After settling down at the hotel, we went to visit Saudi Aramco (Saudi's national oil company, similar to Petronas, I think) and Prince Sultan Center for Science and Technology (which is basically like Singapore's Science Center).
It was pretty rush at Saudi Aramco, we were only allowed 20 mins to visit the place. It showed us how petroleum was made, the different kinds of rocks, etc etc...if you are really into the energy or geo sector, then it would appeal to you. :S
My group mates and I
Outside Saudi Aramco
What I find interesting is that... you know how the current numbers that we use today? They originated from the Arabic world. But the numbers that they use in their daily lives there are different from the normal:
Arabic numbers: Those above are referred to as "Western Arabic Numerals". The ones below are "Eastern Arabic Numerals". Note that "8" is terbalik :PThat was for Day 2. On Day 3, we went to King Fahad University for Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM). This was actually the highlight of the Saudi segment, in my opinion. It's quite a prestigious uni...it has 15% acceptance rate. What is interesting about this university is that this university is an all male university. In fact, all educational institutions in Saudi are segregated by sex. This means that each university has a male and female division, with similar facilities. For KFUPM, it does not have a female division, and thus an all male university.
Another interesting thing to note is that each university student in Saudi Arabia is paid 1000 riyals every month to study. Talk about being paid to study man.
Anyway, an introduction to the univeristy as given, followed up with a Q&A section. Now here's the interesting part.
One of my friends asked a rather sensitive question.
Q: Having a segregated schooling system in Saudi Arabia, do you think that it readily equips the students for the global workforce, like would they have problems interacting with the opposite sex in the future?
A: Now, you must understand the culture of Saudi Arabia. All along, we have boys and girls separated while studying, and then they go into the workforce, where men and women are separated while they work. The women will work only with women, for instance. This culture has always work for us, and therefore, we do not buy the argument of having disadvantages of not mixing the genders. At least for now.
If they are that oppressed, a revolution may have taken place sooner than later. Fyi, the government is pretty stable, with a good leader, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.
It is like our Chinese culture, which can't accept nudity on beaches. And therefore, not implemented here, although our culture is quite liberalised nowadays.
To us, they are oppressed. To them, they feel liberty within limits.
Lecture room!
Another room which they gave another presentation...
It's darn cool! It has this rising table in the center...with TVs on it! (see 2 pics below)
Another interesting thing to note is that each university student in Saudi Arabia is paid 1000 riyals every month to study. Talk about being paid to study man.
Anyway, an introduction to the univeristy as given, followed up with a Q&A section. Now here's the interesting part.
One of my friends asked a rather sensitive question.
Q: Having a segregated schooling system in Saudi Arabia, do you think that it readily equips the students for the global workforce, like would they have problems interacting with the opposite sex in the future?
A: Now, you must understand the culture of Saudi Arabia. All along, we have boys and girls separated while studying, and then they go into the workforce, where men and women are separated while they work. The women will work only with women, for instance. This culture has always work for us, and therefore, we do not buy the argument of having disadvantages of not mixing the genders. At least for now.
It thought me a very important lesson. You know how we tend to see from the outside, that Saudi Arabia's women are oppressed and have very little privileges. Little is known, that actually, the university undergrads proportion is actually 50/50 for the sexes. The women there are not allowed to drive, but so what? Their husbands can drive, and they enjoy the comforts of having their husbands driving them around. We see that they wear very conservatively, but they think that their bodies are only reserved for their husbands pleasure, and not any other men, and are fine with it. And yes, the women are allowed to work.
If they are that oppressed, a revolution may have taken place sooner than later. Fyi, the government is pretty stable, with a good leader, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.
It is like our Chinese culture, which can't accept nudity on beaches. And therefore, not implemented here, although our culture is quite liberalised nowadays.
To us, they are oppressed. To them, they feel liberty within limits.
Lecture room!
Another room which they gave another presentation...It's darn cool! It has this rising table in the center...with TVs on it! (see 2 pics below)
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