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hiring a driver

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myyams
  11/24/2012 19:28 EST

I can't quite put together how this works. The compound I will live on doesn't have a separate room to house a driver. So if we buy a vehicle, how do I arrange someone to come and drive me each time I want to go somewhere? I honestly don't mind the not driving part as with as many kids as I have it'll be much easier for me lol. But, I just can't see how this works? Any ideas?

kikker
  11/26/2012 03:13 EST

Which compound are you moving to. Most big Western style compounds have shopping busses as well as school busses. This might make it possible for you not to have to hire a driver. However, if you still want to hire one he will have to live off compound. Also most compounds have their own driver service, however, these are somewhat more expensive than the regular Riyadh Taxis. On the other hand if you can cope with the busses, the occasional compound taxi won't break the bank.

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myyams
  11/26/2012 11:27 EST

Hi, we'll be living in Amoudia compound in Jeddah.

Well, we have 4 kids right now and soon to have the 5th. My oldest just turned 7 a couple of days ago. I think keeping them all together on a bus safely and without losing my mind will be a challenge. I just can't imagine how I'd hold groceries, bags, and all of that with 5 little kids.

How does the driver service work on the compound? Are they always available or only during certain hours? About how much do they normally charge?

We won't have a car for some time I guess. We won't be bringing our van, and I think we probably need an SUV. I'm not sure how a Honda Odd. will hold up while traveling on rough terrain.

Also, how do I find out if Amoudia offers a school drop service for kids?

I've scoured the internet looking for info on this compound and found its website. The info is limited and not very specific.

thanks!!

Nolene
  11/26/2012 13:19 EST

Yes transportation is provided to the schools but I cannot remember if it is the schools or the compound that provide this. Housing within amoudia is old and in need of complete refurbishment with the ACs constantly breaking down.there are no play areas or facilities for children to play though there are swimming pools there are no life guards on duty and they are completely open and not fenced in. The compound is segregated into three parts, single females, single males and families. There is a very small compound shop but provides little more than the basics. There is a very good beauty shop. There are three gyms in each section but are off limits to children under 16. The gym in the family section is not segregated but does have male and female only times. The advantages of being in amoudia are that you are very nearsomeof the best shops/malls and not far from some other western compounds. The American school is about 15 minutes away. The compound does or did provide a car service but provide only small cars. There is a number you can call them on or you can actually wander over to their office to enquire the availabiility of cars. It depends on where you are goiing as to how much they charge. The compound also provides shopping buses both mornings and evenings.

latheefshan
  11/26/2012 13:49 EST

thanks for your posting
we have service for private taxi with clean car and professional drivers

it can per trip ,hour and monthly

for more information call us
0561504256

thanks

myyams
  11/26/2012 14:02 EST

thank you so much!

Can I also ask you, would I be able to buy my own furniture like from IKEA etc and ask the compound people to come get what's in there? From what I've been seeing the furniture looks it did here in the States like....20 years ago =) I just want something simple, clean, sleek, etc.

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Nolene
  11/26/2012 14:13 EST

They will not remove furniture from the accommodation because they have no storage space for it to go to and though there is nothing stopping you buying your own furniture you may find difficulties in actually getting the furniture into the compound. The compound is not actually owned by the hospital and the security is provided by amoudia management and they can be funny about allowing deliveries into the compound.

latheefshan
  11/26/2012 14:31 EST

yes ,ofcause
you can buy what you like from ikea, you can also rwquest to the compoundto take their furniture to storage as well
thank you

myyams
  11/26/2012 15:02 EST

oh goodness. Let's hope for the best.

Have you come across any pictures of the family apartments anywhere?

Have you been inside the family apartments?

Maybe if nothing else, we can live there for a while then move to some other place if we find a good place that is.

Nolene
  11/26/2012 15:34 EST

Yes I have been inside the apartments as I used to live and work there.

Arnobi
  11/26/2012 16:28 EST

You most likely will want to hire a household helper. Help is cheap and readily available. We found a wonderful Indonesian lady who stayed with us (live in) for 17 years, retiring only when our kids went back to America for college. Now we have a neighbor who comes in part time, but that's enough for the two of us. You can take helpers on the shopping bus, too, if you want to. The best way to find a good household helper is to ask your neighbors and colleagues. Helpers are almost always hired via friends and relatives.

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myyams
  11/26/2012 18:06 EST

Having a helper would be a dream come true! Unfortunately, I don't think we wil have enough room for a live-in arrangement. Maybe someone coming during the day would work and going back to her own place around the time my husband comes would bemso wonderful. I love my dearly but I have not been able to do anything but take care of them for the past many years. I have never had even a babysitter for a day besides my own husband! I would love to be able to go to a gym sometimes and do normal things like grocery shop.

Thank you for informing me of this idea. I am feeling encouraged!

myyams
  11/26/2012 18:15 EST

But Nolene said they do not hace storage facilities to take their things. I would really love to make it of my own decor. Plus I really need lots of small single beds for the kids. i plan to put the four boys in one room in small Ikea beds, the girl with me for a while then have one play room and one etra roo for sitting area. I am not sure if there is a separate room for guests or not. Anyway, I was hoping to put things I actually like in there. I can bring my own wall h angings I have now along with some other favorite things.

Nolene
  11/27/2012 00:49 EST

You can always check with the housing department when you get to the compound as to whether they will allow you have furniture removed from the apartments but when I lived and worked there they refused. As to the shopping buses, they are for employees of King Faisal and not for the staff of residents as the buses are quite small though families do take their maids etc which leaves no seats for the actual employees of the hospital and which I found to be very selfish. I suspect that you will be given one of the four bedroom apartments due to the number of children you have and the layout if I remember rightly is from the door on the right hand side is a small corridor leading to a bedroom and small bathroom on the left of the door is a dining room, going straight from the door down the corridor on the right is the kitchen and on the left is the sittingroom then on the the right is a bedroom at the end of the corridor immediately facing you is a bathroom on the left is a bedroom and on the right is the main bedroom with an ensuite bathroom (which side these rooms are on depends on which side of the building you are on). All the bedrooms are quite large. I do know that some residents do have live in Nannies etc but the hospital is not obligated to house these people so they will not make allowances such as an extra room. If you want a live in nanny then you have to provide the accommodation yourself within the confines of what you have been allocated. You will also have to notify housing re the employment of the live in help as they have to get security passes etc.

myyams
  11/27/2012 14:05 EST

Thank you so much Nolene!

So from what I gather there are:

4 bedrooms
3 bathrooms
1 dining room
1 sitting room

or is there also a separate sitting room for guests (formal living area)?

Does the kitchen have at least a small eat in area that we can use instead of the dining room?

Nolene
  11/28/2012 01:47 EST

The kitchen is a long gallery kitchen and too narrow to sit and eat in.

There is a doorway between the sitting room and dining room which does not have any doors and if I remember rightly there are no doors into the dining room or sitting room, ie open.

No separate sitting room for guest. The apartments are "western" in style. In fact if you were put in a 2 or 3 bedroom apartment then the sitting room and dining room are just one big room.

myyams
  11/28/2012 08:45 EST

Thank you again Nolene.

Someone told me they have been renovated in the past 6 years. I am not sure if that is true.

The hospital said we qualify for the 4 bedroom apartment but, we all know that goes according to availability.

Our friend who works at King Fahd qualified for a villa and they didn't have one. So they gave him two apartments on the Arabian compound, distanced from one another. That is the strangest solution. So he has two apartments, both two bedrooms each and double everything else.

Nolene
  11/28/2012 10:05 EST

I left amoudia in April 2010 and nothing had been refurbished then and my friend only just left and there had been no refurbishment so unless they have done something in the last couple of weeks then others has been no refurbishment.

Your friend is lucky as they are on the best compound in Jeddah. It's where most things happen.

myyams
  11/28/2012 13:52 EST

Oh I see..

Do you happen to know if the contracts where they pay for school will pay for online virtual schooling like through k12 Int. School or do they only pay for brick and mortar type? Im not sure if you have experience with this or maybe know someone who has homeschooled through online. K12 is accredited and I really like their curriculum.

sultanid
  12/3/2012 23:00 EST

Why don't you try to rent a villa?

I can help if you would like.

Currently I could provide a furnished two floor villa about 300m with indoor Swimming Pool and driver room, car garage and many attractive features the best thing it rents for only 120,000SR
Mobile 0533293030

lollylulu
  4/27/2017 16:35 EST

Do you have a website? It sounds like you are available or even just one or two days a week.

lollylulu
  4/27/2017 16:38 EST

My daughter lives in Jeddah, married to a man from Sudan and we would like her to hire help with her 2 small children a couple of days a week. She can't seem to find anyone. Can you direct us in terms of where to look? any help would be greatly appreciated. Life there seems very very isolated.

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