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What should/can I take?

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KermitUK
  11/17/2015 15:42 EST

Hi,

Looks like I'll be off subject to medical but would like to know what people would recommend to take or leave. e.g deodorants, mobiles, mp3 players, books clothes. Also I am T2 diabetic which is controlled by tablets and although I get BUPA cover I imagine they wont cover existing conditions and wonder how I get on acquiring medication?

Any help appreciated!

Chris

Arnobi
  11/17/2015 19:21 EST

I would bring enough meds for a couple of months, while you set up your medical arrangements. Your employer will help you with that, but it may take a few days, so it's best to ask about it the day you arrive. There are many good docs here and almost all have offices in hospitals, which is very convenient. Ask your doc for a summary of your medical problems (if any!)
If female, you'll want, for starters, a long (ankle-length) skirt or two and long sleeved shirts. You may occasionally need to wear a scarf, especially in Ramadan, the month of fasting. You won't need one at the airport.

If you have trouble fitting shoes you might bring a couple of pairs, but really you will most likely find what you need, in terms of clothing, in Jeddah. There's terrific shopping, but you do have to keep in mind that most western goods are more expensive here than back home.
The variety of goods from all over the world is amazing.
Women do wear abayas when out in the city. These are cloaks of lightweight fabric, almost always black, which you wear over your other clothing. Most likely, the people who meet you at the airport will bring you bring you an abaya and scarf to get you started. If not, ask them to get you a starter outfit on the way to your housing.
Everybody is on the Internet at home, work, and in shopping areas. Everybody has a cell phone. You can set up a cell phone contract right at the airport, if you like, or ask your greeter to take you to a good place to do it on the way to your housing.
Now, if you're an avid reader and prefer printed material to online reading, you could bring something to read. There are four or five fairly good bookstores in Jeddah, but they mostly have school books and supplies. They do carry some light reading as well, and lots of materials for children. However, you can probably download whatever you want to read.
It IS another world, in a way, but people are friendly, polite, and hospitable.
You will meet people from everywhere, and develop a new world view.
I'm American, from Buffalo, NY, and I've been here for more than twenty years. I'll be happy to answer any questions you have. You can contact me at [email protected]. I hope you enjoy your time in Jeddah!

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KermitUK
  11/18/2015 16:00 EST

Many thanks for that, I'm heading for Dhahran. I'm lucky in a sense being male I guess getting less hassle. I guess they'll be a lot of things I wish I took, its more the stuff or products from UK that are hard to get. I'll be taking a LOT of books, also I'm a Catholic and whilst I'm aware that you cannot practice any other faith than Islam I looked at the UK gov site which said they would allow you to take one bible in but only for personal use so to speak. Does anyone have any experience of being Catholic out there? I've no intention of looking for converts by the way

Nolene
  11/19/2015 01:04 EST

There is a catholic church in Bahrain.

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