Arriving in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia marked the beginning of a series of unfortunate events.
Touching down at Riyadh International Airport around 3 am on a Monday morning, a mix of nervousness and excitement enveloped me. Upon exiting the customs area, my search for the company driver proved fruitless. Despite inquiries, the language barrier hindered my progress. Fortunately, after navigating the airport on my own, I serendipitously encountered Riyaad, a fellow South African and teacher, who happened to be seeking me out. This encounter marked the initiation of my education as an expatriate.
Riyaad, having heard through the grapevine about the arrival of a new teacher, had proactively come to the airport to assist. It became clear that leaving new staff stranded at the airport was a common practice at this company, and Riyaad often played the role of rescuer for the bewildered newcomers. He arranged accommodation for the night, a responsibility that the company was supposed to fulfill, and assured me he would accompany me to the school the following day.
I must emphasize that I had no prior knowledge of Saudi Arabia, and when informed by the school that I'd be stationed in Riyadh, I had diligently researched the city.
The next day, bright and early, we headed to my new school. Meeting various people (all a blur), we eventually arrived at the administration office to initiate the paperwork. The person in charge accepted my documents and instructed me to relax while they processed everything. They brought me tea, and finally, a sense of ease settled in. However, after a few minutes, the individual halted the process, looked at me with irritation, and questioned why I was in Riyadh instead of Dammam. This revelation sent me into a state of panic, as I was unfamiliar with Dammam. Calmly, I explained that the company had booked my flights to Riyadh, and that was the extent of my knowledge. After several hours, they informed me of the mix-up, sent me back to the hotel, and disclosed that I would be flying to Dammam that evening as originally intended.
Back at the hotel, as I awaited transportation to the airport, a few hours before the flight, I received a call from the airline notifying me that my flight had been canceled due to the presence of a snake on the plane. Coincidentally, this incident occurred around the same time as the famous movie scene featuring Samuel L. Jackson and snakes on a plane. The school reassured me, urging me to relax, and promised to resolve the situation the next day.
The following morning, the driver arrived at my hotel, instructing me to bring all my belongings. However, instead of driving me to the airport, he directed me to a train station, assuring me that someone would meet me upon arrival in Dammam. And so, my journey to Dammam unfolded.
To be continued in the next post.
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