Through Their Eyes

Through Their Eyes….

Through Saudi eyes:

For those of you have been following me for quite some time now many know how much passion and obsession that I have had throughout the years for Arab world specifically main interest in Saudi Arabia, Ever since I had met my previous Saudi friends back in 2003 my adventurous curiosity set off wanting to know everything about their life, their culture, how to see things through their eyes to the point I made myself exclusively only to them!

Why make myself solely to them? I thought what better way to understand the life of someone is to put yourself literally in their life? I wanted to see the struggles through their eyes I was deeply obsessed with Saudis and Saudi Arabia (don’t worry I’m still deeply rooted to Saudis and Saudi Arabia) I have seen so much struggles that the Saudis have faced that I began to not care about how others specifically  the *expats* who lived here felt in their struggle. I have seen so many Saudis come to USA or to other countries to work their bums off in their degrees only to come to Saudi Arabia to find that the jobs that they wanted to work were not available to them mainly because those jobs were offered to expats why? Because lower salary!!! A common mistake that I see some Saudi students make is when they graduate from the universities and when they go to apply for jobs they expect and demand a high salary in a high position it doesn’t work like that it is gradually earned by experience and sometimes starting with a low salary and prove yourself worthy of a higher position to a higher salary with that being said having the opportunity to work with a few companies still the desire is to higher expats due to lower salaries and wages….

Sadly Saudis get a bad reputation that Saudis are lazy and don’t want to put in the effort to work I have seen the hatred towards Saudis from expats who have been given the opportunity to work inside Saudi Arabia. I had applied for a position in Carrefour and my manager would had been Indian I remember him telling me that Saudis are so lazy and don’t want to work and downright degrading Saudis the ones that have brought him to Saudi and to investing him literally biting the hand that is feeding him and sheltering him. I have seen the same issue with the previous company I worked for my manager was a Filipino who was always getting paid to visit other countries due to work getting a attractive salary only to hear him degrade the idea of 2030!!!

Sadly Saudis will not get the same advantages as the expats will. Expats if they are working for known companies even private companies they get accommodation, yearly tickets to go back home to their country Saudis are not offered the same thing this I found highly unfair when Saudis have worked twice as hard for their degrees as other expats would.  Alhumdullilah I have had the great opportunity to work in Saudi Arabia I have met hard workers who are Saudis who work their asses off and I have also met my fair share of lazy ones and same meeting lazy expat workers and hardworking expats as they say the fingers on your hand are not the same it is unfair to label all Saudis as the same.

Through eyes of expats

My time living in Saudi Arabia has been one of the most eye-opening experiences I could ever have I have come to know many great Saudis but lately the country and the people I love so deeply I have come across some major disappointments. I have l a few friends who are “Yemeni” these people I didn’t expect to affect me this deeply but each of the friends that I know from my previous manager to my closest friends they have opened my eyes through their life in Saudi, the struggles that they face to plain discrimination I have debated in how to talk about some of these issues because I know for both sides Saudis, Yemenis and other expats it’s a sensitive topic… With the rapid changes of Saudi Arabia things are changing for the good of Saudis which is a good thing but for the friends that I have acquainted I can not only help but feel their fear, their worry.  The three Yemeni friends I know I have known for quite some time and all three of these families have been living in Saudi Arabia for more than 50 or more some years they grew up here they studied here they lived respectful lives in the community contributing to building Saudi Arabia to what it is today, now with all of the sudden changes not only my personal friends but other Yemenis or expats who have lived here are now scrambling to find other jobs that will sponsor them to stay inside Saudi Arabia or have to face the being sent back home to Yemen which Is now a dangerous war zone!! I have come across some Saudis that will say send them back home to build their country “Saudi Arabia” belongs to “Saudis” I have seen some Saudis think because they are Saudi that they’re better than any other Arab or expat that comes to their country!!! I can’t help but to think this isn’t the Saudis that I grew to love to be discriminative is it?

I recently been helping a close friend of mine who is going through some troubling situations ether from his work not paying his well-earned salary on time to health concerns of his family, I have attended the hospital with him and his family to be there for support only to learn that they were rejected by several hospitals because they were not “SAUDIS” I waited with my friends mother as the doctors were talking to me about her options they then mentioned to me that they could not further treat her in that hospital I asked them why not? They said because she’s not Saudi we cannot treat her she has to go to a private hospital at this point I could not hold my mouth! I yelled at the doctor I told him “she is a human being who’s severely sick and you won’t continue treating her because she isn’t Saudi? This is inhuman it is a basic human right for any person to be treated regardless of his or her nationality” they said this is the Saudi regulations and these same doctors that are taking care of my friends mother are also expats!

I really don’t know how this article will come across some people I love Saudi Arabia I love Saudi people and will always and continue to be in support of their country but there has to be something done in the way people are thinking in the end or grandfather an grandmother are Adam and Eve no one is better than anyone many will probably sit and think “Oh she’s American she has an easy life”  I maybe American but my life here hasn’t exactly been that easy yes alhumdullilah I have stability in the country alhumudllilah one thousand times for that anyone who knows me personally knows that I don’t even throw out my nationality to get special privileges each company I have worked for I ask them to higher me as Saudi not as an American so I’m getting treated the same as Saudis because I don’t see myself or my nationality better than them I see them as a human being and we should be equal.

The thing is if I see something wrong I can’t just stay quiet I love Saudi Arabia and want the best for them but I also want the best for those who have lived in Saudi Arabia their entire life to be treated and respected with decency this is what Islam teaches us love one another take care of one another and imagine yourself in the other persons situation imagine it and ask yourself would you be happy if not find a way to help one another.

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The Silent Worker

The Silent Worker:

When I first came to Saudi Arabia 5 years ago before the thought of starting to work in Saudi Arabia the thought of it terrified me;  not because I didn’t think I couldn’t do it but because it was a whole new work environment that I had yet to learn or to experience.

My work experience from working in America when you see something wrong you were always encouraged to speak up and most times rewarded in some rare cases you could be reprimanded and sometimes employers will indirectly find a way to get rid of you or to let you go in some cases even if you didn’t do something wrong a potential competitor that would see you as a threat could say anything to try to get you fired but in my country you can easily take them to court and sue them for being unethical.

                                                                                                                                                                                         

My work experience in Saudi Arabia wasn’t the easiest and finding a job here without a wasta *Influence* in some places difficult when I started looking for work many companies don’t want to hire someone who didn’t get to complete their major or doesn’t have the right amount of 5 or more years of experience but if you’re lucky some companies may give you a chance if you have the right connections. The first company I worked for my Ex-husband was had a friend he worked for who knew a guy that gave me my first opportunity I was so excited even though the salary was low I didn’t care the first thought that came to my mind was I need to gain experience before I can request and demand any high salary.

My first day I was so happy my driver came to pick me up I met with the girl *Safi*  that would be my manager I thought the world of her she was so nice to me helping me learn about the products how to talk to the clients we went to business conference’s together with the CEO than later on as my time progressed and I started to get better acquainted into my work the lady I had worked for had to go on holiday for personal reasons leaving me with the CEO most of the time; me I was helping the CEO to practice his English speaking, I felt that our relationship started to get a little bit stronger he made so many unrealistic promises I had hope that he was being honest. When the girl that I was working with came back and realized we’d gotten close the day she came back she had called me and told me that her and the driver were on the way to pick me up, that’s how it always was the driver would pick up me and then her but that morning it was her first and then me for some strange reason during the 10 minutes I waited for them to pick me up my son had accidently put my phone on silent so when the driver was waiting with my friend that I worked with they called and I didn’t hear my phone that made Safi mad it was an honest mistake she didn’t even let me explain in what happened instead she went to the CEO to tell him that I wasn’t serious about my work only to be removed from marketing to be moved to the factory the (medical department)

When I transferred to the factory I was so angry but kind of relieved because when I worked with Safi there was never really much work to do most times we’d wait in the women’s area waiting to know if we had clients to visit when I worked in the factory I enjoyed it, it was more technical work and writing sending emails etc. the factory manager had family emergencies and needed someone to finished editing all of papers to be sent to be finalized I was happy to take all of those documents home with me and finish editing them and sending back and forth with the factory manager he liked my work, he wanted me to work as the assistant manager for the factory when my time was finished in writing all the papers they sent me back to the marketing office Safi had learned about the factory managers plan in requesting me to be factory manager and her she was to travel to Tabuk to a university to do marketing I wanted to go with her but ironically I wasn’t able to go with her and the CEO wanted to speak with me the next morning, I felt so scared that night I felt it I felt a slump in my throat that I was being let go everyone assured me that I was going to be fine even the girl *Safi* she lied to me she stabbed me in the back she smiled to my face as she was dropped off first to her home the last day we worked together and said if I needed anything that I could always call her. The next morning came the driver came to pick me up I was brought to the main office to speak to the CEO but only to find he wasn’t there his secretary and assistants were the ones who talked to me and to inform me that I’d been let go my probation period had ended, they asked me if I had any conflict with Safi I told them that we did but I thought things we’re fine *safi* later called me to ask what happen she said she knew but deep down I know she said something that influenced the CEO to let me go I was so devastated that the person I thought was my friend stabbed me in the back.

As the time past I started looking for another job, I applied for everything it took me 4 months after losing my first job to find another one a friend of mine had contacted me before and mentioned that his brother that he had been working for was looking for a secretary and asked if I was interested I immediately said yes and this company was the break that I needed, I had little experience in secretarial work I mean the last time I used Microsoft Word or Excel was before I graduated High School and my first year in college so it was a long time I was rusty but I lucked out in having very skilled people to teach me how to use excel, how to create purchase orders, to sales invoices etc, how to talk to clients make contact I was hired as a Sales Representative, but was also the CEO’s secretary at the time I was the only woman in the office I kind of liked being the only woman I don’t mind working with women but from the past company it kind of made me on edge working with ladies in who I could trust.

I worked for this new company for a good year I stood by their side through thick and thin to the point I defended our CEO even received threats from a former angry employee but I was okay because the CEO said we were a family so family stuck together and I was happy with my new claimed family later on the company had ran into some issues I was temporarily laid off until things were resolved  during that time I was frantic I don’t like siting and doing nothing it made me nervous and over think to much so the moment I was called back to work I was so happy as if I won the lottery then everything was fine again, until one morning I was talking to warehouse and a mysterious woman walked into my office  no one knew who she was I was told that she’d be working on tenders but they wanted me to help show her how to make quotations, sales orders etc. I was happy to comply little by little I found my work load getting slower and lighter to the point the lady I was training slowly started taking over my work by responding to the CEO’s phone, sending invoices to my assigned clients I had sat with the CEO and told him I was unhappy things we’re not the same over I asked him who’s this girl ‘’he assured that it was only temporarily” 6 months passed she’s still there and me? I’m being given petty work  just to keep me silent It felt humiliating that this new girl who was working with us that was working on a visiting visa was now trying to act as my manager and demanded I had to listen to her that didn’t settle well at all, 2^nd time I complained to the CEO about the situation I was assured that I was important to the company boy I didn’t feel important at all I felt betrayed by the 3^rd time I complained and nothing was done the message was clear that she would replace me but why? I don’t know and I may never know why so I set out to find a new job.

When I found a new job I was so excited to put my resignation into the company that I happily worked with for over a year it was kind of bittersweet because no one wanted me to leave but I felt my work wasn’t appreciated that I had to move on. The new Company I started to work for I was the Executive Assistant  I felt yes finally I will work with a company who will see my potential and who will appreciate my work, but during the time I waited for my offer I felt a little hesitant because I waited over 2 weeks I felt okay this company is a little slow but I’ll still give them the benefit of the doubt before I had started working for the new company I had brought them new projects I felt happy to prove myself as strong that I was there to work and was serious to prove my dedication to the company that wanted to give me this new opportunity only to learn that I left a company hoping to leave drama to come to a new company to face what I’d say a dead end company I decided to start a day before my starting date to get an update on the project I had brought them 2 weeks prior no one acted no one contacted the company that I had brought them causing them to lose many projects at that moment I felt and knew I had made a huge mistake leaving the previous company but I tried to be patient and keep silent but for me to keep quiet when there’s obviously a problem is beyond complicated I normally call myself non censored because if I see something wrong I’ll call it out as I see it but I tried to give everything I could I sat with our GM *general Manager* I asked him what he expected of me in a time that he wanted to let me go I addressed him and told him look if there is an issue than you should had talked to me so I can fix it he did give me another chance to prove myself but during that time I realized no matter how hard I proved myself he was already set into letting me go any idea he would disregard than bring the idea back and claim it as if it was his own brought more projects no one reacted no matter what I wasn't good enough, now I’m facing legal issues in seeking my rights with the ministry of Labor to retrieve my salary….

The moment I was let go of the my last job, I began to question my ability to ever to be able to work in Saudi Arabia, will I ever find a company that will take the time to help train me and will see my potential dedication as a hard worker? A few weeks ago I sat with a couple friends at a shisha café I had told them my bad work experience in Saudi Arabia  they applauded my boldness in telling it like it was if there was a bad situation but they also reprimanded me for being too out spoken, they said many will love you for being brave to speak out but you will never survive the work environment in Saudi Arabia they told me in order to survive the work force in Saudi if you see the corruption you’re expected to  keep silent and just let it go if you want to keep your job and keep getting a pay check, just  come do your job and keep your mouth shut even if it means that the CEO Bob takes your idea you’re expected to tell him “wow that’s a great idea” while you sit there and think about how you want to bop Bob on the head for taking your idea you can’t..

They reminded me that in the Arabic culture that when many have something they feel most will keep it to themselves and will just let things go but me as an American this is the first time I’ve really felt out of place, I’ve always told my kids in order to change things in life you have to speak up otherwise nothing will change and now I’m being told in order to receive a salary I must keep my mouth shut and just smile, I know my potential I know I’m a good worker and I can act well but for it to cost me my dignity is the hardest thing ever I’ve had to do from what I’ve learned so far in the workforce here in Saudi is everyone is out for himself most of the time and to never trust anyone I’ve even been instructed for job interviews to be open don’t seem to be religious so I’m stuck between being myself and playing a double role just to obtain and to keep a job I had much more higher expectations when it came to working in Saudi I was terrified in the beginning I still am but I’m ready more than ever to take on the next challenges that come my way.

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Stories of the single life In Saudi Arabia

Chapter 1

Stories of the single life In Saudi Arabia,

I bet you were expecting a story of the single life from a man’s view? So many say that Saudi Arabia is a man’s world country, but this is Autumn’s story; my story of my views and struggles, and achievements, an obstacles I still have yet to face…

People will see me and think wow she’s so lucky to be living in Saudi Arabia, Alhumdullilah I feel blessed to be able to be living in one of the most difficult countries to get into but keep in mind the process to getting to come here was not the easiest, worth it? Yes, would I do it again? Yes in a heartbeat! As most know that who’ve been following me well as most know I’m a divorced American woman with 3 children, no my children don’t stay with me at the moment they live with their father and his wife; Did I want it to be this way? No! But financially I couldn’t provide for them on my own let alone having no one to stay with them at home while I worked so their father and I agreed that they’d stay with him in the meantime.

What are some of the biggest achievements I've reached so far? well with the help of a few good friends (KHALID and SALEH) I have successfully changed my iqama status, I'm now no longer under anyone's sponsorship but my own, how you're asking? well my kids are Saudi and their father is Saudi  so I now have permanent residency status and basically be treated as a Saudi, I've been living on my own for almost a year now so I guess that's an achievement within its-self, women will be driving here soon (WOOHOO)!!!! will I be driving after Ramadan? not exactly!! i'll probably be waiting for a good 6 months to a year until they can fix any problems with the traffic laws etc, Do I have a car in mind that I want? YESS!!! No its not a Mercedes or BMW I just want an Hyundai Azera preferably in a dark blue color with a bumper sticker that says (Queen) 😉 

DipNdip with my kids (sorry I don't share kids pictures publicly)

What do I do in the time since I’m single? Really not much I guess I’m kind of boring really I tend to hang out with friends from time to time all though my friends call me anti-social I mean I can be but sometimes I just tend to be alone but I do hang out with friends I really enjoy going to public events and interacting with the locals. I spend a lot of time at the mall for some strange reason being at the mall relaxes me seeing happy people make me happy, or I like to spend my time at the corniche (sea) and feed the stray cats and mostly and most importantly I spend time with my children every time I can but these days I haven’t been able to see them much because of financial issues.

Art drawings near the Khobar Corniche sea front.

Since my move to my new home things are nice I enjoy living alone it does get lonely at times but hey at least I can walk around naked and be sloppy from time to time and not have to feel bad about it in the end I’m cleaning up after myself.  I did however adopt 2 kittens their bit crazy at times but as my habibi said to me they give the home life or they bring life into the home (something like that, anyways you get it) lol.  Many are wondering is there a new person in my life? And the answer is yes those who’ve been following me for a while already know lol! Will there be a wedding in my future? To be honest I really wish so! But here’s the possibility in it not happening and why! Firstly he’s not Saudi (SURPRISE) he’s Yemeni but he was also born and raised here as much as we’d both love to get married with the changing in Saudi Arabia with the Saudization and the increase of iqama fees unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be possible or in the meantime it doesn’t seem like it will happen but I have hope and praying that something will happen and we can be together but if not In the end I guess I will be marrying a Saudi or stay single but for now he has my heart and my attention.

My furbabies big grey is Queen Bella small fry is Princess Zara

In the beginning of last year I had started working with a Hospital supplies company that I really enjoyed working with but with some circumstances I felt the need to leave and search for another job, I think in that moment I wasn’t thinking clearly I just wanted to leave without thinking things through first and without listening to what my manager had said to me he said to me ( go to them stay for a couple weeks if you don’t like it come back this is your home) boy do I wish I would had taken his advice, because the company I had joined after words was is the worst company I’ve worked with well I guess I can’t blame the company but the poor management, the company had decided to let me go due to financial problems and due to those financial problems I haven’t received 2 ½ salaries so here I am in the month of Ramadan with 150sar to my name alhumdullilah I have enough food in my home but even that is going quickly.  

To be honest even though the company I worked for let me go it was actually a sigh of relief at the same time I’m struggling to find my next work place before I have to pay my next rent payment in July!  Insha’allah I’ll find something but alhumdullilah I do have a pretty good support system even though I’m a very shy person when it comes to asking for help, I don’t like to ask really I feel ashamed and most times I have to fight with the ones closed to me to accept their help.

Overall I knew that living the single life would have its timing and challenging moments and well I’ve reached the top of my ride of the roller coaster and I’m waiting to see where it’s going to lead to. Will I stay in Dammam, will I move to a different city for work, will I end up moving to a different apartment because I can’t afford the payments of the one I’m in now I don’t know even though I’m quiet calm about my situation I have at least 3 close friends that I trust deeply to tell my deepest struggles and personal issues so (MAJDA,HASSAN,ABDULLAH) without these three I’d be completely lost  without them and I’m sure I will come out of this hard time just fine I’ve gotten through much darker situations and I’m confident that I’ll make it out okay..

Where there is darkness in your life surely there is light at the end of your dark road keep going until you find that light -Autumnbreeze83-

Just because someone is living the life that they wanted doesn’t mean that it came easy or are having it easy every success has its struggles, losses before things become smooth in the end really if it’s really what you want nothing and no one can stop you from getting to where you want to be.

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