Algeria

[lippy 918]

Last week I got an email from a guy who heads up the maintenance team for my company in MENA (Middle-East North Africa). He says he might have a job for me in Algeria.

Right now, assuming my boss will release me from my current position, my two prospects for new work within the company are a support job in Ft. Worth, and a field job in Algeria. The support job would be challenging, but consists of 5 days a week in the office behind a computer. The Algeria job would be rotational field work (I'm a field tech and that's where I feel most comfortable); 6 weeks in, and 4 weeks to do whatever the hell I want.

I haven't been offered the support job yet, but I think my chances are pretty good to be getting a call in the next two weeks.

I've got a lot of angles to consider here and this isn't a decision I'm planning on making lightly, but I'm wondering if anybody has any knowledge of Algeria.

Google is my friend and I've been reading up, but has anybody visited/worked there that can provide some first-hand accounts?

I got nuthin

[Andy9o8 2]

Quote

a support job in Ft. Worth, and a field job in Algeria.

I'd avoid the one with stifling-hot summers and hostile natives who can barely speak understandable English. So I really don't know what to tell you.

[Gawain 0]

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/AG.html

Algeria isn't super friendly to the west (politically speaking). Also (assuming you work in the energy sector), many ex-patriots working in Africa and the middle-east are sequestered to western "compounds" with limited movement allowed in the local communities. Do a check with that.

Also, the State Department issued a revised warning in March:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_929.html

That said, I think I'd still be enticed to go to Algeria just for the experience. Learn some French and read up thoroughly on local customs (looking at a woman the wrong way could start some sh*t, crossing your legs-exposing the sole of your shoe, etc), and definitely arm yourself.

Other items of note, the Algerian internet domain country code is ".dz".

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[skydiverbry 0]

Algeria...isn't that in the southwest United States???

Bry

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Growing old is mandatory.Growing up is optional!!

D.S.#13(Dudeist Skdiver)

[lippy 918]

The job would involve spending my time in country in a place called Hassi Messaoud. From my limited understanding, the city was built with the sole purpose of housing the oil industry. Security is tight there.

I'm not sure how much of it is 'city' and how much is 'camp'. The longest stint I've done in a camp was 4 weeks and that drove me just about batshit crazy.

I got nuthin