Blue Cat

as a young person with little expectation why discount it? get a few years Middle East experience and transfer to a more cosmopolitan venue I have a friend who has been a teacher in Sharjah for years, they have a more than active social life at the Wanderer's etc and at the end of the day it's what you make it.

Ethos83

True.

But if you want to make the leap to becoming an expat and leaving behind a place like Edinburgh for another city overseas, you'd better make sure that the new place offers something that Edinburgh doesn't. Other than the hot weather, I can't see any virtue to living in Sharjah over Edinburgh. If she wants overseas experiences there's loads more interesting cities all over the world.

kittycat1

Sharjah = Hole

im my meager opinion

bingoed01

Thanks everyone , I have worked & studies in North America I know not anything like the middle east but at least i know I can survive away from home . ME , it's a place i've wanted to visit but never been too. Recently registered with an agency for overseas teaching and this is the first one I got offered and went on to succeed through the interview stages etc.
Few issues I still have ,
1/ It's not an english school .It is english taught school BUT the guidance document from them etc looks all ok and job description mission statements are all ok.
2/ Not seen the accommodation BUT again what the school describe it as seems reasonable.
3/ Not sure I can survive on money I have been offered BUT I'm checking this further.
4/ The biggest concern it is a 2 year contract and the get out clauses (should I need to ) look a bit dubious around what you need to pay back.Checking this further now with the school.
Ok off to phone them again

Sandboy

nail on the head, I only questioned Scamp in the first place because he's not been here long but dismissed it out of hand. Then he starts a thread admitting he hasn't got a visa and where can he buy a sofa.

Agfain just speaking for myself I found the work in Sharjah better because the people were more genuine and friendly.

Seems the north south divide even extends to the UAE, ignore the southern softies pet

Blue Cat

don't bother, target English Schools, don't be scared to tell us names and salaries etc, we will tell you the truth.

Blue Cat

have to agree

soukie

Spugsy

I don't do it much but I'm going with Ethos here, Sharjah is a horrific place. I'd happily never go back there for any reason, a total and utter dump.

'Same as other gulf cities', hmmm, so they are all shite?

Dubai is legoland with all the western bits, that's why so many of us live there. I'm all for travelling and going to 'proper' middle eastern places which are better than Dubai, but Sharjah is still Sharjah, a dump.

It reminds me of pennywell.

Blue Cat

it's not quite that bad, the locals are married and don't wear shell suits

Sandboy

less Arabs than Shields though.........


are we warming up for the weekend here ?

Blue Cat

bring it on Sandyboy!

co durham boy

Let's be honest most of the Gulf is a dump and basically looks like Sharjah , parts of Dubai such as Deira , Karama , Al Quoz , Bur Dubai , Satwa all have a run down dirty look and are partly neglected , it hasn't always been the Marina and Downtown Souk Al Bahar.

I know people in Dubai who have never been to the fu**ing Creek and have lived there over 3 years , the only time they go that far is when they fly home.

The main point is don't rule anything out , have a look at everything , that's where people go wrong . Most expats struggle when they leave Dubai as they're expecting a mobile Barasti to be at their new found destination and just to carry on where they left off.

Dubai's one of the easiest tours on the globe and the best in the Gulf , it really doesn't matter where you park your arse you can still enjoy as it's all downhill from there on

co durham boy

I was in Port Harcourt when i was your age kidda

co durham boy

What the fu** is a hipster journalist.......?