Random Thoughts and Stuff

If you're keeping score at home, I'm now up to 8 airports, 5 countries, and 6 hotels in the past 6 days. The fun isn't over yet! But close ...

For the record, I fully own all responsibility for the chaos of this week's schedule. I needed to get to both Europe and the Middle East and I wanted to do it in as short of a time frame as possible. I could have spread it over two weeks, or even two trips, but naaaaah. I like my kids. I opted to shove a whole bunch of things in six days so that I would miss less fun at home. Shout out to the Middle East for having a work week that runs Sunday through Thursday so I could cram that extra day in there.

Speaking of the work week that is helpful for those of us who want to work six days in a week, there are some other things about the Middle East I want to make sure I've written down:

* I was surprised by how extremely nice everyone I encountered was. I don't know what I was expecting, necessarily, but each individual I interacted with went out of their way to be kind. Service at restaurants and in taxis and such was always better than anything I've experienced here.

* But ... that woman thing. While everyone I've interacted with professionally was great, it didn't escape my attention that I was a fish out of water. The people I had meetings with knew who I was prior and knew that I'm really very good at my job, so there were no problems at all with them, but others stared or were clearly uncomfortable. There were multiple instances where a man didn't make eye contact with me and was obviously uncomfortable about all of it.

* It also didn't escape my attention that it's weird that foreigners can do things people native to a particular country can't do. For example, I had a meeting in Bahrain with several people from Saudi Arabia. It's a short drive across a long bridge between the two places and apparently Saudi Arabians often make the trek on the weekends to "let loose" a little. Alcohol is banned in Saudi Arabia, but there are some places where you can find it in Bahrain. Additionally, the attire is more laid back and in general everything is more laid back. Essentially, you can stand on that bridge on the Bahrain side and watch as people transform into a different person under a different set of laws and norms.

* Another example: The Saudi Arabians suggested that we eat lunch at a restaurant that was near a street market (similar to the Strip District, but much bigger). We walked around the street market for a bit. That would have been illegal in Saudi Arabia. Women and men cannot mingle in public together unless they are related. In Bahrain it's allowed, but I can say with absolute certainty that some people were surprised by the sight.

* Clothing was less of a big deal than I expected. I did my research before going and knew I could wear the same things I normally wear to work. I did take the time to make sure I wore my more boring and conservative choices (i.e. slacks and a button up shirt with long sleeves), but I probably didn't need to be as concerned as I was. Of course, that was partly because I had help picking which countries to visit. Saudi Arabian law requires abayas in public for all women, regardless of nationality, for example.

* I was surprised by how Westernized Bahrain is. Within a mile of my hotel, there was a Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, Justice, Victoria's Secret (yes, really), Saks, Five Guys, P.F. Changs, Forever 21, Sephora, Aldo, and Claire's. Each and every one of them could have been picked up and dropped in the United States and nobody would have known the difference. Oman and Qatar were similar - add Abercrombie and Fitch, American Eagle, Build-a-Bear, and others to the list.

* Uh, Qatar people have some money. Like, a LOT of it. All of them. Everyone.

* Nationals get free healthcare through the region. Expatriates generally have to purchase healthcare, but it's often heavily subsidized. The difference having easy/affordable healthcare makes is evident everywhere you look. There's no such thing as going bankrupt because of health problems. People everywhere are visibly healthier.

* February is the exact right time to visit the region. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. 75-80 degrees and sunny every day.

* I still can't un-remember some of the descriptions I read about what happens to people who criticize the governments in the Middle East. I also can't un-remember how eerily similar some of the ways the media is dealt with there is to what is happening currently in the United States.

* Hi. Know how we have that little thing happening with guns and kids and schools and it's all bad? I have been told by people in five different countries now, including three in the Middle East, that we're idiots. I think it says something when people who live in the Middle East think our gun laws are dumb.

*Our impressions of the Middle East are biased in the same way that their impressions about America are biased. The reality is that both places are better than is portrayed.

And ... fin.

Comments

[Elizabeth White]

Take a flight into Israel and see the people lining up to change into their Kosher/conservative clothing about 2 hours before landing. Or a flight into Saudi Arabia and you will see the same thing. Always made me giggle.