Off to East Asia

Why is it that it is the expatriate men who are more courteous to us women than our own fellow Saudis? Where did all that “we protect our women” male macho crap go? One certain incident happened while I was trying to push a cart full of groceries into an elevator. A Saudi man happened to be standing alone in the elevator, and I thought that he’d be like any other gentleman and hold the door for me as I made my way to the lift. But no. I could see him frantically pressing the CLOSE button. Was he afraid of me? Clearly I was of no threat to him. If anyone, I should have been the one to fear him if we were alone in the elevator. Or was he intimidated by the presence of an independent lady? Or maybe it was my speaking English and Arabic on my cellphone as I made my way to the elevator. I don’t know, but that’s no reason to do such a cowardly thing.

Another incident happened in Aramco as I was shopping at the commissary with my mother. We ended up buying a lot of groceries and decided to carry them by ourselves, thinking it would be light. Halfway to the car, the weight started to take its toll and a bunch of Saudi men saw us struggling with the bags and I thought they would do something. Clearly the sight of an elderly woman and her daughter struggling to carry heavy groceries should bring out some kind of response from them. It sure did; they simply turned their heads away and laughed. Just as we were passing them and I was cursing them under my breath, a Syrian brother who has just finished packing groceries into his car came up to us and offered assistance, to which I was grateful.

That’s not the end of it. But what am I to gain from narrating all those shameful stories? These men will never change

Aside from those isolated incidents, there’s not much going on with me. Work is still the same boring thing it was from the start, although I now have more responsibilities, which carries a heavier work load, but with a nice salary increase. If only women could drive in Saudi Arabia, I could have now bought my own Accord or Maxima. I’ve saved enough money to invest in a mid-size sedan with almost all the options included. But I would rather go out and continue my studies.

That trip I was planning on going to is now finalized, thanks to Sam. I will be visiting Malaysia in the next week or two, depending on how work goes. Aside from the usual sightseeing, I will be checking out some universities since Malaysia is one of my study choices. I have been told that I should come with loads of cash to Malaysia, since money just slips out of your hand without you noticing it. Hopefully it won’t be as worse as Dubai, because that place makes you hate yourself for not carrying enough money.

Now it’s the weekend and I have nothing better to do than hang out with the girls while they shop. I wish I could find a girl that’s less into clothes and more into sports or cars. Oh, there goes my mobile, it’s the girls. They beat me to the mall. How much I loathe malls. I might as well buy myself a new baggy sweater.

A New Year: Nothing New

It’s been a long while since I have updated my blog, although there were times when I wanted to simply delete it. I’m not much of a diary writer and never kept a journal but I usually read other blogs and decided I’d start one myself.

I’ve gotten pretty busy the past couple of months, sending out resumes and application letters to universities abroad. None of the universities I applied to are my personal choices; more like my parents’ choices. Personally, I want to study in the East, preferably New Zealand, Australia, or Malaysia.

A lot has been happening in the world: the Godfather of Soul has died, one of our greatest presidents has passed away, and Saddam was lynched on one of the holiest days in the Muslim calendar. So much for working toward peace in Iraq. And as if the US didn’t have enough enemies already, they decide to reignite old fires by attacking alleged terrorist hideouts; bombing whole blocks to get to one or two men. What about the innocent civillians caught up in those blasts? What about those who’d lose a relative or friend? What about those who’d feel sympathetic toward the dead? Well, call me crazy, but I’m sure a few more ‘terrorists’ will pop up due to that alone.

Global news aside, life here in KSA is still the same, albeit a bit cooler than usual. My job’s still the same; routine work really sucks and now I understand what elder people mean when they talk about how boring their jobs are. Obviously I still can’t drive unless I am in Aramco or a private compound (or palace).  I’ve managed to save up a reasonable amound of cash to travel abroad and stay there for a couple of weeks upto a month. That meant no heavy shopping for me this holiday season. My plans are to visit Malaysia in the coming months, maybe even sooner. That means I can finally drive

Sure sucks

As much as I love my country, it really sucks to be Saudi. If not being able to drive or do other basic things I wouldn’t give a second thought in other nations wasn’t enough, I have to put up with ‘guardians’ who feel they have the god-given right to make decisions for me.

I’m considered a rebel in our family. It’s their fault, they are the ones that raised me in the States where I was thought to think and question instead of believing everything I hear.

Now I can’t even drive to buy essential goods and have to rely on lazy brothers who would make up the lamest excuses just so they won’t drive. A driver would have been a good idea but my parents don’t like the thought of a stranger alone with me in the car.

Another reason it sucks to be living here as a female is we have to put up with retarded boys and men who think the best way of winning our hearts is by harassing us in malls or on the road, which ever tickles their fancy. Just last week while at the mall with a friend, three guys caught my attention and just because my eyes met their’s for a fraction of a second, they thought I had the hots for them and started going back and forth waiting for us to leave the café. At one point one of them waved his cell phone at me and later I found out he was signaling me to switch on my bluetooth so we could chat and exchange numbers. After we got up, the 3 started following us and at one point one of them passed by me and literally ordered me to grab a piece of paper he was thrusting at my face.

I don’t smoke, can’t drive, can’t go out without having a brother drive me, don’t have a boyfriend, don’t go out much (since there’s nothing to do), don’t talk with boys on the phone, and now I’m at risk of not going online at all because of ever protective brothers.

Most Saudi families aren’t like this but it sucks to be a part of a family that is like this. Now I know why many Saudis take up blogging

Brook’s in town

I been ‘lurkin’ round some blogs lately and thought I might as well start one myself. I live a spontaneous life so I’m not even sure this blog will stay long, but Lord knows.

 

I’m female and Brook is what friends call me. I’m into cars, love driving them, love playing games related to them. I’m not your average makeup/stilettos/ooh I broke my nail type of girl so boys, move out ’cause Brook owns the fast lane.

 

Let’s see how this blogging thing goes.