Article #9 in the ESL Student Life Story Project, by Maryam from Saudi Arabia, age 25.
The author demonstrating her computer skills outside our Boston language school!
Waiting, waiting, waiting… waiting for the new episode of the new season to be downloaded! So exited and so curious what will happen next!
I was in my pink “girl” room on my heavenly bed surrounded by pillows, freezing under my blanket, somehow unable to lower the air conditioning. Popcorn smell was all over the room and a big glass of iced tea sat by my bed, as I waited so patiently… for the new episode of Gray’s Anatomy to be fully loaded.
I was 21 years old in my beautiful city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, living in a house with my parents and my two younger brothers. I have two married sisters who live near by our home, and we LOVE watching Grey’s Anatomy. We also watch other shows together such as Desperate Housewives.
I was on my third year at law school in King Abdullaziz University, and of course I was busy with my studying… but I couldn’t resist watching my favorite TV show ever!
Yesss, it’s downloaded! Ohh, the excitement! The rush of feelings! I opened the new episode instantly and started to watch. It was the third season of the series. I wondered if Derek and Meredith would ever get back together.
Indeed, by the end of the season they did reunite! But I was really sad for Izzy because her fiance died by heart attack right after proposing to her.
The beloved show!
All countries have differences, but life in Saudi Arabia is deeply different than here in the U.S. where I am studying English. Here in America, it is legal to drink alcohol and it is legal to go out on dates with men. But in my country, or let’s say, in my religion (Islam), it is prohibited to do these things.
My country’s rules are based on two things. The first thing is our religion, or as we say, Shareea (in Arabic: الشريعة). The second thing is our society’s customs or unwritten rules: laws based on customary behavior. Both elements are powerful enough that Saudi Arabian Judges consider each when giving final decisions.
The prohibitions on drinking alcohol and going out on dates are examples of laws driven by al Shareea, our religion of Islam. But the prohibition in Saudi Arabia of movie theaters and women driving cars is based on customary societal rules, or the “unwritten law.”
Now, as we all know, customs change with time. While the majority of people in Saudi Arabia are not yet ready to accept the idea of a women driving a car, nearly every Saudi family has its own driver and private cars, so we don’t have to worry about parking! And life goes on.
Even though we don’t have movie theaters, our homes often have a plasma TV screen with a theater system that family and friends can gather around to watch. I do think that movie theaters and women driving cars are changes that are going to happen sooner or later, but in the meantime, I believe that my country is taking big steps towards excellence in many different fields such as education, health care and more.
Inside the author's room
Back to Grey’s Anatomy. In Saudi Arabia, we watch a lot of the popular TV shows that air in America, such as Lost, Prison Break, and Friends. We also watch all the American movies while they are still being played in the cinema because we download these shows and movies by ”Torrent,” which its a file-sharing system between computers around the world.
Using this program is illegal here in the United States because it is a violation of Copyrights. In my country, however, people don’t think about Copyrights as much as they do here, or maybe people don’t know about them. Regardless, in Saudi Arabia there are still not enough punishments that people will fear breaking Copyright laws, and so we download shows all the time.
Tragically, when I came to America, I was so worried about Copyright laws that I erased my entire collection of TV shows and movies. I felt heartbroken when I did it because Internet in my country is slow, so it took me so much time and effort to download all of them… and then I had to erase everything with the click of a mouse!
Some people have asked whether we have American TV shows and movies on normal television in Saudi Arabia, and indeed we do, but they all air maybe a year or two after they come out in America, and they are heavily edited. A lot of people in my country, including teenagers, ladies, men, and even children, want to be up to date on these shows and don’t want to wait years to watch their favorites. And so we download them online instead of being left out!
The world is becoming a small village, and we are all connected through the Internet. In Saudi Arabia, we find our ways to be connected!
Lillie’s Note: This article has reshaped my entire understanding of Saudi Arabia, and I am so thankful to the author for enlightening us! Please leave a comment or question for Maryam, stating your geographical location.
If I could not drive, I would try to get a boyfriend to drive me places right away. (Well as soon as I can get one.) I would not choose some random person though.
This reminds me of watching Korean dramas. I wouldn’t have even thought Saudi Arabian people knew what Grey’s Anatomy was. The world’s not that big after all.
After reading this article I think life in Saudi Arabia seems better than here in America! I think that because they don’t have to worry about parking the cars because they don’t drive it. Also they have their own family to watch the movies at home instead of the theaters. I do disagree with the fact that Saudi Arabian women can’t drive because I think woman and men should be treated equally in every country. All and all this article was really interesting and I enjoyed reading it.
That’s cool that in Sudi Arabia they have their own family room to watch their favorite tv shows or movies. This is good because it replaces the bad thing about how Saudi Arabia doesn’t have a movie theater. I still think it’s not fair how Saudi Arabian women aren’t aloud to drive!?!? I know they don’t have to worry about parking since they have a driver for them who drops them off but I think that’s unfair and women and men should be treated equally in every country. I do think it’s good though that they don’t drink alcohol there and that proves thier laws are strict and discipline. All and all I though this was a great article and I really enjoyed reading it:).
I was shocked to learn that there are no movie theaters in Saudi Arabia, and that woman are not allowed to drive!
proud of my maryam girl <3 <3
Hey Maryam,
I really loved your article. I am from Jordan and I find Saudi Arabia a mystery to me. Despite its many restrictions, people who are used to it do love it there (I’ve had a couple of girlfriends who lived there in their childhood). Plus, I’ve heard of the system of the compounds where you have a little bit more freedom in terms of women driving cars (not sure of this info though).
I have one question for you though: how do you like it with a country that allows complete freedom. The common stereotype says that when someone moves from a more restrictive environment to a less restrictive one, we are expected to be really thrilled about it. However, I do believe that the instilled restrictions of our culture do stay with us and we tend to appreciate them more because this is what defines us and our character mainly.
Best Wishes
Dear Dima,
Thank you for your comment:) , and yes women can drive inside compounds and they can do other things as well like walking without “Abaya” , let’s say that they have their own rules inside these compounds and of course the government knows about that, though Saudis are not allowed sometimes to live in such compounds. Further more women can drive out of the city and in resorts. Even though some people around the world feels like we live under so many rules and restrictions, we (the people) are used to them and we don’t see them as strange or wired and i think these rules fits our society and again am talking about saudi arabia as a whole country and not for me as an individual. About your question no doubt that i am thrilled and happy putting in mind that i might still be in a cultural shock, but defiantly life here is different and i am still learning my way on how to do things, and i do appreciate my culture and the way that i have been raised more now, i think now i know what i value more what are the things that i can never loose and its all by my choice . I feel that i see the bigger picture now and every day it becomes more clear to me. Thank you again, and feel free to ask me more questions
Dear Maryam, my name is Jamila Hussein I use to go to school where Ms. Marhall use to teach. I loved your aticle for several reasons. The beginning was captivating and it got me to keep reading. As you went on you took me on a journey by telling me about the life in Saudi Arabia and connecting it to your favorite shows. It wasn’t till the end where you had me thinking about how similiar people can be all over the world. You made me think that alot us can relate and learn more about eachother just by having technology. Overall I loved the connections you made throughout your article, I hope you continue to write more.
P.S. I was told to write where I am from so here it goes: Born in syria, raised in Lebanon, My family is originally from kurdistan turkey
Dear Jamila,
First i thank you for taking the time to read my article and i am so glad that you loved it
, second i really like your name am sure that you know it means beautiful, i tend to call my friends “Jameelaty”.
third i thank Ms. Marshall because she is the one who taught me how to write an incoherence interesting story, so thank you lillie
last but not least i loved the combination of the places, i have a feeling that you are white maybe blond and that you can cook really well
Good job, Maryam. It’s always interesting to hear how American media has impacted people in other parts of the world. I’m working with some students from China right now who all really loved The Incredibles. But I’m sure they would have loved a movie with explosions more.
What is it about the plot of Gray’s Anatomy that you like the most? Is it the romance? I’ve never watched it, so I’m curious.
Dear Michele ,
Thank you for your comment, what i like the most about the show is the way they act it feels true and natural, l like the cases that they show or bring even though sometimes they are not true but i think it made me know more about the human body, and i absolutely don’t fear blood like girls do
, I like the drama and romance as well. Good luck 
Loved this post Maryam! I feel like I have some knowledge of life in Saudi Arabia now that’s not tainted by Western media. It’s nice to know that there are things we all have in common, even when laws and ethics in other countries differ so much. It is easy to be manipulated by traditional, historic and sometimes outright wrong views of a culture or country. Thanks for confirming my thoughts that your home country is not as isolated from the world than what most expect. Gosh, I’m from Australia and people STILL ask if we have phone lines down there!
Dear Lauren,
I am happy that this article made you understand or know more about Saudi Arabia and our culture. Yes we do have phone lines, cars, computers, internet, and even planes :p (jk)
Thank you Lauren for taking the time to read my article