Layan Damanhouri
Saudi Gazette
Most often than not it is difficult for foreigners to be invited to a Saudi home or make Saudi friends. Several expatriates Saudi Gazette spoke to were of the view that because of the isolationist tendency, they fail to experience the culture and Saudi life outside their workplaces.
“The expat and local communities are very separate. They don’t really know each other,” says Angie Kapely, an American expat working in Jeddah. “The challenges foreigners face when moving to Saudi Arabia are not always logistic but mainly social like finding a network of people they can interact with, going to social activities and not isolating themselves in their compounds or homes.”
With previous experience as a student advisor for Saudi students in the United States, Kapely recently co-founded GATE International Consulting to help bridge the gap between Saudis and foreigners through cultural exchange activities.
It’s a missed opportunity for expatriates to not experience the culture and Saudi life outside their work, she argues. “It’s a loss because these people come with stereotypes or a perception of Saudis or Islam and they might leave with the same stereotypes.”
When asked whether they think the global media truly reflects Saudi Arabia, 41 percent believed it doesn’t, according to a poll by Saudi Gazette surveying 50 expatriates from North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. Others either agreed with the statement or responded with “sometimes”.
The majority is interested in learning about the local culture and several people described their experience as positive or “unique”. Some even consider Saudi Arabia as their second home. However, only half of the respondents said it was easy making friends with Saudis.
“It’s generally not easy to meet Saudis”, says Robin Alsoffi, an American who recently moved to Saudi Arabia and is interested in getting closer to the culture. “However, it depends on the activities and programs that expats participate in. One has to play a role in going out and trying to meet their neighbors and get in social circles…but it would be nice to have welcoming programs to meet Saudis.”
Due to the stereotypes in the media, she says, some foreigners she has met come to Saudi Arabia with a negative attitude and make comparisons with Western cultures. “If you assume something about someone, there’s no way you can experience good relationships. The attitude is a big part of it. Every place has its negatives and positives; it helps to focus on the good parts.”
Learning about the culture helps bring the two communities together and avoids conflicts or misunderstandings, explains Dr. Sameer Tabbakh, a Saudi consultant and co-founder of GATE International Consulting. “It’s important to understand the culture to be able to interact with Saudis, for instance, in choosing the subjects they talk about, respecting the protocols, the gender restrictions, their privacy and such.”
Similarly, Saudis who have lived abroad or are familiar with foreign cultures need to go beyond work and make friendships, he adds. “Making friends plays a big role in adapting to life here and even extending one’s stay. Their experience is said to be rewarding once they enjoy life in Saudi Arabia.”
Organized activities and programs are insufficient, however. “We need more centers that organize cultural events and sightseeing trips that bring together Saudis and expats together for them to form relationships,” he says, adding that many Saudis are prepared to volunteer when given an opportunity. “The goal should be mainly focused on cultural exchange for others to learn about Saudi society, history and traditions.”
Language can also be a barrier between the two communities. “It’s really difficult to find language schools teaching Arabic. That’s another reason why expats can’t connect with Saudis,” adds Kapely. “It’s disappointing for people who are interested in the culture and who are looking for Arabic lessons but can’t find much.”
Some expats interact with Saudis on a regular basis through work. “My exposure to Saudis is mostly through work and my cooperation with the students has been extremely rewarding,” says Dominika Legień, a Polish instructor teaching English at a local university. “I learned so much about their lifestyle, language, and the challenges they face. It’s an exciting exchange as they are curious to know those things about me as well.”
However, she agrees there needs to be more ways to connect. “If it comes to interacting with Saudis outside of my work environment, I have yet to discover more channels through which I can reach them.”
She adds, “It’s the best way to learn that we have more in common than we think. It helps to build understanding and fight prejudice. It would be easier if there were more cultural and artistic platforms available for expats and locals where they could interact and share ideas.”
On cultural traditions, she says there’s a big difference between knowing about them and experiencing them first hand.
GATE International Consulting held its first cultural exchange workshop and seeks to host others where prominent Saudis are invited to speak and interact with expatriate as well as organizing events for foreigners to participate in such as going to weddings, introducing them to local food and other activities.
