Saudi Arabia: Book Review of “The Red Sea Bride”

American Bedu recently completed reading the book “The Red Sea Bride.”  “The Red Sea Bride” is the autobiography of Sylvia Fowler, a woman who met her Saudi husband when he was a student in Texas during the 1980’s.  They had a fast courtship and were soon married.  Instead of her dream of becoming an international [...]

Saudi Arabia: No Red Hearts or Roses

It is kind of ironic.  Red hearts, teddy bears and roses are always readily available in the conservative capital of Riyadh…except on Valentine’s Day.  Sometimes I think this is the one day that the Muttawa look forward to the most.  They will enter into florist shops, party stores or any other store that may have [...]

Saudi Arabia/Germany: Again

A German woman announcing that she is going to accompany her partner as an expat wife to Jeddah and will be living in Saudi Arabia for several years? Impossible! Suddenly, even your most conservative relatives from rural small-town Germany will turn into staunch defenders of “Western liberty”, reminding you that you will be sitting all [...]

Saudi Arabia: Is the First Wife to Blame?

When one hears that a man has taken a second wife, too often there may be remarks that the first wife must have done something wrong.  She must have disappointed him or made him very angry.  She must not have been a good wife if he had to seek out someone else.  More often than [...]

Saudi Arabia: Tribute to Abdullah Othman Al-Ajroush

It is hard to fathom that it has been two years since Abdullah left this world.  Life has gone on but not a day goes by that I do not remember the love of my life. I feel his presence in many ways.  Of course I only need to look at the photos of him [...]

Saudi Arabia: The Annual Janadriyah Festival

The annual Janadriyah festival which showcases the cultures and traditions of Saudi Arabia will open on February 8th.  King Abdullah will oversee the honor of opening the event which will run for a two week period. The Janadriyal festival is one of the best means for anyone – whether an expatriate or a Saudi – [...]

Saudi Arabia: More Answers about Having a Housemaid

An American Bedu reader sent me some great questions about having a housemaid.  I’m sharing these questions along with my own answers. It is very common for Saudis and expatriate families to engage a housemaid whether full time or part time.  The culture and lifestyle in Saudi Arabia is different than that of Western countries [...]

Saudi Arabia: What is the Life of a Domestic Worker Like?

  It is common to have domestic help in Saudi Arabia.  The two most common types of domestic help are a housemaid and a driver.  In hindsight, I would have preferred to have a full-time driver rather than a full-time housemaid. Women, by law, are unable to drive in Saudi Arabia.  This can create an [...]

Saudi Arabia: Outside Socializing Among Families

I always welcome when American Bedu readers will email me with questions about Saudi Arabia and its customs, cultures and traditions.  It is easy to forget that what might become ‘natural’ to an expatriate in the Kingdom may still seem ‘foreign’ to someone who has never been there but interested in learning and understanding. I [...]

Saudi Arabia: Book Review – The Ruins of Us

  American Bedu recently finished reading the book ‘The Ruins of Us’ written by Keija Parsinnen.   The Ruins of Us is the story of Rosalie and Abdullah.  Rosalie is an American who was born to expatriate parents in Saudi Arabia.  She lived in Saudi Arabia until she was twelve years old and those years in [...]

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