So here's my options for saving my mental health & Leaving dubai

[gboy]

i went to the wild waddie once, i left my camera, my towel and my cloths on a 2 sun beds, went exploring, came back a hour later my stuff was moved, towels neatly folded, and the camera palced neatly on top, on one sun bed, obviously someone needed to use the other one. stuff was not stolen

still shocked to this day

 

[guest2013-1]

i went to the wild waddie once, i left my camera, my towel and my cloths on a 2 sun beds, went exploring, came back a hour later my stuff was moved, towels neatly folded, and the camera palced neatly on top, on one sun bed, obviously someone needed to use the other one. stuff was not stolen

still shocked to this day

lol yea, you get that. It really is refreshing walking/driving down the street without having 50 people offer you plastic bags to buy or begging for money. When I was in SA the last month I really missed it Serene driving conditions (well, if you miss traffic and avoid bur dubai)

 

[AvOk]

Yup, and as I said in there I am in no way intending to not pay my debt. And I've basically chosen a *** time to try and do this with the exchange rate being so stupid.

I'm more relaxed about the situation here, still unsure about the job (but a LOT more chilled in finding a new job which is cool) I was thinking I should even go as far as make myself even more into debt, restructure my current loan into 60 months and pay off my car back home. This will effectively reduce my "living" expenses back home to almost 0 and I can then concentrate in pushing my entire salary less expenses per month (toiletries/food) into the personal loan and then "live like a rat"

The issue is always (was always) coping with sending money back home in time for the debit orders not to bounce etc. I will evaluate this in December (the date I was told I will be fired if things don't improve) and see if I'd like to take that route I mentioned above.

Thats some good thinking, from yesterday to today the rand has lost a lot of value to the dollar 10.65 (dirham is pegged at 3.68), so restructuring the loan now would not be a bad idea. What is your exact role, I am in the IT operations side of a big developer, live in Dubai and work in Abu Dhabi. There are lots of companies to work for and in the meantime, I would look for a new job if I was you, as not to rely on your current company and this way you can also tell them to f-off if they try and fire you.

I worked for a really crap IT outsourcing company in Dubai, and they threatened me and deducted money and treated me like crap. I also stayed in there accommodation so that was also thrown in my face the whole time. I know exactly what its like to have a crap job.

If you are happy with staying, and you are looking for another job, I can try and help and see if I can speak to a few people, but its useless if its this place that's bothering you.

cheers

 

[guest2013-1]

Well I'm an IT Manager but my background is mostly programming. (Been a R&D Developer for the last few years) and have extensive knowledge on server setups etc. Exposed to everything I.T related basically and there's not a problem I can't solve. Was actually thinking of doing my SAP and Cisco courses to broaden it even further.

I stay in JBR at the moment (company pays) so thats okay. I'll start looking for something else soon. How's the drive to Abu Dhabi everyday from Dubai? Geez man...

 

[AvOk]

Well I'm an IT Manager but my background is mostly programming. (Been a R&D Developer for the last few years) and have extensive knowledge on server setups etc. Exposed to everything I.T related basically and there's not a problem I can't solve. Was actually thinking of doing my SAP and Cisco courses to broaden it even further.

I stay in JBR at the moment (company pays) so thats okay. I'll start looking for something else soon. How's the drive to Abu Dhabi everyday from Dubai? Geez man...

The drive is not that bad, 4 of us drive, once a week with your own car. I live in Al Barsha, so the trip takes about an hour. I was desperate for a job, would of paid someone for a job, so I will not complain about the drive to work/home.

My dad passed away recently and I also wanted to return permanently after it happened (was there when he was sick), but for my families sake, I have to stay and help/support them. I am doing whats best for my mom and even though I sometimes feel it would be better to be there as support (instead of financial support) it's not that easy. I lost a granny as well while being here and its not easy, its hard to deal with but even if I was in SA, I would of missed it as it was unexpected. Don't think of the distance, the world is very small and its a matter of +-10 hours.

Anyway, good luck and I have some recruitment websites and some email addresses at home, will have a look when I have time and pass them on. It's easy finding a job once you are here, as apposed to from SA, as you can go to interviews etc. and they prefer this.

 

[Waaib]

So AcidRazor is back in SA. Acid. Care to share how that happened? Did I miss a thread?

 

[guest2013-1]

lol, no you didn't miss a thread

basically asked for the company not to cancel my visa while I was there. So came over with my visa intact and sent them my passport the other day for cancellation.

I know this isn't the *right* way to do it but at least I'm here and enjoying the crime-riddled beer guzzling streets of SA

The banks also don't care much because I have a couple of contracts I'm doing in Dubai which brings AED into my account there. I also have a contract in JHB at the moment and a client in Cape Town so at least making some $$

****edup thing is the company only paid my salary in on the 6th of January which could have (and probably did by some accounts) raise red flags with the banks.

Apparently the boss said to the accountant not to transfer it which pissed me off so much that I'm considering telling them to go **** themselves and the contract I signed because they're incompentant as a business and have no clue how to run one to actually make money.

Hell, I had to re-explain myself again yesterday. It's like they don't pay attention. They don't listen to the clients or their requests (they plainly ignore them until they piss off or get pissed off and threaten to sue) and whenever an EXISTING PAYING customer asks for enhancements that will bring in extra money they don't do **** about it.

Anyway. I'm going to milk the bastards for as long as I can. I'll be able to service the loan from South Africa if I had to, would just be a bit difficult because of the debit order date which I hope I'll be able to move.

But other than that. Happy to be back. Glad I'm back. And if I have to go back I'll make damn well sure its for a huge mother****ing company and not a 2-bit flea ridden no good company that might as well just hang itself.

 

[Juggy]

My family has their own business so can't afford to come here.

I guess the right way is to pay it off entirely here. If I didn't have expenses in SA I would be able to pay off the debt in 11 months. But because I need to send money home every month it means I can only pay it off in 24.

The problem isn't so much the missing family/being alone but the job security

As IT Manager you'd think you will be privied to information like "We are thinking of firing the web designer"

But last night found out the dude was fired. So yes, next to go is (I guess) me. They're probably just thinking of a way to do it. Even if I get fired or I get quit I'm ****ed either way, forced to stay here.

If you get fired can you not catch the first plane outta there before they notify the bank then put you on the no fly list or whatever it is?

Hmmm, seems I'm a bit slow.

Welcome back man, bet you missed the plastic bag salesmen

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Hey Acid, good to hear you're back with us

 

[guest2013-1]

plastic bag salesman, lol. yea

and paying R6.70 for a beer instead of R70-80

 

[blunomore]

Hell, I had to re-explain myself again yesterday. It's like they don't pay attention. They don't listen to the clients or their requests (they plainly ignore them until they piss off or get pissed off and threaten to sue) ....

In that case, welcome (back) to SA. I daresay you'll feel right at home again

 

[krycor]

But other than that. Happy to be back. Glad I'm back. And if I have to go back I'll make damn well sure its for a huge mother****ing company and not a 2-bit flea ridden no good company that might as well just hang itself.

uhm.. most people who had bad experiences there almost always were at these small companies.

 

[Vegeta]

I didnt read all the posts but why dont you just take out a loan in SA or ask your wife/dad/mom to take out a loan pay the dubai loan with the SA one and come home. Use your bonus/leave pay/retirement money to pay off the SA loan or a big chunck of it.

Sorted, legal and u dont loose a finger... also you can take a 2nd morgage if ur desperate enough

 

[The_Unbeliever]

plastic bag salesman, lol. yea

and paying R6.70 for a beer instead of R70-80

That's insane...

 

[Vegeta]

2 slow welcome back ZA ftw

 

[undesign]

I always thought Dubai was in Saudi. Bleh. I need to look at my maps again. My bad.

this might help -

http://www.tripadvisor.com/TIQGame

beware - it's addictive!

 

[guest2013-1]

I didnt read all the posts but why dont you just take out a loan in SA or ask your wife/dad/mom to take out a loan pay the dubai loan with the SA one and come home. Use your bonus/leave pay/retirement money to pay off the SA loan or a big chunck of it.

Sorted, legal and u dont loose a finger... also you can take a 2nd morgage if ur desperate enough

not having a job in south africa + the NCA act there was no chance in hell I would get a loan like that. I also don't have a rich family so borrowing money from them means they'd have to borrow from someone else or go ino debt themselves. Our family runs their own small business and the banks are very iffy with loans even though you have 3 co-signs on a bond and a house as collatoral. Trust me, I tried going down that avenue.

And there's no way in hell I'm touching my retirement savings.

 

[koeks]

how long were you in Dubai for? What was the loan for if you don't mind me asking?

 

[guest2013-1]

I was there for 9 months. With today's exchange rate the loan is around R270k

This is before the credit crunch the interest rate I got was 13%. For a personal loan. If my company was listed on their systems I would have got 4.5%.

This is 24 months. Calculating my SA debt it would've taken me 6 years and loads of more interest to pay off compared to Dubai.

Made perfect sense... and then the company decided to gently push me over my desk, forcefully dropping my drawers and naai me without KY or any lube

I feel so violated

 

[Guest 20221009]

Some of the big IT firms are starting international credit and Interpol checks when doing reference checking on senior posts.

Plus what happens when Dubai buys Africa? You know they will eventually. Then they'll have jurisdiction to call in the debt and change the Springbok emblem to a camel or palm.

Wow! LMAO seriously, thats some scary thought right there. Funny as hell but scary