Hello all. It has been a very long time since I last posted anything, so I will try to catch up. First of all, I did manage to make it back with a new visa in January, albeit shy a few dollars for the upgrade to first class. I want to go on record as saying that, because Saudi Airlines shares a "lounge" with Korean Air in JFK airport, it is the KA lounge that is a waste of time and energy. There tends to be very little in the way of anything to eat, although plenty of dry ramen cups, and there is usually some wine and beer, but if you want food, good luck. I do enjoy the fact that I get a comfy chair for my usual 3-4 hour layover, and a very nice bathroom, but it is always a huge let down to see it.
For those of you not in the know, my birthday was Feb. 27. I turned 56 years OLD this year and was feeling my age. On the actual day of my birthday, I was informed I had to go to HR to sign some papers. When I got down there, the little old man had me sign a letter informing me I was being let go at the end of the school term because I was over 55, and therefore, too old. REALLY?!? I was already 55 when they hired me and they are just NOW figuring out I am older than 55? So, in a nutshell, I was fired on my 56th birthday for being over 55. I went back to school and just sobbed. I finally gave up the ghost and went home. My 7th grade girls had planned a surprise party for me and were crushed when I didn't show. When I went back the next day and explained I was being let go, they cried with me.
The next day, my principal told me to go back to HR and demand they give me back the signed letter. Like a take backsies....LOL When I approached the window, I was told that once it was signed, I was being processed out. I asked to speak to the supervisor and wound up waiting about an hour. I was then informed that it would require a letter from my principal explaining that they school needed me. It turns out that Saudi has a 55 and retire policy, that is usually dealt with by your supervisor writing a letter saying they can't replace you and they need to keep you. I was informed that this was part of the Saudi 2030 plan to get more Saudis jobs. I was informed that they would try to replace me with a Saudi woman. I am an American, middle school language arts teacher, who is a native speaker. Good luck with finding a Saudi to replace me. HAHA!
I then spent the next 2.5 months going all over the base and talking to everyone in charge to beg to be allowed to return the following year. It was not until about a week before I was scheduled to fly out that I was able to sign a contract to return. It was with a great deal of anticipation and excitement that I was planning to head home to Chicago in May.
What I came to find out later was that this was a HUGE mistake and it could have all been avoided. Apparently, they had wanted to fire one of the teachers, who I fondly refer to as "BSCL" or bat shit crazy lady. Rather then give her a back eval and just let her go, they decided to fire her for being "too old." When she was informed that this was why she was being let go, she quickly demanded that everyone at the school above that age be fired as well. So, with 8 teachers caught in the net, they let us all go. When the principal was able to convince them that this included almost all of the English native speakers, for an international school based on the American curriculum, she was then able to convince them to keep us all, including BSCL. So, I am back, but so is she.
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