A New Entry
I was browsing some of my friend's entries and was thinking that it was nice to hear an update about what is going on with them. This inspired me to post an update on what is going on with me.
Most days I wake up and don't really think about where I am. Other days it hits me and I still just can't believe it. Living on the Red Sea is very nice, particularly in this little community where the rules are different. Here you can play with google maps if you would like to see what it is like. Sometimes the images aren't available which I am thinking may have something to do with sections being updated from time to time. The google maps pictures makes everything look really sandy. I think they were taken before I even got there (I was trying to remember by landmarks. Everything is now very green and much more finished.
View KAUST in a larger map
The most relevant news is that Maria's visa processing took longer than it should have and so I had to return after winter break without her. I have been far more lonely this time around than before. Lord willing we will meet in Paris on Thursday and a few days later we will make our way back to Saudi Arabia together. I am excited to share many things with her!
Of course many people wonder what it is like to live in a place like this. While the campus has different rules, we are still embedded in Saudi culture and change and modernism is not something that comes easily here. Even on campus the gyms are segregated, it took them until now to sort out how the pools would be used. They are finally opening the beach--one family one and one for males. The Saudi people are very private--while you may talk to the male, it is hard to enter the family and get to know everyone. Much of what is going on around campus are attempts to find ways to let this very diverse group express themselves and their culture and thus sharing and enriching the whole. These things are resisted and the change is slow to happen. However, strides are being made. Several weeks ago a Arabic musician gave a concert on campus--the first of its type. He had played all over the world but never in Saudi Arabia. He was fearful at what might happen--he was overjoyed at the response. Another week there was an improv theatre group, at the library opening a string trio played music. There seems to be two forces at work here: one is simply that the Muslim religion has a high morality (this is not an issue for me and I guess most of you), the other is that there is a strong sense of traditionalism. It isn't like Jewish song and dance tradition--it is just that new ideas are outright rejected. Thus I learned that concerts are popular in Saudi Arabia, but only of what we would call 'folk-music'. Things that are new are seen as modernization (and frequently westernization) and thus evil. Actually this isn't so different than even in the church. Some new ideas that emerge are rejected because they are unscriptural, others are merely untraditional and we often blur the line. The Arabs are no different.
For the record, Maria will dress as she normally does while on campus. While outside of campus it is advisable to wear an abaya (black robe) but with no head covering. She doesn't have to walk behind me and she can speak to men. There are a lot of myths out there, thought I would silence them. Saudi women, of course, are submissive to their fathers/husbands and if they desire them to remain silent/covered, they do. Going out is always an adventure. You recall how places in the States had a smoking and nonsmoking section? Restaurants in KSA have a family and single section. Starbucks, for example, in the malls is two stores stuck together with separate seating area. This is so the family can sit together around other families where outsiders won't pry or look. I have heard that some malls are closed to singles (men of course, women would never be out alone) on certain evenings such that families can be out at their leisure.
Most days are multicultural to say the least. I get my coffee from a cafe run by Filipinos (of course I am learning their language), I go to the office to meet with my boss from Argentina, group members from Mexico, and eat lunch with my friend from Sweden. In fact, I frequently find myself the only American around. After a while you begin to realize that we are all people and while vastly different, we are also essentially the same and have the same basic needs. It is a blessing to get to know so many people from all over and have an impact on their lives.
Most days I wake up and don't really think about where I am. Other days it hits me and I still just can't believe it. Living on the Red Sea is very nice, particularly in this little community where the rules are different. Here you can play with google maps if you would like to see what it is like. Sometimes the images aren't available which I am thinking may have something to do with sections being updated from time to time. The google maps pictures makes everything look really sandy. I think they were taken before I even got there (I was trying to remember by landmarks. Everything is now very green and much more finished.
View KAUST in a larger map
The most relevant news is that Maria's visa processing took longer than it should have and so I had to return after winter break without her. I have been far more lonely this time around than before. Lord willing we will meet in Paris on Thursday and a few days later we will make our way back to Saudi Arabia together. I am excited to share many things with her!
Of course many people wonder what it is like to live in a place like this. While the campus has different rules, we are still embedded in Saudi culture and change and modernism is not something that comes easily here. Even on campus the gyms are segregated, it took them until now to sort out how the pools would be used. They are finally opening the beach--one family one and one for males. The Saudi people are very private--while you may talk to the male, it is hard to enter the family and get to know everyone. Much of what is going on around campus are attempts to find ways to let this very diverse group express themselves and their culture and thus sharing and enriching the whole. These things are resisted and the change is slow to happen. However, strides are being made. Several weeks ago a Arabic musician gave a concert on campus--the first of its type. He had played all over the world but never in Saudi Arabia. He was fearful at what might happen--he was overjoyed at the response. Another week there was an improv theatre group, at the library opening a string trio played music. There seems to be two forces at work here: one is simply that the Muslim religion has a high morality (this is not an issue for me and I guess most of you), the other is that there is a strong sense of traditionalism. It isn't like Jewish song and dance tradition--it is just that new ideas are outright rejected. Thus I learned that concerts are popular in Saudi Arabia, but only of what we would call 'folk-music'. Things that are new are seen as modernization (and frequently westernization) and thus evil. Actually this isn't so different than even in the church. Some new ideas that emerge are rejected because they are unscriptural, others are merely untraditional and we often blur the line. The Arabs are no different.
For the record, Maria will dress as she normally does while on campus. While outside of campus it is advisable to wear an abaya (black robe) but with no head covering. She doesn't have to walk behind me and she can speak to men. There are a lot of myths out there, thought I would silence them. Saudi women, of course, are submissive to their fathers/husbands and if they desire them to remain silent/covered, they do. Going out is always an adventure. You recall how places in the States had a smoking and nonsmoking section? Restaurants in KSA have a family and single section. Starbucks, for example, in the malls is two stores stuck together with separate seating area. This is so the family can sit together around other families where outsiders won't pry or look. I have heard that some malls are closed to singles (men of course, women would never be out alone) on certain evenings such that families can be out at their leisure.
Most days are multicultural to say the least. I get my coffee from a cafe run by Filipinos (of course I am learning their language), I go to the office to meet with my boss from Argentina, group members from Mexico, and eat lunch with my friend from Sweden. In fact, I frequently find myself the only American around. After a while you begin to realize that we are all people and while vastly different, we are also essentially the same and have the same basic needs. It is a blessing to get to know so many people from all over and have an impact on their lives.
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Thanks for this awesome post Nathan! It's so interesting to me to discover other cultures, even if it's through you :-) Who knows what effects your contacts and good influence will have in the future! -
I'm so glad Maria will finally get to join you! -
So glad that Maria will be there soon. :) -
Yeah me too, still can't really believe it. I guess I should, I fly out in 36 hours -
Glad it's all starting to come together -
Have fun in Paris! I can't tell you how glad I am that you and Maria will finally be together again. Love you bro. -
Really enjoyed reading your update and your insights. Safe travels! -
Ha! That's probably b/c she was running 5K's while I was passed out on the couch. :)
Kennon
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