It's common knowledge that power cuts can turn out to boost birth rates, but only few people know that living in Saudi Arabia, for some reason - which I wouldn't be able to explain here, even though I heard there might be something in the water...-, has the exact same effect!
This phenomenon has two main consequences:
- Families in Saudi Arabia are much larger than in Western countries: with an average of 4 children per woman (which has fallen to 2.3 in the last two years), families with 5-8 children are more the rule than the exception. I remember one day as a Saudi friend invited me to her brother's house, so both her children and her brother's were there: with a total of 10 children running around, it felt like being in a nursery!
- Expats are not exempt from this fertility boost! Only they're much more discreet, regarding the numbers of children (usually 2 or 3, rarely more), and because the mothers usually emigrate to give birth, since most of them don't feel comfortable about giving birth here. So we see our friends leave with a huuuge belly (well only as huge as the airlines allow them to be!) and coming back a few months later with their new baby.
The only thing we can do to help them, is wish them good luck, and organize a great baby shower before they leave!
(Warning: pink ahead!)
Good luck Loles, I'll miss you, come back soon!
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