Anyone ever been to..............

[TomNativeNewYorker]

Kuwait?

I submitted a resume for a position in Kuwait, and it looks likely that a job offer will be made sensing the discussions I have had with the recruiter.

The company liked my resume, had a mini interview over the telephone and was asked to submit an expanded resume with more detail of my background experiences, especially my modification and overhaul on various military aircraft.

My package has been sent to the hiring authority in Kuwait, and should be hearing back one way or another in the near future.

The pay, benefits, and other allowances sounds pretty good and will probably accept an offer if the terms are still favorable(unless I hit the lottery).

I was wondering if anyone here has ever been to Kuwait(or the Middle East region) in their travels in the past that may be able to provide some input to what I will be looking at in the future.

Thanks

[hydroguy2]

My son was just there 2 days ago.

Disclaimer: He was waiting on a flight to Kandahar, then a chopper back to his unit at FBO Tarin Kowt, so was only there for 12 hours.

[TomNativeNewYorker]

so was only there for 12 hours.

well, I get to do it for 12 months and can renew my contract
after that.

[TomNativeNewYorker]

This is the google satellite of the work location. Not a lot of green, and if you zoom out a little you can see it is between two oil fields.




http://maps.google.com/maps?q=al-jaber+ ... 45819&z=13

[captain_john]

ooops... double post!

CJ

[captain_john]

Oh! You will remember those nights in Ad Dasma! Let me know how the nightlife is on Sour Street!

That will be a year to remember!!!

CJ

[TomNativeNewYorker]

Oh! You will remember those nights in Ad Dasma! Let me know how the nightlife is on Sour Street!

That will be a year to remember!!!

CJ

Sounds like you need to elaborate a little more.

If you dont want to make your nightlife in Kuwait a public post, you can IM or send it to my username at gmail.

[captain_john]

Tom, I am sorry... I am just being my sarcastic self.

I was just saying that it doesn't look that exciting but that is why they call it work. I have never been there but I have a neighbor who is very wealthy that is from that area. He visits his house here in Plymouth, MA one month out of the year and calls it his "cottage". He is a great guy but I don't think that I could live there given what he tells me... but that is me.

I am a native New Englander and anywhere else just couldn't be home to me.

Kuwait might be just what you are looking for at your stage of life. I don't want to discourage you from taking the job there, as jobs are few and far between in times like these.

I am 43 and perhaps a bit set in my ways. How flexible are you with regard to lifestyle? If you are footloose and fancy free, you really may enjoy it! Besides, it's a job and an opportunity!

Sorry if I cause you any trepidation. Even if the place is totally unpalatable, it is only a one year gig.

Any way you slice it, I am sure you will keep in touch and tell us of your journeys... won't you?

CJ

[Thermos]

Tom,

I've never been to Kuwait or the mideast, but have friends who've worked over there under what sounds like the same sort of arrangement you're considering. The pay, allowances and bennies were indeed pretty good, especially if the pay is tax-free.

The only downside they ever mentioned is that at the time (80s-90s) and the place (Saudi Arabia) they were working, westerners were required to live in compounds that isolated them from the locals. Now those compounds were really nice - aircon, satellite tv, well-furnished, etc - but the Saudis were very concerned about cultural contamination. I doubt that's the case in Kuwait in 2010...but if they haven't discussed living arrangements, it would be worth asking about.

HTH

Dave

[TomNativeNewYorker]

I've never been to Kuwait or the mideast, but have friends who've worked over there under what sounds like the same sort of arrangement you're considering. The pay, allowances and bennies were indeed pretty good, especially if the pay is tax-free.

From what I found out, there is no thing as 'tax-free income' just because you are working out of the country. I believe that you do not have to have taxes deducted from your pay, but at the end of the year you are still liable for taxes on any income earned.

The only downside they ever mentioned is that at the time (80s-90s) and the place (Saudi Arabia) they were working, westerners were required to live in compounds that isolated them from the locals. Now those compounds were really nice - aircon, satellite tv, well-furnished, etc - but the Saudis were very concerned about cultural contamination. I doubt that's the case in Kuwait in 2010...but if they haven't discussed living arrangements, it would be worth asking about.

The company has furnished two bedroom apartments that I would have to share the common areas with one other company employee. That would be set up for me on my arrival, and will have to live there for about three months when I get my residency visa paperwork in hand.

At that point, I can choose to rent a place on my own if I so desire, and will get a housing allowance once the residency visa kicks in. The arrangements all sound pretty decent an I am up for the job.

All tools are provided so I may end up selling my collection of sheet metal tools.

[TomNativeNewYorker]

Tom, I am sorry... I am just being my sarcastic self.

Thats OK, I dont know you well enough to know you had not actually been there.

I am a native New Englander and anywhere else just couldn't be home to me.

I am a native New Yorker, but havent actually lived there since 1985 because of my time in the Navy, and the different employment opportunities I have had since getting out. Thing is though, I will ALWAYS be a New Yorker.

Kuwait might be just what you are looking for at your stage of life. I don't want to discourage you from taking the job there, as jobs are few and far between in times like these.

I am 43 and perhaps a bit set in my ways. How flexible are you with regard to lifestyle? If you are footloose and fancy free, you really may enjoy it! Besides, it's a job and an opportunity!

I am 48 and single. My last job, I did quite a bit of traveling to Central and South America. I did not mind doing the travel, I really would have rather gotten a job in a Spanish speaking country but this job will be fine as well.

Sorry if I cause you any trepidation. Even if the place is totally unpalatable, it is only a one year gig.

Any way you slice it, I am sure you will keep in touch and tell us of your journeys... won't you?

CJ

No harm with your comments. Yes one year, I am sure I can do that without any problem; if not, I can always buy a plane ticket back to the states if it is that bad.

And yes, I will still be able to pop in online to check in. From what I understand the only thing they filter on the internet is pornography, and I am sure there is an easy way around that. No pork for a year, I can deal with that, but a year without a chilly cold beer may be a problem.

[TomNativeNewYorker]

Well, the company made an official offer yesterday after getting word back from Kuwait.

Now, I have to pass the drug screening urinalysis, the medical, the criminal background check; they should all be no probles to pass. The big wait will be for the work visa from the Kuwaiti Dept. of Ministry.

She told me that hopefully I will be on a plane somewhere around March.

[aparchment]

You're right. There is no such thing as tax free income if you are a US citizen. If you make income anywhere in the world, you have to pay Uncle Sam his share. You probably have seen recent news stories about US citizens with Swiss bank accounts who are now going to be pursued by the US for any outstanding taxes owed. This is going to be interesting.

I've never been to Kuwait or the mideast, but have friends who've worked over there under what sounds like the same sort of arrangement you're considering. The pay, allowances and bennies were indeed pretty good, especially if the pay is tax-free.

From what I found out, there is no thing as 'tax-free income' just because you are working out of the country. I believe that you do not have to have taxes deducted from your pay, but at the end of the year you are still liable for taxes on any income earned.

[Thermos]

o pork for a year, I can deal with that, but a year without a chilly cold beer may be a problem.

You can find those things if you look for 'em...just do what the locals do and hop a quick flight to Qatar or Dubai. No shortage of alcohol there!

[captain_john]

My buddy told me to tell you to find the FedEx and/or UPS drivers for a little thirst quenching -ade!

CJ

[TomNativeNewYorker]

Time for a little thread resurrection.

All the paperwork is done, medical and all the other obstacles have been completed. My paperwork even had to go through the state department and signed by Hillary Clinton(by direction), and have the visa.

I am getting scheduled to depart on the 28th of April and arriving in Kuwait on the 29th via Amsterdam. I don't think there will be enough time between flights to get into town to pack in the last few beers for awhile.

Time to make some money.

[Spike]

Just make sure you stick around to spend it. Keep us posted dude!

Spike

[dons]

The 12 months will go by pretty quick if you are working lots, and I expect you will be. Check in if/when you can to let us know how it's working out. There certainly is money to be had in those kind of deals.

[TomNativeNewYorker]

Finishing up my second week here, and all is good except for a slight traffic problem early in the morning on the way in to the base.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z_d6vcZYoE

[Spike]

Wow, that was cool.

Be safe over there buddy!

Spike