Expat Community > Algeria

coulis
Joined 2008
Posts: 9

2008 possible return to Algeria

16 years ago

I stumbled upon this forum by chance and am glad to have found it! I moved to Algeria in 2001 and found the experience to be an unhappy one. I felt like a prisioner as I was told not to go out because if anyone saw me they would call the terrorists to come get me...at the time blond hair and blues stood out like a sore thumb.
I also found the family life unbearable. With people constantly crowding you (and we had our own apartment) there was little chance of privacy and small things like getting dressed were actually a challenge.
Unfortunatly at the time, most places were still not safe to visit and I only managed to see Cherchel, Tipaza and Anaba over a three year time period.
Because of my experiences there, I have refused to return to Algeria. My spouse has been trying hard recently to get me to return but I am hesitant. I am told that Algiers has greatly improved and there are far more foreigners and amenities than before.

Is this true? How does one get in touch with the English speaking community there? At the time that I was there my embassy did not offer services or cultural events to help expats meet. Even at the English schools at the time, the classes were taught by English speaking Algerians.

I was so lonely and so unhappy and just really have no interest in going through that again.

Any input?

William Russell

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