A couple of months ago, I wrote a post on my peace. joy. pancake blog about what a day in my life in Kosova looked like. So, one day I thought to myself: Why not do the same thing for Saudi Arabia, too? As you can tell by the title of this post, I thought that was a great idea, so here you guys go! While other people around the world are still sleeping…
student expat blog
Keep Calm and Hope On. It’s Just the Working Ethics
If you chose to come to Saudi Arabia because of a tempting job offer, you will most likely hear about many awesome things concerning this place from your future colleagues, or former employees that have worked there. You will hear about luxurious compounds to live on, gasoline that is cheaper than water, marvelous travel destinations and, of course, a mouth watering salary. What nobody will probably tell you however is how difficult…
Two Different Worlds?
After being back home for almost one week, I have realized that the so called “culture shock” got me just now and not the moment I stepped on Saudi ground back in September of this year. Maybe it is not a culture SHOCK really but just the definite realization that I am living in an entirely different culture now, or just different world. First of all, here in Germany I am obviously…
How NOT to Starve on Istanbul Airport When Returning Home
There’s no place like home. Now many people would probably be “upset” with me for making use of this cliché that pretty much everyone is tired of hearing about by now. Well, I understand where that confusion comes from but you have to admit, especially if you are an expat who is moving from place to place in constant intervals, that there is nothing more satisfying at least once in a while,…
On Freezing Cold Exam Days
For those of you who read this blog regularly and have started to wonder whether I have been “swallowed” by the ground lately, I have not. I am still around and today it seems like I finally have some time to write again, after almost one month. I didn’t even notice that a whole month has passed by now. Strange, isn’t it? So here I am, sitting in the cafeteria on my…
The Story of How the Watch Got Diabetes
One morning in Saudi Arabia, I woke up and decided that it is time for a new watch. To be more specific that was today. So, I got on the compound bus with several other ladies that have nothing to do all day, except for household stuff and for whom the highlight of the day, as far as for activities, is a trip to one of Riyadh’s shopping malls that make German…
The Case of the Saudi Matryoshkas
Riyadh, the city that never sleeps. Somehow I feel like this statement would suit the capital pretty well. There is not much going on here during the day, but once the sun sets, everyone gets out of their fancy or not fancy houses, gets into their fancy or not so fancy cars and turns the streets of Riyadh into a real challenge and hell for most European drivers. But once the highway…
Moving to Saudi Arabia: Back to When Everything Started or How to Pack Everything You Have in Less Than 24 Hours
Since the beginning of this blog, I have written about pretty much everything worth mentioning about the live of a student in Saudi Arabia, except for the day I actually knew I would have the chance to start my life anew. So here is my second post for today, which will be talking about exactly that. Saudi Arabia is one of the most difficult countries to get into. ESPECIALLY if you are…
No Woman, No Cab (Unless You’re Lucky)
When I wanted to get from A to B while I lived in the Balkans, I had the choice between walking, taking the bus, hitchhiking (which a lot of peope in Kosovo do, even female KFOR soldiers) and taking a cab. Here in Saudi, there is no such thing as public transportation yet, hitchhiking in this society is probably as unthinkable as the possible invention of a time machine any time soon…
Change of Seasons Where Are Thou?
Every morning I wake up to prayer calls. Despite the fact that they wake me up every day, somewhere around 4.30 in the morning, I still adore the sound of them and let them welcome me to a new day through my window that is always ajar, When you live in Riyadh, you will notice that the nights and early morning hours are rather cold. When I leave the house for school…