The Journey Begins.......November 2008, a new era in my life.

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Three years has almost elapsed since arriving in the magnificent Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and what a remarkable three years it has been. I can still remember making the announcement of my departure to my family and friends at the annual Eid gathering that my family hosted. Mixed reactions came my way, some of them positive , supportive and encouraging and well others were quite negative. Why do you want to serve the Arab nation I was asked. Why do you want to leave your luxury home, cars and comfort and relocate for a few years into a backward, arrogant society? Someone even said that in no time I would quit and runaway back home. But I was determined to come to the Kingdom and face the situation heads on. For me it was a challenge leaving home and relocating to another country all by myself having grown up in a sheltered well protected environment where all my needs and desires were catered for. 

I will never forget the day I left my country greeting many family members at the airport. Some of them had tear filled eyes whilst others were simply supportive and encouraging like my parents. I guess the sadness they had was in actual fact a silent, inner grief. They knew they had to support me and encourage me to complete the goal that I had set out to accomplish.

After a long flight through Abu Dhabi I had finally arrived at King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh and was warmly received by a hospital representative. After completing all the formalities we then headed off to the hospital and from that day onward, my new home.

I had frequented the Kingdom prior to 2008 on an umrah trip(mini pilgrimage) with my family. I had visited the port city if Jeddah and of course the two holiest cities in the Islamic world, Makkah tul Mukarrama and Medinatul Munawwara. It was the first time that I had visited Riyadh and I was taken aback by the beauty of the airport and the numerous green parks the city had to offer.

After making our way through the city and passing numerous traffic signals we finally arrived at the hospital. I was flabbergasted at the size and magnitude of the hospital ground. It was like a mini city within a huge city.
I was dropped off at the housing complex and was handed over my apartment key. Naturally after traveling many thousands of miles since the night before I was exhausted and thought to myself that I will unpack, take a shower , get something to eat and head off straight to bed. I was under the impression that I would be living in my own non-sharing apartment. As I opened the door of apartment 254, I was startled and kind of disappointed to be greeted by my new room mate, someone I had n’t met in my entire life. We are two different people from two different backgrounds. I started wondering how am I going to cope with this and this is just the beginning. I think its always easier sharing an apartment with someone you already know, someone with similar ideas and interests, someone with the same religious background.

Miss F, my room mate was a nurse positioned within the fast paced emergency department. Like most people from the west, she was quite fascinated with the culture and traditions of Saudi Arabia. Yet for her, everyday was a constant struggle. She couldn’t quite understand why does a woman need to walk around with a black cloak (abaya) or “sheet” as she would say or why some women veiled their faces(Niqaab). She was completely out of tune with Islamic teachings or principles and all she ever knew was what was portrayed to her via the television.

I found this kind of behaviour common amongst many westerners residing here. Having come from the USA or the UK, they can not quite comprehend or understand Middle eastern culture.

I think the key to being a successful expatriate is being able to fit in with the native society, understand their cultures and belief systems and respect them. I think this principle holds true for all expatriates across the globe. I have found many westerners criticizing the local customs and traditions, instead of embracing them. The ones that embrace them land up staying in the Kingdom successfully, lead productive and active social lives and learn from their experiences whilst residing among Arab people.

I have met two American nurses who are residing in the Kingdom for over 18 years now. Miss P is the one I’m really fond off. She is the mother of one parrot and a beautiful chubby Siamese cat. She derives pleasure and happiness from finding homes for the stray cats roaming around on the hospital premises. Miss P has a friend that resides outside the hospital. She was telling me that her attitude was typically the same like all westerners who arrive here. According to her own account, she was anti Muslim, found Islam to be a backward religion and yet unbelievably after 18 years of residing within the Kingdom, interacting with Muslim people she finds herself on the verge of embracing Islam.

As a Muslim woman myself, the transition from South Africa to Saudi Arabia was not at all life altering at all. For a Muslim,religion is a part of ones’ life, meaning that all your daily activities would be revolved around the five daily prayers. Hence the life I would lead in south Africa is a mirror image to the one I would lead in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and hence I took to the place with much ease and comfort. I always believe that if something is written out for you in your destiny it will certainly materialize and when it does happen all of it will occur smooth sailing without any hindrances or obstacles. This is the power of God. This is the power of the Almighty.

I must admit the first time I landed foot in the Kingdom for a short two week mini pilgrimage a good few years ago, I was not at all impressed with the attitude of the local people. They came across as rude, arrogant and abrupt. However, after residing in the Kingdom for almost three years now, I can tell you with certainty that my perception of the people here has changed. You can not judge a country or a nation based on just a short two week stay. When you live with a nation, interact with them on a daily basis, it is then that you can understand their personalities and customs. What may be acceptable to an individual from a western orientated society may not necessarily be acceptable within an eastern traditional society governed by laws of the Quraan.

The bottom line folks, is that in every society we get the good, the bad and the ugly. We should stop judging people based on our preconceived notions or our perceptions of them based on media propaganda. Treat others the way you wish to be treated. Respect other people’s cultures and belief systems and it is then that the world will respect you in return!!!