Crazy pretty adorable women

It's so difficult to talk about our life in KSA once out of KSA. Starting with describing the kind of friends we have there, they are just so different from the ones we have back home! 

So I thought I'd make a list of the kind of people you're bound to encounter as an expat in KSA:

• the everything-tastes-better-at-home: usually from a rich gastronomic culture (Italy, Latin America, ... France!), she often reminds you of all the wonderful dishes she eats back home, and if she cooks anything from her home country, she'll be sure to state that "it doesn't taste as good as the real thing".


• the groovy grandma: in spite of her age, she is the friend you dream of having, the best shopping buddy you could think of, a great salsa dancer and a wonderful life mentor.


• the cordon bleu: occasionally "everything-tastes-better-at-home", she's the one you want to be invited for dinner at! And also the one you don't want to have to cook for! She could potentially teach you so much about cooking (or that's what your husband keeps telling you!) if only you could be as keen on cooking as you are on eating...


• the paranoid: "terror threat", "Al-Qaida", "Islamists" are words that should never be pronounced in front of the paranoid, unless you want to be reminded - for the umpteenth time - of the terrorist attacks that have occurred in KSA over the last 20 years (with their share of morbid details).


• the young mum who's just dropped her job: the title says it all, she's usually got a stunningly handsome boy / pretty girl to take care of, but struggles in finding her place in her new role.


• the we-can't-do-anything-here-anyway: she's decided that living in Saudi Arabia was a nightmare, so she's just going to live one. Since you don't want to be part of her nightmare, you should just avoid her.


• the overbooked social butterfly: she's as busy as a full-time worker living in a metropolis, so you have to make an appointment to see her. You might also want to attend trendy events (i.e. charities, bingos, breakfasts) to come across her.


• the globetrotter: she's got plenty of amazing anecdotes about her experiences around the world, including some civil wars and emergency evacuations... Therefore the globetrotter is not to meet the paranoid under any circumstances, since the consequences could be disastrous!


• the energetic friend who is always ready to go out and organises activities and outings: she's the one you want to have in your crew!

We're probably all a mix of several of the above, but more important than the category we may fall into is probably our ability to make the best out of this crazy melting-pot! I love the friends I've made in Saudi Arabia, and I love the fact that in other circumstances, I would never have gotten to know such beautiful people.

We may not be as glamorous as them... but we're twice as charming!

From East to West

Yesterday I travelled from KSA to France, where I am going to stay for two weeks. Travelling from Dammam, KSA (while I usually travel from Bahrain), felt like I was literally taken from a world and transfered to a whole different one. Last thing I recall, I was wearing an abbaya, seating at a very austere airport gate, reading a conservative magazine (there were about 3 magazines in English to choose from at the airport). Once on board the plane, I fell asleep, and next thing I know we were landing in Amsterdam. Suddenly all the Saudi ladies covered in black abbayas and niqabs who had boarded the plane with me were gone! They were now very nice ladies dressed in colouful western clothes (but still respecting hijab: head scarf, long sleeves). Oh, and the weather was pretty cold too. And it was pitch dark until 9am... And that's how I noticed I was in Europe!

Yeah, like Alicia Keys would actually wear
a t-shirt and a pair of leggings underneath
her dress... I guess Arab women do think
leggings are in fashion this winter...

These are times where I realize that they're really two completely different worlds, and with time, I sometimes find it difficult to adapt back to my world. Europe is where I was born and raised and lived most of my life, however I sometimes feel that I'm forgetting the social codes: I no longer know what's normal, or acceptable, or rude! For instance I tend to struggle a lot with dresscodes: is my skirt too short? Is it appropriate, is it modest at all? Should I cover these shoulders? When I look back at pictures and see how I used to dress in Mexico, I now find it quite indecent! Or I don't know when it's appropriate to say "hi" anymore: to a neighbour, shop assistant, random guy passing by? Kissing in the street is another one: in KSA we have to refrain from kissing in public, although holding hands is generally accepted. But being in Europe, it's just so much public display of affection all over the place! (just reminds me I had to explain that concept to 6th graders last week: that was fun! - no actually, just nervous giggles)




Anyway I think both worlds have great things to offer, it's just too bad we can't get the best of both. And if I had to choose between here or there, the choice probably wouldn't be as obvious as it seems.
And that's one of the reasons why:

Nantes, a beautiful city, but why the heck does it have to be raining all the time???