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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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 Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:07 am Post subject: |
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There is never any need for a foreign woman to cover her face, at least not in the big cities like Riyadh or Khobar. An abaya and scarf will get you by in almost any situation.
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| What should a person do if confronted by the religious police? |
These days, the muttawain are not much in evidence, not even in their old stomping ground of Riyadh. If you cover your head in public and don't go around making a spectacle of yourself, it's unlikely you will be confronted by them. |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:48 am Post subject: |
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| Litteegirl1974 wrote: |
| It's called The Silent Way |
This theory is old fashioned! And used by old fashioned people like Scot 
In KSA there is another theory, I called it 'The Secret Way', which is more effective and dangerous in the same time. It is related to 'Wasta', 'Nepotism', and 'Fantisism'. And it is used a lot in the academic administration.
And to use/understand the 'Secret Way' theory here, you need at least 5 yrs of 'Cultural' experience.!
| Latteegirl1974 wrote: |
| Do you think its helpful if a ladies arab husband helps get the family settled in? Do you think him being an Arab will give us an advantage? |
Yes, being an Arab will give him a great advantage, especially concerning the 'Secret Way' theory . He will understand the theory more quickly if he will make friends with, especially the Egyptians, Jordanians, and Tunisians.
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| Do we need to buyplates, utensils, bedding, can opener, dvd players? Where can these things be bought cheaply? I would go to K mart in the US, but what do they have in KSA? I know the malls and shops in KSA can be expensive especially in the capitol. |
Yes, it is advisable to buy your own new and clean plates and other kitrchen staff. Because the ones found in the coumpound, in general, are used by previous occupants, and you do not want your children to use 'second hand' plates and spoons (you never know what were their functions before ).
in KSA, they have everything, from China to 'Israel' (indirectly of course).
Cheap and expensive, depends on how deep your pocket is!
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| How do you get a phone chip for your mobile phone? |
Go to any busy street next to the 'Itisalat' shops and you will get any type of chip, from normal one to VIP number one.
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| The most impotant thing: Female dress code |
Don't worry too much about the dress code, the issue of dress code is an old/new topic, and at the end all they will forget about it.
BTW, the powers of Muttaweens have been curtailed by order from his Exellency the interior minister.
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| I wear a scarf and long clothing or sometimes an Abaya. I don't cover my face . |
It is OK. The only thing is that your abaya should be black in colour! (which has no reference in Islamic teaching).
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| Arabs like to stare, not to be rude but out of curiousity. |
It depends on the type of the Arab? A Saudi is not like an Egyptian or a Syrian!
Don't forget that some Arabs will argue that GOD has created eyes for us to see and stare with them, I think this is 'human bevaviour' acitvity, and it is difficult to change it!
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| My daughter who is 4 will try to protect me and say,"Stop looking at my mama!" She is very sensitive because she has seen how I have been treated in the US. |
I know this, especially in the land of Uncle Sam and his associates, I will discuss it later when the time/enviromnet is appropriate!
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| If attacked, di I have the right to defend myself. What should a person do if confronted by the religious police? |
Just pick up the phone and call Uncle Sam through his Embassy in Riyadh, and you will see how Uncle Bandar will apologize to you within 24 HRS. |
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Latteegirl1974
Joined: 02 Aug 2007
Posts: 75
Location: Webkinz World
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 11:27 am Post subject: |
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What does the American Embassy do for Americans in the KSA?
Also, are Americans required to surrender their passport and give it to the employer? If this is the case then what if the person has a problem with the employer and wants to leave the country?
Do you go to the Embassy and say, "Uh.... I lost my passport. Can I have a new one?" Will the employer really hold you in the KSA? I always read posts about employers not sticking to the contract. Does that mean your screwed?
What rights do Americans have in the magic kingdom?
I guess the thing that worries me the most is NOT GETTING PAID ON TIME. Maybe I should bring extra money. I have two kids.  |
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Latteegirl1974
Joined: 02 Aug 2007
Posts: 75
Location: Webkinz World
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 11:40 am Post subject: |
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007 wrote:
This theory is old fashioned! And used by old fashioned people like Scot .
Lets not wind people up on this post. Bob started it with the particular intention of actually informing people.
If scot is 47, that isn't old. If he was born in 1947 that would make him 60. In the US we say that being in your 40's = the NEW 30 , or 60 is the new 50. Just push Scot's age back a decadeand he won't be "old fashioned. " Just in fashion |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 11:50 am Post subject: |
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| The passport is not enough to leave KSA. There is also the exit visa. Without that in your passport you are not permitted to leave. |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 1:15 pm Post subject: |
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| What does the American Embassy do for Americans in the KSA? |
Very little.
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| If this is the case then what if the person has a problem with the employer and wants to leave the country? |
Most employers do take your passport, but in any case you need an exit visa in addition to your passport to leave the country - this is only available through your employers. If you really do need to leave, and have a good reason, it's unlikely your employer would hold you against their will, even if in theory they can do so. However, in the case of a genuine problem, don't depend on the US embassy to intervene on your behalf.
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| What rights do Americans have in the magic kingdom? |
The same as other expats.
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| Does that mean your screwed? |
Well, with that level of spelling, your writing students probably are. |
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Latteegirl1974
Joined: 02 Aug 2007
Posts: 75
Location: Webkinz World
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah I'm not the spelling bee champ, and I should keep a dictionary with me- understood.  |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 1:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Latteegirl1974 wrote: |
| What rights do Americans have in the magic kingdom? |
Uncle Sam, the president of all Americans, thinks that the American have the right of 'pipes' of Petrol and Gas in the magic kingdom. |
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sheikh radlinrol
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 1222
Location: Spain
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 2:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Latteegirl1974 wrote: |
| Yeah I'm not the spelling bee champ, and I should keep a dictionary with me- understood. |
And a grammar book by the looks of it. Is English your native tongue? Are you fit to teach it? |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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Americans and their quaint idiosyncrasies... |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Cleopatra wrote: |
Americans and their quaint idiosyncrasies... |
But, of course, the Irish, English, Aussies, and Scots don't have their own?
Though my years working with all of the above, we share a basic language but certainly different cultural references... and the proclivity to always think that our particular 'quaintness' is right and the ones of the other 4 are to be ridiculed.
VS |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 2:16 pm Post subject: |
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| the proclivity to always think that our particular 'quaintness' is right and the ones of the other 4 are to be ridiculed. |
Well, you've got to admit a 'spelling bee' is truly ridiculous!
Anyway, I don't quite agree with your premise. In my experience Americans assume that others are familiar with their geography/language oddities/ archaic measurement systems, etc to a far greater degree than do other nationalities. If I meet one more person who tells me such and such a country is "about the size of Delaware...."! |
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jwbhomer
Joined: 14 Dec 2003
Posts: 876
Location: CANADA
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Does that mean your screwed? |
Well, with that level of spelling, your writing students probably are. |
The problem was not the poster's spelling, but GRAMMAR. Anyone who doesn't know the difference between "your" and "you're" (or "its" and "it's", another pet peeve of mine) should not be teaching English. A dictionary won't correct those errors! |
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sheikh radlinrol
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 1222
Location: Spain
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Cleopatra wrote: |
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| the proclivity to always think that our particular 'quaintness' is right and the ones of the other 4 are to be ridiculed. |
Well, you've got to admit a 'spelling bee' is truly ridiculous!
Anyway, I don't quite agree with your premise. In my experience Americans assume that others are familiar with their geography/language oddities/ archaic measurement systems, etc to a far greater degree than do other nationalities. If I meet one more person who tells me such and such a country is "about the size of Delaware...."! |
I believe Northern Ireland (Norn Iron) is about the same size as Delaware. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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Well... it is my pet peeve too, but it still shows up in my typing. So for me it would always be a typo, neither a spelling nor grammar error. That means that we are making assumptions that could be completely wrong when we accuse our fellow posters.
And as to Cleo's comments... it is only because she is in Saudi where one tends to work with so many 'muricans. For me it has been completely the opposite experience as where I worked in Oman and the UAE, I was always one of the small number of Americans. And we spend just as much time trying to figure out what the heck the others on my list were talking about. Americans are not alone in their parochialism or their assumptions...
VS |
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