Job Discussion Forums

[007]

[quote="Mia Xanthi"]

[lall]

[desert_traveller]

re the op

if you find it difficult to get a girlfriend at any other part of the world, it will be difficult in the ksa, too (or rather impossible)

if you find it easy to get a girlfriend at any other part of the world, it will be easy in the ksa, too (but might take a lil bit more time, that's true)

most things people (try to) blame on the ksa come from within themselves

imho

[Cleopatra]

I believe there is an apt saying: "Wherever you go, there you are."

Not to be confused with the even apter: "Whatever you are, Saudi Arabia makes you more so."

[007]

Well, whatever you do, do not get lost in the magic kingdom!

[scot47]

The Romans had it :"Caelum non animam mutat quis trans mare currit." (The Heavens do not chage the spirit of the one who crosses the sea)

Smart dudes these Romans !

[brasscat]

Absque argento omnia vana.

First you must put food on the table.

brasscat

[megone]

I saw much discussion about how difficult it is for a western, male expat to date. How 'bout for a single, Western female to date? Are they pursued much by Saudi men??

[johnslat]

Dear megone,
Well, to some (perhaps to a great) extent, that would depend (sorry to describe such superficiality) upon the "attractiveness" of the lady. Blonde, young, pretty - you bet. Grey-haired, middle-aged, homely - not too likely.
In other words, it's not all that different from anywhere else in the world.

[Mia Xanthi]

[johnslat]

Dear Mia,
Heck, even I, a male nearly 60 years old (at that time) would occasionally get "hit on" (not, unfortunately, by women, however.) But while homely female geezers might also receive unwanted attention, it's a much rarer occurrence, in my opinion
Regards,
John

[Imdramayu]

How does the nationality of the woman play into this? Would an Asian woman get "hit-on" more than a European ("white") woman?

[megone]

And how 'bout an African American woman??

[Imdramayu]

Single African-American women in KSA? I've seen many African women (from Somalia, Eriteria, or Ethiopia mostly) but I'm not to sure about African-Americans. I've seen many housemaids from the aforementioned African countries but that's about it. I'm not sure how people would treat singles like that. Unless they think they are housemaids, the same way as they treat all expats.

[Cleopatra]

Once again, Mia is right.

Despite all the old cliches about how "Arab men go crazy for blondes" the reality - at least in Saudi Arabia - is that obviously foreign women attract much less attention than 'mysterious' veiled Saudi women. One example: when I sit in the back of a taxi with head covered but face 'open' I rarely receive any male attention. One evening, however, I pulled my scarf over my face because the car window was broken and I didn't want dust blowing into my eyes. In one short journey, I was followed several times by young men in cars who obviously assumed I was a young Saudi woman, and who kept holding up their mobile phones in the hope I would take their number and call them. This rarely happens to me when I am 'uncovered'.

That said, it is of course true that women - whatever their age, nationality or level of 'attractiveness' - will certainly get far more attention here than they would just about anywhere else. Inevitably, a few women let this attention 'go to their heads' and, temporarily at least, get an inflated sense of their own 'attractiveness'. Happily, however, most women can see the situation for what it is: a case of desperate men chasing anything which is female and might just possibly be 'available'.

So, I suppose what I'm saying is: In case you're reading, biffinbridge, there's really no need to re-post your silly "joke".