I liked it there. Spent a year total, in the early 80’s. But I came away with a VERY negative impression of islam. THAT HAS GROWN.
I was there five years and worked with 30 Saudis. My boss was a real peach and I grew fond of him. He reminded me of one of my uncles, very kind.
Islam and the middle east was so very foreign to me. I used to sign my letters "from the dark side of the moon." However, I grew up and saw people as people. Their religion isn't for me. I think it's stupid, but I'm not going to denigrade the people who follow it. Not a Christian thing to do.
I actually became a better Christian there. Religion was always kind of important to me. But it became the center of my life...OVER THERE. I have continued the devotion.
Imagine, becoming a better Christian is a Muslim country. And it wasn't just ANY Muslim country, it was the HOME of Islam, though we were in the north, right on the Persian Gulf. THEY called it the Arabian Gulf, of course.
I had a co-worker, an Indian, and a REAL pain in the wazoo. He was giving me static about taking off 15 minutes from work to go across the street to Mass. He was Catholic too.
He was so annoyed with me, even though I made up those 15 minutes during my lunch hour, that he went to my Muslim boss to complain. I will never forget that. I was there when he told my boss.
You know what my Saudi Arab Muslim boss said?
He said, "Harry, God is number one. There is always time for God. Mary (not my real name) can go to pray anytime she wants."
I don't know who was more flabbergasted more, Harry or me.