Jeddah is packed these days, it is the season of immigration to Jeddah, ( I just remembered a book called season of immigration to the north by tayeb saleh, it is actually one of the best books I have ever read, if you did not read it, jump to the closest book store and get it) where was I? Yes, people in Saudi, the ones who do not travel, come to Jeddah to spend the summer, it is relatively more open than other places, that means women dont have to cover their hair, also it has restaurants where you see other people, women do things alone…etc. And the Sea gives it some very special atmosphere.

We went to have dinner yesterday, these days wherever we are, we only talk about one thing! it is always interesting to hear what people think.

I have talked to different types, the conservative, the religious, the open, the exposed. Everyone agrees that this is wrong. It is good to know that what is happening does not represent anyone. It only represents few people with hidden agendas. What bothers me is that they give bad picture about all Muslims, which is not fair, because it is very easy to generalize and think everyone is the same.

On a different note, I was watching spider man with one of my little friends, he is less than 5 years, I asked him if he liked it and he said “yeth, becauthe it hath kithing!” ( yes because it has kissing!) I thought that was the cutesiest (cutetht!) thing ever.

My job hunt is still going. After my experience with the sheikha, I realized that one of the problems here is the exploitation! I mean just because I am a woman, and my husband is working and earning money, they belive the only reason I want to work is to get out of the house. And so they give women the minimum! but they have absolutely no problem to waste money on their gold plated desks… things are more important than people here. but again, this is only one situation,and i dont want to generalise, I know people who are perfectly happy here, and I know people who fully respect other people here. the issue is that sometimes it gets really really boring, I mean i started feeling that i lost 6 months of my life for no reason at all.

I did what i felt was the right thing but it was one of the most difficult decisions in the last few months… I declined again!

One of his friends was looking for someone to help her in her new position in her dad’s empire. One of our friends happens to know M. and he passed my CV to the sheikha. She took one look at it, and decided I was THE person for the job. I was in Amman at the time, we kept postponing the meeting till I come back. When I was finally back she was on vacation in Spain, then in a wedding in Egypt, then a vacation from the vacation in Beirut, then a meeting in God knows where… the meeting kept postponing from one week to the other, till we FINALLY met.

I have to admit, I was impressed, she is smart, cute, very outspoken, and very professional. She took me from one office to the other, showing me what my office would look like. On the penthouse, a sea view… simply unbelievable!

She showed me around, proud of her dad’s exquisite taste, the colored walls ( by a Jean Paul, who was so honored to come all the way from Paris, to draw on their walls). The golden plated desks, the rare Iranian carpets, the fresh pots of flowers… I thoughts these guys know how to live.

We talked and talked… this job was good, they wanted me to be a consultant, help them develop a woman department, take care of their business in Spain and Germany… my life was finally going to be EXCITING.

Then we talked about compensation.

I could not take the job….. I would not be able to afford my clothing for the job! For her I was worth nothing… a year of my time is worth one plated desk……. I knew that if i had an ounce of self respect i should decline… and i did… I took one look at the sea-view and  bade the view a silent goodbye and left with my heart in my feet. 

Why am I writing about all this? Well yeah, after few weeks of declining the offer M. called me again trying to comprehend why I did not take the job. Explaining to me what a great family they are, He told me that the opportunity is still there if I am interested…. But not one penny more! (speak on knowing how to spend!)

What do you think I did?