Nurse Hanka had to wait a while to fulfill her dream, but now she has spent the first few weeks in the seaside town of Jeddah. She works in the transplant department at our partner hospital and here are her first impressions of Saudi Arabia:
I was still a student of Medical School and I already knew, that I would like to work in Saudi Arabia one day, so I did my best to achieve my goal.
Is not easy to get there and I´m grateful that GGC agency helped me with my big dream.
It was a long way and sometimes I was very impatient, but now I feel, that I´m here exactly in right time – I´m ready to be here emotionally and professionally.
First impression of Saudi Arabia
At GGC agency I attended a course Cultural Shock, so I got all basic information about the Kingdom, about a life of local people, about status of women in this society and also about Islam, which is influencing everything in this country.
So if you go there, you have basic theoretic knowledges and you know what to expect, but you still can´t be 100 % sure what will be your feelings inside of you.
Atheist in the Muslim world
I´m totally opposite of typical Arab person.
I don´t believe in God, I don´t know if I like more beer or wine, I´m extrovert and I love wearing V neck.
And suddenly I am living in Arab country where people don´t know what Atheism means, where alcohols and V-necks are restricted.
Culture shock has hit me as well, but longer I´m here, I realize that I have gained prejudices unconsciously from media. Media always show us more negatives than positives.
That is why I would like to present positives.
My new home Saudi Arabia
Local people are very kind to each other, helpful, willing and I guess that it is not a hypocrisy, but they are really like that.
I never feel less important because I´m a woman – men even talk to me with more respect than in Czech. Czech men should learn it from them!
I love wearing Abaya, not because I would have to (wearing Abaya is not restricted anymore) but because I like it, its very comfortable and I feel like a princess wearing it! 🙂 I bought a nice one in green color with a lace.
I don´t miss alcohol, there are many other activities – especially a sea which I can enjoy because I work in Jeddah city.
My new job
I work in King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center at Rental Transplant unit.
Flight tickets were paid by the hospital.
Hospital representative was waiting for me at the airport and helped me to arrange SIM card and then he met me with my driver who drove me to my accommodation – also paid by the hospital.
I had two weeks training and then I finally went to work to my department.
Nurses and doctors are very kind. They warmly welcomed me and they have been very helpful all the time.
I don´t know if I´m just lucky or if the others feel it in the same way, but for me being here is better than I dreamed it!