First Jobs in the US for MENA SOs

[Ihavequestions 419]

Nope. I'm not Egyptian. I'm not Muslim. I'm a woman. Why on earth would he listen to me over his friends?

Because you are an infidel as well as a woman and he will take the word of his male friend(s) over yours hands down every time. How f##ked up is that, yet oh so true.

I think after this last rowe, over the taxes, when I told him fine, make the appointment for the divorce because, hey, talaq is easy, he gets it.

And who was the friend who had all of this sage advice? His EGYPTIAN friend who wants to move back to Egypt and can't afford to because he doesn't make $hit for money in America and wouldn't make enough money here to put his children into the private schools that would be necessary, anyway. So, his bright idea is to start a business here, let my husband run it until it's profitable enough for him to haul himself and his brood over here (and look like the successful guy all the way). So WHO doesn't want my husband to have a happy marriage to the American who might get him a green card and take him to America, away from Egypt and away from the potential "good business" his FRIEND needs to have? It's surely not me.

I told him he can continue to listen to his friend, even though his friend clearly isn't helping him, or he can see, with his own two eyes, what I show him. He told me the other day that nobody will ever come between us again. We'll see. But, I will say this, getting him to this point hasn't been easy.

[Ahmed N Tina 2]

from what I have heard, most translator jobs are either directly or contractually related to the military and often to overseas activities. Pay is good, but my husband spent several years in the moroccan military and didnt feel like 'doing more time'

I agree with you. My husband has seen many of these jobs and I know people who worked for these companies. They are 90 percent of the time for jobs overseas, usually to Iraq. The few jobs for translators here are difficult to get because many of the experienced and educated translators compete for them. There are temp jobs you could get for military training exercises here in the US, but it still requires travel, usually to California.

I don't have time to read every post to see if this has been suggested, sorry, but has your hubby tried translation services for Medical? I work for a medical call center as a trainer and we have a number of different services for translators that have to have medical terminology experience to be used. From being on the phone to going with the patients to their appts. Seems he should be a shoe in with the medical schooling?? Just a thought.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Nope. I'm not Egyptian. I'm not Muslim. I'm a woman. Why on earth would he listen to me over his friends?

Because you are an infidel as well as a woman and he will take the word of his male friend(s) over yours hands down every time. How f##ked up is that, yet oh so true.

I think after this last rowe, over the taxes, when I told him fine, make the appointment for the divorce because, hey, talaq is easy, he gets it.

And who was the friend who had all of this sage advice? His EGYPTIAN friend who wants to move back to Egypt and can't afford to because he doesn't make $hit for money in America and wouldn't make enough money here to put his children into the private schools that would be necessary, anyway. So, his bright idea is to start a business here, let my husband run it until it's profitable enough for him to haul himself and his brood over here (and look like the successful guy all the way). So WHO doesn't want my husband to have a happy marriage to the American who might get him a green card and take him to America, away from Egypt and away from the potential "good business" his FRIEND needs to have? It's surely not me.

I told him he can continue to listen to his friend, even though his friend clearly isn't helping him, or he can see, with his own two eyes, what I show him. He told me the other day that nobody will ever come between us again. We'll see. But, I will say this, getting him to this point hasn't been easy.

Lets hope he doesn't relapse. Mine is inclined to listen to his friends who are just the experts on immigration. Some of the things my husband has told me about the expertise advice he has gotten is something out of the comic books, to be sure....and he honestly wholeheartedly believes these fools! Sometimes, I gotta just shake my head.

[AngelK96 0]

try Fresenius Medical Care and Davita. They are both big Dialysis Companies. Usually they are hiring Patient Care Techs. You can go on their web sites and look for openings in your area. They train you and you don't need experience. Would be nice if you were a CNA with who has their Med Aide Cert.

I checked out both those companies. They sound like great companies, but there are no openings that fit his skills or in his area. Both companies are around my area, just no jobs he can do. Thanks for the advice. I may keep it in mind for the future as you never know what jobs may come up later!

What Medical Field does your husband want to practice in?

[bhajishah 4]

Kewl is your tat shop in Chicago, page me if it is, becasue i have a whole flock of friends who would love Mideast designs!!

[Aymsgirl 0]

Nope. I'm not Egyptian. I'm not Muslim. I'm a woman. Why on earth would he listen to me over his friends?

Because you are an infidel as well as a woman and he will take the word of his male friend(s) over yours hands down every time. How f##ked up is that, yet oh so true.

I think after this last rowe, over the taxes, when I told him fine, make the appointment for the divorce because, hey, talaq is easy, he gets it.

And who was the friend who had all of this sage advice? His EGYPTIAN friend who wants to move back to Egypt and can't afford to because he doesn't make $hit for money in America and wouldn't make enough money here to put his children into the private schools that would be necessary, anyway. So, his bright idea is to start a business here, let my husband run it until it's profitable enough for him to haul himself and his brood over here (and look like the successful guy all the way). So WHO doesn't want my husband to have a happy marriage to the American who might get him a green card and take him to America, away from Egypt and away from the potential "good business" his FRIEND needs to have? It's surely not me.

I told him he can continue to listen to his friend, even though his friend clearly isn't helping him, or he can see, with his own two eyes, what I show him. He told me the other day that nobody will ever come between us again. We'll see. But, I will say this, getting him to this point hasn't been easy.

Lets hope he doesn't relapse. Mine is inclined to listen to his friends who are just the experts on immigration. Some of the things my husband has told me about the expertise advice he has gotten is something out of the comic books, to be sure....and he honestly wholeheartedly believes these fools! Sometimes, I gotta just shake my head.

Why are they like this? My husband is the same way, he will listen to darn fool before his wife. I told him I'm not the one trying to screw you over dumb dumb listen to me!

[KHPerfectMatch 1]

BTW having an Egyptian with a Green Card, or even the Good Old Gold Eagle on the Blue background (US PASSPORT) won't get them a single extra dinar, riyal, rial, or dirham.... in MOST cases... I know an Egyptian PhD. who has taught at Virginia Tech for about 25 years, a US citizen probably as long... and was offered "Egyptian" wages to teach in the Gulf... simply because he is Egyptian... And I've heard this same story from many others who thought it would make them "eligible" to be paid as an American... Nope...

As my Iraqi/Canadian business colleague told me when I went to do some work for him in Dubai... if the people in the Gulf wanted an Egyptian they could get 1000 of them.. for EGYPTIAN wages straight from Egypt... what they WANT is AMERICANS... not Egyptians with American passports... and they are willing to pay the big bucks for AMERICANS.

Only benefit my Ex (also Egyptian) ever had after he became a US citizen was the ability to travel easily between different countries. Something as an Egyptian that would be virtually impossible... His brother has a transportation business in Paris and always wanted him to come work for him in the summer because with the American Passport he could travel everywhere without visas, or hassles moving vehicles around for the Saudi's.

My Egyptian "brother" has Swedish and Egyptian nationality and that helps him the same way... when he works for a company that needs him to travel it's much easier using his Swedish passport even in middle eastern countries.. (except if he tries to come here... then it's 95% chance they will refuse him entry by refusing to recognize his Swedish passport... and telling him as an Egyptian he needs a Visa...)

I remember how shocked I was when I was working in Dubai and H couldn't come to see me there because he had a snowballs chance in hell of getting a visa... even though he was married to an American, to them he was an Egyptian trying to sneak in and get a lousy job... Not sure now that he has a greencard if it would be any different or not.

Oh well who cares, not gonna happen anyway...

[Ihavequestions 419]

Why are they like this? My husband is the same way, he will listen to darn fool before his wife. I told him I'm not the one trying to screw you over dumb dumb listen to me!

Maybe it's an Egyptian male thing?

[Ihavequestions 419]

BTW having an Egyptian with a Green Card, or even the Good Old Gold Eagle on the Blue background (US PASSPORT) won't get them a single extra dinar, riyal, rial, or dirham.... in MOST cases... I know an Egyptian PhD. who has taught at Virginia Tech for about 25 years, a US citizen probably as long... and was offered "Egyptian" wages to teach in the Gulf... simply because he is Egyptian... And I've heard this same story from many others who thought it would make them "eligible" to be paid as an American... Nope...

As my Iraqi/Canadian business colleague told me when I went to do some work for him in Dubai... if the people in the Gulf wanted an Egyptian they could get 1000 of them.. for EGYPTIAN wages straight from Egypt... what they WANT is AMERICANS... not Egyptians with American passports... and they are willing to pay the big bucks for AMERICANS.

Only benefit my Ex (also Egyptian) ever had after he became a US citizen was the ability to travel easily between different countries. Something as an Egyptian that would be virtually impossible... His brother has a transportation business in Paris and always wanted him to come work for him in the summer because with the American Passport he could travel everywhere without visas, or hassles moving vehicles around for the Saudi's.

My Egyptian "brother" has Swedish and Egyptian nationality and that helps him the same way... when he works for a company that needs him to travel it's much easier using his Swedish passport even in middle eastern countries.. (except if he tries to come here... then it's 95% chance they will refuse him entry by refusing to recognize his Swedish passport... and telling him as an Egyptian he needs a Visa...)

I remember how shocked I was when I was working in Dubai and H couldn't come to see me there because he had a snowballs chance in hell of getting a visa... even though he was married to an American, to them he was an Egyptian trying to sneak in and get a lousy job... Not sure now that he has a greencard if it would be any different or not.

Oh well who cares, not gonna happen anyway...

What you're saying makes perfect sense to me. I've seen Egyptians who lived and were moderately successful in the US, spoke nearly perfect English, held an American passport, come back to Egypt expecting to be paid like an American, only to be offered an Egyptian wage. I can't imagine it's much different anywhere else in the region. I know doctors in Egypt, without an established private practice or a hospital of their own, frequently go to one of the Gulf nations (most often Saudi) to make any kind of money, although I can't imagine their salary is the same as an American-trained doctor.

Oh, well. He thinks it's a good idea. He can keep listening to his friends because he really believes this will give him an opportunity to start a business in the UAE, an opportunity that he wouldn't have otherwise. I guess when I'm making phat cash because of my smiling white face and American passport, and he's still sitting in Egypt because he can't even get into the country, maybe - MAYBE - he'll understand his friends aren't always the smartest and they aren't always looking out for his best interests. One thing I noticed right off the bat after I arrived here is that Egyptians will treat other Egyptians worse than they would any other nationality and that observation continually rings true.

[S and S 12]

try Fresenius Medical Care and Davita. They are both big Dialysis Companies. Usually they are hiring Patient Care Techs. You can go on their web sites and look for openings in your area. They train you and you don't need experience. Would be nice if you were a CNA with who has their Med Aide Cert.

I checked out both those companies. They sound like great companies, but there are no openings that fit his skills or in his area. Both companies are around my area, just no jobs he can do. Thanks for the advice. I may keep it in mind for the future as you never know what jobs may come up later!

What Medical Field does your husband want to practice in?

Right now he is just a medical school graduate. He couldn't do his residency in Iraq because the hospital they assigned him to for that was in the shi'a part of Iraq and he is sunni. It would have meant death to go to that hospital. He would prefer surgery as his specialty, but that is hard to get for foreign medical graduates.

We are going to keep looking around. He didn't even get the job at 7-eleven that he applied for. Everyone sees that degree and just balks away from him. Its really frustrating. We have been looking in every available job listings online and in the newspaper and on websites of companies in the area. No luck yet, but we will keep looking. All the advice everyone is giving is at least pointing us in some new directions.

[KHPerfectMatch 1]

BTW having an Egyptian with a Green Card, or even the Good Old Gold Eagle on the Blue background (US PASSPORT) won't get them a single extra dinar, riyal, rial, or dirham.... in MOST cases... I know an Egyptian PhD. who has taught at Virginia Tech for about 25 years, a US citizen probably as long... and was offered "Egyptian" wages to teach in the Gulf... simply because he is Egyptian... And I've heard this same story from many others who thought it would make them "eligible" to be paid as an American... Nope...

As my Iraqi/Canadian business colleague told me when I went to do some work for him in Dubai... if the people in the Gulf wanted an Egyptian they could get 1000 of them.. for EGYPTIAN wages straight from Egypt... what they WANT is AMERICANS... not Egyptians with American passports... and they are willing to pay the big bucks for AMERICANS.

Only benefit my Ex (also Egyptian) ever had after he became a US citizen was the ability to travel easily between different countries. Something as an Egyptian that would be virtually impossible... His brother has a transportation business in Paris and always wanted him to come work for him in the summer because with the American Passport he could travel everywhere without visas, or hassles moving vehicles around for the Saudi's.

My Egyptian "brother" has Swedish and Egyptian nationality and that helps him the same way... when he works for a company that needs him to travel it's much easier using his Swedish passport even in middle eastern countries.. (except if he tries to come here... then it's 95% chance they will refuse him entry by refusing to recognize his Swedish passport... and telling him as an Egyptian he needs a Visa...)

I remember how shocked I was when I was working in Dubai and H couldn't come to see me there because he had a snowballs chance in hell of getting a visa... even though he was married to an American, to them he was an Egyptian trying to sneak in and get a lousy job... Not sure now that he has a greencard if it would be any different or not.

Oh well who cares, not gonna happen anyway...

What you're saying makes perfect sense to me. I've seen Egyptians who lived and were moderately successful in the US, spoke nearly perfect English, held an American passport, come back to Egypt expecting to be paid like an American, only to be offered an Egyptian wage. I can't imagine it's much different anywhere else in the region. I know doctors in Egypt, without an established private practice or a hospital of their own, frequently go to one of the Gulf nations (most often Saudi) to make any kind of money, although I can't imagine their salary is the same as an American-trained doctor.

Oh, well. He thinks it's a good idea. He can keep listening to his friends because he really believes this will give him an opportunity to start a business in the UAE, an opportunity that he wouldn't have otherwise. I guess when I'm making phat cash because of my smiling white face and American passport, and he's still sitting in Egypt because he can't even get into the country, maybe - MAYBE - he'll understand his friends aren't always the smartest and they aren't always looking out for his best interests. One thing I noticed right off the bat after I arrived here is that Egyptians will treat other Egyptians worse than they would any other nationality and that observation continually rings true.

I think he's wrong on two points... (probably many more...) I seriously doubt your smiling white American face will get you far in UAE unless you have a very unique profession. He is close to spot on about the value of your smiling white American face in Egypt, but it's not the same in Dubai at all.

I went there at the request of my business colleagues for a look see (on their dime, to participate in a conference where I could network with potential clients, etc. to evalute the career potential/climate) and I don't care if I EVER go there again. Cost of living to income ratio (unless you're there as an American employee of an American company) is far worse than Egypt. My colleague left Canada to start his consulting firm there ONLY to be closer to Iraq, as he hopes to return there (he's Iraqi) when things finally calm down. He's been asked already to be the Director of their equivalent of the EPA. Or Minister of the Interior, or whatever they call it...

And you are SPOT ON about how Egyptians treat each other. It seems to me the majority prefer to say "I TOLD YOU SO" and revel in another's failure, or brag and gloat about their own (often exaggerated success) than to help one another. My husband knew before he came that he would NEVER get much help here from another Egyptian... and for the most part he was right. And even the few who've tried to be helpful really don't have much sound advice to offer... just share their own methods, which from what I can tell have not produced results worth emulating...

[Ihavequestions 419]

I think he's wrong on two points... (probably many more...) I seriously doubt your smiling white American face will get you far in UAE unless you have a very unique profession. ..

I do, actually. It's marketable in the US, marketable in Egypt, and if my research doesn't fail me, marketable in the UAE.

I'm gonna test the waters by sending a few CVs and see if I get anywhere. Hey, what do I have to lose?

He believes he'll be able to travel with me once I get that great job, just because I got that great job and he's my husband. He knows this because his friend told him (I asked him about it again tonight). I think you're right and he's wrong, but far be it for me to know what I'm talking about.

And you are SPOT ON about how Egyptians treat each other. It seems to me the majority prefer to say "I TOLD YOU SO" and revel in another's failure, or brag and gloat about their own (often exaggerated success) than to help one another. My husband knew before he came that he would NEVER get much help here from another Egyptian... and for the most part he was right. And even the few who've tried to be helpful really don't have much sound advice to offer... just share their own methods, which from what I can tell have not produced results worth emulating...

I've never seen a group of people so, collectively, in it for themselves as I've seen here. They'll lie to each other, manipulate each other, and set each other up to fail in a New York second. This was a lesson I got quickly, and I'm thankful for that, because I have met very few Egyptians who want to befriend me for the sake of friendship. Instead, it's always what I can do for them (help them/their children with their English, be seen with me because I'm foreign, a whole host of things). They seem to have taken the "this is better for me" thing to the nth degree and it's outright shameful. Am I saying this is everybody? Of course not. But I would say there's a large part of the population who are like this. Egyptians who I've talked to that have been out of the country for any period of time see it, too, and they're drop-jawed by it. I don't know if it's the economy or the hypocracy or what it is, but it's definately there.

Anyway, enough about me and my problems (although I am so, so, SO happy I have this group to dump it all out on), what's going on with your husband? Is he still blanning to jumb shib?

[Donna A 4]

Ihavequestions - make sure your husband learns from you the American, not the brilliantly idiotic Egyptian friends who have no clue as to how this works. A trained IO will see his passport and greencard upon entry and they could actually pull it and deny him entry if he is permanently residing elsewhere. Have him become a USC - he can live anywhere he wants to once he has his US passport.

Oh, you wouldn't believe the $hit his friends have put me through.

A brief recap:

Hide the marriage. This was his friend's idea and, because it was his friend's idea, it was a good one. Why hide the marriage? People get jealous (that's why I asked about this on another thread) and might ruin his life. It doesn't matter that it's as un-Islamic as it comes, what people think and jealousy are much more important - to his friends. Nor does it matter how that made ME feel because the advice of his friends is much more valuable.

Don't let his mother think he lives with me. His mother was dying and, as a good Egyptian son, he couldn't hurt his mother's feelings by getting married and living with his new wife, so he pretended to live at home right up until the day she died. His nights spent away? Well, that was extra long shifts at work. Who's good idea was this? His friend's. As soon as she died and the hullabaloo was overwith, he moved me into his flat. Just today one of the neighbors came over to use our veranda to hang her rugs outside to dry and he told her he was married. She asked why we didn't have a wedding party and he told her he couldn't because his mother died. WE'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR A YEAR.

I'm lying and I don't want to get him a green card. Getting the papers together, specifically the tax papers, has been horrible. My physical records were ruined in the mid-west flooding last year (along with everythiing else I have, as I've just learned this past couple of weeks). Even though he had the completed request for tax transcripts IN HIS HAND, I was lying and didn't want to get him a green card. Why? Because that's what his friend told him. As for my things being ruined? I was lying my sister was lying (she went through the ruined boxes, trying to find something salvageable) and it took youtube videos of the flooding on my street in America to convince him otherwise. Of course I was also lying about not being able to do 2008 taxes without the ITIN request, because his friend said so, right up until I SHOWED him what a 1040 looked like.

Nope. I'm not Egyptian. I'm not Muslim. I'm a woman. Why on earth would he listen to me over his friends?

i feel for u...i know what ur are going thru as my husbands friends words are law too. he had 3 job interviews lined up in florida this week and well his friends told him they never had to pay for travel arrangements when they had interviews. only one of the places offered him payment so now he cancelled the other ones cuz they wont pay. sure.. give up an opportunity at a job just cuz his friends told him that. he has 3 months of work left...hardly enough time to be turning down jobs.

he had to travel to new jersey last week and he was eating at a arab resturant and the waiter or manager or whoever he was told him why are u staying in this city...its the worst place in all off new jersey. of couse i got the blame that well thats where i booked him the hotel. well he got back and told me what the guy said....and i googled the crime stats on that town and well lets just say 1 murder and 2 rapes per year dont exactally tell me dangerous town. now i compared it to city where he works now....19 murders and 70 rapes. but since me the non arab said it wasnt as bad as that guy said....well the arab is always right. screw the statistics.

so really i know what ur going thru.

Edited June 16, 2009 by Donna A

[Aymsgirl 0]

Ihavequestions - make sure your husband learns from you the American, not the brilliantly idiotic Egyptian friends who have no clue as to how this works. A trained IO will see his passport and greencard upon entry and they could actually pull it and deny him entry if he is permanently residing elsewhere. Have him become a USC - he can live anywhere he wants to once he has his US passport.

Oh, you wouldn't believe the $hit his friends have put me through.

A brief recap:

Hide the marriage. This was his friend's idea and, because it was his friend's idea, it was a good one. Why hide the marriage? People get jealous (that's why I asked about this on another thread) and might ruin his life. It doesn't matter that it's as un-Islamic as it comes, what people think and jealousy are much more important - to his friends. Nor does it matter how that made ME feel because the advice of his friends is much more valuable.

Don't let his mother think he lives with me. His mother was dying and, as a good Egyptian son, he couldn't hurt his mother's feelings by getting married and living with his new wife, so he pretended to live at home right up until the day she died. His nights spent away? Well, that was extra long shifts at work. Who's good idea was this? His friend's. As soon as she died and the hullabaloo was overwith, he moved me into his flat. Just today one of the neighbors came over to use our veranda to hang her rugs outside to dry and he told her he was married. She asked why we didn't have a wedding party and he told her he couldn't because his mother died. WE'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR A YEAR.

I'm lying and I don't want to get him a green card. Getting the papers together, specifically the tax papers, has been horrible. My physical records were ruined in the mid-west flooding last year (along with everythiing else I have, as I've just learned this past couple of weeks). Even though he had the completed request for tax transcripts IN HIS HAND, I was lying and didn't want to get him a green card. Why? Because that's what his friend told him. As for my things being ruined? I was lying my sister was lying (she went through the ruined boxes, trying to find something salvageable) and it took youtube videos of the flooding on my street in America to convince him otherwise. Of course I was also lying about not being able to do 2008 taxes without the ITIN request, because his friend said so, right up until I SHOWED him what a 1040 looked like.

Nope. I'm not Egyptian. I'm not Muslim. I'm a woman. Why on earth would he listen to me over his friends?

i feel for u...i know what ur are going thru as my husbands friends words are law too. he had 3 job interviews lined up in florida this week and well his friends told him they never had to pay for travel arrangements when they had interviews. only one of the places offered him payment so now he cancelled the other ones cuz they wont pay. sure.. give up an opportunity at a job just cuz his friends told him that. he has 3 months of work left...hardly enough time to be turning down jobs.

he had to travel to new jersey last week and he was eating at a arab resturant and the waiter or manager or whoever he was told him why are u staying in this city...its the worst place in all off new jersey. of couse i got the blame that well thats where i booked him the hotel. well he got back and told me what the guy said....and i googled the crime stats on that town and well lets just say 1 murder and 2 rapes per year dont exactally tell me dangerous town. now i compared it to city where he works now....19 murders and 70 rapes. but since me the non arab said it wasnt as bad as that guy said....well the arab is always right. screw the statistics.

so really i know what ur going thru.

I deal with this all of the time. I know the feeling. It makes me sick to my stomach to know that at times he takes others advice. I told him, if you think I don't care then don't listen to me listen to them. They have a deficiency when it comes to this......

[childress_london 3]

try Fresenius Medical Care and Davita. They are both big Dialysis Companies. Usually they are hiring Patient Care Techs. You can go on their web sites and look for openings in your area. They train you and you don't need experience. Would be nice if you were a CNA with who has their Med Aide Cert.

I checked out both those companies. They sound like great companies, but there are no openings that fit his skills or in his area. Both companies are around my area, just no jobs he can do. Thanks for the advice. I may keep it in mind for the future as you never know what jobs may come up later!

What Medical Field does your husband want to practice in?

Right now he is just a medical school graduate. He couldn't do his residency in Iraq because the hospital they assigned him to for that was in the shi'a part of Iraq and he is sunni. It would have meant death to go to that hospital. He would prefer surgery as his specialty, but that is hard to get for foreign medical graduates.

We are going to keep looking around. He didn't even get the job at 7-eleven that he applied for. Everyone sees that degree and just balks away from him. Its really frustrating. We have been looking in every available job listings online and in the newspaper and on websites of companies in the area. No luck yet, but we will keep looking. All the advice everyone is giving is at least pointing us in some new directions.

Well, heck, if he can't get a job at 7-11 because of his degree, then don't even mention it on the application. I mean really, he doesn't have to put that on there if it's going to hurt his chances at some kind of job.