Conversations with Expatriots Abroad:

#1
“You should get busy having kids here. Have a few. Maids are cheap.”

#2
“In Spain if my washing machine breaks I call the repair man and he says he will come fix it on Friday. Friday is a week a way. I have clothes to clean. Here (Saudi) if my machine breaks down I call the compound office and they send a maintenance man to come fix it 10 minutes later.”

#3
“In Saudi you have time. In places like the U.S. you have so many things to grab your attention. Here there are few distractions. You have so much time.”

#4
“When I go to a place like China woman look at me. I’m a 50-year-old guy from Canada. In Canada finding a 50-year-old woman who will give me attention is impossible. Never mind some good sex. Sure, in these places the woman are in it for the money, but I know that. I understand it. We both know what we are getting into, so isn’t it OK? All I want is to feel like I’m desired.”

#5
“In the UK both my wife and I were working but we couldn’t save. We wanted to buy a house in Spain, so we came here (Saudi) to save money. I haven’t been able to save a bit since arriving.”

#6
“The children love the compound. It’s like a neighborhood back home: kids running everywhere, stores, bars, a gym… everything you need.”