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Mia Xanthi · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 2:28 pm Post subject: why can't they adapt to KSA?

I was thinking today about why some colleagues cannot seem to adapt to living in KSA. Most of the people that I work with here have lived in cultures that are very different from their own, such as Korea or China or Japan. It appears that they were able to adapt well to those cultures, but not to Saudi Arabia.

Here's my question: is it the quantity of the difference, or is it the quality of the difference? In other words, is KSA just that much more different from US/UK/Australian cultures, or is it the particular type of difference that is so daunting?

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

My first thought was to wonder if they actually adapted any better to the other cultures. Since we didn't work with them there, we don't really know. I suspect that many of them are misfits wherever they go. (not all, of course... just that the worst misfits in the Gulf seemed like they may not fit anywhere...)

But, I think it sounds like a good thesis topic...

VS

trapezius · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 4:35 pm Post subject:

Didn't we just have this very discussion a few days back in another thread for several pages?

desert_traveller · Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 335

lall · Joined: 30 Dec 2006 Posts: 358

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

People who 'adapt' to China or maybe Korea or Japan will come to Saudi because the money is perceived to be better. You won't see the reverse.

And of course if you are single and under forty if male, or single and any age if female, you are unlikely to adapt to Saudi for very good reasons.

007 · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 6:48 pm Post subject:

desert_traveller · Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 335

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 7:14 pm Post subject: princesses

Well, I don't think I qualify as a "princess" but I am fairly happy here. I wouldn't say I like it, but life here is tolerable.

However, I know quite a few women here, some that I consider misfits and some that I consider quite normal. Actually, the misfits seem to adapt better than the normal ones. The misfits find a place where they don't feel so rejected, and they are treated like normal people for once in their lives, but the normal people seem to really flip out here. They're the ones I am wondering about.

I just don't think that it is the enormity of the cultural differences themselves. Korea and Japan are far more culturally different places, in my opinion, than Saudi Arabia. I feel like Saudis are much easier to relate to on a deeper level, and yet the superficial cultural differences here put people (especially women) off much more.

I know we can blame part of it on Western media demonizing Muslim culture, but there is something more here. Something about this culture hits people on a more profound level. Sure, it is boring and repressive compared to life back home, but then so are many aspects of life in Japan or Korea. What is it here that is so totally alien that it affects seemingly normal people in such surprising ways? Is it just what I can see (gender segregation, covering of women) or is it something I can't see?

I see people come here prepared to deal with the more well-known differences who seem to hit a wall after a couple of months here. I want to know why this happens to them.

desert_traveller · Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 335

trapezius · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 7:35 pm Post subject:

007 · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 7:45 pm Post subject: Re: princesses

guty · Joined: 10 Apr 2003 Posts: 365 Location: on holiday

To the OP:

I think that KSA attracts weirdos, desperate people, and many who see it as a chance to get over problems with alcohol, all in themselves fairly typical ESL traits, but probably more per capita than other places.

Maybe the difference is that, living in compounds on the whole, in KSA people tend to see what their colleagues do after hours more. Many of those who lived in China, Korea etc, quite probably went home and were weird in seclusion, with nobody any the wiser.

I don't think KSA 'turns' balanced people, it just exposes the imbalanced more.

james van cleave · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 59

Isn't it a trifle hypocritical to be discussing who is or isn't a weirdo on this site? After all, I've heard stories about several of the regular contributors...You know who you are!
I think this could all be summed up in that old saying..."Those who can't do-teach. Those who can't teach--teach ESL. Those who can't teach ESL end up in a glue factory or the Persian Gulf."

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Another way to consider this is to ask the question :_

What characterises the type who CAN adjust to living, and teaching in KSA ?