Befriend an Open-Minded Saudi

Welcome to EB!! And I must say that your English writing skill is pretty good.  Better than mine.  Lol

houstonian wrote:

Welcome to EB!! And I must say that your English writing skill is pretty good.  Better than mine.  Lol

Yeah, I noticed that, too.  About your writing. LOL

So, I join Houstonian in his welcome

I can totally understand where you're coming from.  Sometimes I ask Saudi colleagues/acquaintances  what they did over the weekend, and the common reply is they slept (males) or went shopping (females).

It seems so dull and meaningless.  They will turn around and be 60 years old and what did they do with their lives?  Don't get me wrong--family relationships are number 1 but they're not the only thing there is.  What about personal enrichment? And that seems to be what you miss.

Alliecat wrote:

houstonian wrote:

Welcome to EB!! And I must say that your English writing skill is pretty good.  Better than mine.  Lol

Yeah, I noticed that, too.  About your writing. LOL

What do you expect from a transplanted Northern Californian with a Texas drawl?!  Lol

houstonian wrote:

Welcome to EB!! And I must say that your English writing skill is pretty good.  Better than mine.  Lol

I do try. We seem to share a taste for self-deprecating humor. I remember one of my English teachers back before I went to Canada, an American from New Mexico I think. Mr. Davis he used to puush me forward by putting me down. Well I showed him when I scored higher on the ESL tests. haha. I take pride in my English language.

So, I join Houstonian in his welcome

I can totally understand where you're coming from.  Sometimes I ask Saudi colleagues/acquaintances  what they did over the weekend, and the common reply is they slept (males) or went shopping (females).

It seems so dull and meaningless.  They will turn around and be 60 years old and what did they do with their lives?  Don't get me wrong--family relationships are number 1 but they're not the only thing there is.  What about personal enrichment? And that seems to be what you miss.

Yes I see that as well. The younger generation seems to be doing better with it.

I see it as a matter of luxury. The older generation were raised in destitute villages and slums of cities. They didn't really raise an outgoing generation that nurtured their souls, and so they led safe yet tasteless lives, void of hobbies, passions, and grand pursuits of happiness. It's easy to get lost in the comforts of large extended families.

I try to live an enjoyable and interesting life, but I do miss having my mind blown by cultural differences. There's the silence after a conversation with a very different person from a very different place. You could almost hear yourself grow.

I have had a lot of interaction with the locals both in and out of work.  The ones who have spent a considerable amount of time out of Saudi Arabia, I have noticed, have the same attitude as you.  And that, indeed, is a very commendable attitude to have.

Unfortunately, there are still quite a few Saudis who are not as open minded as you.  I guess it will be up to you and the likes of you to help influence them.

Yes, many people fear change (and that's everywhere but particularly in KSA, I think, because it's been such a sheltered place).

houstonian wrote:

I have had a lot of interaction with the locals both in and out of work.  The ones who have spent a considerable amount of time out of Saudi Arabia, I have noticed, have the same attitude as you.  And that, indeed, is a very commendable attitude to have.

Unfortunately, there are still quite a few Saudis who are not as open minded as you.  I guess it will be up to you and the likes of you to help influence them.

You know I sort of "escaped" to Canada. I didn't want to be in Saudi any more. I thought it would never change, having never noticed any change while I was growing up.

Perhaps it's just my more mature viewpoint, but after coming back I'm much more hopeful. I believe the influence is undergoing already. Communication technology somehow weaved its way into society and slowly but surely things are changing for the better. There are interesting individuals and groups of youth that are becoming more popular through social media.

There are of course still many more traditionalists than reformers and liberals, and then there are the downright uncivil people. But just that there is in fact change has made me go from not liking my country at all to appreciating Saudi Arabia and its people.

We are in transition, although our pace is slow. That's just my take on it though.

HadiYQ wrote:

There are interesting individuals and groups of youth that are becoming more popular through social media.

I certainly hope that Justin Beiber is not one of these individuals!!  (I am sure I will get flamed for this comment!!)

HadiYQ wrote:

and then there are the downright uncivil people.

Uncivil people are everywhere.  I look at one everyday!!  Lol

In the first place you knew that going to canada is just temporarilly. The best part is you really get matured and you learned from the people whom you use to mingle in Canada. Still nothing can change the moment when we are at HOME......anyway you can still go back in canada if you wish to.....

HadiYQ wrote:

Perhaps it's just my more mature viewpoint, but after coming back I'm much more hopeful. I believe the influence is undergoing already. Communication technology somehow weaved its way into society and slowly but surely things are changing for the better. There are interesting individuals and groups of youth that are becoming more popular through social media.

There are of course still many more traditionalists than reformers and liberals, and then there are the downright uncivil people. But just that there is in fact change has made me go from not liking my country at all to appreciating Saudi Arabia and its people.

We are in transition, although our pace is slow. That's just my take on it though.

I've met some saudis who were western educated like you who came back with a fresh pair of eyes. But again, there are those who after seeing the outside world are reaffirmed in their traditions and beliefs.

I was raised here in Riyadh and from then to now, there has been changes and shifts towards being more progressive. It's just unfortunate though, coz some of the liberal saudi friends I've encountered are very private and would seldom raise their view in public. A lot of folks are very much inclined to living modern lives and take a progressive approach to thinking and dealing with people (mixing with different nationalities, coed activities, open-mindedness) but it almost feels like some subculture, a lifestyle beneath the supposed lifestyle we're supposed to observe and practice.

If you're ever in town... we should get a cup of joe. Cheers, Hadi!