Stuck in female only compound!

Hey Kat, usually this is life here, many expat follows need a gathering but problem is that who will host and where? And according to Saudi Law its illegal if male and female gather at same place.

Kat2404 wrote:

Hi everyone,
Living in a female only compound makes it very hard to socialise out of work as everyone at the compound works in the same place. so just wondered if anyone was having any gatherings whether they could let me know so me and my friends can escape and meet new people
thank you

Yep, it sucks, that's for sure.

Dear All,

it is possible to gather in public places, in restaurants, in cafe. of course life in KSA is boring but we can manage

I manage fine and enjoying the life and i am aware of the rules. I do not mean for it to sound like meeting men. Just male or female from any part of the world so can meet new people. Living in a compound of people you work with does make it hard to meet new and interesting people with other experiences to share.

I'd love to live in a female only compound

hahahaha

Hahah.

Oh yes, that must just be terrible to be in an all female compound.  Too bad we can't all just meet really cool people on the plane ride over here ;-)

Here is hoping when i fly back from next vacation

Kat2404 wrote:

Here is hoping when i fly back from next vacation

Cant wait to leave so soon

Kat2404 wrote:

Here is hoping when i fly back from next vacation

Haha, ouch!

Wouldn't you naturally meet new people if you and your friends regularly left the compound / organised your own outings?

We do go out regularly but you cannot exactly meet new people in malls etc as it is not allowed, hence why i posted this, so it does not happen as naurally as it would do notmally apart from at the beach.
Like i said we only live with people we work with, there is no one else in our compound apart from collegues

@Kat, I definitely know what you're talking about. 

Even when you do meet other people, they seem extremely protective of their network and if you're a single woman, many married women don't want to be friends because they are afraid you want to steal their hubbies

Kat2404 wrote:

...
Like i said we only live with people we work with, there is no one else in our compound apart from collegues

Oh I too get bored seeing the same people at work and outside.

Hope you find new friends

ghanshyampdave wrote:

Kat2404 wrote:

...
Like i said we only live with people we work with, there is no one else in our compound apart from collegues

Oh I too get bored seeing the same people at work and outside.

Hope you find new friends

This is true, Dave, plus you don't want everybody at work knowing your business!!  The problem with situations like this is that people tend to talk about others--I mean, there's freakin' nothing else to talk about!

The problem with situations like this is that people tend to talk about others--I mean, there's freakin' nothing else to talk about!

Yeah i can understand , These kind of gossip can kick you out of work for sure .

Beside , aren't you bored enough with em , like for 8 hours a day .

Still the best comment i saw today , from Allie " Married people dont want you to stick around ( Le me ) " WHY WHY WHY "
Because they are afraid that you will steal their habibi . LOL

hmmmmmm....maybe I'll steal Hitch

I like to leave the office (along with the colleagues, work, etc.) right where they belong (in the office).

The last thing I want is to bump into a colleague at a mall / restaurant and start a conversation relating to office again.

Evenings are strictly meant for me, my friends and family. Life's good this way, work is better.

Yeah i like that ..

Alliecat wrote:

hmmmmmm....maybe I'll steal Hitch

I know you are trying but it aint that easy .

This sounds so depressing. Hope you meet some nice people soon. Do you think single females outside of compounds have it easier or worse?

And why can't two people (or more); who recognise they are from the same part of the world or speak the same standard of English; not strike up a conversation inside a mall?

Btwn-Fear-N-Hope wrote:

And why can't two people (or more); who recognise they are from the same part of the world or speak the same standard of English; not strike up a conversation inside a mall?

You tell us.. Why can't they strike up a conversation ?

Btwn-Fear-N-Hope wrote:

This sounds so depressing. Hope you meet some nice people soon. Do you think single females outside of compounds have it easier or worse?

And why can't two people (or more); who recognise they are from the same part of the world or speak the same standard of English; not strike up a conversation inside a mall?

I've struck up conversations with other western women inside malls, Jarir, etc., but usually it amounts to nothing because they don't need any new friends (it works the same at home; for example, if you change cities it's difficult to meet new people because their lives are established and they don't have the time or desire to form new friendships). 

Here in KSA, unfortunately friendships are often formed solely on what people can do for each other.  If you have nothing to offer (ie. you're not on a western compound--you're not promiscuous--you're not wealthy), you're out.

It sounds harsh and I'm sorry.  But I've seen this play out time and again.

Here in KSA, unfortunately friendships are often formed solely on what people can do for each other.  If you have nothing to offer (ie. you're not on a western compound--you're not promiscuous--you're not wealthy), you're out.

It sounds harsh and I'm sorry.  But I've seen this play out time and again

i cant say i love your way of thinking but i admire it the most , and how long have you been in KSA , Wow you are quit right . its harsh but welcome to KSA though . i mean there are nice guys who just require good times but its very rare to find .

One i saw a western girl in Jidda . i was like so cruise to introduce my self to her , i was like Hi ^ ^ , you dont seem from ....
she was like looking at me and gone . its like what the _ do you want ?

so i know that i will never do such a thing a gain shame on me , to have some friends . . .

Thank guys and girls its nice to know some of you understand what its like!
If i could just go out now and talk to a group of people in a mall and say hey wanna meet up with me and my friends then i would but i think it'd come across very weird!!!lol
I have made some good friends here and we are having fun and been to a few parties etc and i'm sure in time we will meet many new people. I just wanted to post on here in case anyone was looking to meet up at the beach or anywhere, we are all normal girls haha and definately not out to steal anyones habibi's hehe i liked that comment
Just fun people looking to meet other fun people

well this is whats EXP BLOG is all about thats to make new freinds n hangout with those u share the same ideas n am pretty sure there r TONS of people who are sharing the same..... PS regardless of of where u r .....u can have fun

so lets do it then ,all we do here is just talking and saying but no doing....i actualy made a post if any 1 wanan go out today but yet no 1 answered me

Alliecat,  i hear what your saying. makes perfect sense.

maybe saudi is different but when i went to egypt i would be minding my own business sitting and eating in a restaurant when random people would approach me. we would have a pleasant conversation, i got invited to a wedding and birthday party.
sitting in a cafe on my laptop concluded with two interesting strangers adding themselves to my facebook, they are still there and i say hi every now and again.

I think that if you go about your business with your small crew or on your own, and you don't stress on meeting new people, you would meet them.

Make your own party and everyone will wanna be your friend right.

p.s. if im moaning in a few months time, remember this post – drag it up – shove it in my face!

medo2010mkm wrote:

so lets do it then ,all we do here is just talking and saying but no doing....i actualy made a post if any 1 wanan go out today but yet no 1 answered me

aww medo, im sorry but firstly im not in saudi, and secondly im female, ill probably be stonned if caught with you. But do you see my point, we stress so much about doing things that nothing gets done. im sure you would have a had a lovely day out today even if you went alone. explore a new place, go down some random backstreets, once your truly lost, pluck up the courage to ask for directions.


Hitch, eeer saying hello to a random female at the beach usually ends with her looking you up and down and walking off - all around the world.

kat im sorry if i offended you, it was not my intention, rather i was trying to give practical advice, while satisfying my own curiousity with regards to the laws of the country.

when you said:

Kat2404 wrote:

We do go out regularly but you cannot exactly meet new people in malls etc as it is not allowed, hence why i posted this, so it does not happen as naurally as it would do notmally apart from at the beach.

I thought maybe there was a law that prohibited people from talking to each other in the malls. granted you cant approach the opposite gender.

this forum has posts with people arranging events and gatherings, hopefully you will find some of interest - i have my eye on a few for when i arrive. 

Alliecat wrote:

Btwn-Fear-N-Hope wrote:

This sounds so depressing. Hope you meet some nice people soon. Do you think single females outside of compounds have it easier or worse?

And why can't two people (or more); who recognise they are from the same part of the world or speak the same standard of English; not strike up a conversation inside a mall?

I've struck up conversations with other western women inside malls, Jarir, etc., but usually it amounts to nothing because they don't need any new friends (it works the same at home; for example, if you change cities it's difficult to meet new people because their lives are established and they don't have the time or desire to form new friendships). 

Here in KSA, unfortunately friendships are often formed solely on what people can do for each other.  If you have nothing to offer (ie. you're not on a western compound--you're not promiscuous--you're not wealthy), you're out.

It sounds harsh and I'm sorry.  But I've seen this play out time and again.

this is true

and also adding to the difficulty, if someone is genuinely just wanting to have out, be it any sex with any sex. they may think that those things are a factor, when they may not be

its an odd society here. quite paradoxical

You actually have company around you. I've been here for a bit more than 40 days now and i can't count the days till i get out of here. I'm 20 and i'm not blaming the society here in Jeddah it's just that we've not been brought up in such conservative societies and hence it's really hard to live life the Saudi way. My dad works here and i've just been dragged here with the family just so i wasn't left alone back in my homeland but trust me when i say this, people of my age that have been bought up in other countries are all set to have a real real hard time here adjusting.
Cheers!

They should put a warning at entrance of Jeddah: "be careful here is Jeddah, you cant enjoy here. Only u should sleep, work, eat and drive car with many accidents "

If anyone wants to enjoy Social Life in saudi arabia Visit Jeddah. Jeddah is like Dubai Of saudi Arabia

slyshooter wrote:

I'd love to live in a female only compound

Hey bro, find one for me also,

khanjeddah wrote:

If anyone wants to enjoy Social Life in saudi arabia Visit Jeddah. Jeddah is like Dubai Of saudi Arabia

But this is the opposite of what selc said above you ....

Alliecat wrote:

khanjeddah wrote:

If anyone wants to enjoy Social Life in saudi arabia Visit Jeddah. Jeddah is like Dubai Of saudi Arabia

But this is the opposite of what selc said above you ....

you can not miss anything cant you , just slide it and cover your eyes ...

@hitch  I'm curious as to why the discrepancies