Thursday 29 September 2011

Morrocan Maids:Magicians or Man Magnets? From a Saudi Women's perspective

Recently, there has been a bit of an uproar amoung Saudi women, and no, its got nothing to do with driving; Saudi women have been protesting the import of Morrocan women as domestic helpers in lieu of Indonesian and Phillipine women.

Far East maid working in Gulf Middle East
Previously, most domestic helpers were from either Indonesia and the Philipines and after a growing number cases of unpaid wages and abuse these two countries decided to put a ban on sending their domestic workers to Saudi Arabia, and I think other Gulf countires until a better wages and rights for their workers. The governments were n't able to come ot an agreement and there has been a shortage of maids ever since, with families struggling to find help, and having to do without in Ramadan (when there is a high demand for maids as ironically cooking and parties increase).

So, when it was announced that Saudi Arabia would getting maids from Morrocco, you would think Saudi women would breathe a collective sigh of relief. Instead, this was received like a stab in the back, a sprinkling of salt on the wound.

Why, you may ask? Well, it is a well known fact that Saudi men, tend to vacation in Morroco-alone. It is how should I put it politely... considered an adult playground. I once went to a travel agent with a sibling to plan our summer vacations, we'd been thinking of Tunisia/Morocoo/Jordan and wanted more information so that we could decide. You should've seen the travel agent's face when my brother asked about Morroco, he first froze, glanced  slightly in my direction, then looked back at my bro, and as my bro was still looking at him naively for an answer -quietly said its not appropriate for families. Needless to say, we were very embarassed and almost afraid to ask about any other country in case we made a similar mistake!




That's not all, Saudi women feel threatened due the unfortunate reputation the country has developed for practising Black Magic (as Muslims we believe in it to be real and it uses Jinns(spirits) to cast spells), and often Saudi men are said to have been deceived into marrying them. It helps that they are considered pretty and full of feminine qualities and 'know the way to Saudi man's heart'.




Some Saudi women have threatened to quit their jobs and stay at home to do the housework if the alternative is to hire Morrocan maids-or they could continue working and do the housework as well like women all over the world. And what about those who don't work but cannot even fetch a glass of water without a maid let alone take care of their kids? I think its a devilish plan concocted by Saudi men, its a win-win situation for them, if their wives don't hire the maids they will save the salary spent on the maid, and if they do-at least they will have some one pretty and sweet to look at :-). It would be funny, if this step ended up turning many Saudi women into domesticated and caring non-creepy version of Stepford wives.

Personally, I don't like the idea of live-in help unless absolutely crucial, as it creates numerous problems regardless of nationality. Would you be willing to hire a live in Morrocan maid?


Tuesday 27 September 2011

Who Else Wishes Pippa was Never the Bridesmaid at Kate and Wills' Wedding?

Pippa Middleton royal wedding bridesmaid butt


Have you had enough? Aren't you sick of it? Isn't there some other celebrity you would rather hear about? Someone who is actually pretty and doing something exciting other than being related to the future Queen of England?

I mean okay she looked good at Kate and Wills wedding, and her derriere caught your eye...Butt I mean, but there are many women with a firm and toned back side, and the dress was obviously padded, as her behind has never looked as good since.

She has, or rather a certain part of her anatomy has crashed Twitter, spawned websites, inspired facebook fan pages, a Pippa Middleton butt lift procedure, and triggered article after article dedicated to Pippa Middleton. You would think the world in general and the U.K in particular is devoid of beautiful women, and the entire world population consists of women suffering from flat buttocks syndrome; and that celebrities out there are n't doing anything worth reporting about such as helping children in East Africa.

Pippa Middleton managed to unseat the Her Royal Rearness Jeniffer Lopez on the day of Royal wedding, according to Google Trends search rankings; and she has managed to stay on top, although Jenny from the block is putting up a brave fight. It is safe to assume that in order to cover her insurance premium on her rear assets J-Lo will do some sort of PR stunt like wearing skirt that slips off to the SuperBowl ceremony or some such event to get back in the limelight.

Pippa Middleton won't be able to resort to such measures as she is now related to British Royal family by marriage- I'm sure the tabloids are hoping a butt PR war ensues or they can try and orchestrate one.

So tell me readers are you fed up with the media's Pippa coverage? Yay or Nay?

Monday 26 September 2011

You jump, I jump remember/ Draw me like one of your French girls-Titanic





Jack, I want to you to draw me like one of your French girls.

Sorry, this isn't the type of thing I usually share -but I couldn't resist. I blame my hormones! When in doubt about the cause of loony behaviour, be sure to check the date.

While I'm on the topic of Titanic, here's another picture I would like to share, it again combines two of my favourite things a TVD image with Titanic dialogue.

Caroline: You jump, I jump, remember?
Elena: I'll never let go, Caroline. I promise.

Thursday 22 September 2011

Saudi National Day- Ten things I love about Saudi Arabia


In celebration of the Saudi National Day I am doing this post to highlight the positive points of Saudi Arabia. I find a lot of Saudi bashing goes on the internet, and I want to take this opportunity to celebrate the positive some obvious but oft forgotten and sometimes humorous aspects of Saudi from a Muslim expatriate perspective :


1. Makkah and Madinah- the two holiest sites in Islam- as a Muslim you just cannot argue with that :-)




2. No TAXES. There is NO income tax, NO VAT, and NO Petrol tax. :-)

3. Reduced working hours for employees and holidays for schools in Ramadan: Where else in the world can you have it so easy?




4. All food is Halal food; this means that you can eat at all the international fast food chains :-)

5. Low levels of crime, inflation usually, and despite all the propaganda a stable political climate (.Alhamdulillah, Thank God)



6. Instead of annoying coins for change we get a packet of gum :-)...what am I going to buy with 10 ten halalas anyway?


7. Very family friendly, of course no scenes of public nudity or indecency, so you don't have to worry about where your kids are looking.



8. You can make friends from all over the world, there are so many different nationalities represented in the expat population it’s amazing. The people are generally easy going and helpful.



9. You can find a masjid or prayer area wherever you maybe.If you are on the highway and it happens to be time of prayer, and there isn'ta rest stop nearby, then simply stop the car off the highway and pray.

Tell me how many places in the world you can do that?


10. Last but by in no means least: You can put on your abaya over your pjs and go out, without anyone being the wiser (unless you are in an accident).





Hope all citizens of this wonderful country: Saudis and Non-Saudis alike acknowledge and be grateful for their blessings and have a great day!

P.S What do you like about Saudi, don't be shy now speak up!

If you like this post be sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter :-). Thanks! Ma'salamah.

The Vampire Diaries Seasons 1 and 2 review - Incoherent Ramblings of a Fan

It is said that you should write about what you know, and what you are passionate about. Well, I'm definitely passionate about The Vampire Diaries, it is as close to an obsession as it can get. I have spent my summer break reading TV Fanatic's The Vampire Diaries caption contest entries and watching my favourite vampire diaries video montages on Youtube. I wasn't like this as a teen, what's wrong with me?
 I guess this is a part of my quarter life crisis?



Now let's get back to the review. When the trailers for TVD started showing although the key characters seemed unbelievably good-looking, I thought it was going to be like Twilight  (I'm not a fan), with the plot being as old as time itself: two brothers Damon Salvatore (Ian Sommerhalder) and Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) fall in love with the same woman Katherine Petrova (Nina Dobrev) , a typical teen drama with vampires.
But wait, there is a twist-145 years later, they fall in love with the same woman or rather her doppelganger Elena. (I thought- meh, in my opinion most teen dramas these days require you to be a teen or at least have raging hormones or a similar love-life issues for you to really get in to them.)

So, one day I just turned on the TV as the show was starting. The episode was the one about Miss Mystic Falls (Se1 Ep 19) and the 'no-touch' dance between Elena and Damon completely entranced me, and by the end of the episode I wanted more!




I watched the next episodes the season finale left me breathless and I couldn't believe I had to wait the whole summer until the show returned. I'm ashamed to admit but it turned into an addiction, a guilty pleasure, my favourite vice- whatever you want to call it!

I caught up on earlier episodes, and in hindsight season 1 was a lot like Twilight, and the pace is slower, but it picks up towards mid-season, after that and pretty much all through Season 2 the pace is break-neck, and you never know who is going to be killed off..and then brought back to life-or something like it!

Those of you who grew up in the nineties- it's like Buffy but better (more eye-candy, shocking plot twists!)

Here are my favourite TVD music video montages:
Shattered (by Backstreet Boys) 


Enchanted (Owl City)


 cast of the vampire diaries




Tuesday 20 September 2011

North and South BBC mini series

When I first read Elizabeth Gaskell's novel North and South I was terribly moved by the book, and loved the passionate character of Margaret Hale, the fiery John Thornton, and even majestic Mrs Thornton commanded awe and respect. I always thought that a movie would not be able to do justice to this well-written work; and I usually find myself unsatisfied with film adaptations as some elements of the plot are left out or the emotions of the characters are not accurately portrayed.


So, when my best friend started raving about the BBC (2004) adaptation, I was at first reluctant to watch it. However, as I read the book a good 8 years ago the plot was hazy in my mind and I decided that if they had butchered I would not feel it as much as if it had been a recent read.


Women all over the internet were swooning over Richard Armitage’s portrayal just like my best friend, which piqued my curiosity. How did a period drama excite so much passion when it had Vampire Diaries and other shows' shirtless and steamy scenes to compete with?


Dear readers, I watched it. It was one of the most well made books to TV adaptations I have ever seen. I like thousands of other women fell in love with the smouldering John Thornton. The character is a perfect mix of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Rochester! Daniella Denby-Ashe's portrayal of the protagonist Margaret Hale was equally enthralling to watch. The chemistry between the characters was so real and engrossing that the time literally flew by when I was watching the 4 episode mini-series. In case you haven't read the book, it is about Margaret Hale and her family's sudden move from the prosperous agricultural society of the South of England to the 'dirty and smoky' industrial town of Milton in Northern England. Issues of class, cultural differences, and love are major themes. Initially Margaret takes offense to the town of Milton, its people, and its ways, and especially to Mr John Thornton, who does not seem to be a gentleman in her eyes. As time goes on and she gets to know the people and ways better, and begins to realise after rejecting him he is not as bad as she thought. The scenes between these two characters are charged with tension, as they clash on their views on how the mills’ workers are treated.


 For the first time I loved the changes made in the TV adaption, especially the last scene, the casting was perfect, the cinematography of cotton mills was beautiful, and was supported by a sweetly melodious musical score.


The last scene is in no doubt the best; both characters convey so much emotion through their eyes, that one feels immersed in their love. The audience is rooting them on with bated breath, fluttering heart, and an all over tingle. Contemporary shows could take a page from this show and realise explicit scenes are not necessary to convey depth of passion. A well written and well acted script does the job very well indeed.


Trust me if you watch the series, it will take you a while to snap out of it.
You can watch it on YouTube or on the BBC website here: