Surviving Riyadh

By Alma B. Apostol

My book is about my experiences as an expatriate in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia working as a Research Associate at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center.

Saudi Arabia is also a country incredibly difficult to visit and a male dominated society where rights of women are just 50% of that of men.

I described overcoming many obstacles in my work environment as well as the restrictions imposed upon me as a woman. I also described the uniqueness of these experiences whereby I learned to empathize with the flights of women whose rights are restricted.

It has given me a passion to encourage women whose rights are restricted to unite and keep moving forward towards a complete freedom.

How I’m rewarded for the publication of this book. I share my journey, my experiences and observations as an expatriate in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia through my writings and speech engagements.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Dec 17, 2012
• ISBN: 9781624886065

Book preview

integrity.

Introduction

Saudi Arabia is the birth place of the Arab race and of Arabic, a language considered holy by Muslims. It’s also home to two of Islam’s holiest cities, Mecca and Medina, and host to modern, thriving, oil-rich metropolises.

However, Saudi Arabia is a country incredibly difficult to visit. It is a male-dominated society where women have half the rights of men.

Riyadh, its capital, is now a high-tech oasis of glass, steel and concrete. It is home to hotels, even larger hospitals and is the largest airport in the world by ground area (225 km²). King Khalid International Airport, designed by the architectural firm HOK (Hellmuth, Obata, and Kassabaum), is located 35 kilometers (22 mi) north of Riyadh.

In Riyadh, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, a world class research facility, employs people from 40 countries, a high percentage coming from North America. It was through this hospital that I was hired as a Research Associate.

My book is based on my personal experiences and observations as an expatriate in Saudi Arabia for two years. It is about survival in a male dominated society.

Chapter 1

In November of 1993, I was a Medical/Clinical Research Specialist at the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles in California. I had just arrived at work at 7 a.m. when the phone started ringing in the lab. I picked up the receiver, wondering who would be calling me at this time. Hello.

Is this Alma Apostol? A soft-spoken male was on the phone.

Speaking, I replied.

I am Dr. Sultan Salman, Director of Research Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Who? I asked, very puzzled.

Sultan introduced himself again. I’m holding a copy of your bio-data.

Oh, I sent it two years ago, I said, recalling the bio-data I sent out after a friend had urged me to apply.

Are you still interested?

Well, it depends on your offer, I replied.

You are very forward, but I like that, Sultan said and continued to tell me about the salary and other benefits if I accepted the job.

I am not interested. My salary is a lot more than what you’re offering. I have a very challenging job, a good salary and I’m enjoying it, I said.

You don’t understand. Your salary will not be taxed. Free housing, free medical and dental coverage is included as well as 44 vacation days and 20 sick days; and free fare back to your country of origin after a year, Sultan continued, trying to persuade me.

I’m not interested. I’ve heard so many things about your country, how you treat foreigners, especially women.

Alma, we are not barbarians! Sultan exclaimed. We are peaceful people.

I’m very sorry, I’m not interested but thank you, I said, trying to be nice but losing my patience. I had a lot of experiments to do and time was crucial.

By the way, in two months, I am attending a convention at the Anaheim Convention Center and I would like to meet you there, Sultan said.

What for? I said, about to hang up on him.

I will call you as soon as I arrive. He hung up.

I did not believe him. I started my experiments hoping that I would not encounter any problems.

I had forgotten all about Sultan until one Saturday afternoon, while I was cultivating my plants, my cordless phone rang.

Hi, I’m here at Disneyland Hotel. When can I see you? Sultan said. I will be staying here for a week. I really want to see you. I had to think of an excuse not to see him. I have a problem. My car is old and I’m afraid to drive it that far, I lied.

That is precisely the reason why you have to accept this job. You can buy a new and expensive car. Rent a car and I’ll pay for it.

I’ll think about it, I said, embarrassed that my lie had not worked. I will call you."

Sultan gave me his phone number and hung up. I continued pulling weeds and cultivating the soil underneath my rose bushes. Gardening was not just a hobby, it was my therapy, relieving me of my stress. I had lots of responsibilities at work as well as at home. In an attempt to find a solution to my predicament, I decided to talk to Daisy, the friend who had urged me to apply for a job in Riyadh. I dialed Daisy’s phone number. Hi Daisy, you will not believe this. Sultan just called and he wants to see me.

What did you say? Daisy said, excited.

I told him that I’m going to think about it.

If you decide to go, can I come with you? Maybe he can help me find a job at the hospital.

Daisy was very enthusiastic. She had been out of work for two years after turning down the job that was offered to her in Riyadh because she was afraid to go by herself. She figured out if both of us were hired, it would not be that bad. I’ve a busy schedule at work but we’ll see.

Come on, this is our chance to see somebody from Saudi Arabia. His name is Sultan. Maybe he’s a prince. Why don’t you ask him? Daisy said laughing.

I will, I promised. "I’ll talk to you on Monday.

The conference that Sultan had come to attend was an international science conference where scientists and researchers all