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KME0050
Joined: 02 Jun 2010
Posts: 87
Location: U.S.
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 Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 2:32 am Post subject: 21 year-old American male challenges? |
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Hello Again--
When I come to teach in the fall, my 21-year old son is planning to join me. He is a college student who can continue his studies on-line, but who would like to experience the country/culture/language with me. He is in Morocco this summer doing volunteer work for a humanitarian organization, so will have had a small taste of Arab society, albeit a comparatively liberal one.
For those of you who have lived and worked in Saudi Arabia for some time, can anyone predict any particular challenges a 21 year-old American male might face there? He is smart, outgoing and friendly, a little shy with girls, athletic, and a tall, fair-skinned, blonde, blue-eyed pretty boy. . . problem?
A (Saudi) friend of mine in Abha is already looking around for work opportunities for him, both volunteer and paid. He is studying both graphics arts and elementary education and is working as a teacher's assistant in Morocco right now. (EFL!)
I am hoping that with school, and hopefully work and friends, he can stay busy and happy. However, he is used to having a lot of freedom and a very active social life (including night life).
If it doesn't work out, he can always go home, but I really hope it works out. If there is anything we can do by way of preparation to ensure a successful experience (for him), I want to do it.
Any thoughts anyone?
Thanks! |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 3:00 am Post subject: |
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| Will he get a visa to come with you? Do not be so sure ! |
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KME0050
Joined: 02 Jun 2010
Posts: 87
Location: U.S.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 3:23 am Post subject: 21 year-old American male challenges? |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| Will he get a visa to come with you? Do not be so sure ! |
Before I even inquired, my employer asked if I had a mah'rhm coming with me. When I said my son would like to come, he said that was preferable to my coming alone. So, yes, it appears he will get a visa. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 3:28 am Post subject: |
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| Most non-muslims, and those new to the peculiarities of the Saudi interpretation of Islamic Law will not be familiar with the concept of a "legal guardian". Perhaps you can explain ? |
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KME0050
Joined: 02 Jun 2010
Posts: 87
Location: U.S.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 3:39 am Post subject: 21 year-old American male challenges? |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| Most non-muslims, and those new to the peculiarities of the Saudi interpretation of Islamic Law will not be familiar with the concept of a "legal guardian". Perhaps you can explain ? |
Sure. Mah'rhm is the male companion/guardian/ chaperone(?) of a woman--could be her father, brother, son, or other family member. Don't know if husband could also be a mah'rhm. As long as the woman is accompanied by a male, she is unlikely to be bothered by other men. Furthermore, I will not need to be quite as concerned with issues of propriety (who comes and goes from my apartment) if my son lives with me. That's my understanding. Am I missing anything? |
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Gerund
Joined: 09 Feb 2003
Posts: 80
Location: Amerika
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 4:35 am Post subject: Re: 21 year-old American male challenges? |
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[quote="KME0050"]athletic, and a tall, fair-skinned, blonde, blue-eyed pretty boy. . . problem?
Yes, big problem. I spent seven years in KSA. I was younger, thinner and had (and still have) blond hair. Apparently, the Saudi men found me quite attractive because I was continually flirted with. If I walked down the sidewalk, it was not unusual for a car to slowly follow me. When I was teaching military cadets, they would wink at me, blow kisses, tell me endlessly that I was handsome, and if I was unsuccessful in avoiding shaking hands, they would not let go of my hand and start fondling it. In my first week there, before I knew any better, I accepted a ride from a seemingly respectable middle-aged Saudi guy, and before I knew it, he had his hand on my leg and was suggesting that we go to his nearby apartment for (you can imagine).
I am NOT exaggerating. I even had a student expose himself to me. This is no joke, and it was one of the reasons that after seven years in KSA I couldn't stand it anymore.
Explain how things are to your son in Happy Land for Men and tell him to be VERY careful. They don't call it Sodom Arabia for nothing. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 5:00 am Post subject: |
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| It took you 7 years to figure out that you did not like it ? I suppose people learn at different speeds. |
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KME0050
Joined: 02 Jun 2010
Posts: 87
Location: U.S.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 5:22 am Post subject: Re: 21 year-old American male challenges? |
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[quote="Gerund"]
| KME0050 wrote: |
athletic, and a tall, fair-skinned, blonde, blue-eyed pretty boy. . . problem?
Yes, big problem. I spent seven years in KSA. I was younger, thinner and had (and still have) blond hair. Apparently, the Saudi men found me quite attractive because I was continually flirted with. If I walked down the sidewalk, it was not unusual for a car to slowly follow me. When I was teaching military cadets, they would wink at me, blow kisses, tell me endlessly that I was handsome, and if I was unsuccessful in avoiding shaking hands, they would not let go of my hand and start fondling it. In my first week there, before I knew any better, I accepted a ride from a seemingly respectable middle-aged Saudi guy, and before I knew it, he had his hand on my leg and was suggesting that we go to his nearby apartment for (you can imagine).
I am NOT exaggerating. I even had a student expose himself to me. This is no joke, and it was one of the reasons that after seven years in KSA I couldn't stand it anymore.
Explain how things are to your son in Happy Land for Men and tell him to be VERY careful. They don't call it Sodom Arabia for nothing. |
Yikes! . . . this is exactly what I feared. And then I have a very real concern that my son will haul off and slug someone and then we will have an entirely different | | |
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