I've viewed your video at least 10 times, for the comedic value. You strike me as shockingly self-absorbed and I think you will have a difficult time adjusting to your 'new' life. At least I hope you will. You speak out of both sides of your mouth, pretending to embrace the experience and at the sam time ridiculing it. Good luck bc. You will need it.
So...this lovely person (hiding behind their computer) who is clearly an angry individual, chose to reach out to me in this manner. She even took the time to write a 2nd email calling me a "silly bitch, and that videos were for kids...", yet she's on YouTube, and she's watched my video at least 10 times (BTW: Thanks "Jackie" for upping my view count). Pathetic. I reject these types of comments because, you can't give these people time, however, since I'm documenting my experience, I had to put this out there.
2 comments:
Hey Terri - thanks for stopping over at SGIME. Mmm where do I start!
I didn't go to YouTube, so have no idea what kinds of comments you're getting - but I can imagine. And you're right, expats here (and I readily include myself in that group) do get defensive when so-called "outsiders" make comments about this place. That loyalty and protectionism is something you'll find even more obvious when you arrive in Saudi - and frankly, it is necessary.
Attitude is everything and if you come with a negative - or even just an ambivalent attitude - your experience here will be an outright disaster. Worse still, that attitude will infect those around you. It sounds silly, but it is a fact of life we are all acutely aware of and deal with in different ways.
Remember, this is, by all rights, a small, closed-loop community and we all rely heavily on one another. It's both the bane and the blessing of being an expat in Saudi - and specifically being an Aramcon.
That said, this is one of the most life-changing experiences you will ever have. It's difficult to articulate, but being an expat in Saudi has the gift of distilling people down to the essence of who they are - good or bad. Maybe it's the clarity of the sun - who knows - but you can't be here long without seeing your true self!
And that, I'm guessing, is the message behind the "negative" comments you're hearing.
Anyway, I wish you luck. Drop me an email if you have any questions I might be able to answer.
SGIME
Thanks SGIME for the comments and some insight into the Ex-Pat community.
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