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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA
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 Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 10:37 pm Post subject: Re: Wha? Huh? |
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| al-Californian wrote: |
| Grendal wrote: |
I know I didn't specify countries when I labeled this post but that was so that other views from other countries could be inputted.
I know that Saudi Arabia has the white thobe and red schma with black igah as their national dress but I see it as their national dress and I personally don't think expats should go wild over it. Maybe I'm not zealous religiously or even if I were I would respect their national dress and not over do it and wear it everyday at work as if I were one of them. I am not and have no desire to be one of them either religiously or culturally. There is some professionalism that my main employer (the universities) expects from me and if I am coming here to do a multitude of Umrahs and my (once every 5 years) Hajj and get paid for doing it while I work here then I would ask myself about the reason why I'm also dressing up like them. If I'm going to wear their national dress then I would do it properly and wear it full dress and not some Islamic version that makes me look like some sort of religious fanatic.
I can't even wear jeans or t-shirts to work but I can wear just a thobe and no other part of the national dress. I feel a little bit of animosity when I see this dress and mind set of some "TEACHERS" and get pulled aside and reminded about a dress code at work when I wear my Nikes. I know some other teachers who are not bad Muslims (this means they think in the real world) and have never seen them wear just the white thobe to work. I am here to teach and not to tell my students and fellow colleagues that I'm possibly a devout Muslim.
Then again maybe I'm expecting too much from a country that mixes religion into every facet of life here. If we are near the end of the world I really hope it comes sooner than later because this way at least these religious dress codes will be over with.
Just a thought.
Grendal
ps. I will not respond to any fanatical response to this post |
So, um, Grendal, what have you decided to do? Styling and profiling with the thobe or insurance salesman attire? |
Maybe mixing and matching? An eclectic combo of both: Insurance saleman meets the Saudi scholar  I for one would like to see that  |
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Grendal
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Posts: 861
Location: Lurking in the depths of the Faisaliah Tower underground parking.
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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I am amazed but not that amazed so as to lose track of my position on this issue. One can wear whatever one wants as long as it is acceptable in the workplace. Blending in is a good approach and in this case one has a choise of attire to blend in with. Maybe this year I will do a fake Hajj, because I can, and see what that produces economically for me. I can also tote a beard, keep my head shaved and wear a thobe too to boot.
If I can do this, because I can, what is to stop others (with this ability) from doing it?
Grendal |
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Sweaty Ted
Joined: 17 Mar 2012
Posts: 54
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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| I was told that the western teachers at my university all wear formal western clothing. I will be wearing trousers, collared shirt and tie and a jacket for the cooler season. |
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