Not without my Abaya

The search is on, folks! I'm in full-on job hunt mode. In this process, the Universe is attempting to keep me humble since acquiring three new letters after my name. I put in an application for a clinical job that I was well qualified for (hours, clinical experience, etc). It was also a job that only required a Master's degree. Well I heard back the next day that they had other people more qualified than me for the position. Uh oh. Not what you want to hear after spending so many extra years in school. I assume that it had a lot to do with the fact that I'm not licensed. That drama is worthy of its own post, but suffice it to say that the State is great about cashing checks, but not so great at tracking and completing the paperwork that said check was meant to pay for.

I understand that it's a rough market right now for applicants and will be throwing my net wide in hopes of catching something. That being said I came across a position to work as a therapist with students at a newly organized University in Saudi Arabia. It was posted as only a 6 month position and I've heard that many jobs in the Middle East are very high paying. It's the first co-educational university in the Kingdom. Now, for some reason I thought that Saudi Arabia was more progressive, you know along the lines of the UAE. False. After submitting my application I did a little more research into the plight of women in the country.

Turns out women not only don't have the vote, but also can't drive or ride bikes in the country. Further, women are still found accountable for rape if they were "illegally mingling" with an acquaintance of the opposite sex. Yoswers. There are interesting requirements of foreign workers as well. You have to relinquish your passport to your employer while you are in the country and as a woman you need a man to act as your guardian while there. Said guardian also must give permission before you can leave the country. As I continued my research, I quickly realized that this was probably not the job for me, but even more than that it made me realize how many of my freedoms I take for granted. While I often get frustrated with the gender inequality that exists in our country, I realize how lucky we are to be able to voice our dissent.

While I believe that a cultural immersion would be an amazing experience, I'm a big fan of feeling safe and having personal freedoms.

So, back to the drawing board it is. Although I loved the movie "Not without my Daughter" I think I'll pass on living it as an experience, although I can see the appeal of rocking the Abaya on really bad hair days. :]