Alexa

Hello, sorry can't help you with Jeddah, but can HIGHLY recommend living in Saudi as an Expat. Did it myself for 4 years, missed it from the day I left. You will find a lot of EX - Saudi Expats who will tell you the same.
The compounds in Saudi are excellent, better than anything you will find elsewhere in the ME, the people,Expats, are very welcoming to newcomers, there is fantastic entertainment on all bigger compounds.
Yes, there are barbed wires, machine guns, concrete barriers etc. due to the bombings that occured several years ago.Be happy about it, it is needed. I was there during that time.
It is certainly not that effective, but a little is better than nothing. You can be sure it WILL happen again, sooner or later.
Maybe in Saudi, maybe somewhere else in the ME.
Having said that, I would gladly go back.

Jammy_Dodgers

Then IMHO i think you are clinically insane.

but hey, we are all intitled to our own opinions right?

(i was at Al Hamra,Cordoba,Arizona,Boeing Compound during the bombings..saw a lot of dead....never gonna live there again)

Blue Cat

that is terrible Jammy, thank god you won't be going back there then.

Jammy_Dodgers

I am.

Luckily only for a few days at a time.

I would sooner rub my scrotum up and down a cactus than live there full time

NorthernLad

I find it more disturbing that after the Oasis compound bombing in 2004, security forces surrounded the whole compound and the terrorists still got away.

I was talking to a colleague in Aramco who told me that how they went about their business was quite gruesome...some of the nurses there had to help out.

Blue Cat

my old neighbour from uk has been on aramco for over 20 years, he loves it?? even got me a job there but I bottled out.

NorthernLad

Some people love it, not for me though. After 10 years you're set pretty much for life. I'd rather enjoy those 10 years though, having some sort of freedom rather than being on a compound (albeit a large one - more like a town) without feeling safe to leave.

Alexa

Sorry you had to go through that. It was horrific. I was lucky, was on Kingdom Comp. My DH was on Jeddawal that night, thank god far away from the gate. Still, we were all very shaken.
It can happen anywhere now, who would have thought about Spain as dangerous? Or the subway in London?
If it is supposed to hit you , it will, no matter where you are.
Stay safe.

Jammy_Dodgers

Always,

Just a little surprised that you would happily return.

Yes, life inside the compounds can be ok (although there are not the parties that there used to be !!)
But outside its still a crap environment

Blue Cat

my half brother was on the Oasis compound that night, I remember now! he was here in Dubai within 48 hours, left everything there and never went back. He was in Riyadh with the armed services during the gulf war. But your right, it can strike anywhere.

Alexa

This might sound funny, but I think the outside is worse for the men, the ladies cover, so they do blend in. I felt much better there than here with all the "freedom'. I was NEVER harrassed in Saudi, well, there was the occasional muttawa to laugh at, but other than that all was well. Here, just go out and listen to all the crap thrown at you, thank god I
am taller than most of those little shites, so I can intimidate them accordingly!!!
About returning, it's for all the friends I left behind, here is social Siberia.

Jammy_Dodgers

I disagree, here if you make the effort people tend to reciprocate, but i suppose it depends on where you are etc.

Jammy_Dodgers

I must confess, i was alot fitter in Saudi.
5-a-side everynight, squash,tennis loads of swimming.

Not because i enjoy it, its just that there is naff all else to do.
I will agree that a ladies life in saudi on a compound cant be too bad.

Alexa

Doesn't work here, tried it. Funny tho, many people complain about the unfriendliness here, and still, nothing changes!
Well, will go on trying, probably until I finally leave here, lol.
Me too, about beeing fitter tho, everybody went to the gym, so I went with the flow!!!!

Blue Cat

LL are you working? I have found it really friendly here but have been here a long time. I joined the country club when I got here and have never looked back.