We had a new receptionist start at the spa this week, Sahar, a pretty Saudi girl. I am not sure if she is permanent or just temporary as her post has come about after the announcement from the Government that Security Officers will be checking establishments on the 3rd July to check staff at said establishments are on the correct documentation (iqama) and said establishments are employing Saudis. In the last month 250,000 foreigners have been told to leave the country. Riyadh has a population of almost 5 million of which 2.5 million are foreigners and make up the majority of the workforce. Anyway, on the 3rd of July, Security Officers may visit the spa. The girls that are on the wrong iqama have been given the choice to either come to work and risk it or stay home if they feel safer doing this. If we are investigated and their iqama is checked and is wrong then they will be deported (so that is all the girls in the spa....none of them have the correct sponsor on their iqama).
We have a lady working in the laundry at the spa, her name is Hargusa, from Ethopia. I am not sure of her age but I would take a guess at in her 60s. She has been in working in the country for more than 20 years and from what I understand, has no husband but has a son who still lives in Ethiopia whom she sends money home to. He must have been very young when she left but this is very common here, people leaving their children with other family members so that they can come to another country to earn money and support their extended family. So Hagusta's previous sponsor has decided not to renew her Iqama as she is no longer working for him. Her iqama sponsorship should have been transferred to the spa when she began working here about 2 years ago but this never happened (this is also very common in this country). This morning, she is not her usual happy self. She looks really troubled, she is not smiling and her eyes are black, obviously from crying and lack of sleep. Maria (boss's secretary) has told Hargusa not to worry as they are trying to sort everyone's iqama situation as quick as possible so hopefully no one here will get sent home.
My visit visa has been extended for a further 3 months so that means I am safe. Even is we are investigated on the 3rd July I will be able to say that I am just staying at the spa and am not working but just visiting the princess and that is what is states on the official letter that I have from her.
Anyway, let me get back to our new Saudi receptionist. She came on the recommendation of our fitness receptionist Allaa (she is a friend of hers). No interview took place. She is being employed because she is Saudi and all companies are having to show that they employ Saudi people. Her first day she asked where the TV was so she could watch it when she got bored, where she could go to sleep when she got tired and also that she wanted to work on fitness reception, not beauty, even though there wasn't a job available and after being here all of 10 minutes she announces she is going to take an hour break for her breakfast!!! and the boss's response to all of this "let her do whatever she wants, we need to employ a Saudi!" How crazy is this?
I spoke with some of my friends from home this week. Clare, Tracey, Kelly, Susanne. Clare had organised a girlie get together at her house at a time that was convenient for everyone (it's great having a friend who organises). So Clare cooked them all food, supplied the wine (Clare wouldn't be Clare without the Sauvignon Blanc) and then set the laptop up on the table so it looked like I was sat in the room with them. It was great to speak to them all and hear what they had been up to and what was happening at home even though nothing had changed. Once again I was thankful for technology.......but this may come to an end here if the phone companies get their way.....Viber and Tango have already had their plugs pulled and there has been talk that Whatsapp and Skype may go the same way......this could mean that contact with the outside world will only be free via email, I message and FaceTime......I'm not liking the sound of this at all. I also had a long conversation with Steven which was really lovely and not awkward at all, so I am feeling reassured that all will be good in August when I go home. The days are ticking by so fast, less then 50 days now till my holiday and that will be 4 1/2 months done.......we shouldn't wish our lives away but I am looking forward to seeing my parents.....my mum has been my rock since being here, in fact I would say that this experience has made me feel closer to her than I have in the last 45 years.......So I am thankful for this too.
Also on the all change front, Lore has a new job starting in September at a spa in Al Khobar which is the largest city located in the Eastern Province and has a population of around 941,358. It is close to Dammam near where Emad (new man) lives. The salary and package sound pretty much the same as here but she will live outside of her work on a compound and also there are less restrictions there unlike here in Riyadh. She seems very happy and I am so pleased for her. She is also off to Bahrain on Wednesday night for a few days. She has been allowed a few more days off without pay. To be honest, I don't know how she has managed since last September, 6 days a week with no break till now. It is so physically and mentally draining.
Finally on the all change front......its hard to believe that there has already been so many staff leave in 3 1/2 months........Amera (Lebanese Hairdresser, been here 11 years) almost bust a gut as lunch today when she comes sliding into the kitchen at lunchtime in her flipflops to tell us that she is leaving at the end of the July after yet another fight with Hanan (the boss). She tells us that since Hanan has been the manager a large amount of staff and members have left. So the staff numbers are plummeting faster than a comet heading to earth...Shivona, Mysti, Amera, the Filipino ladies with no iqamas, Robert the maintenance man and Lore in September....all in 3 months. I begin to think about my future with the company.....is it to time to go and find a job back home........the week ends with the Saudi Receptionist leaving after 3 days......"Oh Happy Days"!!!
We have a lady working in the laundry at the spa, her name is Hargusa, from Ethopia. I am not sure of her age but I would take a guess at in her 60s. She has been in working in the country for more than 20 years and from what I understand, has no husband but has a son who still lives in Ethiopia whom she sends money home to. He must have been very young when she left but this is very common here, people leaving their children with other family members so that they can come to another country to earn money and support their extended family. So Hagusta's previous sponsor has decided not to renew her Iqama as she is no longer working for him. Her iqama sponsorship should have been transferred to the spa when she began working here about 2 years ago but this never happened (this is also very common in this country). This morning, she is not her usual happy self. She looks really troubled, she is not smiling and her eyes are black, obviously from crying and lack of sleep. Maria (boss's secretary) has told Hargusa not to worry as they are trying to sort everyone's iqama situation as quick as possible so hopefully no one here will get sent home.
My visit visa has been extended for a further 3 months so that means I am safe. Even is we are investigated on the 3rd July I will be able to say that I am just staying at the spa and am not working but just visiting the princess and that is what is states on the official letter that I have from her.
Anyway, let me get back to our new Saudi receptionist. She came on the recommendation of our fitness receptionist Allaa (she is a friend of hers). No interview took place. She is being employed because she is Saudi and all companies are having to show that they employ Saudi people. Her first day she asked where the TV was so she could watch it when she got bored, where she could go to sleep when she got tired and also that she wanted to work on fitness reception, not beauty, even though there wasn't a job available and after being here all of 10 minutes she announces she is going to take an hour break for her breakfast!!! and the boss's response to all of this "let her do whatever she wants, we need to employ a Saudi!" How crazy is this?
I spoke with some of my friends from home this week. Clare, Tracey, Kelly, Susanne. Clare had organised a girlie get together at her house at a time that was convenient for everyone (it's great having a friend who organises). So Clare cooked them all food, supplied the wine (Clare wouldn't be Clare without the Sauvignon Blanc) and then set the laptop up on the table so it looked like I was sat in the room with them. It was great to speak to them all and hear what they had been up to and what was happening at home even though nothing had changed. Once again I was thankful for technology.......but this may come to an end here if the phone companies get their way.....Viber and Tango have already had their plugs pulled and there has been talk that Whatsapp and Skype may go the same way......this could mean that contact with the outside world will only be free via email, I message and FaceTime......I'm not liking the sound of this at all. I also had a long conversation with Steven which was really lovely and not awkward at all, so I am feeling reassured that all will be good in August when I go home. The days are ticking by so fast, less then 50 days now till my holiday and that will be 4 1/2 months done.......we shouldn't wish our lives away but I am looking forward to seeing my parents.....my mum has been my rock since being here, in fact I would say that this experience has made me feel closer to her than I have in the last 45 years.......So I am thankful for this too.
Also on the all change front, Lore has a new job starting in September at a spa in Al Khobar which is the largest city located in the Eastern Province and has a population of around 941,358. It is close to Dammam near where Emad (new man) lives. The salary and package sound pretty much the same as here but she will live outside of her work on a compound and also there are less restrictions there unlike here in Riyadh. She seems very happy and I am so pleased for her. She is also off to Bahrain on Wednesday night for a few days. She has been allowed a few more days off without pay. To be honest, I don't know how she has managed since last September, 6 days a week with no break till now. It is so physically and mentally draining.
Finally on the all change front......its hard to believe that there has already been so many staff leave in 3 1/2 months........Amera (Lebanese Hairdresser, been here 11 years) almost bust a gut as lunch today when she comes sliding into the kitchen at lunchtime in her flipflops to tell us that she is leaving at the end of the July after yet another fight with Hanan (the boss). She tells us that since Hanan has been the manager a large amount of staff and members have left. So the staff numbers are plummeting faster than a comet heading to earth...Shivona, Mysti, Amera, the Filipino ladies with no iqamas, Robert the maintenance man and Lore in September....all in 3 months. I begin to think about my future with the company.....is it to time to go and find a job back home........the week ends with the Saudi Receptionist leaving after 3 days......"Oh Happy Days"!!!
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