Mental Preparation

Thus far, preparations have consisted of talking to people, talking to people and talking to people. I'm not sure if we've been lucky or unlucky in knowing people that have lived in Saudi and/or knowing people that know people that have lived in Saudi...personal experience comes with its fair share of opinion and sometimes it isn't so easy to differentiate fact from fiction (...or maybe I should say, imagining my reality in the realities of others). I've also been reading other people's blogs who are foreigners in Saudi. Thus far, I think it is fair to say, that we have "met" lovers, haters and some middle-of-the-roaders (its a strange country, I just don't know what to make of it). Here are some examples of what people have said for and against living in Saudi (off the top of my head)--

For:
We loved it, we want to go back
My expectations were very low before Saudi and I was really surprised when we got there
You'll get a nanny
The food is wonderful
Its very social
The shopping is fantastic
Our friends loved it
The weather
The desert is beautiful
The people are friendly
How exciting!

Against:
The culture is oppressive toward women
You wont be able to drive
There are no theaters
There are no nightclubs
The weather
You cant do anything during Ramadan
You cant do anything during prayer time (6 times per day)
The religious police
Our friends were punished (hit/caned) on the street
Why would you want to go there?

Mixed messages:
Women cant travel alone
Women can travel alone
Women can travel together with other women only
Women can not be in the company of men other than their husband in public
Women can be in the company of men other than their husbands in public if the husband is also with the party

Warnings:
Do not hold hands in public
Do not hug/kiss in public
Do not make eye-contact
Do not get on an elevator that is only occupied by men
Do not ride in a taxi with unknown driver

So preparations have been basically filtering this information, placing my spin on it, and finding various Saudi "forums" on-line where I can ask specific questions to westerners living in Saudi. And today it was a trip to Amazon...

Non-fiction:
A History of Saudi Arabia
Inside the Kingdom
Priness
Saudi Arabia: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquitte
Saudi Arabia: Culture Smart The Essential Guide to Customs and Culture
Oman, UAE, and Arabian Peninsula


Fiction:
The Girls of Riyadh