Ha’il Compound Apartment (Photos)

Hiking in Ha’il (Photos)

The Compound in Ha’il (Photos)

Ha’il, Saudi Arabia

Since the 28th of August, 2012, I have been living and working in the city of Ha’il, Ha’il Province, Saudi Arabia. Working for the Saudi company, Al-Khaleej Training & Education, I teach English to students of the Preparatory Year at the University of Ha’il.

Saudi Arabia Map Ha'il

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Off to Ha’il!

It’s official – I have been assigned a position at the university project in Ha’il and will be moving this Tuesday (28th August). I will be teaching at the University of Ha’il, where their academic year is about to begin. I have organised for a van to take me and my things, including all of my furniture. I couldn’t well leave behind my nice hardwood desk, lazyboi chair and grandfather clock, could I? It’s going to be a bit of a mission because this stuff is heavy, but it’ll definitely be worth the effort.

I will be staying, at least initially, at the compound provided for the teachers by the company. I have no idea what the compound is like and how it compares to the one in Sakaka – hopefully it’s nice and large, with a swimming pool, like the compound in Tabuk, but I’m not getting my hopes up! In any case, I’ll have the option again to move into town and get my own apartment. So we’ll see what happens – I shall keep you updated on the move!

Me at work in Sakaka! (Photos)

Video of Sakaka from a Rooftop

A video taken from the rooftop of the PYP (Preparatory Year Program) building at Al-Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia.

Downtown Sakaka (Photos)

Sakaka, Saudi Arabia

I’m currently living in Sakaka, where I’ve been based since September 9th, 2011, working as an English teacher at Al-Jouf University. My first four months here I stayed at the compound provided for the teachers by our company, Al-Khaleej Education & Training. It’s located about 25-30 minutes away by bus from the city centre and although comfortable, the compound’s isolation was not ideal, especially when wanting to practise my Arabic with locals. So I decided to move and since February 2012 I have been living in my own apartment downtown, close to the university campus and city centre. You can read more about moving into my new place here.

I’m set to move again soon, however, as our company’s contract with Al-Jouf University has expired and all employees are being transferred to other projects within Saudi Arabia.

Map of Saudi Arabia

A Love Before Time

I enjoyed translating into Arabic “A Love Before Time“, the end-credit song from the popular movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The song was nominated for Academy Award for Best Song in 2000 and performed by Coco Lee.

Click on the link below for my Arabic translation:

حب من بداية الزمان

I hope you enjoy it!