How Old Is A Prince?

you know this movie, "the kingdom"? it's inspired by the bombings in an american compound in riyadh in 2003 (see more here).. anyways, they show a saudi prince in the movie and he's all young and handsome and stuff, whereas in reality he'd be about 60-something.. and i suppose this is the notion we have in our western minds.. a prince for us is a young handsome man, preferably on a white horse of course.. however, this is often not the truth in real life.. many and many of the princes here are quite old (needless to say, the royal family is huge, so there's plenty of princes).. actually, every now and then you hear a prince pass away.. here's crown prince nayef bin-abdulaziz al-saud who died recently at the age of 79

and here's the new crown prince salman bin-abdulaziz al-saud

sometimes when we would pass by a palace with my husband, i'd ask him what it is and he'd say it's a palace of prince so-and-so and i'd say "wow! nice for a young prince", and he'd be like "ya ayah, he's like 70 years old!" and i'd be like o_o cuz i'd think a prince would still live with his parents or something :)

so, for me the notion of "prince" has changed.. how old is a prince in your head?

Have You Been To A Circus Before?

assalamu aleikum dear readers!
it's been a long time since i've posted on my blog, i dunno if anyone noticed but if you were waiting, i apologize.. and welcome to all the new followers :)

well, sentiments aside, not so long ago i actually had a chance to visit a saudi girls' school graduation party.. and let me tell you it was something! since it's a girls school, males were not allowed and as it happens at all female only gatherings here, the lades didn't miss a chance to show off their...everything.. well, it was kinda weird.. some came wearing night gowns, others - jeans or beach dresses.. and of course lots of make-up and perfumes

i have to say the girls' performances were just wonderful! so was the work of the school staff.. what really shocked me was the audience.. of course everybody was like 1.5 hours late, this is normal here.. but even when the action on stage started, women were still arriving and behaving as though nothing formal was going on - walking around, talking loudly, laughing and paying little attention to what was going on on the stage.. it all looked more like a dress rehearsal to me than an actual performance day.. this continued even when the principal was giving a speech but she didn't say one word to make them quiet, as if this kind of behavior was normal

it got even more interesting, however, when i saw some of the ladies sitting with their feet on the backs of the chairs in front of them, another one trying to do something like a shadow play in the light of a projector right in the middle of the performance.. and the young lady in a mini and high heels climbing over the rows just finished me off

this reminds me of my saudi friend who quite some years ago went to a performance of a visiting circus here in jeddah with her friend..  it was a mixed gathering, i have to mention.. and how weird did they feel when during the whole performance they were like the only ones clapping and cheering for the actors.. the circus stopped coming shortly after...

what is the reason for this kind of behavior? is it arrogance and lack of morality or is it just because people don't really know how they should behave in such kind of gatherings, simply because they don't have a chance to attend many (or any at all)?

Welcome To Reality

saudi arrested for murdering wife, brothers jailed for beating sister, hail pedophile murderer beheaded, - similar headlines can be found in a saudi newspaper every day.. many muslims around the world (and i used to be one of them) believe such things simply don't happen every day in ksa, for it's such an islamic society.. they come for hajj and umrah and see all the women wearing black abayas, often with niqabs, and men with beards wearing white thoubs.. hundreds of people praying in al-haram in congregation.. strangers approaching you in a mosque giving you leaflets promoting niqab.. yeah...

only, what you see when you come for hajj or umrah is not real saudi arabia.. in reality, it's basically like any other country in the world, with it's bad and ugly side.. ugly with a specific saudi twist, hushing it up and pretending it doesn't exist.. you can find all kinds of crimes here that you will find in any other country in the world, from murders and rapes to spreading drugs at schools and molestation, only here they are committed in greater secrecy and might seem more outrageous at times, because you did not expect them to happen in this country

however, i don't want to go into details, you can read about the ugly side of saudi in the newspapers and on other blogs and websites.. i just wanted to let those still living in a dream know that all kinds of things happen here and it's not as safe as it seems to be, specially for the children

and by the way, even during hajj and umrah, be creful with your stuff, some individuals manage to steal even in al-haram mosque

Women's Magazine - Middle Eastern Style

sayidaty is a women's monthly magazine, main office based in dubai.. it's like middle eastern cosmopolitan, only less shallow and with an islamic twist.. it's been on the market for 28 years now and is available in both arabic and english.. it talks about fashion, culture, lifestyle, health, marriage and what not.. you'll also find inspirational true stories in every issue

i find it cute how they use pictures of western celebrities or models and make them look more decent by drawing on leggings and t-shirts to cover the 'awrah :) take a look

Miss Arab World 2009

mawadda nour from saudi arabia was crowned "miss arab world 2009" on november 11, 2009 in cairo

sixteen contestants (18-24 years) from all over the arab world were competing for the title

the girls walked in their national dresses in front of the jury who crowned mawadda nour from saudi arabia as miss arab world 2009-2010, and jessy zaher from lebanon as first runner up.. controversy occurred right after the event ended since some critics found that the winner does not meet the standards required for a beauty pageant contestant.. well, may be she's very charming in person...

TV Presenters In Niqab

the presenters of a new saudi tv show that discusses issues concerning teenage girls and female university students are covered not only in black abayas but niqabs as well

the show named asrar al-banat (the secrets of girls) is broadcast on awtan tv, a saudi religious channel that was first aired in august 2008.. it discusses different issues relating to teenage girls, is aired every friday evening and receives live phone calls from members of the public

there are over 60 religious satellite channels that are broadcast across the middle east via arabsat and nilesat networks.. some of them have women presenters who do not cover their faces and dress in different colors, not necessarily black, while others have no women presenters at all.. awtan is the one channel that allowes women to appear but only when covered from head to toe

presenting asrar al-banat is sawsan salah al-deen, a 26-year-old saudi from riyadh and a BA graduate in media and guidance.. helping her are her sister (a specialist in blood diseases) and a psychologist.. sawsan also wears niqab in real life

the opinions of the viewers on how the presenters of the program look, differ - some encourage them, others criticize

asrar al-banat has so far broadcast four episodes

more on this in arab news

Breast Cancer Campaigns In Full Swing

october is regarded globally as the breast cancer awareness month.. here in saudi a number of charities, medical associations and individuals have also launched campaigns to raise awareness of the disease in the kingdom, specialy in rural areas

more than 20% of cancer cases in saudi arabia are breast cancer, it being the most common cancer in the country

a breast cancer organization, which is currently at the forefront of awareness campaigns in the kingdom, called zahra breast cancer association, has implemented several awareness campaigns in rural areas around the kingdom, including three mobile clinics

it is reported that in saudi most breast cancer hits women in their 30s, however most women living in rural areas as well as small cities within the kingdom are ignoring the necessity of detecting such diseases at an early stage, as well as the importance of self-detection

as part of "choose wise, save lives" campaign by the zahra association, educational displays and brochures can be seen in a number of supermarkets and malls.. a series of seminars and lectures with the participation of doctors, the media, educators and volunteers are also to take place during october all around the country

moreover, as reported, king abdulaziz university (KAU) in jeddah announced it would establish the first center of excellence for breast cancer in the region, thanks to a SR15 mln donation from a local businessman.. the center will perform mammograms with modern technology and cooperate in research with specialized international research facilities in geneva and the united states.. it will concentrate on young women diagnosed with breast cancer

a doctor at zahra association advises that every woman from the age of 20 upward, should perform a self examination every month, about three to five days after her period.. once the patient reaches the age of 40, she should get a mammogram done every two years and then every year after 50

more on cancer in saudi

sources: saudi gazette, arab news

No Reservations In Saudi Arabia

if you are an american you might have seen this show on tv.. i've found this episode of no reservations show on youtube and just looooved it.. it shows the nice side of saudi which pretty much nobody knows or hears about.. and ta-da! it was filmed in jeddah where i live :) i also loved this danya girl, she's so sweet and bubbly mashAllah.. in a word, do watch!

Research On Ways Of Flirtation

males trying to pick up with females in public places is an annoying part of modern saudi reality.. however, it is reported that a team of researchers has begun work on what seems to be a thorough study of the problem in order to pave the way for measures to tackle it

22-month study involves the researches going around the kingdom looking at the various ways in which males give females unsought attention as well as the factors contributing to the spread of the activity

they will observe, conduct experiments and interview around 400 individuals who have been detained by the commission for promotion of virtue and prevention of vice (pvpv) as well as 400 females, who are the activity’s most targeted section of society.. the researchers are also going to seek the views of representatives from the pvpv, the judiciary and education, and interview those who are forced to witness the activity most often, such as taxi drivers and shop assistants in popular shopping areas

so far, saudi sociologists name marital delays, lack of accomplishments in life and the feeling of emptiness as the primary drives for men and women to flirt.. in saudi society people don't have to worry about poverty, wars or financial problems, they also have limited opportunities for utilizing their free time, then they want anything to replace the emptiness they feel inside

even with restricted social interactions, people in saudi manage to flirt by means of the internet, mobile phones and bluetooth outlets

source: saudi gazette

Punish Or Help?

police and members of the commission for promotion of virtue and prevention of vice have begun a campaign of apprehending youths who are indecently dressed or behave in public, newspapers report.. police sources say that all who have been arrested so far have been saudi teenagers.. punishment could include jail time and lashes

imho, this is fighting the consequences instead of the cause

according to researches there are three types of factors that cause deviant behaviour: psychological, biological, and sociological.. and though the society can’t change what’s given to a person by God, it can have some influence on the sociological part (obviously)

family is the link to socialization in one’s environment.. in the family, divorce, conflict within family, neglect, as well as too much supervision and spoiling, abuse, and deviant parents are the main preconditions for the offspring’s deviant actions

modern research finds that the lack of support a child needs is a link to delinquency in any race.. children need close, supportive relationships with parents.. what promotes deviance in the home is not being able to talk to parents.. many, however, these days leave video games and tv to raise their children.. the child may feel that they need to get attention elsewhere, thus acting deviantly if their parents are not there for them

family size also leaves an adolescent without the necessary attention they need as an individual.. middle children are more likely to misbehave because they go unnoticed more than their younger or older siblings

all this causes stress, poor self-esteem, aggressiveness, lack of empathy, and fewer interactions with peers and leads to deviant behaviour

too much supervision can be as harmful as the lack of it.. excess control, for example, may lead to decadence, which is luxurious self-indulgence on a personal level and "corrosive decline due to a perceived erosion of necessary moral traditions on a social level".. well, well, well…

however, back to the family.. the most common reasons found that parents abuse their children is because this is a learned function they acquired from their parents.. it truly amazes me when parents complain that their children misbehave while they are the ones who give them patterns of behaviour

another cause for teens to behave deviantly is simply just boredom with their lives, which is especially pressing in this society.. deviant behavior is exciting to the teens who have limited opportunities for diversifying their spare time

other influences outside of the home that can cause a person to act deviantly are peers, media images, and other people in society that set what the norm should be

the very important part of all this is that once a person is labeled deviant they continue to respond to society as if they are.. when more and more people think of these people as deviant they, themselves think they are too.. parents (as well as society) need to correctly punish their children when they see deviant behavior and give them love and care, but the problem is that some people do not understand it

Too Good To Be A Worker

some 4.5 million (out of 6 million all in all) expatriates in the kingdom are employed as unskilled workers, as reported by the ministry of labour.. saudis, however, refuse to work in low-paid jobs due to cultural and social reasons

in fact, the rate of unemployment among saudis is quite high - around 9% according to official sources.. "saudisation"of labour, that is replacing foreign workers with saudis, has been going on for quite some time now but doesn't seem to improve the situation

businesses are pushed to employ more saudis and quotas are being emposed but businessmen still prefer foreigners as saudis are more expensive and less productive

they also say that education system fails to equip young saudis with the right skills as it is all based on memorising and not critical thinking.. what's more, young saudis are not taught the subjects the society needs (e.g. engineering, medicine)

also, according to a recruitment consultant "expatriates occupy these jobs largely due to the reluctance of saudis to take them because of social and cultural taboos".. saudis themselves admit that there is this idea that some jobs are for filipinos or pakistanis and a saudi male should be working at a bank or an oil company or as the manager of a company

as for young women, their job opportunities are quite limited in this sexually segregated society.. saudi women comprise 55% of graduates but only 5% of the workforce.. convincing religious conservatives that women can enter the workplace without corrupting the morals of the nation is not easy

so far, unemployment is the number one challenge for saudi arabia.. however, as saudis like to say, change is under way.. but slowly

source: saudi gazette

Saudi Marks National Day

yesterday, on wednesday september 23, saudi arabia marked its 77th national day, not only to remember the country’s unification at the hands of king abdul aziz but also to celebrate its achievements in the educational, health and economic sectors.. being the world’s largest oil exporter, it has become a member of G20 and is the largest economy in the middle east

read more in arab news

Eid Gift Ideas From Saudi

eid ul-fitr is almost here and saudi residents are busy making their last preparations for the grand event

but not only are they buying new clothes for themselves and their children (as the egyptinas usually do), but they also clean their houses and refresh them by buying new furniture or refurnishing the old and buying gifts!

so because everybody wants their homes clean and renewed by eid, carpet washing and furniture upholster businesses get more profit in the last days of ramadan than they do during the year
during the last week of ramadan the malls are crowded with last-minute shoppers.. buying gifts for children instead of giving them traditional token money is a new trend in saudi.. one of the reasons for this is that children who don't know how do deal with money properly, often misuse it.. so grown-ups these days prefer to get them such suitable gifts as stuffed toys, clothes, video games and books, as well as giving a small amount of token money

my favourite part of it all is that other members of close family also get some gifts! so here are some gift ideas from saudi- jewelry.. well, everybody knows that "diamonds are a girl's best friends", so a piece of exclusive jewelry is always welcome but with the budget being tight and avilability of highly attractive artificial jewlelry, there are cheaper alternatives.. plus a number of stores here have special offers where you can buy a whole set of accessories (wrist watch, ring, pair of earrings and necklace) with a reasonable price.. a similar package for men (wrist watch, pen, key ring and a pair of cuff studs) is also available

- perfumes and oils.. i think this is one of the gifts for muslims - not only is it a wonderful fragrant gift always easy to get, but applying a perfume is sunnah of our beloved prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).. these days perfume shops also have special offers - gift packs which in addition to the perfume include shower gels, soaps, body lotions and bath oils of the same brand, available for both men and women

- clothes.. everybody wants to wear something new in eid.. however, make sure you know the preferances and size of the reciever (it'd better be a close relative of friend).. otherwise, why not give a nice scarf to a sister?

- electronic gadgets, such as mobile phones, laptops, gaming devices, music players and so on

- gift boxes comprising traditional sweets (like baklawa and konafa), nuts and chocolates.. these are especially popular in eid

are you going to present your loved ones with any gifts this eid?

sources: arab news, saudi gazette

Children Banned From Mosques

quite some time ago it was reported in saudi gazette that most of the mosques in dammam banned children from participating in taraweeh prayers.. they employed women volunteers as guards who do not let any children inside the places of worship.. some of the mosques even posted notices on the entrances and walls saying "no children allowed"

ok, we all know how disturbing it can be with toddlers running, crying or shouting inside the mosque during the prayer.. but the funny thing is that not only toddlers but children of ages 7 and 8 were reported not to have been allowed inside.. the female guard made them stand outside in the hot weather while the mothers were praying in the mosque

most of the mosques placed praying mats outside to let children pray there, but the extreme hot climate makes them very tired and cranky.. what a perfect way to spend your first taraweeh ever! very memorable indeed

some mosques, however, let children pray in the back row without causing disturbance to others.. mothers with young girls of 5 and 6 want their children to be allowed to pray in the mosque along with grown ups so that they can learn and experience the importance of praying


it is very important to develop in children the love for prayer from an early age.. make them aware of the virtue of taraweeh and congregational prayers as well as teach them the culture of praying and the behavior inside the mosque.. but how can this be done if they are not allowed to enter the place of worship? this is indeed weird

Is Jail A Cure For Suicide Attempts?

seems like hamoud abu talib read my mind after i read the news story "indian gets jail, lashes for suicide attempt".. here's what he had to say, and i couldn't have said better

I am not sure if this incident took place during Ramadan or before, but I am more inclined to the first probability since a local daily last week published it. On this occasion, I recall an interview published early Ramadan with one of the judges under the title “The Temperament of Judges.”
Asked about the influence of fasting on the verdicts issued by the judges during Ramadan, the judge said they tend to be lenient, soft and merciful. “Whoever is judged in Ramadan should consider himself a lucky person,” he said.
We go back to the news story published in one of the local dailies last week. It said a summary court in Jeddah sentenced an Indian expatriate to two months in jail and 50 lashes for attempting to commit suicide numerous times.
Here I must ask the judge who claimed that the verdicts issued during Ramadan are lenient and soft: Is this the mercifulness you are talking about? Is this an example of it? Dear all: there is no rational person who would attempt to commit suicide no matter how much pressure and stress he is under.
No one, regardless of his race, color, religion, education or culture, would decide to commit suicide unless that person was so mentally unfit as to be incapable of thinking properly.
If a single suicide attempt is enough proof of mental problems what can we say about a man who makes many attempts? He is no doubt a sick person that needs mental and psychological treatment instead of imprisonment and whipping.
He needs doctors to treat him not judges to sentence him.
This brings to our minds the many cases of mentally unfit people who have been sent to jail.
And what would have been the sentence on this desperate Indian man if it had not been issued during Ramadan when the verdicts are soft and merciful?

source: arab news

Arabic Coffee: Be All And End All Of Saudi Arabia

coffee is popular all around the world.. a much-needed mug of energy first thing in the morning and just the thing to combat both stress and fatigue at the same time.. in this part of the world too, coffee is often treated as a daily necessity, as well as an integral part of arabian hospitality

arabic coffee is a general name that refers to the way coffee is prepared in many arab countries throughout the middle east.. it can be prepared in various ways, but the saudi one (qahwa or gahwa as it is known) always contains more cardamom than coffee, and no sugar; it is made from green coffee beans and has a truly unique flavor

it is the traditional welcoming drink served on every occasion such as weddings, receptions, gatherings, meetings.. in a word, at any gathering of more than four people.. it is served to the guests almost immediately on their arrival, usually before the meal (parties start around 9 pm, the meal is offered around midnight).. stuffed dates, some with sesame seeds, some without, are passed around with the coffee

arabic coffee should be served from the traditional pot called dallah, which has a chunk of fiberous material stuck in the spout to serve as a filter, into very small arabic coffee cups filled only by half

the server then goes around with the pot to refill any cup that is empty, and continues to refill cups until the guest gently wobbles their cup to indicate they've had enough.. it is customary to take two or three cups.. more than three is greedy, less than two is not polite.. they say this is no joke - one way to upset your hostess real fast is to wobble after choking down the first cup.. this is why the dates are so important, without them to help kill the taste of the coffee, most of us would never have gotten to the meal part of the ritual

and now, ta-da! here's the recipe

arabic coffee

1 tbsp arabic coffee (green or lightly roasted coffee)

2 tbsp coarsely ground cardamom

2 cups water

put the coffee in a pot and warm it on a low heat for a few minutes, mixing with a spoon.. add the water, bring to a boil, and boil 3 or 4 minutes.. pour the boiled coffee through a filter into the dallah and add the cardamom.. return to heat, bring to a boil once more, then simmer 20 minutes

Begging Business In Ramadan

the number of beggars in the kingdom swells during ramadan when saudis as well as expatriates give generously to the poor and the needy

now, let me note that islam, while strongly promoting charity of all kinds, prohibits begging without dire nessecity (thus, it's illegal here).. a muslim is encouraged to safeguard his dignity, develop self-reliance, and steer clear of depending on others.. it is not permissible for him to depend on charity while he is able to earn a sufficient subsistence for himself and his family through his own efforts (more on this topic here)

unfortunately, most of the people begging in the streets of saudi arabia are not really in need, 'cause support is easily available here for those in need in terms of charities offering monthly help with food or other assistance.. moreover, according to reports,there are some organized criminal groups which bring old men, women and children into the country for begging

the most recent annual report from the ministry of social affairs says that there are 5206 saudi beggars in the kingdom and 21136 non-saudis

yemenis accounted for 95% of those arrested, a local press report said, adding that about 3500 yemeni child beggars are held every month by specialized agencies in the kingdom

saudi women are also not without a sin, around 60% of saudi beggars are female.. some of them are divorced or widowed, others have husbands in jail.. the authorities are trying to help those women by finding suitable work for them.. if they have no qualifications they might find work as security guards or servers of coffee or supervisors at wedding occasions.. however, one of the biggest problems is that many of them turn down the opportunity to work, perhaps because the pay is low and they prefer the freedom of begging

fighting begging during ramadan is one of the main problems facing saudi security officers and social affairs ministry officials.. apart from traffic points, beggars wait for their catch at ATMs, mosques, supermarkets and restaurants.. however, it is the duty of all saudi residents to combat this phenomenon.. charity should be given to a muslim who happens to deserve it.. if it is known that he will use it in a bad way or he's not asking out of need, then he's not entitled to it.. it is preferable that one who pays sadaqah should give it to the pious, the knowledgeable, and those of a kind disposition

sources: saudi gazette, arab news, islamonline.net