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Indian Expat Living in Saudi Arabia - Interview with Taher
| Published: | 17 Apr at 9 AM |
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Filed: Interviews,Saudi Arabia
Dr. Taher is a Paediatrician and Writer. He hails from Mumbai,India. He is a keen observer, a nature-lover, an amateur photographer, a birder, an amateur cook, and an avid net-surfer. He loves to make friends from all over the globe. He enjoys travelling, and a lot of the blog that he writes from Saudi Arabia features his solo travels over this land. He is married and has two daughters. Taher's expat blog is called Dr. Taher of Arabia (see listing here)
The lone garden in Al Muwayh
Where are you originally from?
I come from Mumbai. I was born there, and I completed my medical graduation as well as post-graduation there.
In which country and city are you living now?
I am actually living in a small village in the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia. This village (Al Muwayh) is located bang in the south-central part of KSA and has a population of less than 7000. In fact, there are more camels and goats here than humans, as I jokingly say to my friends.
How long have you lived in Saudi Arabia and how long are you planning to stay?
I came here in November 2011, so I have completed about 2 1/4 years here. I am not certain about how long I will stay here, as I am all alone, and life in a small village is really slow and uninteresting, but I suppose I will be here for at least one more year.
In front of the Holy Kaaba in Makkah for UmrahWhy did you move to Saudi Arabia and what do you do?
I was working as a Paediatrician in Mumbai for over 23 years, when I realised that I needed to save a lot more money for my family and to satisfy my urge to travel around the world, so I applied to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health for a job as a Paediatrician, and was accepted after an interview. There were a few more reasons for accepting this job, and to read this, you need to see this post in my blog: http://drtaherofarabia.blogspot.com/2012/01/day-76-monday-30th-january-2012.html and http://drtaherofarabia.blogspot.com/2013/07/day-621-some-introspection-and-some.html
Did you bring family with you?
No, I did not. The reason is that my better half, Nishrin, is running a salon in Mumbai. My elder daughter, Inas, is a hair-stylist in a chain-salon, and my younger daughter, Hannah, is still in University, doing her bachelorship in Management Studies.
How did you find the transition to living in a foreign country?
It was very difficult at the beginning. My problems started even before I set foot on the soil in KSA. I was relieved of most of the money I was carrying at the Delhi airport itself as I was carrying extra baggage (medical books). The lack of any knowledge of spoken Arabic did not help at all, and it took me a long time to get used to the Arab way of life, and their bland, non-exciting food. I have come a long way since then, and I cook my own food, apart from speaking enough Arabic to be able to understand the woes of the patient and to be able to extricate myself out of sticky situations!
Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialise with other expats?
I have had a tough time making friends, naturally, as I can neither identify with their language, their food, their mannerisms, their etiquette and their culture. However, as I come from a small village, friendships have grown, and I can proudly say now that I have good friends from this village. All males, naturally.
It is also true that I mostly socialise with other expats, but not exclusively so. The unfortunate thing is that my hospital has only one Indian (me), one Pakistani and one Bangladeshi
In the portico of Al Muwayh Hospital on Saudi Arabia National Day with Filipina NursesWhat are the best things to do in the area; anything to recommend to future expats?
I can only recommend that you try to get a posting in a big city like Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah or the like. In my village here, there is nothing you can really do. You have to be inventive.
What do you enjoy most about living in Saudi Arabia?
The salary. Really. No other compensation for living here. However, additionally, for a devout Muslim, the real reward is the freedom to go to Makkah and Madinah whenever you want.
How does the cost of living in Saudi Arabia compare to home?
Compared to other gulf countries, Saudi Arabia is considered as the one nation where the cost of living is low and the potential for savings is highest.
The exterior of the Al Muwayh General Hospital where I workWhat negatives, if any, are there to living in Saudi Arabia?
Social restrictions are severe here, especially for women. This is public knowledge.
If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving to Saudi Arabia, what would it be?
Beware of the social restrictions. Read other blogs on KSA, especially the ones by Blue Abaya and Susie of Arabia, as they are extensively researched and have a zillion followers.
What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
It is the most basic aspect of living: to be able to understand the psyche of a Saudi individual. They seem to be living a few centuries behind us.
When you finally return home, how do you think you'll cope with repatriation?
I will have no problems in "coping"! It should be a sense of massive relief! At the same time, yes, the lack of a generous income will pinch for some time.
The famous Al Wabah Crater, an important geological formation in Hafer Kashb in central KSAWhat are your top 5 expat tips for anyone following in your footsteps?
I started my blog as soon as I landed on Arabian soil (or should I say sand?). I chose the Lawrence of Arabia title to twist the name of my blog. I was writing every day for the first 400 days, then I have been a little irregular, as life has got into a sort of groove, and there isn't much to write every day.
How can you be contacted for further advice to future expats coming to your area?
You may contact me through the blog by inserting a comment, and I will reply to you from there. Do share your blog too, so that I can visit you back!
Taher is an Indian expat living in Saudi Arabia. Blog description: This blog describes my life in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since I moved there about a year and a half ago.
The lone garden in Al Muwayh
Here's the interview with Taher...
Where are you originally from?
I come from Mumbai. I was born there, and I completed my medical graduation as well as post-graduation there.
In which country and city are you living now?
I am actually living in a small village in the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia. This village (Al Muwayh) is located bang in the south-central part of KSA and has a population of less than 7000. In fact, there are more camels and goats here than humans, as I jokingly say to my friends.
How long have you lived in Saudi Arabia and how long are you planning to stay?
I came here in November 2011, so I have completed about 2 1/4 years here. I am not certain about how long I will stay here, as I am all alone, and life in a small village is really slow and uninteresting, but I suppose I will be here for at least one more year.
In front of the Holy Kaaba in Makkah for Umrah
I was working as a Paediatrician in Mumbai for over 23 years, when I realised that I needed to save a lot more money for my family and to satisfy my urge to travel around the world, so I applied to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health for a job as a Paediatrician, and was accepted after an interview. There were a few more reasons for accepting this job, and to read this, you need to see this post in my blog: http://drtaherofarabia.blogspot.com/2012/01/day-76-monday-30th-january-2012.html and http://drtaherofarabia.blogspot.com/2013/07/day-621-some-introspection-and-some.html
Did you bring family with you?
No, I did not. The reason is that my better half, Nishrin, is running a salon in Mumbai. My elder daughter, Inas, is a hair-stylist in a chain-salon, and my younger daughter, Hannah, is still in University, doing her bachelorship in Management Studies.
How did you find the transition to living in a foreign country?
It was very difficult at the beginning. My problems started even before I set foot on the soil in KSA. I was relieved of most of the money I was carrying at the Delhi airport itself as I was carrying extra baggage (medical books). The lack of any knowledge of spoken Arabic did not help at all, and it took me a long time to get used to the Arab way of life, and their bland, non-exciting food. I have come a long way since then, and I cook my own food, apart from speaking enough Arabic to be able to understand the woes of the patient and to be able to extricate myself out of sticky situations!
Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialise with other expats?
I have had a tough time making friends, naturally, as I can neither identify with their language, their food, their mannerisms, their etiquette and their culture. However, as I come from a small village, friendships have grown, and I can proudly say now that I have good friends from this village. All males, naturally.
It is also true that I mostly socialise with other expats, but not exclusively so. The unfortunate thing is that my hospital has only one Indian (me), one Pakistani and one Bangladeshi
In the portico of Al Muwayh Hospital on Saudi Arabia National Day with Filipina Nurses
I can only recommend that you try to get a posting in a big city like Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah or the like. In my village here, there is nothing you can really do. You have to be inventive.
What do you enjoy most about living in Saudi Arabia?
The salary. Really. No other compensation for living here. However, additionally, for a devout Muslim, the real reward is the freedom to go to Makkah and Madinah whenever you want.
How does the cost of living in Saudi Arabia compare to home?
Compared to other gulf countries, Saudi Arabia is considered as the one nation where the cost of living is low and the potential for savings is highest.
The exterior of the Al Muwayh General Hospital where I work
Social restrictions are severe here, especially for women. This is public knowledge.
If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving to Saudi Arabia, what would it be?
Beware of the social restrictions. Read other blogs on KSA, especially the ones by Blue Abaya and Susie of Arabia, as they are extensively researched and have a zillion followers.
What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
It is the most basic aspect of living: to be able to understand the psyche of a Saudi individual. They seem to be living a few centuries behind us.
When you finally return home, how do you think you'll cope with repatriation?
I will have no problems in "coping"! It should be a sense of massive relief! At the same time, yes, the lack of a generous income will pinch for some time.
The famous Al Wabah Crater, an important geological formation in Hafer Kashb in central KSA
- Research the norms and culture of this country through blogs written by others and visiting as many forums as possible on Saudi travel.
- Pick up a few books on Arabic so that you can at least speak a few important words in Arabic.
- Remember that Saudis are extremes ... there are some who are unbelievably egoistic, and some who are exceptionally humble and helpful. Just like us. So, choose your friends and acquaintances carefully and behave with them in an appropriate manner.
- Try to locate in a big city, but remember that big cities also come with bigger expenses.
- Try to give up all bad habits, especially alcohol and ogling at women ;-P, and if you are a kleptomaniac, Allah help you to escape Islamic punishment.
I started my blog as soon as I landed on Arabian soil (or should I say sand?). I chose the Lawrence of Arabia title to twist the name of my blog. I was writing every day for the first 400 days, then I have been a little irregular, as life has got into a sort of groove, and there isn't much to write every day.
How can you be contacted for further advice to future expats coming to your area?
You may contact me through the blog by inserting a comment, and I will reply to you from there. Do share your blog too, so that I can visit you back!
About the author
Taher is an Indian expat living in Saudi Arabia. Blog description: This blog describes my life in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since I moved there about a year and a half ago.
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