Job Discussion Forums

matthew156 · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 140 Location: The Majik Kindom

Hello Ya All,

I will be together with my wife in a short while and was wondering about family designated areas. Do I use the facilities when we go out to eat or something?

Regards.

Matt

Asda · Joined: 01 Jun 2008 Posts: 231

Erm, yeah I guess so...!

Basically, even an all-female group sits in the family section, so singles sections are for men only.

trapezius · Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:43 am Post subject:

Umm... aren't you and your wife a 'family'? The only other alternative is the "Singles Section" in restaurants... you want to sit their with your wife? Confused

matthew156 · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 140 Location: The Majik Kindom

What would happen if I didn't sit there? eg. Starbucks

trapezius · Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:07 am Post subject:

Now you are just pulling our legs, right? What would happen if you walked up to a drive-through bank teller in the US? You will be politely told to utilise the bank services by going inside the bank.

If you are with your wife, you will be told to go sit in the family section. If you are by yourself, you will be told to sit in the singles section.

Why do you want to sit in the singles section if you are with your wife? Do you want all the horny male Saudi young'uns to stare at her? (or at you?) Do you hate families? Do you want to stare at the male Saudi young'uns? Are you being obtuse on purpose?

I am confuzzled.

matthew156 · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 140 Location: The Majik Kindom

no I aint.

It's just new to me. There waz no segrigation like this in Turkey. But I overstand the culture and I will comply. It's what I am built for, (asking questions).

Regards

Matt

redeyes · Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 254

Matt, that's the first time I have seen the word "overstand" used on Daves esl, though I commonly heard it when I visted Ladbroke Grove's Dub Vendor!

Good one.

Cleopatra · Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 1:45 pm Post subject:

All restaurants/cafes in KSA have two sections: the "Singles" section which is usually at the front of the establishment, sometimes with outdoor seating, and the "Family" section, tucked away to the back or side, behind closed doors and opaque glass. The names are a little misleading, however, because the "Singles" section is strictly for single men only. Conversely, the "Family" section is for the use of men accompanied by their female relatives, or for single women. It used to be the case that 'unescorted' women were sometimes turned away from the "Family" sections of restaurants, but thankfully this is becoming ever more unusual.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Presumably matthew 156 is thinking of the situation when he goes out with his wife and a couple of male friends. The answer is normally all of you use the family section.

Cleopatra · Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 2:58 pm Post subject:

MyTrunkshow · Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 5:14 pm Post subject:

trapezius · Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 6:29 pm Post subject:

Well, where else would you sit if you went with a family? Would you say bye at the entrance and part ways to go sit in the singles section while the family goes into the family section?

"Family Section" = men and women in one group

Whether the men and women in the group are single or unmarried, and if married, accompanied by their spouse or not, doesn't matter to the restaurant. (but it does matter to the authorities)

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:40 pm Post subject:

There are some places in the Eastern Province where these rules are not so strictly adhered to. At the Dhahran Mall and Al Rashed Mall food courts, males and females, escorted or not, seem to sit predominantly in the singles section. It's just too much trouble to go into the back!

Matt, you may have begun to realize that you're in one of the most liberal parts of KSA. Stuff that is true in Riyadh may not always be true here.

matthew156 · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 140 Location: The Majik Kindom

Dear Mia Xanthi,

I just want to say I am not in the capital. I'm at the biggest natural oasis in the word. The other day we went to the plaza to shop and one of the female teachers wasn't wearing a veil and some of us male teachers had shorts on (guilty), when we returned back to our bus the windows were smashed.

Message to us loud and clear. Dress appropriately.

Regards,

Matt

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:40 am Post subject:

Oooohhhh, I thought you were in Jubail, but I guess you're in Hofuf.

Hofuf is MUCH more conservative than the tri-cities metropolis of Dhahran -Al Khobar-Dammam. In Hofuf (Al Hasa), you would indeed find your windows broken for not covering or wearing shorts....or maybe even sitting in the wrong section of the food court.