New Teacher - Whippin Up a (Sand) Storm!!

Friday 12th June 2009 (again)

There's a new guy in town! Yes, we have been joined by a new teacher who has now been here about three weeks now. And BOY OH BOY is HE raisin' hell or WHAT!!

OK, we'd heard his name being bandied around by the HoD for months as a Will-He-Won't-He arrival. He had been kept waiting for ages and ages because the block visas had run out and he had to wait for a new lot. Like many countries, Saudi Arabia only lets in a certain number of foreign workers at a time and has a block visa application quotas system. Myself and the other guy I arrived with were the last two in the list. This new guy had to wait. But finally he has got his and is here.

We'd heard that his wife was in Miami and he had been waiting and waiting in London to see what was happening. Hmm .... sounds familiar eh? Yeah, all the same stuff as I'd had only MUCH longer. During this time he'd had to spend a lot of money and wasted time in London and had even flown back to Miami to his wife. So that seemed to be the end of him. But it wasn't, and he is now here. Yup, he TOO had to go through the up-all-night airport thing making him the fourth guy to have to do so. And THAT is a total disgrace!!

Now then, I met him on his first day. Once again, a guy in his 50's, rather overweight and for SURE feeling pretty damn unhappy about his ordeal at the airport in Dammam. Who wouldn't be! So his mood was not good.

Tried to be friendly. After all, we had suffered the same. Seemed kind of OK. But there was something about him I couldn't get to like. Again he was one of those people who had come here unprepared and did not know much, if anything, about what it is to be in this country. For a country like this, you simply DO have to be prepared and DO have to know what to expect BEFORE arrival. Well .... to SOME extend anyway because, as I know, even when you're HERE it STILL doesn't make sense.

So that was irritating rather. Towards the end of the day, he started moaning about the fact that he had not been told about either the three-month probation period OR the five-month no-holiday time. Well, this IS true that these two things are a bit of a pain. But they are clearly stated in the contract and anyone who knows anything about such things will have read and noted such information BEFORE signing up. For him to complain now was way too late. But he's had a hard night so all was so much worse than it should be. Again, understandable.

Came in the next morning to my regular soldier boy class lesson. Met my colleague there who teaches that lot with me. "Have you heard the latest?", he inquired. Intriguing, I thought. "The new teacher is saying he wants to go in July and is refusing to sign the contract!".

What the hell ???

Didn't know what to make of it. I was glad to see a new guy so I could sell him my STC Al Jawal simcard which I didn't need (but now I realise I DO need it). But what WAS going on here?

Now .... THIS is what comes of not blogging regularly. But, to be fair, I DID spend the last week ill with flu so there's my excuse! The details of this new teacher and what has gone on are not altogether clear now.

At first I was happy to help him out. I went with him to the shop to show him where it was and so he could get a few things. But there was something very loud and obnoxious about his voice I could NOT get to like or get used to. He is, supposedly, a Brit. But he has a strong South African accent. He speaks in that loud and overbearing way that people from that country do. And how much time does he spend in the UK? Not a lot I guess if his dear wifey is in Miami. So what does he do? Well, according to the man himself, he does a bit of this and that, a bit of travel writing and keeps himself busy. Yes, when I asked him what on earth he had done all this time waiting to get here, he seemed to take offence to such a question. To me, it was a good one due to MY experience. But if it had been OK for HIM to wait all that time then so be it. But his answer was of the type, "HUH you cheeky man! Do you think I've been idle all this time?". Not his words at all, but it WAS the tone of his voice and attitude conveyed.

I wasn't sure, but you need to give a guy a chance and that's what I did. Was quite prepared to have a chat with him in school. But was a little mystified that still he was around with that untidy, not tucked-in shirt. Why was he not teaching?

Soon found THAT out too. Apparently, until he signs the contract that they give him HERE, he cannot step inside a classroom and teach.

Yes, this is the bizarre world of dual-and-the-same contracts that we operate under. OK, when we sign the contract in London, it is that SAME contract that is presented to us on arrival on Day One in Saudi Arabia at the college. Yes, indeed, it DOES mean we sign the same contract TWICE over. And yes, as you remember, we also do the medical again when we arrive here though more thoroughly. This new guy would have to also go through all these admin processes. Surely then In London he would have read the contract and SEEN the items about the probation and no-holiday periods. Who comes out to a new place like THIS without being VERY SURE of what they're getting into? I remember, back then, looking at a job in Kuwait. I received the so-called "sample contract" and read through it all. Only THEN did I notice lots of petty things they would dock you some salary for - for example, sleeping at work, reading newspapers at work and more such things. You simply HAVE TO read before signing unless you know well the market you're in. In Poland I would know this well by now all the time I've been there.

Now, what I have understood is this. The new guy claims he was promised things which have not materialised. Also he claims he did NOT KNOW about the 3-month and 5-month items.

Why is this important? Because there is something important he "has to do" in July and he needs to be out of the country then.

OUT OF THE COUNTRY?? But this is not possible under the contract we work with for two reasons - both already stated. Probation period and five-month no-holiday period. So someone has made a mistake.

Or have they?

Some of us feel that this guy is playing some kind of game.

My instincts tell me this. His wife is, I think, Columbian. A dodgy place if ever there was one and a place where you could get yourself into much bother. Perhaps something has happened and he needs cash fast. Ah hah, he thinks, Saudi Arabia. He reads the sample contract and thinks to himself, "I can get around this! I can go there, invent some kind of emergency I need to be out for and depart after under two months with some fast cash for doing very little".

Could work. Of course, I may well be exaggerating and fantasising rather a lot but I may have something in it too. Because a decision has now been made I hear. After his meeting with the Dean of the College and the Head of Personnel, he HAS BEEN GRANTED his wish.

He IS being allowed to go in July, do what he has t do and then come back. In fuller detail, he will not be starting his probationary period UNTIL HE RETURNS. And, I amuse, the five-month no-holiday period will also start on his return in July or is being waived completely.

He is sticking two fingers FIRMLY UP at the college system and the contract. He is not, it seems, bound by the contract he signed and is being allowed to go his own way.

Whatever his emergency is, is it really worth treating him with such preference?

Now, you see, a precedent has been created here. He has shown that the contract CAN be circumvented. He does not, I assume, work under its terms fully until his return in July. Oh, so he now has his VERY OWN CONTRACT DOES HE??

If I want to go on holiday or, indeed, if any OTHER new teacher wants to go on holiday, we have to wait our five months as we are required to. It is stated, and we need to stick to that.

BOLLOCKS!! THIS guy is new too!! If HE can ignore what is in his contract and take his "break" when HE says he must, then what is there to stop me taking my holiday when I WANT TO. And THAT means 19th August!!

Yes, all this crap about that we can't know when we are to be 'released' from our course is BULLSHIT! This bastard did it!! WHY THE HELL can't we do the same??

I have been here almost three months now and during this time I was kept sitting around doing nothing FIVE WEEKS. Why? Cos THEY couldn't get it together to organise THEIR course!!

WHY the hell should HE be different? And HOW can they now refuse me MY holiday on the dates that I WANT??

I've got a good mind now to go get a Leave Request form and request holiday from 19th August. HOW can they refuse me?? THIS GUY had HIS way and now I WANT MINE too. I have worked here much longer than him. He had not even stepped into a classroom before all his fondest wishes were granted without question!! And NOW do they think other people should be different. NO WAY!!!

Some might say, Well It's Tough But There's Nothing You Can Do About It And No Point In Getting All Stressed About It. THAT is about as good as saying Let's Turn A Blind Eye And Pretend We Didn't See This Injustice Happening. And then just about ANYONE can do the SAME in future - come here, say they need to go out early and be granted their wish.

I know contracts are not always honoured on both sides. But they do serve a purpose. And if ONE person is allowed something, then EVERYONE should get the same. WHY is HE BETTER??

I am SO ANGRY about this. The summer holiday is a contentious-enough issue as I have blogged about before. But THIS just adds more fuel to that fire. I am NOT prepared to just let this go. But .... as the other guys are happy to turn a blind eye, any action I take will have to be unilateral in nature.

And this brings back the question of risk and if it should be taken. And .... I guess the answer is No. I am bound here until March next year and cannot put that in jeopardy. As SHIT as the situation is, and as MUCH as I hate what that guy has been given, I cannot throw away this money-machine I have here.

Said it before and I'll say it again: More Money More Problems.

Not gonna speak to THAT bastard again THAT'S FOR SURE!!!