Comments on In the Making: Washington D.C: Gateway to Saudi!

What DC Native said pretty much sums it up. You ha...

2009-03-05T00:02:00.000-08:00

What DC Native said pretty much sums it up. You have to remember that when (Arab) DC natives say DC, we mean the metropolitan area (Northern Virginia, southern Maryland, and DC itself).

There is plenty of history and culture there- George Washington's estate in Mount Vernon, all the historic civil war battlefields (some still intact). This was the frontier where America separated in half for quite a while. Museums, along with nightlife, is one of the best in the nation.

Saying there is no history is ignorant

Ayisha, Just stopping through. Washington, DC is w...

2009-02-11T22:38:00.000-08:00

Ayisha, Just stopping through. Washington, DC is where I was born and raised (in the actual city, not the burbs) and I adore it, as only a mother can love her delinquent child! I am constantly defending it from people, Americans and others. Best to come in April when everything is in bloom, then you would understand how to love it! Also, it is very strictly divided between work areas and neighborhood areas, so what you find in one, you will not find in another. next time you go, walk around the capitol hill neighborhood - you will like it and find it friendly. Sorry it left you with a poor opinion, hope you will give it another chance one day. stay out of the burbs there though!

Welcome to WDC, Aysha! Yep...no doubt Arabs and p...

2008-07-09T02:34:00.000-07:00

Welcome to WDC, Aysha! Yep...no doubt Arabs and particularly those from Saudi undergo additional scrutiny and screening. I remember my spouse and I going out of Dulles... I was whizzed through but then noticed he was not right behind me (in spite of his diplomatic passport) so I waited. He was receiving secondary security. The security noticed me waiting and told me to go on; I was finished. I remarked. "no, I'm waiting for my husband." Change of manner.... that man is your husband? me - yes. him - well I'm sorry but you will need additional screening too then. me - do not apologize to me if I require additional screening for security. I would not like to think you are being discriminatory in any way...

Naturally hubby was appalled at me and my typical bluntness but I believe in calling a spade a spade...

Can't wait to meet you in Riyadh!

Trev, I am not sure what you mean when you say: "...

2008-07-05T22:40:00.000-07:00

Trev,

I am not sure what you mean when you say:

"My point isn't DC particularly, I've likened it to every other US city, my point is that it's classically American-like"

Are there no US cities that you do like? I have been all around the world and I have to say that American cities certainly are lacking in many regards, but a lot of them are better than many I have found in other places in the world, especially the Middle East.

For instance, I'd take Seattle over Amman any day of the year, although Amman has a history that Seattle cannot hope to match.

Considering I was born and lived in Europe, but I am American, I am rather open to all cities and realise that comparing cities usually doesnt do one good.

One can get something out of almost any city they visit, but that depends on the person doing the traveling. One must be able to open themselves up to a people, a society and a way of life that is different from theirs. If not how would a white guy coming from a typical American military family like myself have enjoyed places like Damascus, Cairo and Beirut.

Sure, I found the culture to be a bit too much, but over all the people were nice and the places great to visit, when everything is taken into context.

You are Saudi and American right? If you do not like American cities do you plan on leaving when you finish medical school? If so, where do you plan on living?

Having never been to Saudi, can you tell me why a city like Riyadh might be superior to a city like New York City?

If you are not huge on American cities did you consider Europe for Medical School? There are some good ones there.

To a certain extent I hear some of my wife in you. She is Saudi, but cannot stand large portions of the culture and the BS in the country, at the same time she doesnt really like American culture and society even though she has lived here a huge chunck of her life.

She is kind of caught in a middle ground. She wouldnt consider living in Saudi again, but doesnt like it here too much either.

Personally, as an American, I prefer Europe, especially the UK and Germany. For me the redeming value of the USA lays in it's freedoms, not always it's peoples, and in it's nature and pre-Columbus history.

I am a huge fan of American Indian history and love wondering the ruins in the American Southwest.

Well in perspective, in 2,000 years I still wouldn...

2008-07-04T15:21:00.000-07:00

Well in perspective, in 2,000 years I still wouldn't want to go to DC.

My point isn't DC particularly, I've likened it to every other US city, my point is that it's classically American-like and that it lacks personality.

Trev, I agree with you about DC to a certain exte...

2008-07-03T05:38:00.000-07:00

Trev,

I agree with you about DC to a certain extent, but there is MORE culture to be found here than in many US cities. There is the Kennedy Center and the National Opera for one.

It is a bit unfair to compare DC to places like Paris and London. London has been around for some 2,000 years. How long has DC been around?

I know where you are coming from, I was born in Germany and lived outside of London for years and lived for periods of time in cities like Berlin, Paris and Dublin, but we must keep things in perspective.

I'm not a fan of DC. It looks like all its fellow ...

2008-07-02T15:31:00.000-07:00

I'm not a fan of DC. It looks like all its fellow american cities, it lacks any real sense of culture, history, or cobblestone.
Basically, like the rest of America .. it's bland.

DC is like a pair of black formal trousers, while places like London, Rome, or Barcelona are like big ol' Tie-dye shirts--no two are the same exact pattern.

But anyway, good luck.

Having been to the cultural mission, if you stand ...

2008-07-01T10:22:00.000-07:00

Having been to the cultural mission, if you stand outside it will sound like Riyadh, or what I imagine it to be. I've been all over the Middle East Saudi but is one country I havent been to and probably wont go to until the government recognises our marriage.

Saudi Airlines is also in the building, on a different floor and of course the Embassy is right across the street.

The hardest thing about going to either of them is the parking. If you can find it, it costs $10 even for a couple of hours. Last time I was lucky and found a parking spot right in front of the Embassy. It wasnt as good as my first visit to the Embassy where I was allowed to park in the back VIP area, but better than no parking.

DC is hot this time of year. Hot and humid. It remninds me of when I lived in England and the tourists in London.

I like going down Mass. Avenue with all of the interesting houses and buildings, many of them Embassies. You can get to it from the Cultural Mission very quickly. The Islamic Center (Saudi Mosque) is on the left from the Cultural Mission with the Omani Embassie right behind it with some really nice gardens.

Arab waiters? I guess it depends on where you are staying. Some areas like Fall Church and Arlington have a lot of Arabs. Out in the suburbs where we are there are Arabs, just not so many.

There is black/white issues in the DC, and a lot more than that. If they thought you were Arab they might have a problem with you as well. A lot of blacks have issues with Arabs because some Arabs sell alcohol in the communities and have a habit of treating blacks bad. Not all, but the reputation catches on.

DC isnt that bad, I have lived here almost six years and Manal for most of her life aside from 3-4 years in Saudi and a couple in Pakistan and Austria.

Ah the random screenings...The last time my husban...

2008-06-30T08:26:00.000-07:00

Ah the random screenings...The last time my husband was told that at the airport, he smiled and said, "Come on...let's not kid ourselves about this being random."

You asked:
I wonder, is there a white-black tension in D.C?

Yep. You should have cried out, "But I am more oppressed than YOU!" :D

I've only been to D.C. once (10 years ago?) and I ...

2008-06-30T05:19:00.000-07:00

I've only been to D.C. once (10 years ago?) and I must say that I felt pretty ashamed by it. I couldn't help but think of all the people from around the world that go there and I was not proud of what they would find there.

I'm sure that guy was probably a little worried for you when you asked about walking to that grocery store. It seemed like a pretty rough town away from all the tourist things. We walked into a restaurant and walked right out and went somewhere else to eat. There is no way I am going to sit in a restaurant and share a table with the cockroach family!

Oh dear - sounds lie they should just be honest ab...

2008-06-30T03:59:00.000-07:00

Oh dear - sounds lie they should just be honest about this random checking and tell it like it is. :/

As for number 6 on your list... one thing worse than travellers constipation would be travellers runs, not sure I'd recommend the pill the night before! LOL

So you're coming back to Riyadh huh?! Sure is nice n warm here!

Insha'Allah all will go smoothly for you and your family. =)

i was wondering where you disappeared to, i can't ...

2008-06-29T22:37:00.000-07:00

i was wondering where you disappeared to, i can't recall you leaving your blog for such a prolonged period :)

i remember the feeling of wanting to come back to Saudi to badly towards the end of my studies.. the feeling eventually saw the light and all of a sudden I wanted to leave again..

sheesh.. talk about never being satisfied :)