I am back at Rockford and in the groove. Saudi Arabia was amazing and I would like to thank Aramco for giving us the opportunity to peek into Saudi Culture. Saudi Arabia is far from perfect, but it was refreshing to see beyond the news coverage. I learned a lot from this trip, but I would like to return to get a more comprehensive perspective. I am hoping they will select some of us to come back in the future to see more "typical" aspects of their culture. I do not think that anyone was trying to hide anything from us, but rather I think they wanted us to see Saudi Arabia in a positive light. Prior to the trip were sent articles regarding many of the controversial issues regarding Saudi Arabia. They weren't trying to hide anything, but they wanted a fair representation of the rest of their society. I need to go to the board meeting now...
Until next time.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Questions and answers
Many of you have had great questions. I have posted many of them, but have not had the opportunity to answer them. I will try to answer some of them, but this is going to be an ongoing process. I feel as though I am developing a new understanding for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I will be using your questions to deepen our understanding of Saudi Arabia through continued communication with some of my contacts. I have experienced Saudi Arabia from my own point of view, but there were twenty-four other teachers that were also developing an understanding of Saudi Arabia. Please feel free to click on the links on the right side to look at the blogs some of the other teachers have created. Since we all talk to different people and have different interests you may see a whole new side to Saudi Arabia.
Until next time...
Until next time...
We Rocked the Red Sea
We arrived back at the resort early in the morning so we could enjoy the Red Sea. People spent time swimming, snorkeling, and jet skiing. Unfortunately, we could not go scuba diving because we were flying that night. I would have loved to go, but at least I did not have to worry about the Tiger Sharks. I spent all my time jet skiing and I am really. The Red Sea is absolutely gorgeous and I will not forget today.
View the full album by clicking on the picture below.
Until next time...
View the full album by clicking on the picture below.
 |
| Red Sea |
Until next time...
Celebrating the Hijazi Culture
Saudi Arabia is country made up of tribes. The tribes were at war for many years until the king successfully united the tribes. Jeddah is made up of several different tribes together know as Hijazi. Hijazi folklore and culture was shared with us through music and dance. This traditional music was very uplifting and the entertainers were full of energy. We drank Saudi coffee, ate dates, and danced the night away. I have had a question asked of me regarding music in Saudi Arabia. I have found out that music is not taught in schools. Some students are self taught, hire tutors, and/or have parents that passed it down to them. Some conservative parents still tend to fear music because they are unsure of what effects it will have on their children and Saudi culture. I will see if I can verify this by asking it to several other people.
View the full album by clicking on the picture below.
Until next time...
View the full album by clicking on the picture below.
 |
| Celebratin |
Until next time...
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Day 6 in the KSA: Historical Jeddah and the Souk
Click on the picture below for the complete album.
We been continuing our journey through Saudi Arabia by exploring the city of Jeddah. This is a beautiful city that seems alive with excitement. It is on the Red Sea so there are many areas in which you can walk along the waterfront and enjoy the view. We have been enjoying a lot of seafood due to the location of the city. Today we had a chance to visit the historical district of Jeddah. The history of Saudi Arabia is very rich and interesting. Many of the buildings are made of coral stone with wood pieces strategically located throughout the structure. The historical buildings that are being preserved are surrounded by the Souk. The Souk is an outdoor market that is considered a very traditional shopping location. After our tour of the area we were able to shop the rest of the morning until it was prayer time. When it is prayer time everybody closes their business so they can go home to pray and eat. It was around noon that everybody began to close and they will not open again until around 4:30 p.m. so the temperature is not hot. When we went shopping we were escorted by police officers so we did not have any problems. I strayed from our group of five and found it to be quite safe. There were some beggars, but I was told that most of them were not really poor and if I gave them anything it would attract more people to me. The market was really fun because Saudis expect people to bargain for each item (most of the time and only in the outdoor market). I was able to buy several different items from the Souk that I will show to you when I return. I would say that this is what I thought Saudi Arabia would be more like in many different areas.
I am again beginning to understand what the differences are in their culture. Today I spoke to a Saudi that would probably be considered quite liberal for the Kingdom. She wants Saudi Arabia to keep evolving, but she is concerned that it may happen to fast and that conservative groups will resist. The majority of Saudis are conservative, but this further divided. Some are culturally conservative and fear that change will take away the Saudi’s unique culture, while some are religiously conservative and want the religion to dictate the country. As an outsider here it was difficult to distinguish between the two because they sometimes blend, but it is getting clearer. Unfortunately, the culturally conservative sometimes try to apply Islam inappropriately, which can give the religion of Islam a bad reputation. One example of this is the abiyah. This is a product of Saudi Arabia that is used to help teach people the concept of modesty as written in the Koran. In Riyadh many people will push that the color of the abiyah needs to be black because of Islam, but this is not true and it is not written in the Koran. I am sure many of you see both conservative and liberal groups in our country, but may have not heard of these terms. In what ways are you conservative? Liberal? Have you seen examples of the two in the news?
Thanks for all of your comments.
Until next time…
 |
| Saudi Arabia: Exploring Jeddah |
We been continuing our journey through Saudi Arabia by exploring the city of Jeddah. This is a beautiful city that seems alive with excitement. It is on the Red Sea so there are many areas in which you can walk along the waterfront and enjoy the view. We have been enjoying a lot of seafood due to the location of the city. Today we had a chance to visit the historical district of Jeddah. The history of Saudi Arabia is very rich and interesting. Many of the buildings are made of coral stone with wood pieces strategically located throughout the structure. The historical buildings that are being preserved are surrounded by the Souk. The Souk is an outdoor market that is considered a very traditional shopping location. After our tour of the area we were able to shop the rest of the morning until it was prayer time. When it is prayer time everybody closes their business so they can go home to pray and eat. It was around noon that everybody began to close and they will not open again until around 4:30 p.m. so the temperature is not hot. When we went shopping we were escorted by police officers so we did not have any problems. I strayed from our group of five and found it to be quite safe. There were some beggars, but I was told that most of them were not really poor and if I gave them anything it would attract more people to me. The market was really fun because Saudis expect people to bargain for each item (most of the time and only in the outdoor market). I was able to buy several different items from the Souk that I will show to you when I return. I would say that this is what I thought Saudi Arabia would be more like in many different areas.
I am again beginning to understand what the differences are in their culture. Today I spoke to a Saudi that would probably be considered quite liberal for the Kingdom. She wants Saudi Arabia to keep evolving, but she is concerned that it may happen to fast and that conservative groups will resist. The majority of Saudis are conservative, but this further divided. Some are culturally conservative and fear that change will take away the Saudi’s unique culture, while some are religiously conservative and want the religion to dictate the country. As an outsider here it was difficult to distinguish between the two because they sometimes blend, but it is getting clearer. Unfortunately, the culturally conservative sometimes try to apply Islam inappropriately, which can give the religion of Islam a bad reputation. One example of this is the abiyah. This is a product of Saudi Arabia that is used to help teach people the concept of modesty as written in the Koran. In Riyadh many people will push that the color of the abiyah needs to be black because of Islam, but this is not true and it is not written in the Koran. I am sure many of you see both conservative and liberal groups in our country, but may have not heard of these terms. In what ways are you conservative? Liberal? Have you seen examples of the two in the news?
Thanks for all of your comments.
Until next time…
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Day 5 in the KSA: Digging Deeper…
We are getting more opportunities to figure of this land of contrast by meeting with the educated women of Saudi Arabia. We began by visiting Effat College to have a discussion regarding the role of women in society. The discussion continued in the evening with a never-ending meal. When Saudis have guests they are extremely hospitable. Last night we ate at a restaurant that rotated so we could enjoy the view of the city of Jeddah. The meal lasted three hours and consisted of approximately ten courses. If you visit Saudi Arabia you will be offered coffee or tea and something made with dates. The cardamon coffee is quite flavorful and the dates are the better than I have had in the United States. A traditional meal usually consists of rice and bread similar to pita.
Click on the photo below for the complete album.
Here are some of the discussions we had regarding the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
1. Saudis are private
Saudi Arabia has problems just like every country. They have a short modern history and are going through an amazing growth period. They do not always share things because they are culturally private. We have all felt like people are not telling the whole story at some point in time on this trip. This is due to their private culture and the need to save face. Knowing that when traveling to Saudi Arabia is essential to understanding how to communicate with them.
2. Dress code
The requirement of Abiyahs is an element of Saudi culture, not Islam. The Islamic women must wear Abiyahs according Saudi law. It starts at around ten years old so they start to understand the importance of begin modest. If they do not wear them to school they are not allowed to attend. Wearing the Abiyah in public is meant to protect women from men (inappropriate thoughts and rape). Some women do not wear the Abiyahs when they travel to places that are non-muslim—it is a personal decision. Most women wear a black Abiyah, but as they become more fashionable they are starting to see more colors and/or styles to accommodate for the wants of the women. We have seen some of the women wearing makeup, nose rings, a diamond grill on their tooth, imprints on the Abiyah, and designer sunglasses. The contrasts can be very dramatic, but the main thing is that the Abiyah cover the body in a modest manner to protect them.
3. Driver’s license
Many Saudi women want and need the right to drive. If you are rich it is not a problem because you have a permanent driver. If you are poor it is difficult because the man has to drive everywhere and the women is limited.
4. Education
We were told last night that 56% of college graduates are women, but only 10% represent the workforce. The average age of Saudis is 22 years old with 60% of the population under 16 years old. The current students are going to have a huge influence as they begin to take power in Saudi Arabia. I believe an overhaul of the educational system, growing use of technology, and time are going to be the driving point for change in the Kingdom. The next ten to twenty years will be an interesting experience for Saudi Arabia. I am positive they will have many growing pains, but it will hopefully open up some doors for opportunity.
5. Every conversation we have leaves me with more questions.
Until next time…
Click on the photo below for the complete album.
 |
| New Album 11/29/07 1:57 AM |
Here are some of the discussions we had regarding the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
1. Saudis are private
Saudi Arabia has problems just like every country. They have a short modern history and are going through an amazing growth period. They do not always share things because they are culturally private. We have all felt like people are not telling the whole story at some point in time on this trip. This is due to their private culture and the need to save face. Knowing that when traveling to Saudi Arabia is essential to understanding how to communicate with them.
2. Dress code
The requirement of Abiyahs is an element of Saudi culture, not Islam. The Islamic women must wear Abiyahs according Saudi law. It starts at around ten years old so they start to understand the importance of begin modest. If they do not wear them to school they are not allowed to attend. Wearing the Abiyah in public is meant to protect women from men (inappropriate thoughts and rape). Some women do not wear the Abiyahs when they travel to places that are non-muslim—it is a personal decision. Most women wear a black Abiyah, but as they become more fashionable they are starting to see more colors and/or styles to accommodate for the wants of the women. We have seen some of the women wearing makeup, nose rings, a diamond grill on their tooth, imprints on the Abiyah, and designer sunglasses. The contrasts can be very dramatic, but the main thing is that the Abiyah cover the body in a modest manner to protect them.
3. Driver’s license
Many Saudi women want and need the right to drive. If you are rich it is not a problem because you have a permanent driver. If you are poor it is difficult because the man has to drive everywhere and the women is limited.
4. Education
We were told last night that 56% of college graduates are women, but only 10% represent the workforce. The average age of Saudis is 22 years old with 60% of the population under 16 years old. The current students are going to have a huge influence as they begin to take power in Saudi Arabia. I believe an overhaul of the educational system, growing use of technology, and time are going to be the driving point for change in the Kingdom. The next ten to twenty years will be an interesting experience for Saudi Arabia. I am positive they will have many growing pains, but it will hopefully open up some doors for opportunity.
5. Every conversation we have leaves me with more questions.
Until next time…
Monday, November 26, 2007
Comments and questions!
Thanks for the comments and questions. If everything goes well tonight I will see if I can answer some of your great questions over the past few days. Okay, I have to go so I make it to our next destination. I hope all of you are considering traveling as you grow into adulthood because it is an adventure and there is no better way of learning about the world and yourself.
Later.
Later.
Day 5 in the Kingdom: Education
I have a short time before we fly to the west coast of Saudi Arabia. We will be staying at Jeddah which is very near the Red Sea. Hopefully they I will be able to get my computer connected to the Internet at the hotel so we can begin to Skype tomorrow. I have been using the desktop here at Steineke Hall which has worked for most things I need. It is important that we make sure we have back up plans when we travel because not everything is the same and it is not as easy to get things to work.
1. Today was very enlightening. We began the day by visiting the Dhahran 3rd Street Middle School. This middle school is used to educate the students that have parents who work for Aramco, but are not from Saudi Arabia. It was very similar to schools back in the states, but it was unique to Rockford in that it was very diverse. Students are primarily taught in English, but they were also teaching Arabic. There were many clubs to be involved in and different levels for sports. Soccer, baseball, and basketball all seemed to be very popular to the students. What I found extremely interesting is this is where the students received their education and grew up. They live on the Aramco Compound and enjoy the perks of living there, while also having to make sure they are culturally appropriate off the compound. Students had about the same number of days in school, but there were many opportunities for different types of learing throughout the summer. The school is from Kindergarten to 9th grade. After ninth grade many of the students attend a boarding school away from their parents. There are some opportunities for students to study only a few miles away from the compound, but many of the students traveled internationally to continue their education. In fact, many would go to study in the United States for the very first time. Everyone we talked to seemed very confident about their decisions to send their children abroad to finish their high school career, including many of the students.
These are the things these students consider as they grow up.
How would you feel about studying in another country for your 10th, 11th, and 12th grade years?
Would it make it easier if all your friends were going to travel to learn?
Where would you want to go? Why? Would language be a barrier? How would you prepare yourself?
Please share your comments.
2. Next we went to Shumua Al Amal School for Special Education. I think there are many of you that will find this interesting because we don't always get a clear picture of what other countries do to help the people that have mental disabilities.
What kind of facilities are available?
What type of emotional support is available for parents?
How does society view this portion of their society? Are they respected?
Who funds the needs of these groups?
I would have to say that this visit was absolutely beautiful. It made my heart warm to see a determined group of people working to represent students with mental disabilities. I think one way of judging is a society is by looking at how well they value all of their different sectors of society. The good news is that the United Nations is getting many countries to sign agreements to meet certain regulations in special education services. They are being a driving force to help people gain support from their government so they provide adequate facilities and trained professionals. The facilities were state of the art in the school we visited. This will definately be the model for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and possibly the world. There are 125 teachers with 220 students. The staff is extensively trained and the students are from 0 to 45 years old. The focus of the school is to help students become respected as citizens, offer them the right to get help, and to gain financial help from the government in the future. The facilities are huge and have many different functions to meet the diverse learners. It is private right now because they need to do things that the government will not be efficient in and they want to make sure they provide an accurate model for the rest of KSA. There are other centers around Saudi Arabia, but many lack the quality professionals (e.g. psychologists) so they are not as effective as needed. The school has parents pay on a sliding scale and if they cannot pay anything they find a way to get outside help. They do not want to turn anybody down. The students were so cute and it is very evident that they are very lucky to have the support they have from the wonderful staff. I could have stayed there all day and played with the little cuties, but we had to keep with our schedule. If anybody has a question that is interested in this topic let me know and I will see if I can get it answered.
I have to go catch the bus so I get on the plane to Jeddah.
Until next time.
1. Today was very enlightening. We began the day by visiting the Dhahran 3rd Street Middle School. This middle school is used to educate the students that have parents who work for Aramco, but are not from Saudi Arabia. It was very similar to schools back in the states, but it was unique to Rockford in that it was very diverse. Students are primarily taught in English, but they were also teaching Arabic. There were many clubs to be involved in and different levels for sports. Soccer, baseball, and basketball all seemed to be very popular to the students. What I found extremely interesting is this is where the students received their education and grew up. They live on the Aramco Compound and enjoy the perks of living there, while also having to make sure they are culturally appropriate off the compound. Students had about the same number of days in school, but there were many opportunities for different types of learing throughout the summer. The school is from Kindergarten to 9th grade. After ninth grade many of the students attend a boarding school away from their parents. There are some opportunities for students to study only a few miles away from the compound, but many of the students traveled internationally to continue their education. In fact, many would go to study in the United States for the very first time. Everyone we talked to seemed very confident about their decisions to send their children abroad to finish their high school career, including many of the students.
These are the things these students consider as they grow up.
How would you feel about studying in another country for your 10th, 11th, and 12th grade years?
Would it make it easier if all your friends were going to travel to learn?
Where would you want to go? Why? Would language be a barrier? How would you prepare yourself?
Please share your comments.
2. Next we went to Shumua Al Amal School for Special Education. I think there are many of you that will find this interesting because we don't always get a clear picture of what other countries do to help the people that have mental disabilities.
What kind of facilities are available?
What type of emotional support is available for parents?
How does society view this portion of their society? Are they respected?
Who funds the needs of these groups?
I would have to say that this visit was absolutely beautiful. It made my heart warm to see a determined group of people working to represent students with mental disabilities. I think one way of judging is a society is by looking at how well they value all of their different sectors of society. The good news is that the United Nations is getting many countries to sign agreements to meet certain regulations in special education services. They are being a driving force to help people gain support from their government so they provide adequate facilities and trained professionals. The facilities were state of the art in the school we visited. This will definately be the model for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and possibly the world. There are 125 teachers with 220 students. The staff is extensively trained and the students are from 0 to 45 years old. The focus of the school is to help students become respected as citizens, offer them the right to get help, and to gain financial help from the government in the future. The facilities are huge and have many different functions to meet the diverse learners. It is private right now because they need to do things that the government will not be efficient in and they want to make sure they provide an accurate model for the rest of KSA. There are other centers around Saudi Arabia, but many lack the quality professionals (e.g. psychologists) so they are not as effective as needed. The school has parents pay on a sliding scale and if they cannot pay anything they find a way to get outside help. They do not want to turn anybody down. The students were so cute and it is very evident that they are very lucky to have the support they have from the wonderful staff. I could have stayed there all day and played with the little cuties, but we had to keep with our schedule. If anybody has a question that is interested in this topic let me know and I will see if I can get it answered.
I have to go catch the bus so I get on the plane to Jeddah.
Until next time.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
KSA Night 4: Sunset Beach Resort
Wow! The Sunset Beach Resort was absolutely awesome. This is a resort for the extremely rich and I doubt many teachers have been here other than from the educator's program. We began by taking pictures with the camels and getting a very short ride on the beach. We had wonderful tea while we listened and danced to traditional Saudi music. The music was wonderful eventhough my dancing was quite autrocious. We had a great selection of authentic food that I thought was all very good. In-between dancing and eating I was able to interview one of our women tour guides that is high up in public relations at Saudi Aramco. She was very candid in her description of Saudi Arabia. It has changed in ways that she thinks is good for the country, but it has also changed in some unpleasant ways. She likes how the country is progressing in rights, but she does not like how children have changed. As times have changed teenagers have become more verbal and rebellious towards their parents. When she was growing up she would have never said no to her mother. She would have found a way to work out things with her mother, but never would have battled against her. Now, kids are being pushed to grow up fast, but they do not mature as fast as the media would like to help them think they do. She is concerned that teenagers will get more bold, disrespectful, and not make good decisions based on their parents experience. This is a concern considering the following statistics:
Population below age 15
Saudi Arabia: 38%
United States: 20%
Median Age
Saudi Arabia: 20 years old
United States: 36 years old
Statistics from CIA World Book
Click on the picture below to view the complete album.
Population below age 15
Saudi Arabia: 38%
United States: 20%
Median Age
Saudi Arabia: 20 years old
United States: 36 years old
Statistics from CIA World Book
Click on the picture below to view the complete album.
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| Saudi_Arab |
Until next time.
Day 4 in the KSA: Education
Finally, I went to bed at a descent time and I am feeling recharged. Today we had visited Dhahran Ahliyyah Schools. This is a private school approximately 25 minutes from the Saudi Armaco Compound. This not a typical school in Saudi Arabia because it is funded by Saudi Aramco. The facilities are similar to the U.S., but again, I would say that this is not a typical setting. The classes are segregated by gender, which is typical of schools in Saudi Arabia. The school is divided in a way that allows the boys and girls to share certain facilities (e.g. media center) without actual interaction throughout the school day. The students took each teacher on a private tour of the school. The men went to the boys side of the school, while the women went to the girls side of the school. The English these students spoke was amazing. If I had not know they were from Saudi Arabia I would have thought they were from America. At least 50% of the students had to come from parents that worked at Saudi Aramco. After the tour we gathered together to have a question and answer sesstion with the students. Several questions were asked to try to better understand the Saudi culture and schools.
Click on the picture below to view the complete album.
1. How do you go about interacting with the girls when you are constantly separated from them during school and in public? All of the students smiled, but none of them answered because the principal and superintendent were there. They side stepped the question completly. Muhammed, my school guide, whispered to me that he would give the inside scoop later. He told me that many of the boys in this school have girl friends. They meet through friends and at certain academic functions outside of school and they use Facebook to send messages. Sometimes they will meet on the Aramco Compound because it is much more open to girls and boys interacting. Another student actually told me, "Thank god for Aramco." He was very thankul for ther "freedom" The boys told me that they like to hang out at the mall or play sports during their free time. If we were in Riyahd or other conservative locations it would be much more difficult to meet girls because they cannot interact in according Saudi law. In these places I am still unsure of how they exactly get to know each other prior to dating and marriage. I would suspect family would have a big say in these issues.
2. How many of the 50 students planned on attending college in another country? All of them raised their hand and named the different locations around the world. The United States was still popular, but many of the students would have Visa issues that lasted to long to resolve. It is my undertanding that this is a problem because there are many of the same names in Saudi Arabia. People are part of clans, sometimes very distant clans, but they are still defined by their names. Some of the names that the U.S. is looking for are flagged everytime they come through and it takes a long to time to do a background check. Unfortunatley we are losing international students because they have to decide on a different college in a different country.
3. How do you feel about going to the United States?
Many of them shared how they know many American are very nice and that the tragedy that happened on 9/11, along with a mix igorance and the media's perspective have put students in a different standing in the United States. They still were optomistic and the school works with them to try to choose schools that they think they will not determine a lot of discrimination.
It was really nice to hear from the students perspective. I made sure to give Muhammed my business card so he could contact me. I have a feeling we will have the possibility to Skype with him in class to ask him questions. He seemed very intelligent and was full of enthusiasm for life. I would love to give him a chance to visit Minnesota so we could take him around our state and have him come to our school. Hmmm.....
Next, we visited the college preparatory for boys, and then went on to tour the girls school. These are top-notch schools with the best of the best of Saudi Arabia. The students were very intelligent and well traveled already. They too all planned to study outside of KSA with many focusing on the United States. The women's preparpatory school was a huge ray of hope for women in Saudi Arabia. Most of these students have science and math down, but need a lot of work with reading and writing in the English language. Considering this is a foreign language it is impressive how well they can speak it in 10 months. These schools were the ultimate schools in preparation for rigorous academics and culture shock. The girls were so happy to meet us and some of them even allowed us to take pictures. They are going to do well in life, I hope they are treated right when they come to the United States. Again, the main thing slowing this change down is the dominance of religion. Change will take time, but it seems as though it is slowly getting there.
I am going to take a short nap and then we are going to the Sunset Beach Resort for Saudi entertainment and food.
Until next time.
P.S. I know some of you will love to hear that some of the boy students here were wearing Beckham jerseys. Soccer is a big deal here! Basketball also was a big interest for many of the boy students. I wonder if the girls find sports as interesting? I will have to ask and find out?
Click on the picture below to view the complete album.
 |
| Saudi Schools in Eastern Province |
1. How do you go about interacting with the girls when you are constantly separated from them during school and in public? All of the students smiled, but none of them answered because the principal and superintendent were there. They side stepped the question completly. Muhammed, my school guide, whispered to me that he would give the inside scoop later. He told me that many of the boys in this school have girl friends. They meet through friends and at certain academic functions outside of school and they use Facebook to send messages. Sometimes they will meet on the Aramco Compound because it is much more open to girls and boys interacting. Another student actually told me, "Thank god for Aramco." He was very thankul for ther "freedom" The boys told me that they like to hang out at the mall or play sports during their free time. If we were in Riyahd or other conservative locations it would be much more difficult to meet girls because they cannot interact in according Saudi law. In these places I am still unsure of how they exactly get to know each other prior to dating and marriage. I would suspect family would have a big say in these issues.
2. How many of the 50 students planned on attending college in another country? All of them raised their hand and named the different locations around the world. The United States was still popular, but many of the students would have Visa issues that lasted to long to resolve. It is my undertanding that this is a problem because there are many of the same names in Saudi Arabia. People are part of clans, sometimes very distant clans, but they are still defined by their names. Some of the names that the U.S. is looking for are flagged everytime they come through and it takes a long to time to do a background check. Unfortunatley we are losing international students because they have to decide on a different college in a different country.
3. How do you feel about going to the United States?
Many of them shared how they know many American are very nice and that the tragedy that happened on 9/11, along with a mix igorance and the media's perspective have put students in a different standing in the United States. They still were optomistic and the school works with them to try to choose schools that they think they will not determine a lot of discrimination.
It was really nice to hear from the students perspective. I made sure to give Muhammed my business card so he could contact me. I have a feeling we will have the possibility to Skype with him in class to ask him questions. He seemed very intelligent and was full of enthusiasm for life. I would love to give him a chance to visit Minnesota so we could take him around our state and have him come to our school. Hmmm.....
Next, we visited the college preparatory for boys, and then went on to tour the girls school. These are top-notch schools with the best of the best of Saudi Arabia. The students were very intelligent and well traveled already. They too all planned to study outside of KSA with many focusing on the United States. The women's preparpatory school was a huge ray of hope for women in Saudi Arabia. Most of these students have science and math down, but need a lot of work with reading and writing in the English language. Considering this is a foreign language it is impressive how well they can speak it in 10 months. These schools were the ultimate schools in preparation for rigorous academics and culture shock. The girls were so happy to meet us and some of them even allowed us to take pictures. They are going to do well in life, I hope they are treated right when they come to the United States. Again, the main thing slowing this change down is the dominance of religion. Change will take time, but it seems as though it is slowly getting there.
I am going to take a short nap and then we are going to the Sunset Beach Resort for Saudi entertainment and food.
Until next time.
P.S. I know some of you will love to hear that some of the boy students here were wearing Beckham jerseys. Soccer is a big deal here! Basketball also was a big interest for many of the boy students. I wonder if the girls find sports as interesting? I will have to ask and find out?
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