I have finally arrived in Saudi Arabia after almost a year of arranging this trip.

Originally, I was offered to work for Princess Nora University and I was really excited to accept, but after dealing with a recruiter with poor knowledge of the immigration process, my offer fell through. But alhamdulillah, I was offered another position a few weeks later by a different company who had their own in-house recruiter. So the recruitment process streamlined really smoothly and they knew exactly what to do about the visa process. This made me trust them a lot.

I was pleasantly greeted by Adam, our housing coordinator. After customs, he rushed straight to me as soon as he saw me at the small Al-Ahsa airport and asked me to sit in the car while he got my luggage. I guess I stuck out like a sore thump because I was the only woman NOT dressed in black and exposing my face – eyelids, too! I felt Adam was being TOO attentive and I wasn’t used to that kind of attention. At first I figured he probably doesn’t want me to deal with too much Arabic all at once on my very first day (how nice of him), but when I started to look around, I soon realized I was the only woman standing and I should probably go sit in the car as he advised me to.

I am happy to report that (after a rough couple of first days) I am settling in very well. The Hasawi (the people of Al-Ahsa) are lovely. In fact, I feel really fortunate to be working as a teacher. I don’t think I would be experiencing Saudi life to any degree if I lived at an American compound or worked only with foreigners.

Surprisingly, too many Muslims advised me against this trip because I might experience a culture shock; that it was unlike any other Muslim country, and because they had a poor experience. None, however, were Latina/American Muslims who I could relate to, and so, I didn’t take anyone’s opinion for face value. So onward I go!

I few things I’ve noticed since being here…

Food

My neighborhood supermarket is called Othaim. I was glad to see that a lot of products are labeled in English and that there are a lot of Philippino foreign workers that speak English who can help me find anything. Unfortunately, they never have anything I want. The produce is terrible and a lot of products are packaged and frozen. I’m hoping when I visit Hyper Panda this evening I will find fresh produce and have actual fiber in my diet again. It’s either that, or I have to learn to make kebsa, because Othaim sells an abundance of rice and all the ingredients you need for kebsa.

I should mention, SAUDIS LOVE KEBSA.

Until my husband arrives (so he can drive me to better supermarkets), I’ll have to settle for fast food every | single | day.

Gender segregation

Originally, I had planned to wear the niqab to avoid standing out in Al-Ahsa (a very traditional and conservative region), but I’ve made a couple of cultural mistakes already that I would prefer not wearing it so that people understand that I’m foreign and hope they can forgive my mistakes. After Adam picked me up from the airport, we headed straight to the clinic to begin the iqama process, then we went to an STC store to get a SIM card. We walked in like it was nobody’s business and straight to the counter. Adam was able to reach the counter. I was immediately shoo-ed out and security rushed over to block me from going any further. Everyone pointed outside and around the corner. I had waltzed into the men’s cell phone store without first checking for the ladies section (oops!). Most places have a frosted door on the side that says it’s for families or ladies only. I always look out for this door now. Frosted glass is my friend.

Dress code

Everyone is dressed so modestly, mashAllah, that when I see a man dressed in jeans and polo I feel like slut-shaming him (estaghfirillah!).

Most women wear niqab or burqa, and once they are in a ladies-only environment, everyone is wearing western-styled clothing and makeup. You really do forget you are in Saudi Arabia at this point. I teach English to ladies and on our second week of lessons, we have already become more comfortable and open with each other. I find it so interesting how we can all joke and chat in the classroom when we let down our hair (literally), but when it’s time to leave and put on our abayas and niqabs, everyone’s demeanor changes.

Weather

I walked to the Othaim market, which is 1.5 blocks away, one day. Never again.