spoilt1033

one thing i have found out, there a bit stingy when booking flights, going for 5-8 months, but only allowed 20kg baggage allowance, oh well, whole life into one bag! here we go again.

wages are around £800 take home a week paid direct into account, will update rest when i find a broadband connection once i have arrived, COUNTING DOWN THE HOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SUNTAN HERE I COME, LOL

SEE YA ALL

spoilt1033

Hi, all, this is spoilt1033 again, well i have arrived, weathers scorching hot, getting a nice tan, chilling out for a week. Accommodation is a 3 bed apartment with 3 of us (drivers) sharing it, Swiiming pool as well, but not filled yet, as still being sorted out, apartment is brilliant, massive double room with aircon, own bathroom plus veranda looking onto pool - only downside (on 2nd floor), had to fill out a visa14 on arrival and have to go over border for 1 day in 3months to renew visa, problems with currency side, cant use visa card even though told bank i am coming to kuwait? locals are okay, food is great, found a pizza place last night (fin awsome - new local), found a macdonalds that takes us dollars so macds for breakfast, pizza for dinner & tea for rest of weeks holiday period, drinking water like i'm a fish, beginning to feel like one. sniffed the beach, but not managed to get near enough yet to actually sample, start work next week.

to anyone offered a job with M&E Group in Kuwait - TAKE IT, you might have to go at short notice (Bit of a pain in the arse but worth it), accommodation is great, Banking is a serious headache at moment but hope to have sorted out shortly (mon/tue), work side, i'll let you know next week, went shopping in local town and had 3/4 security watching our every step? whats that all about? anyone would think they dont trust us? we arnt that dodgy, HONEST!

soukie

If you are doing visa runs it sounds like you will not have a residence visa and therefore all the medical checks etc won't be necessary - not sure that it is legal though! The Sultan Centre is good for food shopping. Enjoy!

spoilt1033

wheres the sultan centre? sounds like the place i was at today, looked very posh, clean with lots of security, also had a cinema that plays films in english?

soukie

The Sultan Centre are a group that sells food etc - it's not a shopping centre. There are a few branches in Kuwait so check their website to see where your nearest one is- http://www.sultan-center.com There is also a Carrefour (Avenues Mall) and Geant (360 Mall)


There are lots of posh centres in Kuwait (360 mall, Avenues etc) and they are very expensive. Some genuine sales on now though!

spoilt1033

there were plenty of food places upstairs, heading there later today, so should find out what it was called

coffindodger

If my memory is right just over the road and a couple of hundred metres from the Sultan Centre is the famous Johnnie Rockets fast food diner.
Mind you it is about 7 years since i was last in kuwait.

Bob-the-builder

I to have applied for this position but after reading the above ive changed my mind and WONT be going. Money isnt what i was told tbh and accom seems only for 3 months then you have to pay for it yourself. When you look at figures spoilt quoted of £800 a week when you take your accom out in 3 months time and have bought your own food you may as well stay in Uk,

spoilt1033

Nothing personal mate but the info above is a load of rubbish where M&E Group is concerned, accommodation is free for the duration of the contract ie - how long you stay and work, you are told before coming out what you will earn a week and the only expense is food, transport is provided free, there is a period when you first get out here where you will need to buy food and you are told to bring enough money to last 3 weeks (ie the date your first wage is paid) and also that you will not get paid untill you have your pass to the US base (can take upto 2 weeks). There are a lot of drivers complaining out here because they are having to pick up litter (normally once a day), if you are apllying and you are liable to be one of these guys - then this probably isnt the job for you or if you suffer from bordom. Thing with this job is - once you are badged (ie got your passes), you cant fam up on the US army vehicles untill you get your learner badge which means you will be sat around doing nothing sometimes untill you get it, the way i think is, I AM GETTING PAID £825PW TO PICK UP LITTER ONCE A DAY!!!!!!!!!!! how much would you get in the UK?


PS. Have now sorted out banking side (effing banks are useless - have to unlock my card again in 3 months - cost me nearly £70 to get unlocked (phonecalls to UK Bank) solution to this is to get joint account and the person in the UK on the joint account sorts out from that end.

Bob-the-builder

Hi Spoilt

Have had discussion with misses and have changed my mind and i do see your point about Money. Im booked on Manchester flight for Tues evening to fly out. Hell ill pick up Rubbish for that lol. Ill hold bag n u can stick rubbish in . What sort of stuff i gotta pack mt8 as 20 kilos aint much. Pvt e mail me if you want

[email protected].

Steve

Bob-the-builder

Hi Spoilt

Having spoken to wife about it and reading your reply on this ive changed my mind and booked on Mancs flight tommorrow night to kuwait . Im no moaner and like u going out to work to earn the pennys . Ill do anything mt8 long as it pays and doesnt involve me selling bits of my body off lol. question for you mt8 ? .Whats best stuff to pack as your out there and i presume its a dam sight warmer then my last holiday in the bahmas. Any advice you can give me would be gratfully recieved . Can u mail me direct please regarding my questions
Steve
[email protected] is e mail addy

Bob-the-builder

Hi Spoilt.

Flying out tommorrow evening from Mancs , awaiting time from M&E. U hold the bag n ill put Rubbish in Ok ?

spoilt1033

PACK WARM WEATHER GEAR (temp is around 45 55 degrees)

IE: cotton t shirts, shorts, socks, hat (baseball cap type), trousers (1/2 pairs - thin for warm weather, you need them for working on base, but american px sells them when you have your pass), 2 pair of coveralls (winter),Steel toe cap boots,

MOST IMPORTANT - CONTACT YOUR BANK TO GET YOUR BANK ACCOUNT UNLOCKED FOR USE IN KUWAIT - ITS A PAIN IN THE ARSE TO DEAL WITH ONCE YOUR OUT HERE

MONEY

100/200 Kuwaiti Dinar for while you are waiting for your camp pass for Meals/Food (upto 14 days)
50/100 US Dollars (McDonalds will take US Dollars - First Meal on Arrival?)

You dont get paid till the end of the third week and are then paid Fortnightly (Bear this in Mind when bringing Money)

If you cant get any Dinars in time, see either akim or one of the lads on arrival and they should be able to help you out.

Akim will change UK Sterling for Dinars or US Dollars

You will probably need a Phone/Local Sim Card one youve settled - Cost of Sim Card is about 10 Dinar (Includes 5 Dinar Phone Credit), Bring a Unlocked Phone with you and it should take the Sim Card.

My names Keith by the way, you will probably be put into block 10 when you arrive, i am in block 9, room 5. By all means nip over and have a chat.

Have a Good Flight (You get an Evening Meal and Breakfast on the Flight, You will Fly to Heathrow First, then Direct to Kuwait, NORMALLY - Flight times are 1hour Man - Heathrow, and 6 hours for Heathrow to Kuwait)

Bob

To the person who "reported" a post to post something, that is a report a post button.

Post your message via the "new reply" button.

Highway19

Hi guys good luck with the job. I have just sent my CV off to M&E today. How long does the process take from sending application to job offer? Closing date is 30th July so just in time.
Also how is the job going Spoilt and have you found out if M&E are telling the truth about pay, accommodation etc. Thanks