Adjusting to living overseas

[sammiesmom2000]

We are slowly adjusting to living in the Middle East, my kids are doing a better job at then I am because being a woman here pretty much sucks. I refuse to cover up when it's 120 degrees out, 90% of the women here wear burka's  so I get a lot of weird looks when I go out in my tank top and shorts.  I have to be careful what I say and what I do, my husband and I were joking around and I punched him in the arm (big no no here)  I found out I can be arrested for striking a man, but it's ok for a man to hit a woman (not that my husbaned ever would)  The way I look at it is I don't force my beliefs on you so don't force yours on me.  Bahrain is very liberal compared to most other Middle East countries but women are still considered second class citizens.  The one thing I do love here is the shopping, I can shop for my much hated clothes with no problem.  The hardest part is coming soon, Ramadan is at the end of August, no eating, drinking or smoking out in public, if you are caught you will be arrested, I think we will be be pretty much staying home during the day because I won't be able to go out in the heat without at least some water.  Once Ramadan is over the kids will be going back to school, right now we are waiting to find out which school they will be going to, I want  them to go to school on the Navy base and my husband wants them to go to the British Academy, he says they will get a better education, so we will see.  I've got to get back to my crazy life, hopefully I can survive.

[joanlovestea]

Aug. 14, 2009 at 8:31 PM

Wow, what a culture shock.  Have you lived overseas before?