Mosaic musings

The pattern of communication styles I have seen here at my work could be a metaphor of Islamic art:

A common feature of Islamic art is the covering of surfaces with geometric patterns. This use of geometry is thought to reflect the language of the universe and help the believer to reflect on life and the greatness of creation. Among the most important aspects of Islamic geometric design are repetition and variation. A series of tiles, for example, may consist of only one or two shapes but the patterns of the tiles may all be different. In other designs, a few different shapes may be combined to create a complex interlocking pattern. Geometry is seen to be spiritual because circles have no end, they are infinite and so they remind Muslims that Allah is infinite. Complex geometric designs create the impression of unending repetition, and this also helps a person get an idea of the infinite nature of Allah. The repeating patterns also demonstrate that in the small you can find the infinite, a single element of the pattern implies the infinite total.

Another way of looking at this is that there is no central point. The information at work that we recieve tends to come in bits and pieces, from multiple and simultaneous sources; the result being a lack of overall perspective. The information comes in waves, tends to vary slightly with each iteration, and thus the overall impression is one of "wait and see" until the final version is presented. Once one is able to pull back, perhaps at a higher vantage point within the bureacracy, one might see and appreciate the whole?

To go beyond such banal observations, an interesting point of departure is the potential link between deism and Islam. For example:

“To see a world in a grain of sand,

And a heaven in a wild flower,

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,

And eternity in an hour.                          - William Blake, "Auguries of Innocence"

Medieval Christianity also associated geometry and repeated patterns of natural complexity as an apologetic for the existence of God. Blake here is representing a grain of sand as a microcosm of the natural universe, that if one looks closely enough, one can witness the power and architectural prefection of God's handiwork. The cosmological conceptions of the natural world, in a geometric great chain of being, is depicted below by Dante, in the mid 13th century, and Paine in the 10th.

By the 16th and 17th centuries, deism had taken hold as a fashionable academic trend, espoused and defended by such greats as Isaac Newton:

The physical world, according to Newton, was explicable in terms of “insurmountable and uniform natural laws” that could be discovered by observation and formulated mathematically. By mastering these laws human reason could explain cosmic events that had previously been ascribed to divine intervention. The beauty and variety of the system, Newton believed, was irrefutable evidence that it had been designed and produced by an intelligent and powerful Creator. Close though he was to deism, Newton differed from the strict deists insofar as he invoked God as a special physical cause to keep the planets in stable orbits. He believed in biblical prophecies, but rejected the doctrines of the Trinity and Incarnation as irrational.

It is interesting to see here the parallels: Islam considers the idea of the Trinity and Incarnation as blasphemy; Newtonian deism considers it as irrational. Islam sees in geometry as approaching the perfection of God's nature, and this idea also spurred the deistic philosophy. I have not come across a thorough academic treatment of the topic (although I have not read the book this link is an excerpt of), but given Islam's historic emergence in the 5th and 6th centures and academic flowering several centuries later, is it conceivable that deism was directly and naturally influenced by Islamic ideals by the time of the middle ages? 

Arabian Anomie

In Durkheim's usage, anomie referred to a situation in which cultural norms break down because of rapid change. Anomic suicide, for example, can occur during a major economic depression, when people aren't able to achieve the goals that they have learned to pursue, but it can also occur when the economy experiences a boom and suddenly the sky's the limit--people don't know how to limit their goals and be satisfied with their achievements. Merton changes the concept slightly, to refer to a situation in which there is an apparent lack of fit between the culture's norms about what constitutes success in life (goals) and the culture's norms about the appropriate ways to achieve those goals (means).


How do people respond to this disjunction of goals and means? Merton creates a typology of adaptations. The first symbol designates people's relationship to norms about goals; the second symbol designates their relationship to norms about the means of achieving those goals.

Merton's Paradigm of Deviant Behaviour

Attitude to Goals	Attitude to Means	Modes of adaptation
accept	accept	Conformity
accept	reject	Innovation
reject	accept	Ritualism
reject	reject	Retreatism
reject/accept	reject/accept	Rebellion

Conformity is the attaining of societal goals by socially accepted means, while innovation is the attaining of those goals in unaccepted ways. Innovators find and create their own way to go about obtaining what they want, and a majority of the time, these new ways are considered to be socially unaccepted and deviant. Ritualism is the acceptance of the means but the forfeit of the goals. Ritualists continue to subscribe to the means, but they have rejected the overall goal; they are not viewed as deviant. Retreatism is the rejection of both the means and the goals. Retreaters want to find a way to escape from everything and therefore reject the goals and the means and are seen as deviant. Rebellion is a combination of rejection of societal goals and means and a substitution of other goals and means. Innovation and ritualism are the pure cases of anomie as Merton defined it because in both cases there is a discontinuity between goals and means.


From my limited observations here, I can observe this typology as explaining some patterns of social behaviour here in Saudi Arabia.

A country as socially restrictive and isolated as Saudi Arabia attracts expats for various reasons. Some, like myself, are here as financial refugees. The work situation is such that I need to address my debts and accumulate a nest egg in a relatively short period of time. Many I have talked to cite the same reason. Some come here because the isolation is exactly what they want: to clear their mind of the stresses and distractions at home, perhaps because of relationship pressures, or the desire to go into an ivory tower and get some research completed. Others come here as a last resort: other options have been exhausted, and KSA is where they end up. Finally others may come here as an escape: the problems back home have reached a fever pitch, and the hope is that the retreat here acts as a buffer.

Once here, some expats become conformists: they adopt the religion and culture, they integrate with members of the culture through language and even marriage, etc etc. The idea here is that the choice being made here is not a conscious one - obviously many DO come here because of the attraction to Islamic society that began already back home. Those are not the ones I am referring to here.

Innovation is common also among the young Saudi males, in a phenomenon called "drifting":

Because there are limited opportunities and activities for young Saudi males to entertain and amuse themselves, they have made their own version of fun which includes Saudi drifting.  Saudi drifting is a new and very dangerous spin on joy riding.  Basically the young men will drive their car at a high rate of speed and then start turning the wheel sharply to the left or right forcing the car into a spin.  In many cases the car simply goes out of control and the young men consider this fun as well as a challenge or “show of manhood.” 

In this typology, I wonder where the phenomenon of the "compound" fits in?

A cursory internet search of information on this shows no academic treatments of the term, just anecdotal discussions. In this walled enclosure, Westerners are free to practice their lifestyle with greater freedom in clothing, intermingling (parties), food (perhaps obtained through the diplomatic pouch), etc, that the mutawa will rarely enter (unless called in for egregious circumstances). In a highly restrictive society, the notion of a buffered area to practice a completely different culture is a very interesting sociological spectacle. This could represent another innovation, and I wonder how and when it evolved? Was it commodity-driven political detente?

Ritualism is something I have found quite commonly here. There is a kind of lip service to the rules, but a disavowal of the intent. For example, at the call to prayer, stores are required to shut their doors and close up. I have found, however, that residents are allowed in and continue to patronise the stores at this time. Cigarettes are commonly available, and as I had mentioned in an earlier blog, literature music media in general are available too.

I have seen retreaters here too. These are expats who tend to shun social interactions, go home and shut the door, not to be seen until the next morning. They seem to drift as ghosts in the hall. As newbies, we sometimes see these folks walk right past without acknowledgement. An attempt to establish eye contact, followed by a cheerful greeting, is met with a blank look or continue walking by in a zombie trance. The social skills seem to degrade over time. Sometimes this is a sign of impending departure, but it is also the characteristic of "lifers" too.

Finally, open rebellion is not likely here. Although, there are behaviours that amount to a kind of self-destruction. One teacher who had been warned about his inflammatory comments, was sacked for political incitement, as well as making derogatory comments about Islam. Such comments, unprofessional in any context, amount to a kind of vocational suicide here. To a lesser extent, the airing of gripes, the wearing of "borderline" clothing - enhances a victimologist's narractive; that is, if there are repercussions, they can say along with Monty's peasants:

Dennis: Come and see the violence inherent in the system. Help! Help! I'm being repressed!
King Arthur: Bloody peasant!
Dennis: Oh, what a giveaway! Did you hear that? Did you hear that, eh? That's what I'm on about! Did you see him repressing me? You saw him, Didn't you?

House hunting

At the moment, our company has put us up in furnished shared hotel accomodation. Although large, it could be cleaner, and the fridge/stove/washer are not in good condition. We have been looking for different digs outside, and hopefully nearer to the university. This is because the company provides a transportation allowance, in addition to the housing allowance, if we choose to go out on our own. The problem is, most villas (3BR, because we would have to share to afford the rent) are unfurnished, and therefore part of the upfront costs would be to provide those amenities from our own pocket. There is no used goods market, as most people buy new and then throw away.

The good thing is the quality of the housing, a typical example is the following:

The building has marble top to bottom, granite-counters full size kitchens, controlled secure entrance with walls, good windows, and spacious rooms. We found one for 10,000 riyals per month, 8 rooms with ensuite bedrooms, a pool, on 3 levels, each level a seperate kitchen and living room. If we shared we would have made a profit, but the logistics involved, and the burden of one person signing the contract, as well as putting up 6 months deposit, when we are still in uncertain circumstances, mitigates against such move right now. Plus, most of the new guys are quite limited in their funds, and thus can't afford the up-front costs right now, but could in 3 months or so. But then, that creates problems with the year-lease at the end (leaving 3 months early). No one does month-to-month apparently.

Saudi Surprises

Lots of things have surprised me here.

I had thought that smoking was not allowed; there are coffee shops where folks smoke regularly, and many restaurants are smoke filled too. Usually you can buy them under the counter at a local convenience store, although there are tabbaconist counters too.

Western non-fiction/fiction do not appear to be banned. Was very surprised to see this book openly displayed in the bargain bin section at a large bookstore:

Music also is readily available. Western rap music, romance, etc is listened to in residence, although openly playing music in public is frowned upon.

we were surprised at the friendliness, openness and generosity of residents here. The religious police (mutawa) have not made their presence known in any way. Although, in one hotel, some teachers had posted an announcement for a Christmas party, and the notices were torn down.

The weather is not hot sultry as I had thought; the afternoons are quite cool, requiring a jacket, and next month I am told will be colder still.

The clothing standards are not as restricted. Foreign women often go without a head covering in the large department stores, and men wear bahama shorts (halfway down the calf) with T-shirts, although that is considered quite informal, and not allowed for university fare.

The crazy traffic was unexpected (no seatbelts either).

I would have to say, also, that I have made more friends in 3 weeks here, than 3 years in Canada. Perhaps social networks homeside are more established, with more impermeable boundaries, and here, most come here unattached, and thus need friendships more. That was also a pleasant surprise.



World of Workcraft

Well, the system the school uses for student assessment needs some tweaking. Not sure why, but many of the teachers had only hand-written copies of student scores, which then needed to be entered by another set of staffers (me). As well, the scoring rubric is a little narrow, it seems. The entire semester is captured by seven data points, 3 to do with attendance (marked by 0 or 1), and 4 on assigments, totalling 12 points. The 3-band system is based loosely on the IELTS system, which is good for illustrative purposes. However, a greater range of data points would give more depth to the principle of continuous assessment, then partial achievement would be given greater weight; thus, the process would be divided into more steps, each of which given a score.

For example, this image from the internet shows more steps in the writing process. Note too that the arrows are bi-directional - students have multiple chances to improve their performance. Not sure of the process used here yet, but it seems that students may have only one kick at the can, and then the teacher gives the score.

Each of which could be evaluated according to the grading rubric which follows.

I really did like the communicative thrust of the assignments and the exam, that it tries to fit the task into an authentic context. I wonder to what extent test design backwashes into teaching practices. For example, textbooks generally provide little guidance in the way of rhetorical structure of texts. This structural component figures heavily into the IELTS design, and hence the evaluative process here. As well, a greater investment into an extensive reading program would also expose students to a greater number of texts/genre examples. Good readers make good writers.

Sense and Insensibility

Part of the job I do here requires, at least in the beginning, a willingness to share accomodations with another expat, many times from a completely different country / culture. Sometimes the differences amount to variable understandings / tolerances / expectations of cleanliness, or scheduling:

Sometimes, though, the difficulties can arise from somewhere else. Life in Riyadh can be isolating, and the culture shock arising from different experiences can act as a pressure cooker, to magnify personality eccentricities into a kind of red zone. People can get on our nerves, and things that might not otherwise bother us, do. You see all kinds of "types" here:

1. The Mother Hen – Nurturing, Warm & Approachable
The employee who every one turns to for advice, the Mother Hen is a great listener. He or she is warm, kind, jolly and wise, while also being strict when necessary. Watch out for: Becoming an office gossip, or becoming weighed down with others’ problems.

2. The Joker – Sociable, Carefree & Witty
Using humor as his or her primary form of communication, the Joker thrives in lightening the mood and lifting team morale. He or she is widely liked and has a good social network. Watch out for: Not being taken seriously or as a professional.

3. The Dude – Unfazed, Calming & Relaxed
Laid back and relaxed, the Dude remains unflustered when things go awry and can have a calming influence on the rest of the team. He or she doesn’t transfer pressure onto colleagues. Watch out for: Being perceived as lazy or not understanding the gravity of a situation.
‘
4. The Cheerleader – Enthusiastic, Optimistic & Motivating
A team enabler, the Cheerleader provides encouragement and motivation. He or she is always willing to hand out praise, is eternally optimistic and has a can-do attitude. Watch out for: Moving too quickly without taking time to reflect.

5. The Realist – Down to Earth, Pragmatic & Logical
Always able to see the truth through the spin, the Realist tells it like it is. He or she is great at thinking through the pitfalls or challenges that may lie ahead. Watch out for: Coming across as negative, pessimistic or de-motivating.

6. Link – Sociable, Flighty & Connected
Cultivating as many relationships as possible, the Link believes success lies in who you know, not what you know. Watch out for: Being considered too shallow when not taking the time to foster deep relationships with others.

7. The Geek – Technically-minded, Fastidious & Quiet
With an exceptional attention to detail, the Geek is a conscientious perfectionist. He or she is conscientious, likes to retain control and always sees projects through to completion. Watch out for: Losing sight of the bigger picture and not delegating tasks appropriately.

8. The Innovator – Creative, Idealistic & Resourceful
Imaginative and quirky, the Innovator sees the big picture and loves dreaming up ideas. Watch out for: Not seeing projects through to their end and being perceived as fickle.

The clash of personality types partly has to do with the need to interact with others, which in our home countries would have less importance because of our extended social networks there. None of us (usually) have come here with friends in that kind of an established network. We are all looking for kindred spirits. That drive to answer the loneliness makes us all in a sense vulnerable, I think. When rejection occurs, or when criticism is given (even inadvertently), the feeling can hurt even more - causing a retreat into withdrawal for some.

I think it’s important that I try to exercise more patience and a sense of tolerance, forgiveness, to others. That is basic advice at the best of times. It becomes critical for the preservation of my emotional well-being here. I really can't choose my friends here, because I have to work together, and my options are limited. Learning to get along with others, to play nice, to choose my words and actions to fit the particular audience, is probably an adaptability skill of great value here. Those who choose to maintain the same traits and expectations that worked for them back home will find adjustment difficult here. I need to change to survive.

Celebrating Christmas

A friend we made took us out to a great Canadian restaurant in the downtown of Riyadh. On the way, we passed by the foot of the "bottle-opener" building. What a sight! Imposing, beautiful, lit up - wow. You can see it in the sky line below:

Anyway, we went on to the place. Had mushroom soup, chicken taglianetti withe garlic bread, and fudge brownies a la mode, with a fudge filled mini-baguette and coffee for dessert. Great meal, really nice.

Having no snow or Christmas decorations really reminds me how different it is here, and yet the presence of new friends helps fill the void.

Irish jokes from my roommate's son (7 years old)

Why is Cinderella bad at soccer?
She has a pumpkin for a coach and runs away from the ball.

What position does the pile of wood play on the soccer pitch?
In de-FENCE.

The Intangible Iqama

Getting things done in KSA is not easy.

We qualify for a 90-day visa. During that time, we cannot have a bank account, which makes it difficult to exchange currencies or send money home.

The iqama is the work visa that opens all the doors. With it, we are "recognizable" in the country, and money issues are much easier.

We spent hours waiting there, only to get turned down for exchanging. People coming here, CHANGE your money BEFORE you arrive. We finally found a bank that will do it - Rajeed Bank - but only for the first 90 days.

After the first 90 days, we can have an extension, but apparently there is an issue with banks not recognizing the extension (which appears as a stamp on the next page of the passport), and then refusing to transfer money.

After 6 months, however, one can apply for an iqama, and then you get an account, you can receive monies automatically to your account and overseas, even electronically.

foodie frenzy

Our campus has the best selection of food outlets of any institution I have worked in. There is Syrian, Indian, Turkish, French, American menus available. Probably going to go for the indian options mostly.

our group lives on the same floor, and we have decided to cook meals as a group. One fellow cooks one night, another the next day, etc etc. Since we are short on cooking utensils (pots/pans, knives, plates, etc), and can share staples (rice, spices, milk, coffee), this helps cut down on costs and time expenditures.

One of us has bought a coffee maker, and we all make our way over in the morning to a freshly-brewed cuppa. Nice way to start the day!

campus crew

we arrive on campus at 630 am. earlier start than I would prefer, but it means we go home a bit earlier too. We are introduced to Riyadh traffic! Yikes! They drive way too fast, have no lanes. Saw one guy texting with one hand, phone with the other, and a little girl in the front seat.

meet the team

have learned a new word "inshallah", which loosely means "wait, it may or may not happen"; strictly, it means "if it is the will of Allah."

lots of waiting on the first day, which gave our arriving group a good chance to talk and get to know each other. Interesting that Saudi Arabia is very open to employing english-speaking teachers from all over the world. in our group, there were a Somali, Lebanese, American, English-London, Canadian-Ontario, Canadian-Quebec, Canadian-Maritimes.

interesting chats all around.

First day in Riyadh

got to the airport, its a long trip. happy to arrive. taken to a hotel, have a roommate for the time being.