So Sunday, O. informs me that my presence is expected during the visit of prospective students from our small village on Monday morning. Remember, this small very traditional village where I first went for dinner and felt so uncomfortable waiting fro Juan on the side-walk. But I do not need to wear abaya during the meeting, that's already a good point!
Well very traditional is definitely an euphemism: we had a group of six students in total, with a perfect parity. Two mothers and the female professor were accompanying the female students and fathers did come with their sons.
For diplomatic reasons, two different presentations were performed in different rooms. Men with men and "taught by men", women with women nicely attended by O. and I. The only thing I was able to do during that meeting was press the key button for the slides to pass and ensure that the logistic did go well, trying to smile and behave as politely with the ladies.
No need to detail that very traditional means that women came completely dressed in black and covered. But more unusual, the girls were completely covered and when in public places they would cover their entire face with their nijab. I don't even know how they managed to walk, it must be so dark down there. The professor was wearing the complete burka, and one of the moms did get the special touch to add her glasses on the small window left for her to see... She actually was detailed as quite stubborn and would not accept by any way that her daughter enters our program. Too bad as the little one seemed to be the most dynamic and potentially interested of the three.
Then after this first introduction, we were supposed to bring girls to men's classroom. First issue encountered: there was only one door for the classroom and women were obliged to enter and be seen (even if covered) by men. Ouch next time ensure they can enter by the back.
Then comes the breakfast, and everybody needs to enjoy the nice pocket meals prepared by our favorite Tamimi. As a good host, I decide to serve each box in front of the women. But nope, this won't work that easily. Women decide to move further to the back of the room and eat only when showing their back to men. Men finally decide to move to another room to let women eat nicely, quietly and most importantly uncovered. Otherwise, it might be difficult indeed to pass the aliments to their mouth... Then, I noticed the small detail that kills you...The professor, remember the one who was wearing the complete burka, takes out her small vanity, her make up and mirror to ensure that her lipstick is well maintained before... covering her face completely again! I missed some important point here or what????
After four hours playing the girl from another planet, I finally get the chance to say "Ma Salama" to all of them and go back to K's planned farewell party to eat nice Frenchly baked wafles with Nutella!
My conclusion? No wonder that I have so many students with well-being issues if their daily life is such before we finally propulse them on the other side of the ocean, with little experience and so young...
Which brings me to my last meeting today with a Saudi student who apparently suffered quite severely during his childhood and attempted to his life one month ago. How can you try to convince him to be honest with his dad on what happened, when seeing a psychiatrist is not considered proper by his religion and that his brother does not even want to recognize that he might have attention disorder. Apparently, if the doctor does not do the tests in Arabic, that does not mean anything valuable. Need to investigate more on this though... Luckily, N. who is Tunisian helps me a lot on cultural issues, but honestly these kids' lives are far from being simple and I am afraid that we are still missing a lot of important tools for them to succeed and live happily ever after. And even after that super experience we need to prepare their return to KSA so that it doesn't become traumatic again!
Lots of work in perspective!
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