Leigh in Azerbaijan

I was contacted yesterday (Sunday) by the British International School of Jedda, Saudi Arabia, on the Red Sea, to consider interviewing for a position in the primary school. Of course it was a compliment to be asked. I was sent some information and salary package and then spent some time ’surfing’ to get an idea of life in Saudi Arabia:

• Women aren’t allowed to drive,
• outside of the compounds expatriate women must wear neck to toe black coats like the rest of the women in that country,
• headscarves aren’t compulsory for non-Moslems but some religious police demand it anyway,
• Shariah Law governs the country,
• there are public cutting off of hands and beheadings
• travel certificates must be obtained if you wish to travel more than 10 miles from your region.

It sounds like a hard place to live in . I have enough trouble being in a church that doesn’t ordain women (The Lutheran Church of Australia) so I think I would struggle being in such a country, despite an impressive salary. You guessed it I declined the interview.

I’m now waiting ’til Thursday to see if there’s a job for me in Baku at the Azerbaijan International School. It sounds like a very good school and I’m hearing more and more positive things about Azerbaijan. I’m told that the language is 80% the same as Turkish. Still, if that doesn’t happen I’ll get to spend more time with my grandchild, named Stig by father Graham, until the sex is known.