I’m very fortunate to know that I happen to have a regular following of my blog. And I wish to thank each and every one of you. I hope that I am reaching my goals of providing various aspects on experiences, life and culture of the Kingdom to you and answering your unasked questions. I also hope that I am giving individuals a full perspective on the many aspects of Saudi Arabia. Personally, I like to compare KSA to the changing colors of a Kaleidoscope.
But the primary reason I am writing this particular post, since I do post daily, I wanted to let readers know that I will likely be away from the blog for a few days. During my absence I hope that everyone will continue to comment sharing their views and perspectives and allow us all to learn from one another.
So while there may be a brief absence from my daily posts, you and this blog will be in my thoughts. And stay tuned, I believe I have some posts coming up on my return that will be of interest to many of you. Naturally I also continue to welcome your suggestions for future topics you’d like me to address too.
All the Best,
Carol (American Bedu)
Filed under: culture, gender, islam, politics, relationships, religion, Saudi Arabia, Saudi blogs, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, Saudi education, terrorism, travel, Uncategorized, women driving
Carol,
I’d be interested in knowing about the poor of Saudi Arabia. It isnt something that we hear much about. Everyone seems to think that all Saudis are rich and have oil wells in their back yards.
Something about the Saudis who are not as affluent would be great. The social-economic thing is not something I have seen any Saudi blog cover. If you relied on Saudi blogs you’d think all Saudis were rich, had maids, drivers, took long vacations, drove luxury vehicles and the like.
There is a good reason for that, most Saudis who blog or people who blog from Saudi, are decidedly upper middle class or rich and run with that crowd.
It would be great to see a blogger in Saudi step out of that and take a look at those less fortunate in Saudi.
There is a whole segment of Saudi society who are poor, cannot call in wasta to better their lives and have no money for reschwa.
That would be a great story.
We’ll be here when you get back!
That is right; I have seen some footage of the saudi-poor living in squalid circumstances, a family in one dingy dark room only light by a fluorescent tube, and haven’t people actually died during the cold winter?
Increadible in a country whitch is coining so much money, and above all prides itself on it’s ”islamicness”
A pride I find wholly displaced, as I have the impression everything pious is fake in KSA anyway. It seems a totally insane place, constantely flaunting islamic principles, while distorting its most pre-islamic, female unfriendly traditions into lunatic proportions, causing the majority of its inhabitants to grow up as mentally disturbed people.
I cannot understand how hundreds of millions are spend building overdecorated mosques in other countries, while a portion of it’s own people live (and die) in abject poverty.
Oh, but I do understand: helping these indiginous, lower tribal people wouldn’t give them the publicity.
Or the influence to spread their distorted and innovated form of Islam into other countries.
Saudi citizens are not wealthy by any measure. Saudi is 41 in the GDP (PPP) rank in the world. Just as a comparison this is half the wealth of the average American and a quarter of the wealth of the average citizen of neighboring Qatar. If you add the fact that the distribution of wealth in Saudi is skewed in favor of the upper class, the picture gets worse, but there are no good statistics providing that metric.
I think an article on Saudi poverty will be a good one.
You will be missed Carol and your blog is wonderful.
I agree on the showing the poverty as well. That would make a nice balanced portrayel of the GCC countries I’ve not yet seen.
Often, when driving through Kuwait I note amazing decrepit buildings that people live in—smack in the middle of exclusive high rises. It never ceases to amaze me.
We’re driving in the oh so modern state of the art mall areas, and dealing with bumpy horrible roads, with huge garbage containers overflowing and I want to scream.
Everyone assumes (wrongly) that all Kuwaitis are rich as well. The wealth is distributed amongst a few families. I’m very open about the homeless in my country (and agree it’s a shame) perhaps I can cover the Kuwait reality.
My pet peeve: Huge expensive, exclusive apartments being built with adorable little balconys. Picture this now: Wet laundry (personals too) hung over the balcony. A charming ghetto addition.
Aafke,
I couldnt have said it better myself!
Aafke, I am sorry you have the impression that “everything pious is fake in KSA anyway.” Unfortunately, the negative travels faster and farther than the positive, but I assure you, true piety is found in abundance there. I am also sorry to say that I agree with much of the rest of your post.
Viking Daughter, I know exactly what you mean about the juxtaposition between rich and poor in the M.E. Regarding the apartments of which you speak, poverty is not the only issue here. Anyone who can afford those apartments should know better than to hang their underwear over the balcony, right? Wrong.
Could it be that the modern technology that built those apartments came without the blueprint for installing washers and dryers? Could it be that the engineers decided that washers and dryers were unnecessary, since every apartment had a balcony? This sort of thing could fill an entire thread of its own, no?.
Marahm, You are so right about looking at the inside picture. But, I must tell you that as haphazard as things may seem today in KSA, it is a thousand times better than in 1980 when they were building bridges over roads. One bridge was not yet finished and did not have a sign or a road block or anything. Only after a few people drove off the thing and fell below to a sudden death did one go up.
I’ve had very limited contact with poor Saudis…unless they were married to foreigners, so I too would be interested to know how they are handling things. I see many Saudis working in jobs in grocery stores and shopping centers which was unheard of only 5 years ago, but I know that the pay is very small, so they must be having a hard time making ends meet.
Thank you for the excellent suggestion on portraying another aspect of the Kingdom that does indeed exist but rarely discussed. I’ve made a note and will work on such an article.
Speaking of bridges, Riyadh is full of “temporary bridges.” There is one on Takhusseesee street heading out towards Thamama that has been in existence now for 30 years!
Marahm, you’re right on other problems. I guess it just drives me nuts to see such eyesores in nice areas. I found it interesting the times I’ve been in UAE, they don’t have this problem.
I asked. I was told the Emirati Govt issued a law against this ”laundry” issue. The new apartment buildings here now have washer/dryer outlets.
I should be silent. I came a million years ago when vacuum cleaners were a rare gem. I laugh at expats who dare to complain nowadays.
As for Saudi spending money outside, well the U.S. does it too, and we have our share of homeless people. Also, check the stats on the refugee resettlement expenses our country spends on refugees, many of whom complain later.