Red Sea Mall and women in Saudi

For the women without a headscarf, it can be assumed that they are not Saudi women (there are also incredibly many Filipinas, Malaysians, etc. living here).

However, I saw many women, including those wearing niqabs, walking hand in hand with their husbands. No walking 5 meters behind or anything like that.

One strange thing was:                                                                                  In some blogs or reports that I read before leaving Germany, Western women often reported feeling gawked at by men (usually the guest workers here).

I haven't experienced such a moment a single time yet!
Instead, yesterday I felt a bit like I was in school at 14. There were several small groups of young women wearing niqabs who made me feel scrutinized and were whispering and definitely talking about me when I passed by them.

I don't know if they found me (especially since I stand out with my short hair) strange or 'exotic.
But girls - imagine what it's like when YOU are the one who stands out because you DON'T wear a headscarf :-)

In contrast to the scrutinizing and whispering, here, both on campus, but also yesterday in the mall, I have been approached several times by young women who really like my hair.

By the way, my new third roommate is also Saudi - 30, divorced, with a child and a completed degree in microbiology in the USA. So, exactly the type of rebellious and aspiring young woman from Saudi Arabia that we have been hearing about more and more lately.

The impression I have so far is certainly limited, but it confirms the theory that this country is undergoing a strong transformation. And above all, that not everything is as black and white as one is sometimes led to believe.

That's all for today, see you soon!
Best regards!