http://www.asaudilife.net Saudi Arabia is a mysterious land for many people. What is Saudi Arabia and how do the people of Saudi Arabia think? This show is here to help and answer these questions and more. Produced and hosted by Turki (Yep just like the bird just a different spelling:)) a citizen of Saudi Arabia attempting to provide a better understanding of Saudi Arabia and its people, its culture, politics, and its view of the world. Every month the show will cover some major news headlines effecting Saudi Arabia followed by a discussion of a specific topic about Saudi Arabia and concluded by answering listeners questions. Join us and discover one of the mysteries of the middle east. Feeder 1.5.6(475) http://reinventedsoftware.com/feeder/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss en ASaudiLife.net 2005-2008 saudi@asaudilife.net saudi@asaudilife.net Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:52:06 +0300 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:52:06 +0300 News & Politics Places & Travel Islam http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/asaudilife_144.jpg http://www.asaudilife.net 144 43 Turki A view of Saudi Arabia and the world from a Saudi perspective. Saudi Arabia is a mysterious land for many people. What is Saudi Arabia and how do the people of Saudi Arabia think? This show is here to help and answer these questions and more. Produced and hosted by Turki (Yep just like the bird just a different spelling:)) a citizen of Saudi Arabia attempting to provide a better understanding of Saudi Arabia and its people, its culture, politics, and its view of the world. Every week the show will cover some major news headlines effecting Saudi Arabia followed by a discussion of a specific topic about Saudi Arabia and concluded by answering listeners questions. Join us and discover one of the mysteries of the middle east. Saudi Arabia, Arabic, Islam, Arab, Riyadh, Saudi no ASaudiLife.net saudi@asaudilife.net http://feeds.feedburner.com/ASaudiLife no Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:31:13 +0300 a-saudi-life-episode-26 Turki First episode after returning to Saudi Arabia. Short and quick. Answer a few questions and a quick view of some Saudi news. I apologize for the voice quality as I lost my mic in the move and need to get a new mic. no 17:05 Sat, 02 Aug 2008 22:05:08 -0400 a-saudi-life-episode-25 Turki Tourism, Education, Literature, AUC and AUB, American working in Saudi Questions answered in this show: I would be interested to travel in your country. I would like some advice about whether this is possible, what can be done and what can't, and more generally about how tourists are received in your country. -Saudi schools for young children -How people decide what they want to study in University -Graduate education for Saudis -Books, publishing and creative writing in Saudi Arabia What advice would you give for myself for travelling alone? with about 1 month to stay with an average cost? could you advise me in terms of good programs to learn Arabic? Enjoy! no 37:50 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:55:50 -0400 a-saudi-life-episode-24 Turki Drugs, minorities, pets, and a strict government Questions answered in this show: I was curious if you could perhaps comment on substance abuse issues or the legal ramifications for the possession of prohibited materials in Saudi Arabia. I think there are certainly some western preconceptions of rather stringent policies and punishments as well as a different understanding/definition of what constitutes an illegal substance. What do you think, what have been your observations. Could you talk about the state of minority ethnic and religious groups within Saudi Arabia? 1) Do Saudi people have pets? If so, what type of animals do they have? Why do Muslims avoid dogs? 2) Do Saudi people really enjoy living under such a strict government? Did you enjoy growing up there? no 35:24 Sun, 25 May 2008 14:27:52 -0400 a-saudi-life-episode-23 Turki Royal family support, wealth, my safety, saudi women and none saudi women I try to answer the following questions: how much are the Saudi people satisfied with the current royal governement? and is it true that the majority of saudies is not as wealthy as people might think? Turki, I have listened to several (but not all) of your podcasts over the last 6 months. I have been pleasantly surprised (and worried) by your frank comments on life in Saudi Arabia. My worry (and concerns for you) stem from some of your comments on your fellow countrymen. We (Brits certainly, perhaps all Europeans) are led to believe that the Religious Police don't like this sort of thing and are already knocking on your door. Are you concerned for your own wellbeing.? Do you get 'told off' when you return to Saudi ..? When I go to have a meal or a party at an Arab house I find that the Saudi sisters always sit in the corner and mainly interact with the other Saudi women, sometimes the Arab women but never the converts, Malays, Somalis etc. I know that some of them don’t speak English but most at least speak some. Why don’t the Saudi women want to talk to their other Muslim sisters? Do they think they are better than us because they are Saudi, Arab, believe themselves more pious, wear niqab etc? Please if you could help explain I would really appreciate it. no 32:52 Tue, 13 May 2008 22:58:59 -0400 a-saudi-life-episode-22 Turki Women rights, agriculture, music, law, and more questions answered I try to answer the following questions: I cannot think of another Islamic country where women are not allowed to drive but perhaps I am wrong? What do you think? I hope yuo do carry on with the show and maybe even your wife would take part and speak about these matters? I am curious about the food and agricultural situation in Saudi Arabia. Here in the U.S. state of Alabama, you can buy some locally-grown food from farmers' markets, but most food comes from grocery stores and is not grown in my city or even in Alabama, but comes from food 'centers' like Salinas Valley in California, which seem to be leading exporters of particular types of food; California for dates and green vegetables, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil for mangoes, Idaho for potatoes, Guatemala for plantains and so on. Is the food situation in Saudi Arabia as... messed up as it is here in Alabama? What is the musical situation like in Saudi Arabia? I think I read somewhere that the Saudi Government mostly frowns upon music... is this true? Last year, there was a legal case in a Saudi city-- I think it was Riyadh--involving a woman who apparently met with a man she knew from high school to get some pictures from him. I believe both of these people were assaulted by criminals while they were together, but they were also jointly accused of adultery. I seem to remember an article about this case that accused the judicial system of being run according to the whims of the judicial officials... what is the judicial system like in Saudi Arabia, and do you know how this case has turned out? I have not heard anything more about it since sometime last year. Is gat legal in Saudi Arabia? If not, are there Yemeni or Somali populations in Saudi Arabia who try to smuggle gat into Saudi Arabia? no 30:00 Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:03:44 -0400 a-saudi-life-episode-21 Turki Listener Questions and Updates In this episode I cover some questions I received by email: can you explain why Saudi Arabia does not nurture their human resources especially women? Recently there has been talk of letting women drive? How does such a strict society cope with men hanging out of cars waving their phone number written on a piece of cardboard at women in cars? I know that there is a lot of tension between the Saudis and Iran. Do the Saudis view the Iranians as part of the broader Muslim community as a partner in opposition to Israel and the United States, or as a completely heretical, foreign group? What awareness, if any, do the Saudis have of the political dialog within the west. Are people in your country familiar with western leaders such as George Galloway who often take their side in disputes with the west? no 30:20 http://www.asaudilife.net Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:09:04 -0400 a-saudi-life-episode-20 Turki no 22:32 Sat, 16 Feb 2008 22:09:45 -0500 Talk Radio http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/ASaudiLifeE19x.m4a Turki Do you want the show back? no 2:10 Sun, 11 Feb 2007 21:28:30 -0500 Talk Radio http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/ASaudiLifeE19.m4a Turki Social Racism. The tribes and the racism for who your ancestors are. no 29:20 Sun, 28 Jan 2007 19:25:56 -0500 Talk Radio http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/ASaudiLifeE18.m4a Turki How are Saudis effect by current middle east affairs? So the middle east is going crazy, USA and Iran, the start of a civil war in Iraq and Palestine, and lebanon, how is effect Saudi Arabia? no 21:52 Mon, 22 Jan 2007 19:57:14 -0500 Talk Radio http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/ASaudiLifeE17.m4a Turki Quick show answer a question about relations between different social statues. Need a laptop help by donating at http://www.asaudilife.net Send questions and comments as audio files to saudi@asaudilife.net or call toll free 1-888-811-9132 and leave a voice mail. How does social status effect people in Saudi Arabia? no 11:42 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:43:25 -0500 Talk Radio http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/ASaudiLifeE16.m4a Turki Marriage in Saudi Arabia, how is it done? Well after a few months of hiding out "A Saudi Life" is back. Details in the show. Also a view of marriage in Saudi Arabia. no 31:48 Mon, 20 Feb 2006 12:09:02 -0500 Talk Radio http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/ASaudiLifeE15.m4a Turki Answering listener questions. I'm traveling and forgot to update my laptop. This is a short quick episode where I answer some questions. Hope to be back next week to the regular format. no 14:48 Mon, 13 Feb 2006 08:00:44 -0500 Talk Radio http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/ASaudiLifeE14.m4a Turki This weeks main topic: The danish cartoon outrage in the Arabic world. This episode is late and a step down from the last two episode. I apologize for that as I haven't been feeling well, will be back on track by next week hopefully. no 35:58 http://www.asaudilife.net Sun, 29 Jan 2006 18:38:02 -0500 Talk Radio http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/ASaudiLifeE13.m4a Turki This weeks main topic: the Saudi Royal family. In this weeks show we continue the new format with attempts to enhance it. -The News: some major headlines. -This weeks topic: the Saudi Royal family. A rough view of the Royal Saudi family, where are they from, who are they some of their habits. -Your questions: Higher education in Saudi Arabia. -This weeks announcements. no 39:53 Mon, 23 Jan 2006 15:15:32 -0500 Talk Radio http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/ASaudiLifeE12.m4a Turki A new format for the show with the main subject free speech in Saudi Arabia. This show is divided into 4 parts: News: Covering some news headlines concerning or effecting Saudi Arabia socially or politically. Main Subject: A view of free speech in Saudi Arabia. Q&A: Some quick answers to some of your questions. Announcements: Show announcements. Feed back on the new format is highly appreciated. no 39:00 Sun, 15 Jan 2006 10:31:15 -0500 Talk Radio http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/ASaudiLife_E11.mp3 Saudi I will be going through a few questions I receved from my listeners this episode. This episode is dedicated to listener questions and more: --you spoke about admittance into the holy city of Mecca in a recent episode, and that only Muslims are allowed into the city... does this mean absolutely no one but a practicing Muslim may visit Mecca? What about Mystics, or students of religion who are not practicing Muslims, but have deep respect and reverence for Islam and the Kabba? --being an Islamic state, naturally most everyone in Saudi Arabia must be Muslim--but are there non-Muslims in Saudi Arabia as well? How are people of other faiths viewed in Saudi Arabia? How is mysticism, and more specifically Sufism viewed in Saudi Arabia? --is it at all common for westerners to visit Saudi Arabia as tourists, and if so, how are they viewed/treated in Saudi Arabia? --could you descibe more about how the Islamic police system works in enforcing Islamic Law? How is this viewed by Saudis... is it seen as oppressive? as comforting? --is there an enforced dress code in Saudi Arabia-- or a socially expected one? I know in parts of the Middle East it is expected for men to have short hair and beards, etc. how does Saudi Arabia compare with the rest of the Islamic world in this regard? no 31:48 Sun, 18 Dec 2005 17:01:56 -0500 Talk Radio http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/ASaudiLife_E10.mp3 Saudi A brief view of homesxuallity in Saudi Arabia and a quick look at Arabic dielact and how Saudis are seen. In this episode I try to cover homosexuals in Saudi Arabia, its a brief view but hopefully an interesting one, also I talk a bit about how people around the world might see Saudis, and then I make a quick passing around the Arabic dialect in the Arab world. no 32:24 Mon, 12 Dec 2005 14:52:35 -0500 Talk Radio http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/ASaudiLife_E9.mp3 Saudi A crash tour of Saudi Arabia. Short and hopefully helpful. Ever wanted to visit Saudi Arabia? Well here is a crash tour of Saudi Arabia, its fast and short and maybe missing some important facts but it should provide you with an idea. Did I miss any thing? Still wondering? Just let me know and I will make sure to mention it next episode. no 32:35 Sat, 03 Dec 2005 17:35:17 -0500 Talk Radio http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/ASaudiLife_E8.mp3 Saudi Jiahad, a word we hear alot. What is it really? In this episode I will try to explain jihad and what it is and how Saudis see it. Is what we see now Jihad? Is suicide bombing and blowing up civilians Jihad? How about beheadings? no 34:10 Tue, 29 Nov 2005 06:35:49 -0500 Talk Radio http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/ASaudiLife_E7.m4a Saudi A quick view of Islamic law in Saudi Arabia. Sorry for the delay of the episode. Unfortunately this episode is not up to standards but I hope that it it helpful till next weeks episode. In this episode I talk a little about islamic law in Saudi Arabia. no 27:05 Sun, 20 Nov 2005 15:58:18 -0500 Talk Radio http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/ASaudiLife_E6.m4a Saudi A quick view of how Saudis see each other. In this show I discuss a few announcements and answer some questions I have received. I also talk about the people of Saudi Arabia and how the people of each region are seen as. no 35:40 Mon, 24 Oct 2005 17:42:56 -0400 Talk Radio http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/ASaudiLife_E5.m4a Saudi A quick harsh view of Saudis thoughts about other cultures. When Saudis think about people of other countries they have a general images of those people. Bad or good, true or false, that image stands and is generalized. what is it? no 33:00 Sat, 08 Oct 2005 18:00:00 -0400 Talk Radio http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/ASaudiLife_E4.m4a Saudi The Holy Month of Ramadan a brief look. What is the Holy month of Ramadan and how do Saudis celebrate it? no 22:55 Sun, 02 Oct 2005 14:30:03 -0400 Talk Radio http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/ASaudiLife_E3.m4a Saudi A brief histry of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia Celebrates 75 years of its national day on Friday 23, September 2005. How did this all become? no 34:52 Sun, 11 Sep 2005 18:00:00 -0400 Talk Radio http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/A_Saudi_Life_2.m4a Saudi How do Saudi Women live? There has been a lot said about women and their rights in Saudi Arabia. What is the truth about it? How do women live in Saudi Arabia? A chance to take a tin gleams is now provided. no 35:46 Wed, 31 Aug 2005 18:00:00 -0400 Talk Radio http://media.libsyn.com/media/turki/A_Saudi_Life_1.m4a Saudi Whabusim and the truth behind it. Whabisum is a word we hear a lot in the media. What is it and where does it come from? no 25:06