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nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Thanks for your perspectives, guys. Apparently, it seems that the friendliness of Saudis may have to do with where one lives. I have no problems with invites from Saudi women, but several rather congenial male friends of mine report that such hospitality is scarce where they are, which is in more conservative parts of the country.

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

I tossed this subject out to my students to get their input and it actually had them speaking more English than usual. Thanks, everyone, for another trick in my bag. The general agreement was that I will not be renting a room from a Saudi family no matter how big the home is and how many rooms are unused. On the subject of sharing a home with a single Saudi male, the class was much more divided which actually made for more lively discussions. It's probably a moot point anyway as so many of them smoke like chimneys and there's no way I'm living with a smoker.

As to being invited to social functions, wouldn't I be out of my mind to not take advantage of this? My students have repeatedly told me that, if I'm nice to people, I will get plenty of invitations to both outdoor and indoor events. I've seen some informal 4WD competitions on YouTube that I'd love to go to. To be in a foreign culture and not take advantage of opportunities to learn about it strikes me as no different than the Saudis who never leave the dorms other than to smoke.

DirtGuy

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

VS,

I've already spoken with an employee of KAU who has a 3 bedroom flat within walking distance to the school. He lives by himself. I do understand what you are saying and that is something I hadn't thought of. A lot of the guys in my classes are quite friendly and well-mannered but immature. I can only imagine their housekeeping skills and other aspects of their lifestyle were they to live on their own.

Thanks for the heads up.

DirtGuy

2buckets · Joined: 14 Dec 2010 Posts: 515 Location: Middle East

The problem with accepting invitations from your students is that they now feel you are indebted to them and they want "help" with grades, attendance etc. They may also ask for sideeki and porn, which of course all Westerners, (in their mind) have.

I only accepted invites from former students.

At one of these "goat grabs" I was sitting next to some old hand licking Bedouin with one front tooth who kept filling his fist with goat/rice and shoving it into my mouth. This is a Bedouin custom, to feed the guest to your right. After a couple of these feeding sessions, I politely declined invitations.

By all means go to a couple, and decide for yourself. It's a unique Saudi experience like a beheading that everyone should take the opportunity to attand at least once.

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

It's Scary! · Joined: 17 Apr 2011 Posts: 823

2buckets:

Did you ever work the Peace Sentinel program?

It's just that I think you and I have too similar of a Saudi background!

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

2buckets,

This is exactly how it was in Taiwan. You had to be so careful of what you accepted from your students, or from anyone for that matter, as they then had the idea that now you "owe" them something.

Thanks for the advice and I'm sure a lot of others will also appreciate it.

DirtGuy

2buckets · Joined: 14 Dec 2010 Posts: 515 Location: Middle East

It's Scary,

No, didn't work for the Peace Sentinel program.

It was another aircraft company.