I just realized that I failed to post about an updated interview I did with "Women on the Road" back in March 2018. My original interview was done in about 2010.
A lot has happened here in Saudi Arabia since I first moved here in 2007, and a lot has happened even since this updated interview 2 short years ago. To me it's really interesting to realize all the changes that have occurred in just my short blip of time spent living here in Saudi Arabia. I hope you find it interesting too and that you enjoy reading it! Here it is -
A lot has happened here in Saudi Arabia since I first moved here in 2007, and a lot has happened even since this updated interview 2 short years ago. To me it's really interesting to realize all the changes that have occurred in just my short blip of time spent living here in Saudi Arabia. I hope you find it interesting too and that you enjoy reading it! Here it is -
A former
police officer and travel industry professional, Susie Khalil’s American life
changed dramatically in 2007 when she followed her Saudi Arabian husband back
to his homeland — where she has lived ever since. Her award-winning blog Susie’s Big Adventure (now Susie of Arabia) was once banned; it sheds some
light on life in one of the world’s most closed countries. Around 2010 (give or
take a year) Women on the Road interviewed Susie, but updated the interview in
2018. The original 2010 interview is at the bottom of this story.
EDITOR'S NOTE. Since the
2018 update, much has happened in Saudi Arabia: Jamal Khashoggi was
assassinated; women have been allowed to drive and in some cases travel without
a male guardian; Saudi Arabia now issues tourist visas and is letting
foreigners visit. It’s impossible to know how powerful, positive or
long-lasting any changes will be, but it is a backdrop against which to view
Saudi Arabia.
Susie of Arabia: An Update (March 2018)
It’s
been ten years now since I first set foot in Saudi Arabia. Hard to believe
because I always said I could never see myself here long term, but somehow that
has changed. I love my life in this country. I know it’s not what a lot of
people want to hear because of what they believe about Saudi Arabia. But the
truth is my husband is very good to me and I consider myself a very lucky
woman. My social life here in Jeddah is far more active and full than when I
spend my summers back in the US. There are always things to do and I find
myself just as fascinated with this country, its people, and its culture as
when I first moved here. I feel very safe and I have wonderful friends from all
over the world.
With all the changes that are rapidly happening in this country, this is
a very exciting time to be here. Things have been slowly changing for several
years, but now things really seem to be picking up speed. The younger
generation has had the opportunity to grow up with modern technology, so they
have been exposed to the outside world a lot more than previous generations. They want change. They want more normal lives,
like they see in other countries — and the Crown Prince MBS is trying to make
that happen. I, and many others here, have great hope that he will succeed and
that Saudi Arabia will emerge as the modern and moderate country it seems to
want to be, once the dust settles in the next few years. The Crown Prince has
the support of the younger generation — and the future of Saudi Arabia is in
their hands.