I live in Saudi Arabia. AMA!

[Shmithecat]

I still hear so many daft claims about certain aspects of living in KSA. Happy to confirm or deny what you've been told!

Don't know what happened there. Meant to be women in Arab countries.

No that's another myth. It's just that most women in Arab coy tries take to their beds and take sick leave every month and the ridiculous doctors advise women to stay indoors and do nothing so they don't get "strained". So no need for tampons, no roller skating and dog walking angry

You’re talking nonsense.

Sevendown
When you say you can’t get tampax is it that Saudi women aren’t allowed tampons?

I'm not sure. I have heard that you can get them but I'm buggered if I can find them...

Thanks for the thread, such an interesting read.

Wanted to know what your thoughts are about Vision 2030? Do you think it’s realistic?

Oh and a question related to your DH’s job, if it’s for a European company, would it be possible to share the name? Was wondering if they also EFL teachers in the Middle East? Like KSA?

Sorry if it wasn’t clear . Was asking if your DH’s company employ EFL teachers in KSA or elsewhere in the Middle East.

JJS888 hope that wasn't directed at the OP! She's been nothing but nice on this thread!

JJS888 as a trailing spouse elsewhere in the world I think using it as an insult is unkind. By all means disagree with the OP but don't insult her (and the rest of us) by using it as an insult.

OP, I've found your thread interesting, especially as my DF has spent a couple of years working in KSA. His experience is different to yours but it isn't his thread, and my secondhand information isn't relevant

I have lived in the Gulf for 27 years and I grew up in Saudi. I regularly get told.to take sick leave from work because of periods.f

Only 27?

I think I can trump that by a long shot.

JJS888
Sorry OP for hijacking but I am sick of the rudeness.

I'm only a 'dolly', so please, don't worry about me... 🙄.

Seriously, that's fucking rude. You'd have thought that women would at least have each other's backs out in the ME...

JJS888

I think you’re confusing posters and your unfortunate tirade at 03.59 was directed at me.

All I’m going to say in reply to it is - thanks for the laugh. I have 5 Gulf national children older than the 27 years you claim to have been in the Gulf. So if this is some kind of competition I think my 46 years in this part of the world as wife/wife/grandmother of Nationals trumps your 27 years many times over. Not that I now actually believe your tale for the simple fact if you behave in your day to day life the way you’ve behaved in your posts you just wouldn’t be tolerated.

NachoFries
Thanks for the thread, such an interesting read.
Wanted to know what your thoughts are about Vision 2030? Do you think it’s realistic?

I do! MBS has shown some determination so far... if he ploughs on like he has done so far, it's totally realistic. Some don't realise how huge women driving is for the economy. That and tourist visas is a massive step towards achieving it.

Oh and a question related to your DH’s job, if it’s for a European company, would it be possible to share the name? Was wondering if they also EFL teachers in the Middle East? Like KSA?

Yes, they employ English teachers. PM me

JJ, you’re embarrassing yourself.

A bit off track here, but how would your employer know you were on a period?

Undercoverbanana
A bit off track here, but how would your employer know you were on a period?

I did wonder that myself tbh. I only worked for a year out here and never got told to go home. Assuming that's because I never told them I had my period though. Why would I?

I think I can help with the question.

A bit off track here, but how would your employer know you were on a period?

Women don't advertise that they have their period because like women all over the world they just get on with it. Its just one of those things. However, when a woman has her period she can't pray or fast so its a kind of give away. But to be honest I think its one of things that no-one notices because people grow up with the women around them at times not praying or fasting and it is what it is. And I doubt very much employers sit and think oh its prayer time and she's not gone to pray, or its Ramadan and she's not fasting, it must mean she has her period. It could be that the person will pray at home before the next prayer time, and if they're not fasting they would be very discreet about eating and drinking in the workplace so for all intents and purposes it could appear to their colleagues they could very well be fasting.

Of course women may say to each other that they feel awful because they have a sore tummy, or they want to strangle someone, or eat their weight in chocolate but that would be talk between 2 women just as it is all over the world.

Do some women have such bad periods they must need sick leave? Im sure they do but I think it would have to be really bad to be given sick leave for it. What would be on the sick leave certificate? I guess it would be the medical name for heavy/painful periods.

My kids used to get out of swimming by saying they had their period. Muslim girls couldn't be forced to use Tampax so neither could the other nationalities in the school. I didn't know that until they'd left school - bisoms!

Muslim girls couldn't be forced to use Tampax so neither could the other nationalities in the school

I didn't know that any girl regardless of her background could be forced to wear a tampon?

True, but I know my girls told me of female PE teachers telling girls to use them so they could swim during their period. Because of where we live the Muslim girls were able to say that's against my religion/families wishes. I'm certainly not having a go here just relaying what my teens told me at the time. They used it to their advantage.

Definitely try Lulu for the things you can't find. I have marmite, tampax and Branston pickle. They also have severely overpriced Arctic Roll

Tampons have been missing for ages in my compound Lulu, but recently reappeared. The shipment looks like it was run over by a bus though. Not sure why their provision is so sporadic. Pregnancy tests also go out of stock fairly regularly, but you can always buy 100 types of condoms and lube. I guess the buyers have different priorities to me.

Do you ever feel like you and your husband have sold your souls a little by living in this incredibly mysogynistic socieity, which has an appaling record on human rights, treats animals like dirt and so on? Do you have a line and, if so, where do you draw it?

croprotationinthe13thcentury
Do you ever feel like you and your husband have sold your souls a little by living in this incredibly mysogynistic socieity, which has an appaling record on human rights, treats animals like dirt and so on?

No.

Do you have a line and, if so, where do you draw it?

I'd pretty much go to the ends of the earth if it benefited my ds.