I had to do the “big” grocery shopping thing. I’ve been gone for much of the past three months, and DH has been gone most of the past four months. DH is coming home and he will be looking to be fed… When DH isn’t here, I don’t and won’t cook for myself. Cooking is not something that I enjoy. It makes a mess – that has to be cleaned up [there is no more houseboy to do it!], and it takes up valuable time – when I could be at the computer, instead. I am quite content with just coffee for breakfast, perhaps something to snack on later in the day – so long as it involves zero preparation – and a bowl of cereal or soup for dinner. DH is satisfied with nothing less than two real meals a day. At this point, having been gone, we are out of everything. The cupboards really are bare! As well, it is time to restock the freezer with food for the “Kids.” [Yes, I will admit that I will cook for the “Kids” but not for myself. DH would say that I will cook for them before I cook for him, but that really isn’t true…]
Living on a compound that is a little city within a city does have advantages – one of which is that so many services are offered to us without leaving our gates – giving Westerner’s here, and “locals,” as well, much more freedom than we have outside the confines of our gilded cage. Thankfully, I can drive myself to our grocery store, something taken for granted the world over, which is, but for certain “restricted areas,” haram,* here in The Sandbox. However, I am still expected to “get dressed” just to go to the grocery store [see post of June 18, 2006, "Attitude in Shorts"], so I procrastinate and put off going until it is absolutely necessary.
After putting jeans on [it is way too hot AND humid for jeans!], and going to the bank, I headed into the grocery store, list in hand, and proceeded to fill my “trolley” [we call it a “cart” in the States]. Going early – first thing in the morning – the store is usually fairly quiet – but NOT this morning. Today, the entire store was cursed with a gang of children wrecking havoc as they raced up and down the aisles in carts, knocking things off of shelves, literally running into the few of us that were shopping and ramming our trolleys with theirs. This is NOT the first time this has happened – that a gang of unruly children is terrorizing shoppers and store employees. At one point I was able to block their “fun” as they were racing – yes – three wide – their trolleys down the dairy aisle – I had my mine parked so that the entire “lane” was blocked – and nothing would have given me greater satisfaction than personally scolding the little monsters if they would have run into me. [I remember a time in 1995 when I spanked a neighbor’s child when she was climbing on my car and wouldn’t get off when told to do so no less than three times! Hee hee hee.]
At one point, as an acquaintance and I were exchanging greetings, and the kids charged past us, I asked, not quietly, either, one of the store clerk’s, “Who do these obnoxious children belong to?” The poor clerk just shrugged his shoulders. There is nothing the clerks or store managers can do about such menaces. [Many of the clerks and most of the managers are not “locals” and with good reason they are fearful of repercussions, knowing that confronting the parent or parents would likely threaten the livelihood they so depend on to support their families in other countries.]
For the time that I remained in the store, there was not one adult that appeared to be associated with caring for this particular group of children – and there were seven or eight of them , probably between the ages of eight and twelve, certainly old enough to know that their behavior was not appropriate. Not that having a parent or parents in their presence would have made any difference – as I stated, I’ve seen this behavior in the store more than once – and I’ve seen the parents – just carry on – totally oblivious to their children’s behavior! Disciplining one’s children, or requiring them to behave, more often than not, would seemingly be a foreign concept, here.
Even as I was checking out – I’d been in the store for probably forty or forty-five minutes – these kids continued “playing” as if, because it’s too hot to play outside [and it is], they’d decided that the store would be the perfect place to go instead. It is time for a new rule to be instituted – a sign that clearly states – in English AND in Arabic – that NO unaccompanied children under twelve are permitted. Barring that, the store managers and clerks should be given the green light to confront these unruly brats to be able to tell them to stop their shenanigans without worry or risk to their job security.
Not all of our store’s employees have been imported from other countries. The drive for Saudization, although unlikely to ever eliminate all of the outside, imported, work force, is making strides to provide employment for “locals” and in some professions residents must fill certain positions. Over the course of the past year, many of the former cashiers, men from other countries, have been terminated; a small handful remained to work the night and weekend shifts, and a few were allowed to continue as baggers or shelf stockers. Thus, when and where it is feasible [i.e., during the normal, customary, work days and hours, or 7:00A.M. to 4:00P.M., Saturday through Wednesday] cashier positions are now staffed by "locals," men and women. Admirably, this country, like any other, wants to provide for the welfare of its nationals to the best of its ability. And it is certainly understandable with an astronomical unemployment rate that the Kingdom will endeavor to restructure its work force [see August 27, 2006, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"].
However, I find it a little more than slightly ironic that a person could or would be given a position as a cashier – involving money – when they are not able to calculate simple addition sums WITH the aide of an electronic, computerized cash register! It wasn’t enough that for the containers of pre-packaged [uniform price – each 5.50 SAR] chicken [there were twenty] the clerk chose to ring up each package individually even though I clearly said I had twenty of these, and did so again with the containers of pre-packaged [uniform price – each 6.25 SAR] beef [there were twenty]; ditto for the four rolls of paper towels [each 7.95 SAR]. I know that it is possible to put in the number of an item – the quantity – and then scan it for the price – so that each package does not have to be individually scanned – the former cashiers saved themselves time and effort in this manner. The possibility exists that perhaps the cashier just didn’t believe me when I said I had twenty packages of chicken and twenty packages of beef, and to insure that I wasn’t getting any freebies felt it necessary to scan each and every one of the items individually. Even then, a quick and simple count would have verified this. As for the paper towels, a mere glance would have confirmed there were, in fact, four rolls of an identical brand. Apart from the time involved for the cashier to pick up and scan each of the individual, identical items, a great deal more effort was required as well.
The “icing on the cake” was when the cashier finally pressed whatever key it is that gives the sum of money that is due for the purchases, that being 1092.77 SAR. Here the amount to the left of the decimal is a “Riyal,” what would be the “Dollar” in the States, and the amount to the right of the decimal is a “Halala” – in the States it is “cents.” Halalas are almost not worth having in small amounts – it is change – they just aren’t worth much [375 Halalas equals 100 cents, or $1.00]. Grocery bills are often rounded up or rounded down, eliminating the small amounts of currency altogether. In this particular instance, my grocery bill was rounded down to 1092.75 and I handed the cashier 1200.00 – two 500 SAR bills and one 200 SAR bill and she “froze.” I kid you not, she was unable to add the sum of the three bills that I handed her to be able to enter that number so that the cash register could immediately calculate the amount of change she needed to give back to me. After all, it’s not like I was counting on her to actually determine the amount of change I had coming back – that’s WHAT the cash register is for, isn’t it?!?
It was almost comical watching her transfer each of the three bills from one hand to the next, eyes downward, concentrating on the paper money in her hands so intently. She was counting – I could see her lips moving – I assume she was counting – but after the two five hundred bills – or 1000 Riyals – she was NOT ABLE to determine what to do with the 200 Riyal bill. Apparently, this was just one too many zeros for her to handle, even with my telling her that it was 1200 and saying it out “one – two – zero – zero.” [She must have thought that once again I was trying to get over on her in some way – because, after all – when I said I had twenty packages of chicken, I really had twenty packages of chicken.] Probably it wasn’t much longer than a minute before she realized that she would have to call the manager to come and help her, but it certainly seemed like longer than that to me. The cashier acted quite surprised when the manager told her to press the keys “one – two – zero – zero.” I’m convinced that either this poor woman was either never taught to count past 999 or she was not taught how to “carry” sums in addition problems.
Convinced, but not surprised… Try giving a clerk at any convenience store in the States payment over and above what the total is. Say your total is $4.68. Hand the clerk a five dollar bill, a dime, a nickel and three pennies. He or she will look at you like you’ve got two heads – and tell you that your total is only $4.68. That’s right I gave you $5.18 for a purchase that totals $4.68. [Perhaps you’ve missed YOUR calling and you should have been a rocket scientist!] The reason I’m giving you the eighteen cents is so that you will give me two quarters back – fifty cents – instead of thirty-two cents – I don’t want that extra nickel and those two worthless pennies – I’m trying to get rid of all the worthless pennies I’m carrying in my wallet by giving you $5.18. At this point you have totally, thoroughly confused the clerk and you’ll probably end up with extra money. You have a choice – you could be so honest that you can’t even keep the extra quarter he or she might give you because you’ve confused them so. Or you can keep it. I say keep it. Unfortunately he or she will probably have to make up the difference at the end of the shift if their “cash drawer” doesn’t balance properly. But then, anyone this obtuse probably shouldn’t be working in a job that requires handling money to begin with.
*haram: Arabic word meaning "not allowed"
Showing posts with label Saudization. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saudization. Show all posts
Friday, September 08, 2006
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Okay, so "Saudis Prefer to Have Comfortable Jobs" has absolutely nothing to do with gentlemen prefer blondes... The titles are both rather catchy, and rhymey, don’t you think? And yeah, so, okay, “rhymey” isn’t really a word that you’ll find in a dictionary, but it happened to go quite nicely with “catchy” at the moment.
Nope, don’t think the article will come as some earth shattering revelation – it’s been a known fact for sometime on this side of the world. It certainly is not nearly as earth shattering as the fact that Pluto is no longer considered one of the nine planets. This is a bit disturbing. We all have our little way of remembering the nine – make that eight – planets. “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Use Nine Pickles” has now become “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nyquil.”
The fact that “locals” prefer “cushy” jobs was addressed earlier by one of my all time very favorite bloggers, The Religious Policeman, on April 21, 2006. You may have to search his archives to find the article, but it IS well worth reading. Sadly, Alhamedi is no longer blogging, but it is because of him I realized I needed to start my blog, that would shed some light on issues, here, in The Sandbox.
. . . Alhamedi, I hope once in a while you’re stopping by to visit, and you smile, knowing that you were the inspiration for my site!
Nope, don’t think the article will come as some earth shattering revelation – it’s been a known fact for sometime on this side of the world. It certainly is not nearly as earth shattering as the fact that Pluto is no longer considered one of the nine planets. This is a bit disturbing. We all have our little way of remembering the nine – make that eight – planets. “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Use Nine Pickles” has now become “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nyquil.”
The fact that “locals” prefer “cushy” jobs was addressed earlier by one of my all time very favorite bloggers, The Religious Policeman, on April 21, 2006. You may have to search his archives to find the article, but it IS well worth reading. Sadly, Alhamedi is no longer blogging, but it is because of him I realized I needed to start my blog, that would shed some light on issues, here, in The Sandbox.
. . . Alhamedi, I hope once in a while you’re stopping by to visit, and you smile, knowing that you were the inspiration for my site!
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Training Programs
Although I really don’t want to make this a daily ritual - and the best explanation I can give for the reason that this jumps out at me first is because – English speaking persons read left to right – we open our newspapers in the front – and start at the top of the page, on the left side, in the very left corner. I grab the paper, pour half a cup of coffee, and stand over the kitchen counter, having opened the paper – left to right – and thus end up on the top of page two to begin reading, right here at Take a Stand. This is important. Remember this.
[Tomorrow I am going to start reading the paper from the middle – where the comics are – or from the back where the sports are. How is the Saudi team doing in the lacrosse thing? Is it over? Did they lose? Never mind. The second to the last page of today’s paper shows the Ukraine’s team, and thankfully it says “FIFA World Cup …” It’s soccer! Hey – here’s something – there have been more than thirty {30} singles “inspired by the World Cup will go head-to-head in a battle to top the British pop charts...” Who knew?!? The “list” of “Cup Songs” is shown. A sampling: Embrace: “World at your Feet,” Dreadzone: “Lion Shirt,” and Branded: “Tits Out for the Lads.” Well, alrighty then. Tits Out for the Lads. I would associate this with a group of Harley riders at “Bike Week,” not a bunch of soccer players. Out of the entire list the only person or group I’ve ever heard of is Toni Braxton. Hmm. I must really be out of the loop. I’ll find it and post it. Here it is, Cup Songs. And, now, because I surely will not be able to sleep without knowing, I am going to have to search for the lyrics to “Tits Out for the Lads.” What kind of “tune” would go to something like this? Here, how’s this, “Oh when the saints… go marching in… Oh when the Saints go marching in… Oh, how I want to be INNNN that number… When the Saints go marching in.” Yeah, sing it with me! Let’s do it again. “Oh when the saints… go marching in… Oh when the Saints go marching in… Oh, how I want to be INNNN that number… When the Saints go marching in.” Okay. Now, don’t you just HATE it when a little ditty gets stuck in your head and it plays over and over and over all day and you can’t lose it? The ONLY way you can feel any better about this – when it happens – is to share it with someone else. No, it doesn’t leave your “mind,” but just somehow knowing that you’ve passed this on to someone else ought to make you feel a little better. I know this works for me.]
[I did do a search for the lyrics of Branded’s, “Tits out for the Lads.” No luck. The single isn’t even being released until June 12th. UK Releases has it on a list. It’s in column one – if you read English, or column two – if you read Arabic. Just do a “find on this page” for the word “tits” and you’ll go right to it.]
Okay, something integral to my personality which you may or may not have figured out by now – I can ramble and get off track. But, only takes just but a minute to get back on… On the top of page two of the Saudi Gazette is the “Your Opinion Matters,” where three lucky candidates are chosen [from how many daily entries – no clue – at least three!]. The question of the day is, “Are training programs fulfilling the market needs?” Well, the question is a bit ambiguous, but we have our three winners. You surely thought I was off track, before I actually was, when I asked you to remember how English speakers read. Well, Arabic speakers read [and write – it is NOT easy] right to left. Remember this. So, of the three opinions stated, in response to the question, we have:
A man who claims the programs have been addressed “particularly” with regard to Saudi women. Huh?!? I was not schooled here in Saudi – I probably couldn’t go to school here even if I wanted to, I would not be allowed to [and this has nothing to do with the fact that I’m a woman – but nationality]. I’m not one hundred percent familiar with all the regulations and the way this works, but my understanding is that unless there is an American school here, I would not be able to attend school – not the Saudi school system. Do they have special classes here in the “girl’s schools” [genders do not mix!] that prepare the Saudi women how to give orders to their maids and drivers? Is this where they prepare – or learn – how to wear their abeyas and the scarves, or Hijabs? Are there special studies that prepare the women for learning how to cut into the front of the line, or “queue” as it is called here, at the grocery stores and shops in the malls? They certainly aren’t prepared to work. They aren’t allowed to! And if they are prepared to work, in the lingerie shops – someday – what good is this preparation doing them now and how is it fulfilling the market? Well, okay, then. The three winners are all placed along side each other. This winner and his response are on the far left-hand side. Candidate number one – if you read in English – responds that the women have been prepared; this would be candidate number three if you read Arabic. [This is exactly why I stated earlier to remember this.]
Onto our next opinion, and this will be Candidate number two – either way – if you read English or Arabic – he’s in the middle… Number two. This particular candidate rambles on almost as well as I do… He believes that the sponsors of the training programs should be “in sync” with the markets. Anyone care to venture a guess here as to what this means? Anyone? “In sync” with which markets – the stock market? The real estate market? The vegetable market? The livestock market? The automobile market? The tourism market? So many to choose from. And the trainers aren’t “in sync?” Candidate number two also believes that “Young Saudis who are not property trained or not trained in jobs required by the market will not be able to compete in the open market [got it – he means vegetable market! Why didn’t he just say this at the beginning, then]. Strategic job management is what is needed in our training programs. I’m sure someone with a much higher degree than I have can decipher this for me. It must mean something. My take on this? Umm, I don’t think that a whole lot of training is required to have someone tend to a produce stall in the open market. You show them what produce they need to sell – carrots, lettuce, onions – and tell them how much each of the different vegetable items should be sold for. It’s not rocket science. It’s salad!
As far as “strategic job management,” again, anyone with anything higher than an Associate’s Degree – feel free to jump in and take over for me on this, but if I were to try to guess what this means, my response would be, “There is not a whole lot of management required for a vegetable stand.” We all, however, know how this will work out. There will be a dozen or so managers. We’ll need the CEO for carrots, the CEO for lettuce and the CEO for onions. Each of the CEO’s will need an assistant CEO. We’re up to six employment opportunities, using this formula. There will need to be a manager of determining freshness of the produce for each of the three assistant CEO’s, along with a manager for determining the price. We are now up to twelve management positions for one produce stand selling three vegetables. However, there is still no person to actually be responsible for handling the produce – putting it into it’s respective bin, spraying it down with water occasionally to keep it fresh and crisp [looking, anyway], and someone to weigh the produce and smile at the customer and thank them for purchasing carrots or lettuce or onions and take the Riyals that the customer hands over – oh wait – sorry – my mistake – thirteen managers – a manager is ALWAYS responsible for taking the money.
I do believe that if this whole blogging thing doesn’t work out for me for one reason or another I could possibly do the job of training – at least for the “open markets.” I think I covered about everything, here. I was able to do it in two long paragraphs. That would require, what, maybe a half hour of “training” time in a classroom setting? I’m pretty sure, if I was getting paid to do this, I could drag it out long enough to qualify for at least a two-year degree program. Any takers?
Finally, we have candidate number three – if you read English – number one if you read Arabic – this candidate’s picture and response is on the right-hand side. I see this gentleman’s last name, Al-Zamil, and wonder if he is part of the Zamil family of the “dry goods stores here.” But of course he is… I’m sure he probably is. I like the Zamil’s store we have in Khobar, it is well stocked – if they don’t have what you are looking for, they are willing to get it for you if you just ask – the help is pleasant [this is where I had the run-in with the woman who tried to cut in front of me while I was being waited on but this has nothing to do with the help – this was just a rude woman who’d been “prepared” in both the areas of fully covering in black and rudely cutting in front of other people {see Candidate one, in English, or three, in Arabic – where the women are prepared to do this}].
[As an aside, yes, I had a run-in with a woman who could clearly see that the clerk was helping me – well, maybe she couldn’t clearly see, her face WAS entirely covered, but she must have been able to see enough to known where she had to go to “cut” in front of me. This had happened to me a few times before. I was still a relative new-comer in The Kingdom and not knowing what would happen – to me – to the situation – to my husband – whatever – if I didn’t let one of these black figures cut in front of me, I let it happen several times – probably four or five – until this one – the one at Zamil’s. I believe I was patient in this regard far longer than I ever would have been had this have happened in another country. At some point, you just say, “Enough is enough.” Well the morning this happened at Zamil’s was that “turning” point for me. It was long before I started taking any Arabic classes, so I wasn’t going to be able to communicate with this black figure in her native language, but there is a “universal language” and had this black figure wanted to pursue the issue with me any further than she did, I’m inclined to think that the universal language I’m referring to would have communicated my intent that she was NOT cutting in front of me quite clearly. As it was, it only took a minute or two for her to figure this out without the universal language.]
Mr. Al-Zamil is the ONLY candidate who gives a clear, no-nonsense response to a question that is far from clear or no-nonsense: “Our training programs are missing their targets. There is a huge difference between the needs and the goals. There is also a big gap between the needs and the skills being imparted to our youth. We have to be realistic in our training program otherwise unemployment with continue to grow.”
Ding, ding, ding!!! Folks, we have a winner!!! Candidate number three – in English, or Candidate number one – in Arabic – you are today’s winner, and yesterday’s to, for as much sense as that all made.
Really, is it that difficult to answer a question in a direct, straight to the point manner?
Anyone reading this in the Dhahan / Khobar area, please, by all means do shop at the Zamil’s and give this family your business. It is a rare businessman, indeed – the world wide, not just here in Saudi – that will give you an honest, straight forward answer. And, Mr. Zamil, let me add, it was quite refreshing!
[Tomorrow I am going to start reading the paper from the middle – where the comics are – or from the back where the sports are. How is the Saudi team doing in the lacrosse thing? Is it over? Did they lose? Never mind. The second to the last page of today’s paper shows the Ukraine’s team, and thankfully it says “FIFA World Cup …” It’s soccer! Hey – here’s something – there have been more than thirty {30} singles “inspired by the World Cup will go head-to-head in a battle to top the British pop charts...” Who knew?!? The “list” of “Cup Songs” is shown. A sampling: Embrace: “World at your Feet,” Dreadzone: “Lion Shirt,” and Branded: “Tits Out for the Lads.” Well, alrighty then. Tits Out for the Lads. I would associate this with a group of Harley riders at “Bike Week,” not a bunch of soccer players. Out of the entire list the only person or group I’ve ever heard of is Toni Braxton. Hmm. I must really be out of the loop. I’ll find it and post it. Here it is, Cup Songs. And, now, because I surely will not be able to sleep without knowing, I am going to have to search for the lyrics to “Tits Out for the Lads.” What kind of “tune” would go to something like this? Here, how’s this, “Oh when the saints… go marching in… Oh when the Saints go marching in… Oh, how I want to be INNNN that number… When the Saints go marching in.” Yeah, sing it with me! Let’s do it again. “Oh when the saints… go marching in… Oh when the Saints go marching in… Oh, how I want to be INNNN that number… When the Saints go marching in.” Okay. Now, don’t you just HATE it when a little ditty gets stuck in your head and it plays over and over and over all day and you can’t lose it? The ONLY way you can feel any better about this – when it happens – is to share it with someone else. No, it doesn’t leave your “mind,” but just somehow knowing that you’ve passed this on to someone else ought to make you feel a little better. I know this works for me.]
[I did do a search for the lyrics of Branded’s, “Tits out for the Lads.” No luck. The single isn’t even being released until June 12th. UK Releases has it on a list. It’s in column one – if you read English, or column two – if you read Arabic. Just do a “find on this page” for the word “tits” and you’ll go right to it.]
Okay, something integral to my personality which you may or may not have figured out by now – I can ramble and get off track. But, only takes just but a minute to get back on… On the top of page two of the Saudi Gazette is the “Your Opinion Matters,” where three lucky candidates are chosen [from how many daily entries – no clue – at least three!]. The question of the day is, “Are training programs fulfilling the market needs?” Well, the question is a bit ambiguous, but we have our three winners. You surely thought I was off track, before I actually was, when I asked you to remember how English speakers read. Well, Arabic speakers read [and write – it is NOT easy] right to left. Remember this. So, of the three opinions stated, in response to the question, we have:
A man who claims the programs have been addressed “particularly” with regard to Saudi women. Huh?!? I was not schooled here in Saudi – I probably couldn’t go to school here even if I wanted to, I would not be allowed to [and this has nothing to do with the fact that I’m a woman – but nationality]. I’m not one hundred percent familiar with all the regulations and the way this works, but my understanding is that unless there is an American school here, I would not be able to attend school – not the Saudi school system. Do they have special classes here in the “girl’s schools” [genders do not mix!] that prepare the Saudi women how to give orders to their maids and drivers? Is this where they prepare – or learn – how to wear their abeyas and the scarves, or Hijabs? Are there special studies that prepare the women for learning how to cut into the front of the line, or “queue” as it is called here, at the grocery stores and shops in the malls? They certainly aren’t prepared to work. They aren’t allowed to! And if they are prepared to work, in the lingerie shops – someday – what good is this preparation doing them now and how is it fulfilling the market? Well, okay, then. The three winners are all placed along side each other. This winner and his response are on the far left-hand side. Candidate number one – if you read in English – responds that the women have been prepared; this would be candidate number three if you read Arabic. [This is exactly why I stated earlier to remember this.]
Onto our next opinion, and this will be Candidate number two – either way – if you read English or Arabic – he’s in the middle… Number two. This particular candidate rambles on almost as well as I do… He believes that the sponsors of the training programs should be “in sync” with the markets. Anyone care to venture a guess here as to what this means? Anyone? “In sync” with which markets – the stock market? The real estate market? The vegetable market? The livestock market? The automobile market? The tourism market? So many to choose from. And the trainers aren’t “in sync?” Candidate number two also believes that “Young Saudis who are not property trained or not trained in jobs required by the market will not be able to compete in the open market [got it – he means vegetable market! Why didn’t he just say this at the beginning, then]. Strategic job management is what is needed in our training programs. I’m sure someone with a much higher degree than I have can decipher this for me. It must mean something. My take on this? Umm, I don’t think that a whole lot of training is required to have someone tend to a produce stall in the open market. You show them what produce they need to sell – carrots, lettuce, onions – and tell them how much each of the different vegetable items should be sold for. It’s not rocket science. It’s salad!
As far as “strategic job management,” again, anyone with anything higher than an Associate’s Degree – feel free to jump in and take over for me on this, but if I were to try to guess what this means, my response would be, “There is not a whole lot of management required for a vegetable stand.” We all, however, know how this will work out. There will be a dozen or so managers. We’ll need the CEO for carrots, the CEO for lettuce and the CEO for onions. Each of the CEO’s will need an assistant CEO. We’re up to six employment opportunities, using this formula. There will need to be a manager of determining freshness of the produce for each of the three assistant CEO’s, along with a manager for determining the price. We are now up to twelve management positions for one produce stand selling three vegetables. However, there is still no person to actually be responsible for handling the produce – putting it into it’s respective bin, spraying it down with water occasionally to keep it fresh and crisp [looking, anyway], and someone to weigh the produce and smile at the customer and thank them for purchasing carrots or lettuce or onions and take the Riyals that the customer hands over – oh wait – sorry – my mistake – thirteen managers – a manager is ALWAYS responsible for taking the money.
I do believe that if this whole blogging thing doesn’t work out for me for one reason or another I could possibly do the job of training – at least for the “open markets.” I think I covered about everything, here. I was able to do it in two long paragraphs. That would require, what, maybe a half hour of “training” time in a classroom setting? I’m pretty sure, if I was getting paid to do this, I could drag it out long enough to qualify for at least a two-year degree program. Any takers?
Finally, we have candidate number three – if you read English – number one if you read Arabic – this candidate’s picture and response is on the right-hand side. I see this gentleman’s last name, Al-Zamil, and wonder if he is part of the Zamil family of the “dry goods stores here.” But of course he is… I’m sure he probably is. I like the Zamil’s store we have in Khobar, it is well stocked – if they don’t have what you are looking for, they are willing to get it for you if you just ask – the help is pleasant [this is where I had the run-in with the woman who tried to cut in front of me while I was being waited on but this has nothing to do with the help – this was just a rude woman who’d been “prepared” in both the areas of fully covering in black and rudely cutting in front of other people {see Candidate one, in English, or three, in Arabic – where the women are prepared to do this}].
[As an aside, yes, I had a run-in with a woman who could clearly see that the clerk was helping me – well, maybe she couldn’t clearly see, her face WAS entirely covered, but she must have been able to see enough to known where she had to go to “cut” in front of me. This had happened to me a few times before. I was still a relative new-comer in The Kingdom and not knowing what would happen – to me – to the situation – to my husband – whatever – if I didn’t let one of these black figures cut in front of me, I let it happen several times – probably four or five – until this one – the one at Zamil’s. I believe I was patient in this regard far longer than I ever would have been had this have happened in another country. At some point, you just say, “Enough is enough.” Well the morning this happened at Zamil’s was that “turning” point for me. It was long before I started taking any Arabic classes, so I wasn’t going to be able to communicate with this black figure in her native language, but there is a “universal language” and had this black figure wanted to pursue the issue with me any further than she did, I’m inclined to think that the universal language I’m referring to would have communicated my intent that she was NOT cutting in front of me quite clearly. As it was, it only took a minute or two for her to figure this out without the universal language.]
Mr. Al-Zamil is the ONLY candidate who gives a clear, no-nonsense response to a question that is far from clear or no-nonsense: “Our training programs are missing their targets. There is a huge difference between the needs and the goals. There is also a big gap between the needs and the skills being imparted to our youth. We have to be realistic in our training program otherwise unemployment with continue to grow.”
Ding, ding, ding!!! Folks, we have a winner!!! Candidate number three – in English, or Candidate number one – in Arabic – you are today’s winner, and yesterday’s to, for as much sense as that all made.
Really, is it that difficult to answer a question in a direct, straight to the point manner?
Anyone reading this in the Dhahan / Khobar area, please, by all means do shop at the Zamil’s and give this family your business. It is a rare businessman, indeed – the world wide, not just here in Saudi – that will give you an honest, straight forward answer. And, Mr. Zamil, let me add, it was quite refreshing!
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