From adolescent to adult hood in Arabia.

My home-Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia- The world’s hidden gem.

For many of you, your introduction to my country of residence would be through tabloids and various news channels where it’s referred to as a terrorist country, a country of oppression and the homeland of Osama Bin Laden. I want you all to view Saudi Arabia through an alternate microscope; I want you all to view the Saudi Arabia that I live in. A country drenched in culture, religion and prestige. Honestly if there was a place that one could call heaven on earth I would say this is it.

I feel as though I am the luckiest teenager on the planet to be living in this beautiful country. Off late Saudi has been in the news for oppressing women, people talk about the fact that women can’t drive. In my opinion, it’s all about perspective. In countries like the United Kingdom affluent females like the Queen, Kate Middleton and other wealthy individuals are chauffeured.  . Then why is it ok for wealthy people to be driven around and not be considered as oppressed?  Similarly, in Saudi Arabia the ban on driving does not oppress a woman rather it elevates the status of women. We women are given the privilege of being driven around regardless of our financial status.  One can  view the glass as half full or as half empty. The empty approach in my humble opinion leads to an empty life. Every country, city, continent, child, adult has a flaw. There is nothing that we can refer to as flawless.

Tell me how often do you all see your extended family members? This includes all the aunties, uncles, cousins that you haven’t seen for years due to reasons such as distance or family domestics.  Till date there are people in this country that live like they did centuries ago with their whole family around them. Yes, I understand we all need our personal space but the best part is that they live in little compounds where everyone has their own house and can go in and out as they please or in nearby localities.  Perhaps, this view may be considered backwards by the 'modern minds' but for those who value family life I feel this is such a unique thing to look at.

Where in other countries time seems limited and family and friends gathering are a rare occasion, here in KSA all efforts are made to ensure daily interaction whether via phones or visits.  People here consider time to be of great importance and hence why they use it wisely ensuring that a balance is maintained in their lives.  When I was in the UK, all I heard was “I am too busy and there is no time”.  My ears hurt hearing this sentence but here this sentence is an alien statement.  In most countries people don’t even know who their neighbours are; here our neighbours are like family.  If any of us are ill they turn up at the door with plates of food and are constantly checking on us. A major misconception that people have about the residents of Saudi is that they are dangerous and that we should just stay away from them. There are good and bad people everywhere, if you spend your life locked up you will never learn.

I know that there may be Saudis here who mistreat their women but that happens in every culture and every country, so why do we only talk about the Arab men? No matter what the circumstances in their households in my 4 years in this country I have never been harassed by any Saudi male. In fact, I have been given so much respect from them it’s unbelievable. Here if there is a women waiting in the queue to buy food or something the priority goes to the women. The concept here is a little different; there are separate queues for men and women. However, the women’s queue tends to get served first.  This is not to show that we are weak but to show respect for us.  Also if I as a female am walking on the road and there are men in front of me they would move out of the way. I feel like here women are elevated to such a status that each female holds an invisible crown on their head. It hurts me so much when I hear people say that in Arab countries especially Saudi women are oppressed. In fact the literacy rate is higher in women than in men and Saudi royals such as princess Ameera Al- Taweel are known to carry out many projects for women’s rights. Additionally, she was amongst the guests at the royal wedding.  There are people here who can and will make a difference in life. Those of us living here are not illiterate individuals in fact one of my friends has recently been accepted into both imperial college and UCL.  I just wish that people would realise that where I am is not bad at all. By doing these blogs I really want to shine a positive light on the Arab world, a light that should have been lit years ago.

P.s- is anyone willing to make me a nice cover?