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diced260
Joined: 24 Feb 2009
Posts: 80
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 Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 1:30 am Post subject: dress code for men |
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| I hadn't really given this much though until I got caught up in the dress code for women thread...and someone said that western suits/tie were most appropriate in Saudi, for the men. I was planning on wearing patani/shalwar suits (made famous on CNN; the style worn by many Afghanis and Pakistanis). I just find them so comfortable and functional, not to mention more modest (and humble). Would this form of dress be acceptable/appreciated/"ridiculed"??! |
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Mia Xanthi
Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 955
Location: why is my heart still in the Middle East while the rest of me isn't?
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| Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 2:08 am Post subject: |
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| Ridiculed, unless you are of Pakistani/Indian origin yourself. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 4:12 am Post subject: |
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| Not acceptable for work where you should expect the dress code to insist on you waring "western business attire":. Some places expect tie. Some do not. A suit is overdressing. |
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trapezius
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 1670
Location: Land of Culture of Death & Destruction
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| Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Ridiculed, unless you are of Pakistani/Indian origin yourself. |
Ridiculed, EVEN if you are of Pakistani/Indian origin.
Saudis are not fond of South Asians in general, for many reasons. Main reason being those 2 are poor countries, and their nationals in Saudi are mostly in menial jobs. They are also dark, and talk funny (I have seen Saudis mockingly imitating the conversations of laborers/cleaners on more than one occasion, one of those Saudis even being a PhD holding professor).
And wearing Western business attire is not expected in all higher education institutions. The 2 places I have worked at in Saudi so far were/are OK with lecturers and professors wearing jeans, whether with button-down shirts, polo shirts, or even tshirts. |
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diced260
Joined: 24 Feb 2009
Posts: 80
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| Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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Hypothetically, what if I look Afghani (Kashmiris have even mistaken me for one of their own), have a distinct American accent, and am teaching English in the school?  It'll be a real let down to have to wear western clothes again! I guess my point is, if I'm obviously not a laborer, will I be cut some slack? |
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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 11:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Wear the western attire at school. You won't be at school 24/7, therefore you would be free to wear what you like after hours. However, not everyone will know your name outside school, so you will soon figure out how the pecking order works, based upon appearance and not your credentials. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 3:44 am Post subject: |
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When working in the Training Centre at the airline our dress code was "Western Business Attire" or Saudi National Dress. When one Canadian was unwise enough to turn up wearing an Egyptian "jalabiya" he was told by our shocked manager to go home at once and change before anyone important saw him.
The Saudis do not go in for this touchy-feely, wishy-washy multiculturalism. Nationalities and ethnicities have a clearly understood pecking order. |
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Mia Xanthi
Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 955
Location: why is my heart still in the Middle East while the rest of me isn't?
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| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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| It'll be a real let down to have to wear western clothes again! |
No matter how uncomfortable it makes you, I strongly suggest that you wear only Western-style clothing both at work and in public. I had one American colleague who dressed in a thobe and hotra - and wore them very nicely. He was endlessly ridiculed behind his back by students, admin, and fellow teachers. No one will take you seriously if you dress like this. It is the equivalent of wearing a Bozo the Clown Halloween costume every day and expecting people to consider you seriously as a teacher. Just don't do it....not even once. |
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lazycomputerkids
Joined: 22 Sep 2009
Posts: 360
Location: Tabuk
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| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Mia Xanthi wrote: |
| Quote: |
| It'll be a real let down to have to wear western clothes again! |
No matter how uncomfortable it makes you, I strongly suggest that you wear only Western-style clothing both at work and in public. I had one American colleague who dressed in a thobe and hotra - and wore them very nicely. He was endlessly ridiculed behind his back by students, admin, and fellow teachers. No one will take you seriously if you dress like this. It is the equivalent of wearing a Bozo the Clown Halloween costume every day and expecting people to consider you seriously as a teacher. Just don't do it....not even once. |
I can report a different scenario. We have western Muslims who wear thobes nearly every day. (Which is a different case altogether.) But we have a few teachers to wear thobes on occasion and it's received as a compliment. I think you're correct to say an American/Westerner frequently wearing a thobe instead of the expected attire would likely be perceived as a dilettante. I had read before coming to wear drab and dark pants, business shirt and tie...I was recently told the students have asked why I dress boringly. No formal dress code is enforced and our staff is evenly divided in this regard. I've compromised and wear formal, business attire every other day and collarless shirts otherwise. Our staff has speculated with what excitement our students would receive a black and white shemagh. |
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trapezius
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 1670
Location: Land of Culture of Death & Destruction
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| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 9:55 pm Post subject: |
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