During my international assignments as an IT instructor for a German business software company, I spent a lot of time traveling to Middle East to countries like Saudi Arabia, Oman, Lebanon, and United Arab Emirates during the years 2014 and 2015. During that time, I was stationed as an expat doing different tours to generate some technology engagement with the local young population from the mentioned Arab speaking countries.

I lived (with some stays lasting from 6 to 7 weeks) on different cities like Jeddah: the port to the Holy City of Mecca, Riyad: Saudi Arabia's buoyant capital, Dammam: the heart of the industrial Oil & Gas Industry so vital for their economy. I witness the beautiful beaches at the Indian Ocean gates from Muscat, the capital and main seaport from the Kingdom of Oman where I delivered Infrastructure topics while the Omani people celebrated his majesties’ Sultan Qaboos bin Said birthday. I had a great time working with Lebanese folks during the Christian Epiphany holidays at Beirut, the best combination of the Mediterranean and Arab cultures mixed on a vibrant city. I visited the Dune Sea from Dubai: the pearl city and epicenter of the transformation that passed through the region.

Weekend days for the muslin world is an interesting topic. They have transitioned from different configurations for the Weekend starting on Thursday and Friday, then to Friday and Saturday for some countries and in respect of Muslim traditions, while there are other cities that have a more western standard weekend. It is important for you to understand that given my regular geographical location at Mexico City I had to travel to the Middle East through Europe with a mandatory layover in Amsterdam or Frankfurt.

During the time I was traveling to that side of the world I had to endure long haul flights to my multiple destinations at Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia. The kingdom was a particular place where I spend more time stationed. I sacrificed personal weekends to reach training venues on time to start working the week on Sunday. I witness the transformation of the people from the “close society” stereotype that an ignorant Mexican like me can identify as similar with certain traditions still on place in different communities at Mexican states like Chiapas and Oaxaca that ring the bell while comparing the two cultures. I remember watching Sergei Eisenstein’s Que viva Mexico! with those scenes while traveling to Tehuantepec and capturing on monochrome film the beautiful black dresses from the women that look like the niqabs and abayas worn today.

Every time I hear the call for Islamic prayer on movies or TV I’m transferred back to this magic land of desert and mysticism. The importance that religion plays on this people life is amazing, like possible no other culture that I encountered during my traveling days. We used to have our break time for the class around the prophet Mohamed designed time to worship Allah. Jeddah airport is massive to host the traveling from the pilgrims during the holy month of Ramadan. Some of my students gifted me an English version of the Quran and I even got a tattoo with the Arabic phrase Inshallah: God willing.  

I remember pork was not easy to find, bacon was made of beef or chicken with a very different texture and flavor. Alcohol was completely banned in Saudi Arabia, yet I had the time of my life partying in places like Dubai, Beirut and Muscat. Life is good when you can evaluate your life’s choices from abroad, far from family and especially when you are able to notice the influence from a not so “different” culture when you have the opportunity to learn from the experience.