Job Discussion Forums

BajaLaJaula · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 267

I agree.... this all goes back to the servant master type of mentality as well....I had a student snapping his fingers at me ONCE...to let me know that he required my attention immediately. I promptly informed him that this was inappropriate and that it was highly disrespectful only done to get an animals attention..never to be used for a human.
His response...he did not realize that it was disrespectful.
This is IMO a universal rule that crosses cultural differences.....It is disrespectful to snap ones fingers at anyone regardless of culture. It is OK for Saudis...again .....IMO....because they treat non-Saudi's, generally, as servants....so it is fine in their minds.
You have to know this going in......and just deal with it.....this is how their culture works....expats....(even teachers)....are considered workers or servants and will be treated accordingly.
To his credit, he did not snap his fingers at me again.....just called TEACHER TEACHER TEACHER, repeatedly until I came over to help.

007 · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 5:07 pm Post subject:

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

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 5:56 pm Post subject:

007 · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 6:29 pm Post subject:

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

tannhauser · Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 43 Location: Middle East

There was one gentleman who had an arrangement where the student who was his "friend" would shuttle him around all over town for simple shopping trips and even weekend dashes to Khobar. What was interesting was that the gentleman in question said these trips were all in aid of his friend's English practice. It was of course a load of old cobblers - the cheapskate just wanted a free ride which coming from an aging old bugger who counted all the pennies is fairly normal in these parts. Anyway, the Saudi was under the impression that the gentleman was his friend and that apart from English practice there was a modicum of mutual respect. Far from it! When scrooge left town he didn't even drop this Saudi guy a line or even thank him for the 10 pm trips to Farm stores.

Unreal.

If there's one thing for sure, getting all pally with a TEFLer has its risks - particularly if you're another one of these naive Saudis who takes a fork-tongued grandfather-type at face value.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

If the guy was from Jubail I would probably know him!

The car thing is interesting. If you don't have a car the Saudi pities you as some kind of cursed creature who needs nurturing. And the true meanness of many Saudi Teflers is inconceivable to the Saudis (or indeed to nearly everybody else).

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The ones who address me as "Teacher, teacher' are addressed by me as 'Boy'. They soon learn to call me Mr Scot47.

It is acceptable in Arabic to say,"Ustaz' as a term of address - not in English.

Van Norden · Joined: 23 Oct 2004 Posts: 409

I really couldn't care less what they call me or what they think of me here. Just keep depositing large sums of cash into my bank account, that's all I ask of this place.

007 · Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 12:22 pm Post subject:

The_Prodiigy · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 252

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

007 · Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 4:14 pm Post subject:

Queen of Sheba · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 397

The secret isn�t anything other than the obvious...be respectful, be trustworthy, be cautious with your stereotypes, words and judgmental opinions, and don�t expect to make immediate and lasting friendships over the internet. In person is always better, and easier, and Saudis have stronger Arabic skills and family ties than other Arabs such as the Egyptians, in my humble opinion, so they are less likely to be become close to someone over the internet, or in person, and in particular with someone who isn�t Arab or Muslim.

I have made Saudi friends both inside and outside of Saudi Arabia, and even over the internet, and I am neither Saudi nor Arab. I have been invited by women to dinner, coffee, and weddings by Saudis looking to make friends, some of whom I met online while in Saudi Arabia! I think people who have had such harsh views of Saudis should leave and make their fulus elsewhere. Life is what you make of it, and with a bad attitude and perpetuated stereotypes and misperceptions, you will only attract negative experiences. Besides, I haven�t seen many Americans just reaching out innocently to Arabs or Saudis lately, nor have I seen Arabs or Saudis be treated with great warmth and a welcome, open and loving attitude in any atmosphere, so why should we expect anything other than mistrust until we make the effort and demonstrate that we can be trusted? Sorry, but all this drivel about not being able to make friends with Saudis sounds like a lot of double standards and unrealistic expectations of Saudis placed by arrogant Westerners and their lackies to to me.