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Expat Adventures
Hello,
Nice to meet you, here I am with my new friend a Chinese Puppy.
I am an expat, a man who sells his Body, Soul, Experience and Talents to the highest bidders.
I have written an ebook about my experiences, they are sometimes funny,sometimes tragic and most of the time enjoyable.
Here is my story, go on have a laugh.
THE LAND OF THE CAMEL JOCKEYS
I received a call from a friend one day at work asking me if I would be interested in working in Saudi Arabia.
My reaction was instantaneous, NO. My friend undeterred said the money is good, How good? Well with what you are earning now, x 3. Lets meet I said.
Is it not amazing the effect money can have on people, from NO to Maybe in 3 minutes flat.
The interview was a complete flop as they said my experience was not enough, I had worked in the Concrete Industry for 5 years, who are they anyway, they don¡¯t deserve me, what a bunch of plonkers etc. My mind cannot get over rejection so I talked myself into saying it was their fault not mine.
My earlier friend rang and said sorry mate but let me see what I can do. Then what, nothing for 6 months, then another call saying lets meet again, same company, same job as before.
What I did not understand at that time was the Arabs can and do change their mind like women change their knickers, sorry love.
Off we go again and they make me an offer 3 times my base salary, boy am I happy until I get home and the wife and kids are saying don¡¯t go.
It was one of the most difficult decisions I had to make and the money won. This is not because I do not love my wife and kids, I do, but there is a bit of the old gypsy traveler in all of us and the money could let us buy a house.
Job done, decision made, Suitcase packed and off to the airport.
The kids are adaptable and were soon zooming up and down the airport concourse on the trolleys as though nothing is happening.
Brenda is upset and so am I, lets go and do the job.
A 6 hour flight on the now defunct British Caledonian Airways was ok, the rest of the old hands were putting away more booze in the 6 hours than I could put away in a month. But as I am not a big drinker I stuck with the Coca Cola.
To listen to the Old hands is an experience in itself as they all have one thing in common, they don¡¯t like working in Saudi. Why are you there then came from my innocent gob, ¡°because of the money idiot¡± was the reply.
The landing was perfect and then a loud groan came from all except me as one guy said look out of the window, all I could see was an Air India and an Air Pakistan.
Big deal I says, you really are an idiot aren¡¯t you says my new found friend.
It means we will be waiting at least 3 hours before we get through customs, (now this is at 11pm) and low and behold he was right.
The Saudi customs are nothing but tough and the piles of Dirty magazines, Sun page 3, videos piled up into a small mountain.
The Indians and Pakistani¡¯s do not have this problem as they have never heard of Page 3, so their exit through the barriers were quicker than ours.
Outside I go into the humidity of hell, where two of my new colleagues are waiting and grumbling about how long it took me to come through.
Still friends I needed to make so a Sorry was said and they replied get in the car and shut it. Great how a few kind words go a long way.
How far to the hotel I asked when we were flying on a pitch black desert highway, that brought out a smile from the driver who said ¡°What Hotel¡±, this was making me panic a bit as I have read about scorpions and Camel spiders and all those nasty beasties.
Ok I say bravely where do I sleep, ¡°It is a surprise¡± answers the other man in the front passenger seat.
Oh sod it, wait and see at least they told me the insurance was good. Arriving in the camp and being shown into my room was heaven, this was now 04.00 and I am a bit tired.
See you at 06.00 for breakfast says the driver smirking. I thought the SS were disbanded after the war I said. Sleep tight they say laughing.
No I did not sleep and the heat was hot.
I was showered, shaved and shitted by the 06.00 hours reveille and the two SS men took me to Breakfast, what do you want one said, Burger and Chips, or Burger and Chips.
I will have coffee thanks wanting to throw up.
Suit yourself they replied as they tucked into their greasy stuff served by an Indian whose apron was walking in front of him.
Want to know more then follow the link.
Send E-Mail to: haroldsansom@hotmail.com
Copyright © 2009 Dr Harold Sansom. All Rights Reserved