salha space

Salha Fawal

Mr. M. Limbu

Project1: biography Literacies

Jan-27-14

WRA 130-003

Different life style between Saudi Arabia and the US

Some students dream to study overseas, to meet new students from different countries, and to learn new languages. But they did not know what they would face when they arrive in a new country. The student might face many problems in language, culture, food, tradition, climate, nature, and people behavior. So they should know how to deal with these problems and change the situation from negative to positive. I wrote this story especially for Saudi international students to inform them what to do if they face the same situation and persuade them to accept the situation about the differences between both countries. I wrote about my own experience when I first came to the U.S. and I saw the difference between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. Life in Saudi Arabia is totally different from life in the U.S. In Saudi Arabia there is less freedom than in the U.S. In the U.S women have a right to do everything like men, but in Saudi Arabia there is no right for women to do everything like men. In Saudi Arabia and the U.S. there are huge differences between male and female relationships, marriage, life, work and equality.

Not only the difference between male and female relationships, but also marriage. In Saudi Arabia boys and girls cannot meet each other or go on dates with each other before they get engaged. For example, I got engaged with a man I did not know him and did not meet him before; I did not know what he likes or dislikes. In contrast, in the U.S. boys and girls can meet each other, sleep together, have a child together and live with each other before they get engaged. For example, my friend lives with her boy friend like husband and wife for four years before they got married. In Saudi Arabia there are some marriage tradition and rules that people should follow before the couple get married: for example, first, both families should meet together. After that, the couple can see each other to decide if they like each other or not. If they like each other the groom should give the bride some jewelry. For example, when my husband came to see me before marriage he gave me a gold necklace and earring sets. Than, we should do three parties: first the engagement party, second party after engagement, and the third one marriage party.However, in the U.S when the couple got married they did not make huge party, but they did small and in simple place such as restaurant. For example, in the last year, my friend got married after seven years of love. He made small engagement in Chicago at the restaurant. And, he just invited less than 20 persons. Then, in the marriage he did a very small party. Moreover, in the U.S. the groom just brings a ring for his bride in the engagement. Also, if the couple decided to get married they make a decision before their families. Then their family could meet each other. Moreover, in Saudi Arabia girls usually get married approximately at age 19 and boys approximately at age 22. In contrast, in the U.S. the girls and boys usually get married approximately at age 26.

In Saudi Arabia men can marry four women in the same time. However, in the U.S. men cannot marry more than one woman at the same time. For example, my cousin has married four women and they live all together in the same building and he spends each day with one of them. Also, in Saudi Arabia, when a woman gets divorced she cannot marry another man for four months afterward, but in the U.S. a woman can marry another man immediately after she gets divorced. In Saudi Arabia men and women cannot live alone without their parents until they get married. For instead, when my sister wants to study overseas, to earn her master degree but my father refuse to send her alone. Also, he cannot leave his business and go with her. But in the U.S. at age 18 they can live alone without their parents.

Moreover, In Saudi Arabia men and women after they get married they usually have many children but in the U.S. I think men and women often only have one or two children. For example, my aunt has nine children I was surprised how she could handle nine children but I was more surprised because they succeed in their lives and education. Their mother taught them everything such as, how to clean and how to cook.

There are many differences between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. about work and equality. In Saudi Arabia boys and girls can start work at age 18, however, in the U.S. boys and girls can work before 18 at a part time job, but each state has a different law. Equality is all people having the same rights in everything. Equality is very important between men and woman. When there is an equality woman have a right to do everything like men do. One place where men and women in Saudi Arabia are not equal is at work. In Saudi Arabia there are some jobs that women cannot do. For example, they cannot work in geology, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or waiting on tables because Saudi Arabian culture thinks that the natures of women are different from the natures of the men.

Saudis say that the natures of women are soft, and the natures of men are strong. In Saudi Arabia, men can work in any field. However, women can work in many areas that suit the nature of women, such as at the supermarket, at the bank and in teaching. In the U.S. men and women are equal: there are no differences between them. At work, both men and women can do the same jobs, such as working in a restaurant, driving a car or taxi, being a police officer or engineering. Moreover, in Saudi Arabia women cannot drive a car but in the U.S man and women can drive: both are equal. For example when I was in Saudi Arabia my husband and I want to travel by car and when we were in the highway he got sick then we stayed up to 4 hours waiting for emergency to take us to the hospital. I cannot take him because I cannot drive and I saw the different when I came here I can drive and when he becomes sick I can take him to the hospital.

Finally, there are many differences between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. There are differences in male-female life, in culture, customs and people’s behavior. Marriage is different between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. In Saudi Arabia they have to spend more and more money for fiancés, engagement, and married. They should invite more than 500 people to the party. Also, each party is separated between men and women. On the other hand, in the U.S. the marriage is small and very simple. In my opinion the marriage in Saudi Arabia is more difficult than the U.S. In Saudi Arabia if the man wants to get married he needs to think and have a lot of money to spend just in one night, and that is what I do not like about Saudi Arabia, they need to waste a lot of money to make people happy. What I do not like in Saudi Arabia is how men and women are not equal at work. Also in driving women cannot drive a car even if she had an emergency case; I think that is unfair because people could get in trouble because of this problem. I like in the U.S how man and women are equal in everything, no difference between them. Also, I encourage American idea of doing small and simple party and knowing each other before they get married to avoid any problem in the future. Some differences between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. are good in some ways but bad in other. The students studying abroad should take the good and leave the bad and feel happy because they will achieve their goal and be something in the future. Students can achieve their academic and personal goals by learning new culture and understand a new language, and participating in a new educational system. Also they should minimize the stress, apprehension, and facilitate an emotional and psychological climate.