Segregated Tissue

One of the most interesting things about living here in Saudi Arabia is adjusting to the Saudi custom of segregation. A lot of offices, banks, and universities outside the compound have separate entrances for men and women. Segregation is particularly strict in restaurants, since eating requires removal of the veil that Saudi women wear over their faces. Most restaurants in Saudi Arabia have "family" and "male-only" sections. Women have to sit in the family section if they are alone. Even McDonalds has seperate places at the counters where women can order their food, and separate sitting areas.

I remember thinking it was annoying, when Madeline got that sticky thing stuck in her ear and we took her to the ER, that Paul had to sit in a seperate waiting room from Madeline and I until we were called back. There are a lot of customs here that I do not agree with, but there is also a lot I have not learned about yet and so I don't feel like I can honestly argue about it right now. That is another blog for another day. I know that many of the laws here are deeply rooted in tradition and religion, and that a lot of the women here actually agree with them.

I know here in the Aramco compound some rules that normally apply to women here in Saudi have been changed to fit Western culture so that those Western families who come to work here can be a tiny bit more comfortable. Like women being able to drive and wear their normal (conservative) clothing. Though, we are asked to be respectful of the customs as much as we can be because there are some Saudi families living here. Still, all that blocks us from the real laws are a few security gates and some barbed-wire-covered brick walls.

Anyway, not to get to serious about it now, I just had to point out this box of tissue Paul bought at the store this past week, which made me think about it all...


We've been sick and went through all the tissue we had in the house, so Paul went out and bought a 4-pack of tissues at the commissary here in the compound. He had no idea when he bought it that is was "Kleenex for Men," but I had a good time teasing him about it. Did he feel more manly after blowing his nose with this tissue as opposed to the tissue in the teddy bear box we had been using? Did he want try opening that stubborn jar of pickles for me now? Carve a roast? Possibly kick someone's butt? Or sharpen that worn down pencil with a knife?