So I have a job offer with a "global construction firm" in Saudi Arabia that's too good to turn down...

I would get as informed as possible about security measures. It's been fairly calm for the last year or so, but as a foreigner you will be a target.

But I'd probably take it.

"How different is any foreign country these days?"

It can still be pretty different. Even in the age of "Globalization", one shouldn't underestimate the cultural and linguistic challenges which are often inherent to life as an expatriate.

Not to sound like Reading Rainbow or a Peace Corps recruiter or anything, but you know you really CAN think of it that way.

the only downsides would be, being away from everyone you know and love for however long (maybe this is not such a biggie to you, and maybe it's not so long a time). also, no bars (or, see a, i guess).

if you go, keep posting.

"You know, umm, those challenges could be really interesting and educational and you could learn a lot about another culture and have experiences that really expand your thinking and your view of the world and stuff like that."

Oh, I completely agree. I've been living abroad for the past 5 years, and it's been great. It hasn't always been easy though, and there were some things that I wasn't completely prepared for. That's all I was trying to say.

(Before anyone has a go at me, the company I work for has a dubai office I deal with every day, and clients in Iraq and Saudi, so yes I do know)

It can still be pretty different. Even in the age of "Globalization", one shouldn't underestimate the cultural and linguistic challenges which are often inherent to life as an expatriate.

A very generous response to an ignorant question. Yes, globalization has "levelled" the field, but we're not comparing France and the US here -- this is a conservative Islamic desert kingdom.

Speaking from painful personal experience, I can also say that taking yourself out of your "home" labor market can have significant disadvantages long-term (losing industry contacts; making significant achievements more difficult to appreciate to people without any understanding of what you've been doing where; etc.). Hopefully this global firm has prominent enough name that it will help carry you to the next assignment...

But then the guy actually did do a runner after smacking his wife up, so there you are.

That's what everyone told me about working in Russia.

Do you get to stay here while in Dubai?

ihttp://www.gavinsblog.com/mt/archives/BurjalArab.JPG

Speaking from painful personal experience, I can also say that taking yourself out of your "home" labor market can have significant disadvantages long-term (losing industry contacts; making significant achievements more difficult to appreciate to people without any understanding of what you've been doing where; etc.)

I sometimes worry about this. I'm currently working for a very well-known (American) company in Japan, but I do plan to return home at some point. What types of things did employers say when you returned home? How long did it take to get re-established upon your return?

The main thing I think you will find is that employers find it very difficult to think outside the box. You will probably have relatively more responsibility overseas and feel yourself able to cope with and solve unusual problems, and neither of those may be recognized or valued as much as you would like. I can't speak to Japan, but I have yet to run across anyone who's understood my Russia-specific experience as an asset to them, I just get a lot of "that must have been an interesting experience."

My best advance would be to try to start applying for things, if not interviewing, back home BEFORE you leave Japan.

Is Guy Lombardo dead?

https://www.archpaper.com/2024/10/documentary-reveals-21000-workers-killed-saudi-vision-2030-neom/