I lived in the Middle East for 11 years. All in Saudi Arabia. Granted when I first arrived back in the day (1993) I was confused and a bit frustrated, but being from a family that moved every year and that trend continued during my adult years, I adjusted after a few months.
That being said we moved back to the Middle East after a 3 year absence. Qatar to be exact. This is a piece of cake compared to Saudi and I’ve only been here a little over a week. The people in the compound complain about: The Locals, the workers from the sub contient, the prices, the lack of service, the waiting, the weather…blah blah blah.
Get over it, you can have: Internet, satellite TV, fresh milk meat and bread as well as liquor. The women can drive, there are no religious police. You can buy pretty much anything you need and you make excellent money (if you are a western EXpat)
This reminds me of a joke my friend and I were discussing the other day:
Q: What is worse than finding half a maggot in the middle of your apple?
A:The Holocaust!
Point being: it’s all relative. There will almost be someone, somewhere, worse off than you are. That doesn’t mean you don’t have the right to complain (although it helps to be grateful for what you have).
** Klaatu** The Sub Continent worker get paid very little, I’m not sure here but in Saudi it was something like 200 dollars a month, if your suponsered paid you. Usually you room and board such as it was. Granted it is better than if they were in their own countries. Western Expats and western educated expats get paid quite a bit, and no taxes.
Am I being whooshed? When can’t you rant in the Pit?
