no longer acceptable. I am hoping somebody has used them recently with KLM. :-)
The guide says to expect porters who will want to help you. Does this actually occur twice, once from baggage claim to customs and then again after customs to the vehicle?
If you have any other tips it would be greatly appreciated, we will be travelling with two children as well.
thanks,
-jeff
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Post by Hadia on Nov 14, 2012 4:28:50 GMT
We flew with several Dish Barrel Boxes on KLM a couple of months ago. We didn't cut them down. There was no problem with the dimensions. Just make sure you don't go over the weight limit per box. It's the weight they're more interested in.
The porters that help you at the baggage area will follow along with you through customs and out to the ground vehicles area. It is wise to have Saudi currency with you beforehand to manage the tips.
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Post by vpainter on Nov 14, 2012 11:13:29 GMT
And don't believe the airport porters who say its 100SR for taking your luggage off the conveyor belt, through customs and out to your car. You should pay 5 to 10 SR per piece of luggage or boxes. When you are exchanging money try to get some small bills as needed, depending on the amount of luggage you have. Settle the price to pay up front, they may still try to get more from you once you are at your car. Pay them the appropriate amount and get in your car and leave.
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kilted_highlander78
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Post by kilted_highlander78 on Nov 15, 2012 3:28:18 GMT
# vpainter... KUDOS for that comment
In my case they asked for 150 SR for 10 boxes, and I aked the Aramco rep. and my colleague who came to meet me how much to pay them and they all said 5SR per box.... I felt bad for the guys because they were heavy boxes so I gave them 75 SR...the joke was that because I had 10 boxes and 4 carry ons, two porters helped me move them, and each wanted 75SR. They see the ARAMCO sign and the get greedy.
Same rule applies to outside taxis. Settle the price before you ride...and if they suddenly want to change their mind, stop at the security gate and explain to them the situation...they will take the necessary steps.
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