[Update: the below information which was initially published in August 2015, has been refreshed in May 2019. I’ve curated the information to include current and accurate information.]

For the second time, I asked our community Facebook page for suggestions for online tools that are invaluable for life at KAUST. Here is a round-up of what I learned:

Tools for exploring and getting around:

• Prayer time app for your phone – There are many options of prayer time apps to choose from. A prayer time app will keep you informed of when prayer times are, which is especially handy when outside the KAUST walls where all businesses shut during the prayers.
• Maps.me app – “download the KSA data and you can find your way from any house to any house or building.” – Laurie Nason
• Uber car hire service – “I’ve found Uber incredibly useful for getting around Jeddah.” – Chris Waldron
• Skyscanner – for booking good rates on flights, hotels, and car rentals.
• Airbnb – for finding interesting places to stay all over the world.

Tools for recreation or information sharing within KAUST

The following tools are only available for people who live or work at KAUST. Many are only accessible when you’re viewing them from the KAUST network. 

• The Lens – Make sure you subscribe for email updates to the KAUST internal blog. This is an invaluable resource for all the official information you need from KAUST. If you do nothing else on your first day at KAUST, do this. 
• Welcome to KAUST app – This is a mobile app designed to help community members find information about different topics of day to day life on campus.
• Kaust Community Facebook Group – a private group for KAUST community members to connect.
• KAUST For Sale Facebook Group – for buying or selling used goods at KAUST.
• KAUST Map – an online map of KAUST (or use the maps.me tool listed above)
• Community Life Website – houses tons of information about KAUST services, facilities, events, programs, news and more. This site is run by my team- woohoo!
• Atinio – Online booking and delivery food service located only at KAUST.
• Library Website – For access to journals and more.
• KAUST Government Affairs App – features access to various Government Affairs services such as Exit/Re-Entry Visas, Iqama services, emergency contacts and much more (For KAUST employees/dependents only).
• KAUST Pets Facebook Group – A group for pet owners at KAUST to connect.
• KAUST Health website – All about the medical clinic located in the heart of the KAUST community.
• KAUST Community Bot – According to the creator of this tool, Andrew CM Yip, “Community Bot is a virtual friend in the community along the Red Sea.” Add the app to your facebook, then send it a direct message to find out about restaurant opening times, movie listings, bus schedules, event calendars, ice cream truck whereabout, maps, and directions too. If you haven’t tried this bot out, it’s well worth giving it a whirl!
• KAUST Apps – Initially curated in 2019, this listing of useful apps, websites, and links for life at KAUST is similar to this listing, but arguably more comprehensive and only accessible at KAUST.

Tools for connecting with family and friends abroad

• Skype – For making free video calls to friends and family abroad.
• Whatsapp – Use this mobile app for free private or group messaging. This app has become absolutely ubiquitous for both work and personal use in Saudi and is a great way to keep in touch with family and friend back home too.

Tools for accessing media

• VPN – for accessing media that may only be accessible in your home country. Note that Netflix is getting smarter at identifying VPN users and so you may have to get increasingly creative with accessing home-country media.
• A kindle or other e-reader – “My Kindle was invaluable because it allowed me to read books that I wanted when I wanted. The library was good, but nothing compares to an online supply!” – Christine Merritt Girouard
• YouTube – for watching whatever you want, whenever you want.

Online Shopping

• Amazon – you can buy pretty much anything here. Just make sure you click the button to sort by items that will ship to Saudi.
• Ebay – for buying new and used items online.
• iHerb – Sells vitamins, supplements, and other natural health products including good quality baby food. (Note from an anymous reader: iHerb has raised the rates of their shipping and taxes. It’s not such a bargain anymore. Plus it is sometimes taking a long time to arrive)
• The Book Depository – Free worldwide shipping on books. Be warned, it takes a long time to arrive though!
• Mumzworld – a reputable Middle East based online shopping site for mother and baby items.

Organization

• Evernote: “It allows me to keep all manner of my personal life put away electronically into folders. I have one for recipes, one for school (I’m a teacher), one for ‘Books I must read’, one for ‘Memorable Quotes’, one for the numerous things I need to remember at KAUST…e.g. bicycle serial numbers, ID numbers etc etc.” – Emma Nason
• Pepperplate – “Allows me to download recipes at the click of a button and store them on an app on my phone/tablet. You can also make a shopping list (sorted by aisle) from the recipes that you select for that week. Awesome!! It’s been useful in Tamimi!” – Emma Nason

Thank you to all of the community members that contributed their ideas and suggestions for this post! Is there something missing from this list? Please share it in the comments below.

Disclaimer: I am not advocating use of any of these sites. Use them at your own risk and with your own common sense!

The post Online tools for life at KAUST first appeared on Claire's Ale.

Recently, the kids and I even participated in the filming of a fire safety video. I encourage you to watch it, but I warn you, the song is very catchy!

A few people I’ve spoken with have expressed an interest in learning more about KVFD, so I arranged an interview with the Fire Chief, Greg Burnell, about the volunteer force. Learn more from the Chief, in his own words.

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What is the KAUST Volunteer Fire Department (KVFD)?

Greg Burnell, KAUST Fire Chief

The KAUST Volunteer Fire Department is an integral part of the KAUST Fire Department that offers supplementary manpower in the event of KFD Resources being stretched beyond capacity. These could include large scale incidents, multiple incidents, time consuming situations, or public event safety. KVFD has a huge role in scaling our numbers and enables the traditional Fire Department to carry out functions without needing outside assistance.

How does KVFD support the traditional fire department?

The KAUST Fire Department is responsible for emergency response and education within the Health, Safety, and Environment division at KAUST. Our role is to:

• Ensure that if an incident happens, we can respond rapidly and appropriately
• Keep the community safe through education and preventative measures.

Volunteer departments were initially established by settling colonists many centuries ago when infrastructure developed and so too did the perils and risk of fire become apparent. So the volunteer concept has always signified a community looking after itself.

In a close-knit community such as KAUST, we all have a vested interest in one another’s safety and wellbeing. KAUST is so unique in this regard – we all work together, live together and play together. The interaction between the traditional KFD and KVFD has become so important to both groups who, when the chips are down, will work shoulder to shoulder in a seamless manner as brothers and sisters.

What is it like to be a Volunteer Fire Fighter?

Being a volunteer carries a sense of pride just like any Firefighter – the skills and knowledge gained never leave you.

The volunteers at KAUST come from all over the world – from KSA, Philippines, Belgium, Ireland, Pakistan, USA, The Netherlands, Malaysia, England, Romania, Latvia, Australia, Lebanon, Portugal, and many more. The beauty is that the skills and education translate into all of these languages. Firefighters all over the world share common challenges, joys, camaraderie, and also share the same difficulties. Being a volunteer means being a part of that – it is life enhancing, character building, and empowering!

It is also a nice diverse unique selling point on any CV. The teamwork, inter-dependence, dedication, community spirit – all are extremely useful skills to have.

My husband describes KVFD as “fun”. What are the social elements of KVFD?

We are very conscious of the social element of KVFD and conduct the training and activities with that in mind, trying to make it as fun as possible for the volunteers. And really, I’m overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the volunteers. They seem to love both the physical aspect and the theory aspect of the role, and they seem to be really tied together and cohesive as a group. I think it breaks up their week a bit and gives them something new to focus on, which they’re enthusiastic about as well.

What commitment does a volunteer make?

The volunteers make a commitment to attend training every Wednesday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. This precious time is used to develop specific disciplines such as Basic Firefighting, Pump Operation, Breathing Apparatus Support, Incident Command Support, Station Routine, and First aid. There are also some other tailor-made trainings outside of those times.

We also ask that, if called on, they will be available to assist during an incident. The important caveat to all this, of course, is that we understand that they are volunteers and that their jobs come first.

What is your favorite thing about KVFD?

Without a doubt, the friendship and connection that I feel towards the members of KVFD is a humbling and wonderful thing, and I am so fortunate to be part of this inspirational group of diverse individuals who gel into a singular group every Wednesday Night for 2 hours – they are my favorite moments.

How can interested KAUST community members learn more and get involved with KVFD?

Email us at KVFD@kaust.edu.sa or come along any Wednesday night to the Fire Station from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. to get a taste for what KVFD is all about.

Photo slideshow of KVFD activities

—

A final note from Claire: This really is a great opportunity for anyone looking for something new to get involved with at KAUST. Thank you to Donal, Greg, and Kevin for your collaboration in the creation of this post.

The post Becoming a Volunteer Firefighter at KAUST – An Interview with the Fire Chief, Greg Burnell first appeared on Claire's Ale.

The Parade of Nations is entirely volunteer-driven. The people who host the stalls and organize the shows do so because they want to share about their culture with the rest of the community. Walking around the Parade of Nations is like taking a very quick round-the-world trip – they even hand out play passports for the kids!

This event is my favorite of the year, not only because it is the biggest community-driven event at KAUST, but because it really brings out the best in everyone and builds a true sense of community spirit.

In sharing this post, I wanted to include the community’s voice. So, I reached out to our community Facebook page and invited them to submit photos from this year’s event for readers to see. They are all included below. If you were there and would like to add a photo, please do so in the comments of this post.

Looking forward to many more Parade of Nations events to come!

Palestine – by Asil Masry

New Zealand – By Betsy Fox Ryan

México by Azul LS

Egypt – by Rehab Osman

Egypt – by Somaya Omar

Egypt – by Somaya Omar

Jordan – by Hasan Bader Al Anta

Malaysia – “My four-year-olds trying to spell ‘Malaysia’. This is the first time they know they are from Malaysia, not KAUST.” by Jamie Pui Woon Hoo

Portugal – by Silvia Salvador

Citizens of the World – by Soraya Bonaccorsi

Venezuela 2017 – by Sami Villalba. Sami wanted to share this picture because immediately after the 2017 event, she had her Parade of Nations baby. Happy 1st birthday to baby Sam!

And, here is a video of the parade itself which was posted by Semen Shikin on YouTube:

What do you think of the Parade of Nations? If you were there and would like to add a photo, please do so in the comments of this post.

The post The Parade of Nations 2018: Celebrating Multiculturalism at KAUST first appeared on Claire's Ale.

Mine was one of nine talks in a full-day TEDx event hosted here at KAUST. I was particularly touched by Tsiki’s talk about the impact of education in Madagascar, but I think all of them are well-worth watching, especially for my colleagues here at KAUST.

This talk could not have happened without the support of so many people who deserve acknowledgement:

• The two brilliant scientists who I mentioned in the talk: Susann Diercks and Katharine Hayhoe. These women are the embodiment of the future of scientific communication! (Follow them on social media!)
• In the process of creating the talk, I consulted with many scientists and academics, communication professionals, and other incredibly brilliant people to ensure that the message would resonate with a wide range of audiences. Thank you so much to the my collaborators for your kindness and generosity!
• Last but not least, thank you to the talented event organizing committee who volunteered for months to make this event happen.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can improve your own scientific communication, I can suggest the following resources:

• The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science – A leading group in this field, they provide extensive training and resources for scientists
• The very welcoming online community which uses the hashtag #scicomm on social media
• SciComm Hub – community focused on science education, outreach, and communication
• AAAS science communication workshops
• Every doctor you’ve ever met. They are the original science communicators and a true inspiration for me.

If my talk resonated with you, I hope you will leave a comment or take a moment to share it with your networks.

Full Text: 

I am here to sell you a fantastic new product which will change your life forever. This amber teething necklace is guaranteed to make your baby more comfortable while teething.It’s all due to the succinic acid which has scientifically proven anti-inflammatory properties. And it’s yours for the low low price of 20 dollars a pop!

The only problem: It’s a lie. It’s deceit. There is no peer-reviewed evidence to support the claim that amber necklaces can reduce teething pain.

But people believe it and they’re buying the necklaces. I’m a mom and it’s a claim I’ve heard over and over – by my friends, on internet mommy groups, and on blog posts written by women who are selling them. But I’ve also spent the last 10 years working in communication with academic and technology communities. And this overlap of my work and home life made me realize how academia should be responding to the new ways people are sharing scientific information.

It also reminds me of this concept we’ve been hearing about in the news. “The post-truth era”. The idea of post-truth rose to significance during the political conversations surrounding the “truthiness” of last year’s Brexit campaign in United Kingdom and the presidential election in the United States. It was widely reported that the voting public didn’t really care if the points the politicians were making were possible or even true. Just like the amber necklaces – People cared more about how the story made them feel, and about how that picture fit into their world view.

Post-truth became such an important concept in 2016, that the oxford dictionary named it word of the year.

Today, truth feels less-relevant than ever before – and I blame the internet. Don’t get me wrong! The internet is a beautiful place – where we can create community and friendship and access the entirety of human knowledge in the palm of a hand. But, it’s not always serving in our best interest. Where there is a buck to be made, people will make it – especially in the case of the internet where anonymity is obtainable. Whether it’s fake news websites shared on Facebook, marketers trying to sell us their products, or lobbyists vying for attention for their causes, there are big, powerful groups telling really compelling stories. Some are very good at misleading us for their own benefit.

Say, for example, that I believe that little green men are flying around our planet in UFOs. I can find all kinds of sources that back up my claim. I can find blog posts and YouTube videos, meetup groups and all sorts of pseudo-science to confirm my belief in the existence of little green men in flying saucers. I might even believe that there is a government conspiracy to cover up the existence of little green men and tell myself that’s why there is no supporting body of peer-reviewed information on the topic. This assertion may seem ridiculous to you and me, but this is “truth” to a fair number of people.

To combat this kind of nonsense, fact-checking websites started popping up on the internet. Fact-checking was supposed to be the definitive source to discern truth from less reliable sources like chain-mail, urban folklore, ads, or “ambitious” politicians. It was supposed to solve the problem of people who lie in public forums.
But even the credibility of supposedly credible sources is questioned when opinion is stronger than truth. People have been taught to question their sources, but what constitutes a “trusted source” seems also to be different from person-to-person based on their culture, political leanings, and life experiences.
The scientific method, too, was designed to overcome these biases, but, unfortunately, it seems people are valuing opinion over scientific evidence, even when the evidence shared in peer-reviewed journals is overwhelming.

Let’s take for example something more practical than UFOs: the public conversation in America around climate science.

The validity of human-caused climate change has been backed by both peer-reviewed scientific study and a near-unanimous consensus in the scientific community.  A 2013 review published in ERL showed that 97% of climate scientists agree that there is a human-caused global warming trend. (That kind of consensus is unheard of!)
But, incredibly, a 2015 study from Yale showed that 30% of Americans believe something different. So, if there is near-consensus in the scientific community, why is there still a debate among the public about the validity of climate change?

This is post-truth.

I think most of us are willing to admit that the scientific community as a whole has been slow to respond to the changing media landscape (By the way, that’s why fact-checking websites became the default on the internet rather than peer-reviewed journal articles). But the scientific community can’t ignore this post-truth mentality.
If enough people believe climate change is a hoax and they’re influential enough, they might be able to stop government, industry, and nonprofit players from allocating funds to climate research. And funding is what drives science!

To remain relevant, academia must adapt and respond to the problems that the internet revolution and the post-truth era are raising. Fundamentally, the way that scientists communicate hasn’t changed much since the first scientific journals debuted in the 1600s. Scientists are taught to publish precise and detailed papers in peer-reviewed journals, and the articles are aimed at informing other scientists. Compounding the issue, papers published in these journals hard for non-scientists to understand and they’re generally only available to those people working at institutions which are rich enough to afford subscriptions. Put simply, scientists talk to other scientists and more often than not, leave the public out of the loop.

But, the internet has disrupted traditional media and it has disrupted traditional communication. Now it’s time for academia to capitalize on this disruption.
To combat a culture of misinformation, it is the responsibility of universities today to re-think the incentive structure for communication in academia. We need to create incentives for scientists that place more emphasis on public communication.

I get it… Demands on scientists’ time are aready daunting. Most of their effort is devoted to discovery, publishing in traditional journals, and acquiring funding.
But emphasizing public communication in addition to traditional peer-review methods when it comes to the hiring and promoting of scientists could have a major impact for universities – especially with regard to improving reputation and increasing overall funding. Of course, the peer-review process will continue to be an essential part of the equation. But, by incentivizing scientists to share their findings with the general public, we might just find that the impact is as great or even greater than the communication revolution that is already occurring in other industries today.

So, assuming scientists see the opportunity, feel the responsibility, and are appropriately incentivized, how can we support them as they begin their communication with the public?

To bridge the gap between scientists and the relatively new ways that people are getting information via the internet, universities are employing professional communicators – like me. Most universities have communication departments that are aimed – in part – at translating science to the masses. But I’ll never be able to tell your story better than you can tell it yourself. As a professional, I can support you by shaping massaging, building communities, and making beautiful visuals to help you tell your story better. But the gist and the power will always come directly from the source of the message. There is no better spokesperson for your work than you.

I like to remind scientists 3 things as they begin communicating with the public:

First, Be Accessible. If you are serious about your research making real-world impact, communicating about your work beyond your network of potential collaborators is essential. Traditionally, this has meant getting your research covered in the news. But you can also start by using social media. Write a blog, talk about your work on twitter, or do an “ask me anything” on Reddit. How you choose to do it will be deeply personal, but by making your research accessible to a general public, you’re taking the first step. It takes your conclusions out of the scientific echochamber and empowers the general public to have access to your work.

Second. Be Clear. As scientists, you’re trained to focus on small details, but it is your ability to explain the overarching story of your work, and your field of science that will help you most. So, begin with the big picture — the implications of your research — rather than trying to explain your hypothesis or conclusions with precision and detail.
The goal is to get people to buy-in to you as an expert, and the kind of impact your work can have.

With this in mind, you’ll want to share your message in a way that your audience can understand. Use plain English, and frame your messages in a way that is both personal and real to your audience. Think about who you are speaking to, and use language, concepts, and analogies they can understand, and most importantly, relate it back to why your work will benefit them. I’m not suggesting you dumb your science down. The public is full of really smart people. But remember, the goal isn’t simply to get more people to understand what you do. The goal is also to get people to recognize the implications of your research, for themselves and for society.

Third, be honest. Don’t succumb to post-truth! The post-truth era will be hard on academia, but that doesn’t mean we should abandon the scientific method. It’s an enduring foundation. But just because you’re right doesn’t mean anyone will listen.

As scientists, you’ll get something out of all this, too. Communicating outside of your scientific area will give you perspective that enables you to understand where your research fits into the wider-world. Being a thought-leader on your topic will enable you to guide the public conversation and shape the public understanding of your field. And from a financial perspective, this will support a more favorable funding environment for your wider research area. Remember, funders give money to fix issues that they understand and funders give money to fix issues people are talking about.

There are quite a few scientists today who have already put these pieces together and are pushing their research forward through public communication. Let me share two of them with you:

Locally, I enjoy following scientists here at KAUST on social media. One of them, Susann Diercks, is a young, up and coming scientist who goes by the name scientificdiver  on instagram. There, she shares lots of pictures of her fieldwork collecting giant clams in the Red Sea. Her goal is to figure out how important the clams are to overall reef health.  She shares beautiful photos relating to the process of her work and also information of general interest about plants and animals in the sea. Her communication efforts are accessible, clear, and honest – they’re digestible to general public while still maintaining scientific credibility.  What’s more, her social media posts enable her to connect with people all around the world and her efforts are increasing attention for her work both within her field and for the general public. Sharing the stories behind her research findings makes her more credible and makes it more likely for people to discover her findings and want to support her work.

Globally, climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe is also using these principles to make a significant impact for climate research. She is aggregating her findings and research findings from others in her industry and sharing them at high-profile events and with high-impact media. She has found a balance between conducting her research and communicating about climate change with the big picture in mind. The impact is that she been able to use data and information to dispel myths circulating with the public about changes in the climate. She’s been covered in the New York times, she’s met with Barack Obama and Leonardo Dicaprio on the white house south lawn, and she’s got one heck of an online presence. And all of these efforts are raising the profile of climate science – for the better.

The best part is… anyone can do what Susann and Katherine are doing. This is the future of scientific communication.

The democratization of media has enabled us to communicate to wide audiences on narrow topics, but in too many cases it’s enabling harmful untruths to be perceived as facts.Today there are more voices and communication channels than ever before, and as we saw with amber necklaces, many of them are really good at distorting the truth for their own benefit. It is the responsibility of academia today to seriously consider the opportunities associated with a 2-way flow of information with the public and use proven communication techniques to get the public to believe in real-science. Cynical peddlers of pseudoscience have effectively packaged their messages in neat, believable, bite-sized formats that the public is hungry for.

If real-science is to prevail, we must adapt.

The post Communicating Science in the Post-Truth Era | TEDxKAUST first appeared on Claire's Ale.

Why to go

Mada’in Saleh, which is more accurately called Hegra, is the southern-most settlement of the ancient (1st Century CE) Nabatean people. You may already be familiar with Petra in Jordan – this was built by the same people. These settlements are well known for their interesting architecture: They built tombs with beautiful and massive facades cut into the rock. Mada’in Saleh is one of only two UNESCO World Heritage sites in Saudi Arabia.

Al Ula is the closest city to Mada’in Saleh. It’s 20 km south of the site, and has an interesting history in it’s own right. Make a point to check out the mud-brick houses!

Get excited

Here are a few photos from our time there:

Mada’in Saleh Entrance

Mada’in Saleh Tomb Facade

Another tomb

Dune driving

Al Ula Mud Brick Houses

Mada’in Saleh Hotel – in Al Ula

The post Visiting Mada’in Saleh and Al Ula, Saudi Arabia first appeared on Claire's Ale.

This is the last of a three part series: Part 1 covering the time before the move, Part 2 covering moving day, Part 3 covering the first few weeks at KAUST.

I’d love your input on my guide. What have I missed? What did I get wrong? Feel free to add your ideas in the comments below.

Unpacking. Image from ianivarieanna on Flickr

After you arrive at KAUST

Things and Stuff

When you first arrive at Kaust, you’ll probably only have a few suitcases of stuff until your air/sea shipment arrives. Our air shipment arrived 4 weeks to the day from the day they picked our stuff up in England. We’ve been here for 6 weeks now and there is no word on when we will receive our sea freight. It will come inshallah.

Here are a few places to get things in your first few weeks here:

On the compound:

• Big Tamimi is the main supermarket here at KAUST. This store is easy to get to, does free delivery of non-perishable items, and has loads of items that will help you settle into your first few days and weeks in the Kingdom. Besides groceries, this is a great place to buy simple kitchen and bathroom wares, laundry supplies, cleaning supplies like mops and brooms, electrical appliances, and adaptors (You’ll need european plugs). We did a big shop here in our first 24 hours which was an excellent way to get all of our immediate needs met. Tamimi also has notebooks and pens for your first day in class or at work.
• The gift shop in the souk area of KAUST has lots of decorative items for your home including rugs, lighting, mirrors, and more. It’s all very middle-eastern in style and some of it is quite high quality.
• Banaweer bike shop also in the souk area has bikes for sale and rent. I really recommend bike as the best way to get around here at KAUST! They also sell scooters there and bike supplies as well.

Off the compound

Visit the Saco World Website

• Saco World – we always see other westerners in this store. It has loads of household items ranging from furniture to light bulbs. There is stuff for your kitchen, office, bedroom, bathroom, garden, etc to make it nice and livable. Pool floats, plastic storage bins, hoses, blenders, etc… you name it!
• Ikea – This store has everything you could need to settle in. It’s pretty cheap in terms of cost and quality, but it’s a great start at least.

Getting Things Done

Things work a bit differently in Saudi than in other places I’ve lived. Expect that you will need to have 4 phone calls and 2 trips to an office before you get clarity sometimes. The best way to deal with this is simply to relax and take it all in stride. Getting mad definitely does not help the situation!

Here are a few of the services I needed in my first few days and weeks:

• 959 – Once you arrive, you can dial 959 from your home phone to reach a receptionist which can help to redirect you to different contacts across KAUST, log tickets for maintenance, or answer general inquiries about KAUST.
• Emergency contact – Okay, I didn’t need this, but it’s good to have on hand! On a campus phone dial 911 in an emergency. For any other 0n-campus emergency dial 012 808 0 911. In the event that you are off campus and have an emergency (detained? car accident?) dial 05 44 70 1111 for help from KAUST.
• HR – once you get to KAUST and get your new home, you will probably be directed to go to HR in building 16 on campus. If your house is not acceptable or there are any problems upon your arrival, contact your HR representative for assistance.
• Taxi – We had the luxury of having a car to borrow during our first week here. You may want to hire a taxi for short journeys in your first few days. Here is more info about Taxis (website only accessible on compound).
• Bus – There is also a bus to get around. I have been borrowing a bike so haven’t yet used the bus, but many people do. Here is more info about buses (website only accessible on compound).
• Opening a bank account – The people at Samba bank are very helpful! You must wait until you have your Iqama (longer-term employment visa) to open an account at Samba. Once you have this, go to the bank and they will set you up with an account. Note: a non-Kaust-employed spouse cannot have access to the account until s/he has an Iqama as well. Additionally, the Samba bank cards are not set up for online shopping, so I recommend that you keep an account open in your home country as well!
• Phones – you will need to contact IT to get your home phone set up. Here is the process (website only available on compound).
• Gardening– Your front garden will be tended by KAUST. Your back garden is your responsibility. Call 959 if you want to hire someone to do this for you.
• Cleaning – If you want a cleaning crew to come to your house when you first arrive or on a regular basis call 959 on your home phone to request a crew.
• Dry Cleaning and Ironing can be done at the big Tamimi supermarket (more info about Tamimi above).
• Medical – When you arrive you will be able to sign up for health insurance. There are excellent medical and dental facilities on campus including a pharmacy. When it’s time for your first appointment, go a few minutes early and be sure to bring the bupa certificate which you can print out from your bupa login area on the website (ask HR for your login), your passport and/or Iqama, and your KAUST ID. You can call the health center to book an appointment or get more info at 808 0940. Learn more about KAUST Health.
• Mailbox – You can set up a PO Box at the mail office in Discovery Square. The primary family member who works at KAUST may need to be present.

The post Beginner’s Guide to Moving to KAUST – Part 3 first appeared on Claire's Ale.

This is a three part series: Part 1 covering the time before the move, Part 2 covering moving day(s), and Part 3 covering the first few weeks at KAUST.

I’d love your input on my guide. What have I missed? What did I get wrong? Feel free to add your ideas in the comments below.

Image Courtesy Yousef Raffah on Flickr

Moving Day

Congrats! It’s time to move! Here are a few of our lessons learned for the time between when the movers come to take your stuff away and arriving at KAUST on your first day in the Kingdom.

Things and Stuff

It’s important to be ready for the movers. You’ll want to know ahead of time where every thing in your house is going, what you’ll need with you, and what can get to you in a few weeks time.

• Be organized. Pick spaces in your house where you place the stuff that’s getting to Saudi via different methods (luggage, air freight, sea freight). Our guest room was for the stuff coming with us on the plane, the living room for the air freight and the kitchen for the sea freight. This helped the movers and it helped us.
• Pack wisely. You’ll be amazed about the decisions you’ve made about stuff once you get here. Our air shipment arrived the other day and we had packed hoodies and sweatpants in air shipment, but not the dog’s favorite toy. We’re desperate for the toy, and the hoodies have gone into deep storage! Here are a few items we couldn’t have lived without/wish we had brought on the plane with us: computers, router, chargers and wires, unlocked cell phones, bathing suits, water bottles, backpack, sandals, camera. Update Oct 2013: Also, keep in mind that your shipment will not be sent until you are issued an iqama (residence permit), so it will be awhile before you see your stuff again – plan for this!
• Bring several months of prescriptions with you on the plane… just to be on the safe side.
• This one is important: Don’t put your passport in your air or sea shipment!!
• Women: it’s best to travel in an abaya. If you already have one, be sure to bring it in your hand luggage. It may make it easier to get through immigration.
• Pack a few snacks for the airplane. You’ll probably want a snack between the time you land and the time you make it to a place with food (your first stop once you get on campus is your new house – no food there!).
• Pack some tissue in your hand luggage. You might not have toilet paper in the airport or at your house.
• Your new house should have new sheets on the beds and utensils in the kitchen, so once you get there you can take a nap and order food to be delivered (Here’s the food delivery website). The KAUST tap water is safe to drink.
• UPDATE October 2013: Pack the maximum number of bags allowed by the airline on your flight with you. This way you have more when you arrive. Bonus points if you distribute each persons’ clothes among all your bags in case one (or more) gets delayed en-route.

What should I be doing?

Packing, inventorying, and sorting! But besides that:

• Be good to your movers and they will be good to your stuff! Offer them soft drinks and pizza, for instance.
• Make time to see your closest friends or family the night before your move.
• Make sure to close out all your final bills in your home country. It’s easier to do that while you’re still there.
• Take a tour of your town before you go!
• At the airport and in customs: Women will probably find it simpler if they don’t speak to the airline reps/customs officials unless they speak to you first.
• Once you reach your house: Inspect your house before signing anything. You need to be comfortable with your house before you accept it.

What to expect when you get off the plane

If you haven’t had the chance to visit KAUST before you move here, it may be hard to know what to expect upon your arrival. I’m sure there are variations for every move depending on a lot of factors (including job grade), but here’s how it happened for us.

When we got off the plane, we were greeted by two nice men. One was from KAUST and the other was a cab driver. The man from KAUST instructed us to go to our house then report to our move coordinator in building 16 (the administration building). We then got in the cab and drove an hour north to KAUST.

Once going through KAUST security, we were escorted to our house where several reps from the housing office met us. They gave us a bunch of welcome paperwork with information about busses, facilities and amenities etc. They also showed us around our new home and had us sign some paperwork.

When they left, we then had time to take a nap which was such a bonus. And, as I said before, there were even new sheets and towels on the bed when we got here! We then walked up to building 16, talked to HR, and grabbed some food.

I had feared the first day’s unknowns before we arrived, but now that I look back, it was all really relaxed and easy!

Are you moving to KAUST? What are the unknowns for you? I’m happy to help shed some light if I can!

The post Beginners Guide to Moving to KAUST – Part 2 first appeared on Claire's Ale.

This will be a three part series: Part 1 covering the time before the move, Part 2 covering moving day, Part 3 covering the first few weeks at KAUST.

I’d love your input on my guide. What have I missed? What did I get wrong? Feel free to add your ideas in the comments below.

Before Your Move

Things and Stuff

Now is the time to be getting rid of stuff you won’t need and buying things that you may struggle to get in Saudi Arabia. There are plenty of shops in Jeddah where you can buy house items, but as with moving to any new country, you might not necessarily find all of the items you’re expecting.  If you’re picky, or have specific things you know you’ll want while you’re in Saudi, I suggest shipping things from home in your shipping allowance which will arrive about 3 months after you do. (UPDATE: Just a heads up that students do not receive a shipping allowance).

There is a Fedex here on campus, but it’s difficult to get many online shops to ship to the Kingdom or they have very high shipping prices.

Here are a few things that I bought before we moved and I’m so glad I did:

• A nice pair of polarized sunglasses
• Several bathing suits – including a one-piece
• Water shoes – the beach is a bit rocky
• Clothes that are covering but light weight (for women, mostly) – Abayas are not required on the compound (as they are in public areas in the Kingdom), though many women do wear them. Women who choose not to wear the abaya will likely feel most comfortable in long sleeves and trousers on campus for cultural reasons, but the heat here can be intense. Prepare for this reality before you move.
• A bike! There is a shop to buy them here, but the choices are limited. Biking is one of the best ways to get around the compound.
• A water bottle
• Computer equipment, including a wireless router
• Pet supplies if applicable – like toys, baggies, bedding, and any special treats. These are all hard to find here.

Update: Other recommended items from some of my KAUST friends include:

• Bike gear: Front and back bike lights, a helmet, and a bike lock. Lights and helmets are mandatory at KAUST.
• Cash. Get some Saudi Riyals in your home country so you have money when you get here. It may take a few days for your bank account to get set up, and a few weeks before you get your first paycheck. The bank on campus is Samba Bank.  In some places, it can take quite awhile to order Riyals (one person said they needed to order it 6 weeks in advance in their home country!)
• If you’re from the US, don’t plan to bring a lot of electrical items. You’ll need a converter to convert from 110v to 220v which is annoying. If you don’t do this, your item will go bust… and possibly burn down your house.
• Holiday decorations
• Plug converters. Sometimes you can find these at the campus supermarket, sometimes not. We have euro-2-prong plugs in the houses here. Most of the appliances are sold with UK-3-prong plugs so you need some converters for that… and some that converts your home items to the euro. Pack one or two with you on the plane and a bunch more in your shipment.

What should I be doing?

One of my main problems with moving to Saudi was that I didn’t really know what I was supposed to be doing at each step of the way. I always felt like I was missing something or that I should be doing more to prepare. Here are a few of my tips for staying ahead of the game:

• Ask questions. The main thing in the weeks leading up to you move is to ensure that you’re on top of everything with your move coordinator. If you don’t understand some part of the process, ask.
• Go to the doctor to get immunizations for Saudi. They’re not fun, but neither is getting sick. While you’re there, get copies of all of your medical records – you never know when they might come in handy.
• Learn about Saudi. Start seeking out news about Saudi, and reading books about the region.
• Understand the lack of information online: one thing I didn’t realize before we got here is that there are a LOT of other resources about KAUST online that you can’t access from off-campus. So, don’t worry if you don’t know much about the particulars of living at KAUST right now. Once you’re on the network, finding that information will get a lot easier (see here for a starting place).
• Unlock your cell phone – so you can switch out the sim for a local one.
• Scan and save or print everything important! You’ll need them once you get to saudi. I’m talking: passport, visa, marriage certificate, birth certificate, driver’s licence, highschool and university diplomas, cv, passport photo, etc. In addition to scanning a passport photo, go ahead and make 20 or so copies.
• Plan a going away party with all your friends and family – it’s so hard to say goodbye, but it really helps to get to see everyone you know and love before you go. Bonus points if you can get them to take all your stuff you don’t need at the party!

Dealing Emotionally

Moving is stressful. Moving internationally is VERY stressful. Moving internationally where you don’t speak the language or understand the customs is UNBELIEVABLY stressful.

While I’m not exactly a great example of someone who handles stress well, here are a few things I learned about dealing with the stress of moving here:

• Role with the punches. We found there to be a pretty severe lack of information from KAUST about what to expect once we got here. Just role with it. And, if your struggling to find information you need, ask me!
• Take one day at a time. A few hours of packing and planning every day will help the transition be smooth and relatively painless.
• Things tend to have a way of working out. Our friends Joe and Anita Branin told us that on our first night here. So very true.
• Make lists. When you move you will have several piles of stuff: Stuff that’s going on the plane with you, stuff that’s going via air freight, stuff that’s going via sea freight, stuff that’s going into storage, and stuff that you’re giving away/selling/donating/recycling/trashing etc. This get’s to be a bit of a logistical nightmare… keep lists and be organized!

Rounding it all up

Moving can be stressful. You can manage that stress by being organized, inquisitive, and proactive in your approach to your move. I hope that the above tips will help you to make the most of your time and efforts before you move here!

I’d love your input on my guide. What have I missed? What did I get wrong? Feel free to add your ideas in the comments below.

The post Beginner’s Guide to Moving to KAUST – Part 1 first appeared on Claire's Ale.