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melysnl
Joined: 31 Oct 2011
Posts: 15
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 Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 1:19 pm Post subject: Tennis in Saudi? |
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| Quick question. I'm a fit, active female in my 30's and thinking about teaching in Saudi for a year or two. I know I'll have to give up all sorts of western rights and freedom, but will I have to give up playing tennis too? |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 4:12 pm Post subject: Re: Tennis in Saudi? |
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| melysnl wrote: |
| I know I'll have to give up all sorts of western rights and freedom, but will I have to give up playing tennis too? |
Probably not. You just need to find out where you can play.
There are several good blogs and forums dedicated to expat work, life, and leisure in the Kingdom. Do an Internet search on expat forum saudi. Blueabaya, AmericanBedu, and expatwomen are especially useful sites for women relocating to Saudi Arabia. |
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Wilsonthefarmer
Joined: 13 Nov 2012
Posts: 152
Location: Riding my black horse
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| Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 6:49 pm Post subject: Re: Tennis in Saudi? |
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| melysnl wrote: |
| I know I'll have to give up all sorts of western rights and freedom, but will I have to give up playing tennis too? |
I do not know what you mean by "western rights"?
Well, mely, the grand mufti of the Magic Kingdom issued a fatwa saying that women and girls can participate in sport or exercise as long as they do not mix with men or boys. So, you do not need to give up playing tennis as far as you follow the rules of the fatwa and the "Magic Kingdom's rights".
Also, the Magic Kingdom to allow girls to play sport at private schools...
"Saudi Arabian girls will be allowed to play sport in private schools for the first time in the latest in a series of incremental changes aimed at slowly increasing women's rights in the ultraconservative kingdom."
"Sport for women in Saudi Arabia has largely been a pastime of elites who can afford expensive health club memberships. They are often attached to hospitals, since women's gyms were closed in 2010 on grounds they were unlicensed."
"Women's sport remains nearly an underground activity in the kingdom. Only the largest female university � Princess Nora Bint Abdul Rahman Unviersity � has a swimming pool, tennis court and exercise area for its students. No other university in Saudi Arabia has sport facilities for its female students and staff."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/05/saudi-arabia-allows-women-sport |
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trapezius
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 1670
Location: Land of Culture of Death & Destruction
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| Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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If you end up in a compound, you can play it all day every day!
(most compounds have tennis courts) |
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CANDLES
Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 605
Location: Wandering aimlessly.....
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| Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 9:25 pm Post subject: ??? |
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You wish!..... Maybe American compounds or the very big Really expensive compounds have this option. Most female only compounds have a pool and a gym. Of course if you are going to be in DQ area, then that's a different ballgame. DQ- Diplomatic Quarters...where you can walk around in shorts, enjoy mixed swimming, play tennis, etc.
And as for giving up 'Westerness', you'd be surprised at how much 'Westerness' goes on in these compounds! Come Saturday morning it's usually a blur until lunch time.... (good ole' w/e)....
Enjoy... |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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| The right to starve and sleep under bridges ? Tennis is played widely in KSA. At KFUPM there were several tennis courts and I think they were free. Ads others have said here many compounds have courts. Avoid the compounds frequented by trhe bearded pious ones ! |
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teachr11
Joined: 23 Aug 2012
Posts: 39
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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Can it be assumed that the OP will be in Riyadh, where the DQ is? It might be helpful if the OP (providing it's known) could post where she will be in Saudi.
Regards,
John |
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Wilsonthefarmer
Joined: 13 Nov 2012
Posts: 152
Location: Riding my black horse
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| Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| Avoid the compounds frequented by trhe bearded pious ones ! |
scot, I thought the bearded pious ones in the Magic Kingdom play tennis and basketball as well!  |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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CANDLES
Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 605
Location: Wandering aimlessly.....
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| Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 9:45 pm Post subject: |
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Bearded ones of the Saudi ilk are not allowed in Western compounds!
However, the ones from the Western shores with beards (born again etc) might be a bit sniffy!
Yes, it's all very well you can book a court and things, but as far as I know the DQ area is the most flexible one. Don't know about the others though. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 9:58 pm Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
| Can it be assumed that the OP will be in Riyadh, where the DQ is? It might be helpful if the OP (providing it's known) could post where she will be in Saudi. |
| Quote: |
| I'm a fit, active female in my 30's and thinking about teaching in Saudi for a year or two. |
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CANDLES
Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 605
Location: Wandering aimlessly.....
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| Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 10:10 pm Post subject: |
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Well, if she ever tells us where she'll be based or even if she's decided against the whole idea, she'll certainly won't be fit after teaching in KSA.
I'm amused that she didn't ask what the students are like and the general ambience of the place, but, merely, if she had to give up her 'westernness' and whether tennis was on the cards.
Everyone to their own! |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 10:23 pm Post subject: |
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| CANDLES wrote: |
| I'm amused that she didn't ask what the students are like and the general ambience of the place, but, merely, if she had to give up her 'westernness' and whether tennis was on the cards. |
Actually, she did. See her thread, "Teaching in Saudi compared to Asia (Korea and Taiwan)." |
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CANDLES
Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 605
Location: Wandering aimlessly.....
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| Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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Oops! Didn't realise she was here already....
In which case, she'll have discovered the delights. |
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