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American Expat Living in Saudi Arabia - Interview with Beverly
| Published: | 9 Apr at 9 AM |
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Filed: Interviews,Saudi Arabia
This blogger is a 60 year old lady, who loves to travel and try new foods, and is the luckiest person in the world because she has a wonderful and interesting husband and two great grown children. When this opportunity came up to live in Saudi Arabia for 3 years, she said "Why not?". Hopefully, there will be many more big adventures in the future! Beverly's expat blog is called Butterfly in the oasis in the desert (see listing here)
In Al Ula
Where are you originally from?
The simple answer for where I am "originally from" is New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. The longer answer is the following: I grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. I married while in college and then my husband and I moved to Alabama to finish our post graduate degrees. Upon graduation, we moved to New Jersey for 5 years, then to Baton Rouge for 18 months, then to Houston for 4 years, then to Brussels, Belgium for 3 years, then back to Houston for 20 years. You take so much from where you live, it is hard to just list the "original" place.
In which country and city are you living now?
I live in the city of Yanbu in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
How long have you lived in Saudi Arabia and how long are you planning to stay?
I have been here 10 months and expect to be here another 1 1/2 years.
Why did you move to Saudi Arabia and what do you do?
My husband was offered a job here in a different field than he had been working. It is near the end of his career and we decided why not have another adventure! I do not work here. It seems that the opportunities for expat women to work here are limited.
Did you bring family with you?
I am here with my husband. My children are grown and on their own.
How did you find the transition to living in a foreign country?
This is my second time on a foreign assignment with my husband. The first was Belgium. Living in Belgium was a little bit of an adjustment. This assignment in Saudi Arabia is a more difficult adjustment. Women cannot drive here. Women must wear an abaya while out. In restaurants, women usually must be in a family room often with curtains or doors. In some restaurants, women are not allowed at all. If you are not careful, it can mess with your mind.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialise with other expats?
It was very easy making friends here on the compound. My friendships are only with expats from everywhere else, including the Middle East, just not Saudi Arabia. I had hoped to meet Saudi women, but that seems very improbable. My only interactions, if you can even call them that, are shopping at the grocery or shopping mall. Usually, they avert their eyes when I look at them. Before coming here, I started Arabic language lessons, but now feel there really is not any point for that.
What are the best things to do in the area; anything to recommend to future expats?
The Red Sea is very beautiful. So, I would recommend going to the beach, but there are only certain beaches where western women can go. The "old" village of Yanbu is interesting. It is where T.E. Lawrence, Lawrence of Arabia, lived for a time. And a fascinating overnight trip is one to Mada'in Saleh, where the ancient Nabateens lived.
What do you enjoy most about living in Saudi Arabia?
I find it interesting learning about the culture through my eyes, not filtered by media or someone else's opinion.
How does the cost of living in Saudi Arabia compare to home?
I think that it is the same or cheaper than at home. But since there is not the variety of things available here in Yanbu as at home, it is a little hard to compare.
What negatives, if any, are there to living in Saudi Arabia?
The restrictions on women are the hardest thing about living here. For example, western women are not required to wear head scarves, but in certain areas of town, there is a "felt" pressure to do so. So, you are often wondering, should I cover, are people upset by me not covering, will the religious police fuss at me. So, you cannot ever be just relaxed when out. So far, I have not had anyone be ugly to me. Everyone has been very kind. They may look shocked as I come around the corner, but then they recover. :)
If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving to Saudi Arabia, what would it be?
I would say the best thing is to be open to the new culture. It will not be like it is at home, so do not get in the trap of comparing it.
What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
The hardest part is not being able to just get in a car and drive someplace. If I need something at the grocery, I have to plan to go on the scheduled compound bus trips, or ask another expat who may have a driver or just substitute what I need with something else. So things need to be scheduled more here.
When you finally return home, how do you think you'll cope with repatriation?
I don't think that I will have a problem with repatriation. The only problem will be in missing the intense relationships that you form while on an expat assignment. You tend to depend upon each other a lot more than at home. When I returned from Belgium, I initially felt an intense loneliness. I expect that to happen when I leave here also.
What are your top 5 expat tips for anyone following in your footsteps?
I originally started my blog to let my family and friends know what it was like to live here. Also, I thought that it would function as a journal for me. When the assignment is over, I can print it out and have it bound. So, the blog is about my new experiences, what it is like here, how the expats pass their time here and anything else that is going on in my life at the time (here or back at home).
How can you be contacted for further advice to future expats coming to your area?
Anyone can contact me by commenting on my blog either through Expatsblog.com or through Google. Although you have to create a Google account to do this.
Beverly is an American expat living in Saudi Arabia. Blog description: Life in Yanbu and back home
In Al Ula
Here's the interview with Beverly...
Where are you originally from?
The simple answer for where I am "originally from" is New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. The longer answer is the following: I grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. I married while in college and then my husband and I moved to Alabama to finish our post graduate degrees. Upon graduation, we moved to New Jersey for 5 years, then to Baton Rouge for 18 months, then to Houston for 4 years, then to Brussels, Belgium for 3 years, then back to Houston for 20 years. You take so much from where you live, it is hard to just list the "original" place.
In which country and city are you living now?
I live in the city of Yanbu in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
How long have you lived in Saudi Arabia and how long are you planning to stay?
I have been here 10 months and expect to be here another 1 1/2 years.
Why did you move to Saudi Arabia and what do you do?
My husband was offered a job here in a different field than he had been working. It is near the end of his career and we decided why not have another adventure! I do not work here. It seems that the opportunities for expat women to work here are limited.
Did you bring family with you?
I am here with my husband. My children are grown and on their own.
How did you find the transition to living in a foreign country?
This is my second time on a foreign assignment with my husband. The first was Belgium. Living in Belgium was a little bit of an adjustment. This assignment in Saudi Arabia is a more difficult adjustment. Women cannot drive here. Women must wear an abaya while out. In restaurants, women usually must be in a family room often with curtains or doors. In some restaurants, women are not allowed at all. If you are not careful, it can mess with your mind.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialise with other expats?
It was very easy making friends here on the compound. My friendships are only with expats from everywhere else, including the Middle East, just not Saudi Arabia. I had hoped to meet Saudi women, but that seems very improbable. My only interactions, if you can even call them that, are shopping at the grocery or shopping mall. Usually, they avert their eyes when I look at them. Before coming here, I started Arabic language lessons, but now feel there really is not any point for that.
What are the best things to do in the area; anything to recommend to future expats?
The Red Sea is very beautiful. So, I would recommend going to the beach, but there are only certain beaches where western women can go. The "old" village of Yanbu is interesting. It is where T.E. Lawrence, Lawrence of Arabia, lived for a time. And a fascinating overnight trip is one to Mada'in Saleh, where the ancient Nabateens lived.
What do you enjoy most about living in Saudi Arabia?
I find it interesting learning about the culture through my eyes, not filtered by media or someone else's opinion.
How does the cost of living in Saudi Arabia compare to home?
I think that it is the same or cheaper than at home. But since there is not the variety of things available here in Yanbu as at home, it is a little hard to compare.
What negatives, if any, are there to living in Saudi Arabia?
The restrictions on women are the hardest thing about living here. For example, western women are not required to wear head scarves, but in certain areas of town, there is a "felt" pressure to do so. So, you are often wondering, should I cover, are people upset by me not covering, will the religious police fuss at me. So, you cannot ever be just relaxed when out. So far, I have not had anyone be ugly to me. Everyone has been very kind. They may look shocked as I come around the corner, but then they recover. :)
If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving to Saudi Arabia, what would it be?
I would say the best thing is to be open to the new culture. It will not be like it is at home, so do not get in the trap of comparing it.
What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
The hardest part is not being able to just get in a car and drive someplace. If I need something at the grocery, I have to plan to go on the scheduled compound bus trips, or ask another expat who may have a driver or just substitute what I need with something else. So things need to be scheduled more here.
When you finally return home, how do you think you'll cope with repatriation?
I don't think that I will have a problem with repatriation. The only problem will be in missing the intense relationships that you form while on an expat assignment. You tend to depend upon each other a lot more than at home. When I returned from Belgium, I initially felt an intense loneliness. I expect that to happen when I leave here also.
What are your top 5 expat tips for anyone following in your footsteps?
- Research everything that you can about where you are going. I would suggest to narrow your research to the city where you will be living. In Saudi Arabia, it is very different living in Yanbu than in Jeddah or Jubail. If you research, you will be prepared and will appreciate things more.
- Expect that everything will take a longer to get done or happen than back at home. So, just relax.
- Stop comparing things to the way they were at home. If you don't, you will never enjoy yourself in the new culture.
- Get out and explore your new area!
- Your time here will be as happy as YOU make it.
I originally started my blog to let my family and friends know what it was like to live here. Also, I thought that it would function as a journal for me. When the assignment is over, I can print it out and have it bound. So, the blog is about my new experiences, what it is like here, how the expats pass their time here and anything else that is going on in my life at the time (here or back at home).
How can you be contacted for further advice to future expats coming to your area?
Anyone can contact me by commenting on my blog either through Expatsblog.com or through Google. Although you have to create a Google account to do this.
About the author
Beverly is an American expat living in Saudi Arabia. Blog description: Life in Yanbu and back home
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Taher Y Kagalwala wrote 10
years ago:
Dear Beverly, You've certainly been to a lot of places! I envy you your outlook on living in foreign cultures. I have an Egyptian doctor friend who recently arrived in Yanbu. He is still getting his bearings. I will definitely recommend him your blog! He is not new to Saudi Arabia though. His previous stint was for 4 years as an ENT surgeon in the same place where I work, which is about 600 km south east of Madein Salah, the place you mention in your interview. Like you, I have been blogging since I came to the Kingdom. Unlike you, though, I am a male and have fewer gender-related problems. However, I am alone here and not with the family,so there. I will be reading your blog as soon as possible and will leave comments where appropriate. Dr. Taher
