# I am Jobless **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 5, 2008, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-jobless/444056 "2008-04-05T07:41:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-jobless/444056/61 "2008-04-08T08:55:57Z")
OH, i will get a job as soon as I start looking. I am well-known in the Kingdom and have a good reputation. But darn it, I want to stay here. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-jobless/444056/62 "2008-04-08T15:13:01Z")
If you’re bored, why not transcribe to us the conversations you have with your parrot? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-jobless/444056/63 "2008-04-08T20:29:48Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] Since most other expats are crazy in one way or another, I suppose it is reasonable to assume I am too. But (as Wally said), “It is one of the happy kinds.” [/QUOTE] I may steal that line the next time someone asks me if I’m going to move back to the States. It’s got to suck being in waiting mode like that. I hope it turns out well. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-jobless/444056/64 "2008-04-13T15:16:05Z")
The new company here just offered me 85% of my present salary. I presume they will up it next week. Also Vinnell, my second choice just hired someone else. I hate being unemployed and begging for work. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-jobless/444056/65 "2008-04-13T19:15:53Z")
As an ESL teacher, I can attest that ESL teachers never die, they always smell that way. As you probably know, I taught for about 14 years in Berlin and in Switzerland…I probably would still be there but the weather finally did me in - just hated the cold and snow. But I have to admit, about 80% of my ex-pat friends back then are still living there, still teaching, and most likely will stay there until the day they die. I understand completely not wanting to return to the “home country” for lots of reasons - one being the challenge and adventure of living in other countries. Glad to hear things are already looking up - and sometimes it really is good to shake things up a bit and move to new environs. We all need a kick in the pants every once in awhile - hope this all turns out for the best! ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-jobless/444056/66 "2008-04-14T02:49:42Z")
It is difficult to deal with optimism in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-jobless/444056/67 "2008-04-14T11:06:47Z")
Sorry to hear of your woes, Paul. While I have personally been lucky, I know of a number of hair-raising stories of ex-pats losing jobs on short notice. I guess it is part of the whole picture of expatriate living, but that doesn’t make it easier while you are living through it. A few months ago I shipped 2 cats from Egypt to Indonesia. It is NOT an experience I would care to repeat. (Getting the cats out of Egypt was just as hard as getting them into Indonesia – long story I haven’t posted on the SDMB). So if you end up shipping Onan anywhere … my sympathies on that as well as the job loss. Good luck with everything, let us know how it comes out. ---
**Author:** ![BACI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce73a5/32.png) [@BACI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BACI)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-jobless/444056/68 "2008-04-14T11:34:03Z")
Hi Paul You have been helpful to me as I have been investigating opportunities to work in the Gulf so I was especially saddened to hear of this latest turn of events. I kind of think at times like this that circumstances are just an opportunity for new, fresh, interesting and nourishing events to flood into your life. I certainly hope so in your case. In my own case, a role closer to home has materialised and I have chosen to accept it. Thanks again for your help, Paul and my absolute best wishes for whatever comes next for you. Cheers M ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-jobless/444056/69 "2008-05-29T20:33:22Z")
Same here, Paul–hoping the best for you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-jobless/444056.md?page=3)