Despite aspiring to be a modern state in many respects, the Saudi nation still has one of the most traditional societies worldwide. It is governed by firm religious beliefs, rules and traditions, and expats have to get used to that as there is no way around it.
The traditions and attitudes of local society have been shaped by Islam as well as Bedouin culture. Thus, expatriates will discover that family bonds are still much stronger than in many other cultures, to an extent that they permeate all aspects of life, even in the business world.
To correct everyone’s misconceptions, fellow Arabian inhabitant Tom Ren '15 has a few things to say. First of all, “there are so many cats, it’s like a cat paradise!” So yes, although the land is barren, the desert and surrounding urban area manage to support a large feline community.
One of the best things about Saudi, however, is not the abundance of cats but the food. To say that “shawarmas are nice” is an understatement. Authentic shawarmas—a Middle Eastern sandwich wrap made with succulent strips of roast chicken, garlic sauce, pita bread, strips of lettuce and French fries, if they suit your desire—are delicious and, unfortunately, very hard to find anywhere else in the world besides the Middle East. As far as desserts go, Uum Ali, a creamy, nutty pudding that can only be described as heavenly, is a desert lover’s dream come true—Mr. Proctor can attest to this. Perfectly sweet and satisfying in a way only Arab deserts can be, Uum Ali is a must-try for everyone unless you are allergic to nuts.
Arabian culture itself is also very rich, especially the night culture. Most people head out to the mall around 7 pm, depending on the prayer schedules of course. Stores close periodically during the day to allow time for shop attendees to find the closest mosque. Closing at 11 pm, the malls allow four hours of shopping.
The reason for such night culture is due to the common desire to avoid the burning intensity of the sun, especially during the summer (most of the year). With the temperature easily hitting 115 degrees Fahrenheit during summer, it is possible to feel the sun scorching your skin, so it is no wonder that people would rather stay inside their highly air-conditioned houses during the day than venture outside. Yet, although this country is such a dry, “desolate” place according to Matt Kafker '15, we still manage to produce enough water to export thanks to an abundance of de-salination plants.
The absolute best—and often overlooked—aspect of Saudi, however, is not the fact that we can somehow produce excess water but instead the country’s beauty. No one says it better than Mr. Proctor: “It’s kinda a beauty out there.” From gazing into the blue-green depths of the gulf to watching the sunset sink into the dunes of the Empty Quarter, it is easy to feel “amazed.”
There is no doubt Saudi Arabia is an intriguing country. While some people, like Tori Forelli '14, may wonder if Aladdin takes place there (it doesn’t), and while the “fascinating politics” may entice others, like Elizah Stein '14, it is easy to see that Saudi Arabia is a mystery to many people. Saudi is a pretty different country, in fact, “It’s kinda an odd place” (Mr. Proctor). That is what makes the country so lovable. Between falling in love with the world’s largest camel market located in Riyadh, the copious amount of energy used to light up desert roads at night, and a sky that never turns fully dark due to light pollution, I have found myself unable to part with the country itself. I hope you will come to understand this strange Kingdom as well.
Women in the Kingdom, a 2008 Human Rights Watch report maintains, are systematically treated as perpetual minors through a system instituted by the state that infringes on their basic human rights.
In other words, every adult Saudi woman, regardless of her economic or social status, must obtain permission from her male guardian to work, travel, study, seek medical treatment or marry. She is also deprived of making the most trivial decisions on behalf of her children. This system is supported by the imposition of complete sex segregation, which prevents women from participating meaningfully in public life.
Sex segregation is strictly monitored by the government's Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (the religious police) in all workplaces with the exception of hospitals. Unlawful mixing between sexes leads to the arrest of the violators and criminal charges. The brutality of the members of this commission and the unequal punishments men and women receive when committing the same 'crime of mixing' was best described by the Saudi writer Samar Al Muqren in her novel "Ni'saa al Munkar - Women of the Abominable," published in 2008, which she wrote based on her work as a journalist.
The traditions and attitudes of local society have been shaped by Islam as well as Bedouin culture. Thus, expatriates will discover that family bonds are still much stronger than in many other cultures, to an extent that they permeate all aspects of life, even in the business world.
To correct everyone’s misconceptions, fellow Arabian inhabitant Tom Ren '15 has a few things to say. First of all, “there are so many cats, it’s like a cat paradise!” So yes, although the land is barren, the desert and surrounding urban area manage to support a large feline community.
One of the best things about Saudi, however, is not the abundance of cats but the food. To say that “shawarmas are nice” is an understatement. Authentic shawarmas—a Middle Eastern sandwich wrap made with succulent strips of roast chicken, garlic sauce, pita bread, strips of lettuce and French fries, if they suit your desire—are delicious and, unfortunately, very hard to find anywhere else in the world besides the Middle East. As far as desserts go, Uum Ali, a creamy, nutty pudding that can only be described as heavenly, is a desert lover’s dream come true—Mr. Proctor can attest to this. Perfectly sweet and satisfying in a way only Arab deserts can be, Uum Ali is a must-try for everyone unless you are allergic to nuts.
Arabian culture itself is also very rich, especially the night culture. Most people head out to the mall around 7 pm, depending on the prayer schedules of course. Stores close periodically during the day to allow time for shop attendees to find the closest mosque. Closing at 11 pm, the malls allow four hours of shopping.
The reason for such night culture is due to the common desire to avoid the burning intensity of the sun, especially during the summer (most of the year). With the temperature easily hitting 115 degrees Fahrenheit during summer, it is possible to feel the sun scorching your skin, so it is no wonder that people would rather stay inside their highly air-conditioned houses during the day than venture outside. Yet, although this country is such a dry, “desolate” place according to Matt Kafker '15, we still manage to produce enough water to export thanks to an abundance of de-salination plants.
The absolute best—and often overlooked—aspect of Saudi, however, is not the fact that we can somehow produce excess water but instead the country’s beauty. No one says it better than Mr. Proctor: “It’s kinda a beauty out there.” From gazing into the blue-green depths of the gulf to watching the sunset sink into the dunes of the Empty Quarter, it is easy to feel “amazed.”
There is no doubt Saudi Arabia is an intriguing country. While some people, like Tori Forelli '14, may wonder if Aladdin takes place there (it doesn’t), and while the “fascinating politics” may entice others, like Elizah Stein '14, it is easy to see that Saudi Arabia is a mystery to many people. Saudi is a pretty different country, in fact, “It’s kinda an odd place” (Mr. Proctor). That is what makes the country so lovable. Between falling in love with the world’s largest camel market located in Riyadh, the copious amount of energy used to light up desert roads at night, and a sky that never turns fully dark due to light pollution, I have found myself unable to part with the country itself. I hope you will come to understand this strange Kingdom as well.
Women in the Kingdom, a 2008 Human Rights Watch report maintains, are systematically treated as perpetual minors through a system instituted by the state that infringes on their basic human rights.
In other words, every adult Saudi woman, regardless of her economic or social status, must obtain permission from her male guardian to work, travel, study, seek medical treatment or marry. She is also deprived of making the most trivial decisions on behalf of her children. This system is supported by the imposition of complete sex segregation, which prevents women from participating meaningfully in public life.
Sex segregation is strictly monitored by the government's Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (the religious police) in all workplaces with the exception of hospitals. Unlawful mixing between sexes leads to the arrest of the violators and criminal charges. The brutality of the members of this commission and the unequal punishments men and women receive when committing the same 'crime of mixing' was best described by the Saudi writer Samar Al Muqren in her novel "Ni'saa al Munkar - Women of the Abominable," published in 2008, which she wrote based on her work as a journalist.