November 25, 2007 - Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

". . . a good education is another name for happiness."
~ Ann Plato

Dhahran temperature high: 79 degrees F
Hood River temperature high: 34 degrees F

Each day in Saudi Arabia has had a theme. Yesterday was the oil industry, today education.

In a country that rarely allows westerners to visit, light hair and skin are considered very different. On past travels, attention given to women usually includes whistling and blatant comments. However, in Saudi Arabia the attention received is extreme.

After our first day in, it became clear the abaya is not forced on women by religion, but a females choice for saving one's beauty for those who most matter --> their family. The abaya helps stop unwanted advancements.

My question: where is the responsibly of men to control their actions?

Upon arrive all the female teachers received their own abaya. We wear these abaya's everyday, completely covered in black from neck to toe, sometimes also covering our heads. I have become a huge fan of the abaya, allowing the comforts of wearing my pajamas underneath. The abaya is not hot, but perfect conditions for a country that sets their air conditioning at meat locker temperatures. In fact, when I don't have the abaya on, I feel under-dressed and exposed.

By law, Saudi Arabian women are not allowed to drive. Many westerners believe this is a way for men and the government to control women. However, most women have no desire to drive. Instead of picking up one's children from soccer practice, they send their driver. If milk and bread is needed from the store, they send their driver.

The challenges for women in Saudi Arabia are much bigger than wearing the abaya and not driving. More importantly, women want to be educated and make contributions to a country where they are proud to be citizens.

+ This year 600 Saudi Arabian are educated in the U.S., 100 of these are women.
+ When talking to the best and brightest women in Saudi Arabia who will be educated in the U.S. next year, their greatest fear is for their safety. ***The U.S. is known for its violence towards Middle Eastern nationals.
+ Interesting that as educators traveling in the Middle East, our greatest fear was also for safety.

We ended the day with a traditional Arabian night, complete with singing, dancing, camels, and lamb chops.