Why would the average person move to Saudi Arabia? For many it is all about the luxuries, such as cheap gasoline, luxurious houses and a good salary. But unfortunately, many of those people don’t think about the differences between this country and the country of their origin. In the end, they realize that in order to have a bearable life here, one must adapt to the local customs and rules. However, by the time they learn that it is almost too late to change their opinion on the place or sometimes people just chose to be ignorant.
If you are one of those people who think western society is always right and everyone should do as it says with no exception, I suggest you stop reading right here. If you really want to know what will await you once you come to Saudi Arabia and if you are willing to face these challenges, please be my guest and read on.
After again having to listen to western people complain a few hours ago about how terrible they find it to live here with all those restrictions, I think I should share a fact that MUST be considered before one decides to move to live here.
So, if you think that you cannot adapt, or if you think that you don’t want or don’t have to live with things like heat, dress codes, social limitations, absence of public transport, pork and alcohol, then don’t move here.
Because if you do so, without being able to cope with these things, your life here will be miserable and all you will do is complain about how bad you have it here all day and feel like you wasted a large portion of your precious time, while annoying those who are actually trying to make the best out of their situation, including the locals.
When it comes to living abroad in general, I would say it is all a matter of attitude. You have the choice between being open-minded and ready to explore something new, or you can choose to be ignorant and pretend like you are not a guest in someone else’s country but still “at home” where things go your way. I find this an interesting country. But this is because I told myself that I will make it interesting for me and that I will find things that will make my stay worth the time. So in the end, it is really up to your motivation and interpretation.
I really don’t mean to be rude with this post. I created this blog to help people have a better understanding of Saudi Arabia and give advice for future expats where I can. So, since this whole adaptation thing seems to be a big deal for most people, I think that it should really be made clear that Saudi Arabia is not like the western society. It is a country with its own culture and its own rules that go against the moral understandings of the majority of people from abroad.
An important thing to understand here, includes the hierarchy within the society of foreigners. Expatriate professionals will have an entirely different story to tell than housekeepers from less wealthy countries or the locals for that matter. The understanding of the existence of various social classes and the realization that expatriates are way better off than any other groups, is an important aspect that many westerners have not yet realized.
And with all that said, I really hope that I was able to help you make an important life decision. As scary as some things may sound about this place, I can say that it is all not as bad as you think, so may your stay be full of new friends, adventures and life lessons!
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