Re: Pay Rates relative to Cost of Living in a Town

[George Mena <George -dot- Mena -at- ESSTECH -dot- COM>]

John, the rates for the Gulf States are indeed good, having nearly
accepted a contract outside Dhahran once.  But also keep in mind that
Saudi Arabia is the most reactionary of the Arab states and is very much
a closed society in terms of limiting its contact with us decadent
Westerners.  Additionally, under both Islamic law and royal decree
(Saudi Arabia is a kingdom, as King Fahd will be happy to tell you
directly), it's also the driest and unenlightened place on the planet in
terms of prohibition and erotica.  That's why a great many firms doing
business in-kingdom *require* their employees, both contract and staff,
to go out-of-kingdom if they want to have a drink or, to put it
politely, to enjoy the intimate company of unmarried women in a bar.

During Operation Desert Shield/Storm, some of our women troops caused a
real social ruckus in places like Dhahran.  The most memorable was when
female MPs wearing loaded 45s on their hips -- standard fare in a combat
zone -- started getting hassled by the locals for (a) driving jeeps and
Hummers by themselves; (b) failing to have their faces covered with
chadors (veils); and (c) walking around with loaded guns *and* with
using them to defend themselves against chauvinistic Arab males!  The
Islamic fundamentalists, to put it mildly, had a *major* problem with
that.

Fair warning for working in the Middle East:  know the local customs
before you go and ask yourself "Is this trip *really* necessary?"  If it
is and you want to go, have a good time. :D