[JohnN]

Someone at my former employer called me about an opportunity to work in the Saudi oil fields as a project manager. Tax free $20K/month for a 6 month tour with optional extra time. Given the stock market and inflation, my retirement budget appears "adequate" but not lavish. $120K boost would sure help.. but.... . the middle east????
I'm assured it's very safe LOLOLOL...

I doubt I'll do it, but.. .I've thought about it, seems interesting and well paid.

What would you do?

[mfp509]

I had always said that I would never do anything like that for any amount of money and that still stands today. I worked right here in the United States and make do with the retirement I have. If I would have had to work longer before retiring, then so be it. Fortunately, I didn't.

[MMC24]

The Saudi's talk out of both sides of their mouth. The current high fuel prices are in part the result of their policy not to increase crude into the market. But place the blame for high prices on oil speculators. They denounce the extremists terrorism but secretly fund it. Remember the majority of the 9-11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia. Bin Ladin is from Saudi Arabia. Owning a Bible is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia.

My advise is do not go to Saudi Arabia!!!

[gfmucci]

Sell your soul as to work for the Saudi's. Might as well work for the Mafia or Al Quada. I saw an interesting photograph that showed two men shaking hands with a big grin on their faces, while in the other hand behind their backs was a dagger.

I also e-mailed the Saudi Embassy a few years back...I think it was shortly after 9/11. The guy that responded actually defended the attacks against this country and thought I was overreacting. And where is most of the money for funding the radical Islamic schools coming from?????

[efrahin]

I will not go there for any money. 2 phillipinos employees, that I used to have, went there to work, they treated them as slaves. Saudis (and their brothers) allways speak from both sides of the mouth. They paid for all those schools in the arab world whose only purpose if to teach the kids how to be martirs. If you go there, dont complain latter and expect the USA to go an rescue you, must of the time we dig our own holes and fall on them. Good Luck

[Niels]

Personally, I would probably turn it down. Why? Just because its six months out of my life. Time is too precious at this stage in my life. This probably won't be a 9 to 5 job. It will be your life 24/7 for six months. Even if you were only working eight hours a day what would you do with the rest of your time as an American in Saudi Arabia?

What would you do with the money if you had it? Would you do anything exciting that would make up for six months of your life? Or would you just put it in the bank as an extra cushion of cash and wind up passing it on to your heirs?

My nephew went to Venezuela years ago on a six month contract. He wound up spending about two years there. Each time they offerred him more $$$ to stay. But he wound up working constantly either because they needed him or there was nothing else to do. He had his car stolen, was robbed once and the restaurant he ate at was blown up by extremists because Americans ate there.

My nephew did it because he wanted the $$$. You don't sound like you need the money enough to take this job and this job is all about the $$$ because there's no other reason to take the job.

[samhass]

John, Please noooooooooooooooooooooo, don't go there.

[NYVette]

Wow..... 20K/month!!! I was only offered 10K/month. I'm somewhat insulted! (joking)

I retired Feb 2000. About 2004 I was contacted and offered a job by an American company to work over there. I lost a friend in the World Trade Center attack. It made no difference what the offer was or who signed the paycheck. I wanted nothing to do with anything that concerned any of those countries. If I needed the money that bad I would have remained working here. In fact...I can't imagine ever needing money that bad that I would work there.

[SteveZ]

While the money sounds good, the expenses are pretty stiff as well, unless you like the monastic approach to life. No site is an oasis, and you will quickly find out what it feels like to be "second class" in a land very ethnically and nationalistically distrinct.

It's a personal choice, but would suggest googling for websites describing life as an expat in the MidEast.

If it sounds too good to be true - it is!

[cathyp]

I would go in a New York minute!
I've been there-Riyadh, Jeddah, Daharan. The oil contracts are usually at Aramco and the "compound" is like living in a small town in the US. They have their own schools, boy and girl scouts, neighborhoods. Compunds in Riyadh are like Club Med living with pools, clubhouses and activities. I have never felt threatened or unsafe in any part of the country. Yes, it's very different from what we know in the US, but there is a great opportunity to meet people from all over the world working and living there. And making some good money in a short amount of time isn't all bad.

[redwitch]

I think I would have to factor in exactly what I would be doing -- contract work for an oil company or the embassy or construction. An American oil company? Maybe. The embassy? In a heartbeat. Construction (or driving)? No way -- too dangerous.

The Middle Eastern way of thinking is not like Americans. The social norms are much different. They will yes to almost anything and then it won't happen. This is not to be two-faced or because they are hypocritical -- it is because they feel to say no is impolite. If you mention you like something in their home, the odds are it will be given to you. It truly is a different mentality and something to be considered. You are a minority there so, if that makes a difference, don't do it. You will definitely not be appreciated or liked by everyone. Of course, you can always spend the six months in the American/European compounds. You won't get to learn much about the country but you'll be "safe" and comfortable.

The other factor, of course, would depend on your political views. If you do believe that the Saudis are funding Bin Laden, etc., then why would you even consider helping them? There is no question that Bin Laden funds the Al Quada and his money comes from his family in that he is part of the Saudi royalty. Of course, that doesn't mean that all of the Saudi royalty is funding him or his causes. To me, condemning all Saudis because of Bin Laden and his followers ranks up there with calling all Germans Nazis during and after WWII. Not all should be painted with the same brush. However, if you do believe that, then there is no question that you should say no.

Personally, I would jump at the chance to work in another nation and that includes Saudi Arabia (if I were male). There are some countries I would not consider because I'm female and feel it would be too dangerous (Saudi would be on that list, as would most Muslim countries today -- I would be too fearful of making a gaffe that could be deadly). But, then, I doubt I would be willing to live in the compounds. I would prefer to live in the country and truly learn about the people and the nation if at all possible.

[gfmucci]

Originally Posted by redwitch

To me, condemning all Saudis because of Bin Laden and his followers ranks up there with calling all Germans Nazis during and after WWII. Not all should be painted with the same brush. However, if you do believe that, then there is no question that you should say no.

Redwitch: I'm sure there are some very nice Saudis somewhere. No one is condemning ALL Saudis. (The trick is to pick out the goods ones.) The nation (the government, the rulers, etc.) make billions from the sale of their oil. They use much of that revenue to fund religion and a way of life that is a real challenge and threat to this nation and our way of life. Saudi's are radical Muslims funding schools that teach and promote much of the radicalism we are fighting. It is no coincidence that most (all??) 9-11 terrorists were Saudi. They have a culture that enables them to be highly skilled in smiling to your face and stabbing you in the back without you knowing where the knife came from. To work there contributes to their goals more than ours. It is sad how many people will sell out this nation for a buck.

[redwitch]

As I said, it really depends on what you believe and I truly do understand why you believe what you do. I don't happen to agree. It is a different culture, no question. Some of what is perceived as back stabbing by Americans is the way of life in the Middle East. To do otherwise would be downright rude there. It really is time for Americans to quit expecting the world to live by their rules and accept that there are differences and people are entitled to those differences even if they are diatmetrically opposed to our tenets and beliefs. America has done as much harm internationally as it has good (think the Shah Pahlavi, Idi Amin Dada -- both of whom Americans supported for quick and easy examples). If America has this need to delve into the politics and lives of other nations, it would behoove Americans to learn the "rules" of the nation they are "helping" and not be so insulted when those nations not only not appreciate the "help" but downright resent it.

The royals of Saudi are not radical Muslims. In fact, even Bin Laden has declared war on his relatives. So far, the radicals in Saudi have been unable to do more than fight amongst themselves. Yes, they live by Islamic laws. So do many loyal, patriotic Americans. Being a Muslim does not mean hating America any more than being a Christian means you are a pacifist. Being from Iran, Iraq, Saudi, even Indonesia and a Muslim doesn't automatically make someone a hater of the United States.

As I said in my original reply, if you believe that Saudi Arabia is truly an enemy of the United States, then you should not consider working there under any circumstances. If you do not believe this (obviously I do not), then decide on the basis of what you are willing to tolerate on a personal level. You will be a second-class citizen there. Some will revile you simply because you are not a Muslim and are an American. Your down time can be very boring.

[samhass]

Red, How long and when did you live in Saudi Arabia? Your take on that nation intrigues me.

[redwitch]

Lived there as a child on and off for 2 years. My father hated living on embassy compounds or military bases. When possible, we would live in "regular" housing and go to local schools. It really does change your perspective of a nation and its people when you live and shop with them rather than just be in the country.

As an adult, I've gone back to visit there several times and have had Saudi friends visit me frequently (all very pro-American).