Here's the link to the article "Blogging about the Saudi experience" :http://arabnews.com/lifestyle/science_technology/article501623.ece
I wanted to comment a little bit on what was actually published. There were many things left unsaid, like how my family is very supportive of my blogging and many friends know about it. I choose to remain anonymous because I don't think giving out my real name would make much of a difference, I'm still going to write about the same things.
My blog is not a Saudi "promotion" blog either, I write about the good and the bad. People often say I am biased. But I'm not, I just happen to be a positive person, and some negative people in Saudi-Arabia and elsewhere can't stand that.
I felt some things were taken out of context. Like the mention of my husband's family finding out about my blogging would be "very bad". This is not meant to imply that his family is somehow bad or would do bad things.
I respect their privacy and think "what you don't know won't hurt you" is best policy in this case. I can't imagine them getting upset about my blogging per se, but I know they would not agree with many things I say.
My husband jokes about my blogging hobby and we have had some pretty fun times when out and about and I'm taking pictures. He jokes that he is my "accomplice" or that if I get arrested he won't come bail me out. We've had a few runs into the muttawa and once a security officer threatened to hand me over to the nearby Hai'a. That is another story altogether.
What did you think about the interview? I would love to hear your thoughts.
Here's the picture that was featured on the paper version:
An interesting article, indeed! I have already earlier taken a look at all the blogs mentioned and found them quite fascinating. Unfortunately, I can't find time to follow them all frequently. Everyone has her own point of view, and they are all different, which makes it so interesting.
ReplyDeleteBeing such a closed society, I can imagine the Saudi may be curious about what foreigners living there feel and tell about the country.
In interviews, some things you say are always taken out of the context. The writer also makes his/her own conclusions, right or wrong. That is a fact and it's hard to avoid. The best thing would be if you could have a look at the text before it is published, but I guess it's not the policy everywhere - and not even possible for practical reasons.
Blogging about the country and culture where one lives as a foreigner is an interesting phenomenon. At least I think so :) I am a Finn living in Norway, which is not that different from my home country. Even then, I frequently find something - weird, funny, annoying, or just different - to write about. And for me, it is also a way to find peer support from other people in the same situation.
Congratulations Laylah and may the blessing of the good Lord be with you always!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the interview was good and you deserve to be mentioned.I think it made justice to your blogs.But that one part did leave me wondering what it means by bad..Good you cleared that out.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it was the journalists way of making things more interesting or "selling the papers" so to say.Keep it up, im a big fan!
Jenny
Thank you for the support everyone, I guess I was just afraid ppl would get the wrong impression..
ReplyDeleteCongrats Laylah! I love reading your blog and even your sarcasm about Saudi Arabia can be funny.
ReplyDeleteHi Laylah,
ReplyDeleteJust discovered your blog today and find it really fun and refreshing! :) I currently live in Dubai, and while it's not even near as conservative as KSA, I def. relate to many of your comments! Congrats on the article and I agree with Heli, things tend to always be taken out of context in the media.
Sally
Wow, I think that the article was nice and I would´t bother of some minor missunderstandings.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful opportunity! I think the article was done well and did your blog justice.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to all of you.
Steph
Lol, the tone of the article truly does make it sound as if your husband's family would get you deported or something if they found out about the blog...but taking things out of context to make them appear more dramatic is the job of a journalist, after all, lol. I think you present a very balanced view of Saudi Arabia - in the sense of being aware of both the positive and the negative things but, in the case of the latter, trying to make the best of them - because, what else can one do? It's easiest to just sit and whine, but it takes a strong and positive person to find the good in the bad and fight for (positive) changes and happiness - both your own and, consequentially, of those around you. Negative people are envious of this ability, that's why they hate us optimists ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat interview and great blog. I would go as far as saying yours is the best, overall. Best writing skills, blog design and layout, topics, sense of humor,informative.
ReplyDeleteIf I may give some suggestions for improvement I would say post more often and try to make shorter posts once in a while.
All in all, well done.
J
Thank you each and every one for the positive feedback I am flattered!
ReplyDeleteSylvie-I think you absolutely NAILED it with your comment. One can either sit and whine all day and night about Saudia and become bitter and miserable, or try and stay positive keeping ones sanity and actually enjoying the country.
There are many whiners here who feed on positive people.
J-thanks for your support, I really appreciate that! although I would say all the blogs are great but different and therefore cannot be compared..
Thanks also for your suggestions :)The reason I dont post more often is that I'm simply just too busy! my daughter is only 5 months old and I always seem to have too many irons in the fire so to say!
As for the length of my posts, hmm I sometimes start out thinking it will be a short post but then it just somehow becomes longer and longer!
Thanks, Laylah :) Hope you're doing a good job of keeping those human piranhas at bay :D
ReplyDeleteAwww this is amazing! Congrats love xx I'm so happy for you. Great interview. I loved every bit. It =s just upsetting when people interoperate it in a wrong way
ReplyDelete