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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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 Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:32 am Post subject: |
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| But have you had much interaction with Saudi men? |
To be honest, as a single woman, I tend to avoid Saudi men. But why on earth do you ask? |
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globalnomad2
Joined: 23 Jul 2005
Posts: 562
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:35 am Post subject: |
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| Because they are what makes KSA a terrible place. |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:42 am Post subject: |
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| Because they are what makes KSA a terrible place. |
To be honest, I have found Saudi men easier to deal with than Saudi women, whether or not they have a piece of paper from some USAnian 'school'. It's just that as a single woman you have to be rather cautious and reserved in their company. I don't imagine the situation is much different anywhere else in the Gulf. However, I've not heard my male colleagues complain of serious problems in their dealings with male Saudi students or colleagues.
But yes, segregation is one of the more unpleasant aspects of life in KSA, though really it only effects work. I do think it is unhealthy to work in a single gender environment when you are not used to this set up. I make a point of never going to women-only social gatherings, and since most foreigners socialise in mixed groups, and men outnumber women here to a considerable degree, segregation is not that big an issue outside of the work environment. |
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globalnomad2
Joined: 23 Jul 2005
Posts: 562
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:54 am Post subject: |
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| Yes. At IPA-Jeddah, however, there was no compound, so we lived on the economy, as it were. Not pleasant. Actually I don't know what was worse--living on street level or living in the Raytheon compound. The latter was full of snobby Latina and Korean housewives who thought they were Paris Hilton because they had maids and played tennis all day and made fun of my clothes. |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 9:01 am Post subject: |
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I have had several jobs in KSA, and none of them has involved compound life. While some 'expats' would not consider living anywhere other than a compound, I am happy never to have lived in one. On the rare occasions when I go to one for a social event, I am always eager to leave. I find the atmosphere in these places to be a mixture of the surreal and the plastic.
And I always find it weird to hear people say that they deliberately chose a 'Western only" compound, and to see posters advertising excursions for "Western passport holders". Whatever next? A sign saying "Alleen voor blankjes" on the gate? |
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Van Norden
Joined: 23 Oct 2004
Posts: 409
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 9:52 am Post subject: |
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| Cleopatra wrote: |
| Why is it any more bizarre or a red herring than saying that 'most people' who live in the Gulf would prefer the UAE over KSA? The Gulf (any part of it) is well down 'most people's' list of ideal destinations, so the fact that 'most people' would prefer to live in the UAE is neither here nor there. |
I wrote "bizarre" because it looked to me like you were deliberately misquoting me (you chopped off the first part of my sentence) just to make a petty and pedantic point about 'most people.' But now I think you've just forgotten the very point of this thread: ie, the OP trying to choose between Saudi and the UAE. I don't see how you can say it is "neither here nor there."
| Cleopatra wrote: |
| If you'd been following this thread properly, you'd have seen that I never denied that those famous 'most people' would indeed choose the UAE |
I never said you did deny this. |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 10:54 am Post subject: |
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| it looked to me like you were deliberately misquoting me (you chopped off the first part of my sentence) |
Sweetie pie, there is no 'rule' on this board saying that you have to quote entire sentences. Look through this thread just as one example: people quote fragments of sentences all the time. And 'misquoting' someone involves falsifying what they said, which I never did. Incidentally, if we're going to get picky about misquoting others, what would you call adding underlining to someone's words, when it was not there in the original?
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| But now I think you've just forgotten the very point of this thread: ie, the OP trying to choose between Saudi and the UAE. |
The OP left the building several pages ago, and, in case you have failed to notice, this thread has evolved into a more general discussion about the relative merits of the UAE and KSA, as perceived by people who have lived in one or both countries. I would say that it's rare to find a multi-page thread which does not deviate somewhat from its 'very point' and again, I don't see how you have the right to dictate what people should or should not discuss on a thread. Lighten up a tad. |
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sheikh radlinrol
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 1222
Location: Spain
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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Cleopatra deserves full marks for perseverance but if she thinks she can convince people that KSA is a better place to be than UAE, then she really is farting against thunder. Even the unfortunate TEFLERs I met in the Kingdom who had been forced to relocate there by circumstances (i.e. loss of job) told me that UAE was much better.
I met numerous people from other professions who had either worked there or travelled there regularly on business and they agreed to a man that it was a much better place to be, except for the fact that money was easier to spend.
I wonder why it troubles her so much that most people don't share her views of Saudi Arabia. I'm quite happy here in Spain but if somebody tells me that France is better...so what? |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:04 pm Post subject: |
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If we're talking about giving other posters marks, then surely the Sheikh deserves a prize for inability to read a thread? The competition is pretty stiff on this board, for sure, but still I think he has the edge.
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| if she thinks she can convince people that KSA is a better place to be than UAE, then she really is farting against thunder. |
Here's the first reason why the sheikh deserves gold.
I don't know how many times I have to say it, but I am fully aware of - and fully indifferent to - the fact that our very good friends, 'most people' would choose the UAE over KSA. I have said this several times on this one thread, but I suppose asking someone to read what another poster actually writes is going a bit too far.
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| I wonder why it troubles her so much that most people don't share her views of Saudi Arabia. |
Here, we go again folks, 'most people', those well known arbiters of good taste in shopping festivals and Phillippino karaoke bands! But seriously, I wonder just why it is that you cannot read?
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| I'm quite happy here in Spain but if somebody tells me that France is better...so what? |
So what indeed? I'm quite sure 'most people' would certainly consider France a far more sophisticated and cultured choice of abode than second-rate Spain. Most people I know, from various professions, who have travelled to both countries agree that Spain is fine for a sunshine holiday or to see a football match, but you would never want to live there. They agree on this to a woman. The only people who work there can't get jobs in France. This is what most people believe.
Last edited by Cleopatra on Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:10 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Van Norden
Joined: 23 Oct 2004
Posts: 409
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Cleopatra wrote: |
| I don't see how you have the right to dictate what people should or should not discuss on a thread. Lighten up a tad. |
Pumpkin, you misunderstood my point. Go back and take another look. If it's still not clear to you I'll gladly come back and explain.
As for the quotes, I agree that they should be pared back as much as possible for the sake of brevity and clarity. But I can't see why you needed to excise the few words at the start of my sentence. They were integral to my point and you achieved nothing by cutting them out.
I'll concede that titivating quotes is not without it's problems. However, my only intention was/is, once again, to improve clarity.
And while we're on the subject, I'd encourage all my associates out there to use the quote button when quoting so we know who you are quoting. |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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| I'll gladly come back and explain. |
Don't worry your pretty little head about it. You've spent the last few posts chasing your tail in a rather silly manner, so unless you've actually got a point to make, it's probably best for all concerned that I don't encourage the dizziness to get any worse. |
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Van Norden
Joined: 23 Oct 2004
Posts: 409
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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| I agree, Cleo. But enough with the flirting; Queenie's gonna get jealous. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Now, now girls ! Van N - you should know better. And Cleo I expect more from a prefect ! This bickering is really TOO bad. It must be the silly season. |
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sheikh radlinrol
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 1222
Location: Spain
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Cleopatra wrote: |
| Spain is fine for a sunshine holiday or to see a football match, but you would never want to live there. They agree on this to a woman. The only people who work there can't get jobs in France. This is what most people believe. |
Spain is inundated with foreigners of myriad nationalities. Probably they can't get jobs in France??? Some of the top footballers in the world are here, since you mention football. Probably can't get into a French team???
The late Saudi King used to spend part of his summer here at his Marbella residence along with a bunch of nephews, princes and assorted hangers-on who drank the bars dry and enriched the local high class hookers. I wonder if it was Marbella they liked or just the escape from the grinding drabness of Riyadh.
I suspect Cleo is getting just a wee bit angry? Most people would agree. |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:45 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm quite happy here in Spain but if somebody tells me that France is better...so what? |
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