So, if you have been following this blog, you know I was offered a job to teach in the Kingdom of Bahrain when I attended a job fair in January, and that I accepted said job. Now, being Americans (coupled with the fact that Bahrain is like, this itty bitty country), not many people know about this country, or where in the world it is located. So you might be thinking, as many do...Ba-what?
Naturally, when I tell people I am going to Bahrain, their first question is, "oh, and where is that?" To which I get to respond with, "Oh, you know, in the Persian Gulf...right between Saudi Arabia and Iran." To which there is usually a nice, looooong, pause. This pause is usually filled with warring emotions; excitement for me (I have great friends) that I am going to be teaching full time in another country, and concern for my safety. Because the region is not generally considered safe (thank you CNN).
The purpose of this particular blog post is to tell you a bit about the Kingdom of Bahrain, both in my own words, and by providing a whole bunch of helpful links.
Bahrain is its own country and is governed by a constitutional monarchy. So there is a king, just like England has a queen. However, I believe that in Bahrain (unlike England) the king is more than just a figurehead; he is an active and vital part of the governance of this country. I also think the constitutionality of said monarchy is somewhat more fluid, depending on the political climate.
Bahrain is, as I mentioned, a tiny country, consisting of one large main island, and several smaller islands. I believe you could drive around the whole of the main island in about an hour; it is 34 miles long and 11 miles wide. It is so small, in fact, when I was trying to show my students at one of my schools where it was on the map, the island itself is not shown; rather, a triangle where the island should be is situated in the Persian Gulf. The weather in Bahrain is what I am both excited and nervous about. I currently live in a very cold region of New York State--as I type this it is -9 degrees Fahrenheit. This is, in my opinion, colder than the Earth has any reason to be. One of my requirements for my next teaching position was that it simply does not snow. Well, Bahrain fits the bill perfectly, with temps only reaching a low of about 60 degrees Fahrenheit in January, the coldest month of year. However, New York is quite lovely in the summer, with temps averaging in the low 80's, with only a few weeks of moderately uncomfortable humidity. Bahrain can get to be over 100 °F in the middle of the night during its warmest months (July) with 100% humidity. China was hot, but not that hot. Nonetheless, I am so tired of cold, I think my desire to get out of the cold far outweighs my trepidation of the heat and humidity.
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| Where in the World is Bahrain? Left, world map; center, map of Middle East; right, map of Bahrain. |
But what about safety is what many people are thinking, as even the most CNN-critical people still ask. I mean, the news has got to be getting that alarming data about the Middle East from some where, right? I am not trying to make light of my safety, but Bahrain is about as safe as I would be anywhere else in the world. It is no more or less safe that it would be for a lone woman in New York City or Madrid or London, and you would use the same precautions you would use in any large city around the world. There have been protests in certain districts in the capital, and I will be living in the capital, but you avoid the protests, on the off chance they become violent, and you will not be anywhere near them if there is an issue. Bahrain's economy is not only stable, but it is thriving, and it enjoys peaceful relations with it's neighbors. Bahrain also has a working relationship with the United States and hosts a U.S. Navel base on the main island. Yes, it is in a region of the world that Americans generally view as hostile, but we are not talking about Baghdad.
Since Bahrain has very strong international political and economic ties with the United States and the European Union, an expat living in that country is able to find many familiar products. Since they are imported goods, you'd pay more for them then you would in America, but they are still readily available (and this price hike is something I am used to--sour cream and onion Pringles were about 5$ a can in China). There is a host of familiar grocery stores, banks, restaurants, and products available in Bahrain. In addition to having these international markets, Bahrain also has its own markets, where I am told bartering is welcome--and it's something I am looking forward to doing again. These markets offer a wealth of goods at very reasonable prices. So it looks like someone will be going shoooooooooooping.
Bahrain is not (like some of its neighbors) a dry country, although alcohol is not to be consumed in public (on the streets) but only in licensed establishments, such as bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. It is also an Islamic country, and while it is by no means as conservative as some of it's neighbors, I will likely be making a few adjustments to my personal wardrobe. Bahrain does not require it's women to be covered from head to toe, but if you want to minimize cat calls from the locals, you are going to want to dress conservatively. I am told this means shirts with sleeves of some kind, shirts that are not low cut, and dresses that make it to your knees--this is also what is recommended for professional attire in Bahrain. However, there is no law that says I cannot skip about town, during my non-professional time, in a tank top and hot shorts. It's simply not advised. As my recruiter put it, "it is wise to be conservative when you arrive, and as people get to know you, you can make adjustments that are more in keeping with your preferences." Kind of like making new friends--you are not 100% you; instead you are a politer, blander version of you until everyone gets to know each other better. I am not going to lie though, my biggest area concern about this move is how it affects my wardrobe (I know, it seems sort of silly--but so is my love of leggings). I am told pretty much anything goes when on a beach in Bahrain, as long as you are wearing something, and your attire hear depends entirely on personal or cultural preferences.
Of course, I have been reading quite a lot about the country over the past few weeks, and above is simply a summary of what I have been learning. If you want to know more about Bahrain, there are some links below. Or you can Google it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrain
http://www.bahrain.com/en/Pages/default.aspx#.UwIlW_ldU1I
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ba.html
http://bahrainguide.org/content/view/38/83/
http://www.expatwomen.com/expat-women-countries/expat-women-living-in-bahrain.php
http://www.expatwoman.com/bahrain/
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