CHAPTER 1

A to Z Guide to Living andWorking in Saudi Arabia

Arabic

Arabic is the official language of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia,although English is spoken widely throughout. In many places andbusinesses for everyday activities, such as traveling, shopping, andordering food, there are English-speaking salespeople. Arabic forme was a bit hard to learn, as there are so many Arabs from otherArabic-speaking countries who live and work in Saudi Arabia andspeak many variations of the language. There are at least threedifferent versions of Arabic, which includes modern Arabic, classicArabic, and colloquial Arabic. The Arabic that you encounter maybe any one or all of the three. There are several different provincesin the kingdom, and each province speaks Arabic differently.

There are many sources available for those of you who want tolearn how to speak Arabic. You can purchase a number of greatbooks that will help you to learn basic expressions, such as givinggreetings, asking for travel advice, and ordering food. The mosthelpful way I learned to speak Arabic was working in the hospitalsand visiting the homes of Saudi families. In other words, interactingwith the people helped me learn the language most effectively. Andalthough I do not speak Arabic fluently, I can now at least say a fewwords and speak a few sentences that are helpful when dealingwith patients and their families and traveling around.

Remember that learning a new language can be an invaluableasset. Here are a few Arabic words to get you started:

Aiwa: Yes

La: No

Salam Alakam: Formal hello

Hammam: Bathroom

Kafalik: Informal hello

Maasalama: Good-bye

Min Fadlaik: Please

Felos: Money

Shookran: Thanks

B

Bedouin

The word Bedouin for me conjures up images of the classic movieLawrence of Arabia. Bedouins are essentially nomads who havemaintained their basic lifestyle for more than a thousand years.Some Bedouins today still live in the traditional tent dwelling thatwas a part of their lifestyle for centuries.

The traditional Bedouin tent is woven from goat's hair. When it rains,the weave contracts and doesn't let the water in. In the heat of thesummer the outside of the tent feels very hot to the touch while theinside remains cool. In the winter when it is cold outside, the reverseis true when a small fire is kept inside, and the tent stays warm.

When a Bedouin family moved, the tent was dismantled, rolled up,and put on male pack camels. Moves were usually dictated only bythe need to stay close to water or to forage for the flocks of sheep,goats and camels, so the site of the next camp was always in thevicinity of a well or ungrazed land. Pitching the tent was one of theBedouin women's main responsibilities, with each individual jobstrictly divided among members of the family. Raising the maintent poles was the work of men, but young girls usually drove thetent pegs. The whole operation, honed to perfection by centuriesof practice, went according to a drill as rigid as a military maneuver,with the head of the family acting as top sergeant.

A guest is always welcome in the Bedouin home. Many will tell youthat they feel their houses are like poor homes without guests. Andbecause guests come from God, the Bedouin will never make thempay for anything they need. In fact, they will pay all the costs withpleasure.

And also inside their homes or tents you will see the smiles on theirfaces when they have new guests. You will sit and have a cup of teawith fresh mint. You will undoubtedly feel the warmth of their heartsdirected at you. Today many modern Saudi families also have tentsout in the desert where they gather on weekends for holidays orjust to meet and entertain their family and friends.

Remember to never give up the opportunity to socialize with thelocals, as it will be an amazing experience.

C

Camel

The camel, which has come to symbolize many aspects of life in theMiddle East, is still very much a part of life in the kingdom. In thepast the camel served many purposes and was a sign of prosperityfor many families during the early days of the kingdom.

In a sense the camel is passing into history—at least in SaudiArabia. Though there are still herds to be seen, the era of thegreat camel caravans has passed, and throughout the ArabianPeninsula the effects (to those who notice) are evident in thingssuch as untended desert wells and abandoned caravan routes.Soon hundreds of centuries of tradition will have vanished.

It was the Arabs, however, who came to realize and develop the fullpotential of the camel. Indeed, without the camel the entire historyof the Arab world might have been quite different. Domestication ofthe camel enabled early Arabs to explore and master the desertsof the Middle East, develop and monopolize the ancient traderoutes between southern Arabia and the Mediterranean, establishmercantile networks and centers in northern and central Arabia,and later after the rise of Islam carry their faith to the bordersof China, North Africa, and France. Because of the camel, Arabarmies could move swiftly and unexpectedly across terrain that theyonce thought was impenetrable by distant enemies. And thoughattacks were often made on horseback, once the camel saddlewas developed to the point where riders could use them effectively,camels became important as well.

The camel was also a vital element in the daily life and the cultureof the Bedouin. It was his chief source of food, raw materials,transport, and wealth. Until recent times the desert dweller drankthe camel's milk, feasted on its meat, fashioned rope from its wool,made shields and water buckets from its skin, bound woodensaddles together with its sinews, burned its droppings as fuel, andeven turned to it for medicines (Cruz, 1990).

Today in a few places throughout the kingdom camels are stillraised for food—milk and meat—and for racing but rarely fortransport. Camels can't compete with the cross-peninsula Boeings,fast freight trains and trailer trucks that by 1980 provided most ofthe transportation for Saudi Arabia's goods and passengers.

Remember to visit one of the camel souks and take a fun but bumpyride.

D

Desert

Many people still think of Saudi Arabia as a huge barren desertoccupied by Bedouins in tents moving from place to place insearch of water and food. Saudi Arabia is indeed a part of theArabian Peninsula, which is...