Saudi Gazette report Millions of expatriate workers in the Kingdom spend Eid holidays away from their families due to work commitments or financial constraints. Separated by thousands of kilometers, they feel nostalgic and home sick during this joyous occasion. Al-Riyadh daily reports on how expatriates spend Eid away from home and their families. When the Eid is announced the first thing many expatriates do is to call their parents, wives, children and other family members to exchange greetings. Once greetings are exchanged with loved ones back home, they start their Eid by visiting compatriots and friends who work with them in the Kingdom. Ahmad Abdulati, an Egyptian, said on the first day of Eid, he called his parents and family members to congratulate them on the joyous festival, something made easier by the Internet, which helps many expats stay in touch with their families at minimum or no expense. “I don't know what I would do if I didn't have the Internet. It has helped many people like me feel less homesick. I jumped up with joy when I heard the voices of my father and mother,” he said. To lessen his longing for his family, he went out with friends and enjoyed the numerous festivals held by Riyadh Municipality. The Internet
Suhaila Al-Zuwain, a Tunisian, misses the company of her parents and family but compensates for it by using modern technology to video chat with them. “I'm lucky because I have nice neighbors who come and visit. I also know a few Saudi families who are very nice. We live in a small village but thanks to modern technology, I can call my families and get in touch with them and even see them on the screen,” she said. Umm Tariq is an Iraqi expatriate living in the Kingdom. Although some of her family members live in the same city here, she still longs for her parents and the Eid atmosphere back home. “In Iraq, we usually make sweets called klija on Eid and present them to visitors who come to our home to exchange Eid greetings. This year, I didn't make any because it's hard to have the same joy away from home,” she said, while adding she got together with a few friends to give small gifts and money to each other's children as they do every Eid in Iraq. Hamdi Jamal, a Yemeni, said on the first day of Eid in Yemen, people prepare for Eid prayer and dress well. He goes out with his father and elder brothers to the biggest mosque there to perform Eid prayer. Afterward, they go back home and start receiving family members who come to visit them. “I feel homesick away from my family and I can't enjoy Eid without them. That's why I go to the Grand Mosque on the first day and perform Umrah and stay there for a long time. The only reason I've left my family behind is because of work,” he said. Sudanese Muhammad Al-Amin said he had to spend the past eight Eids in the Kingdom due to the nature of his work. During the first few years he did not have his family with him, so he would spend the festival sitting at home. Eventually, he brought his wife and children to the Kingdom and today, he feels much happier during Eid because he can go out with his family and enjoy the occasion with them. Eid damper
Eyad Harb is from Syria. He is sad because his country is still bleeding from over 4 years of civil war just like Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. He said he is unable to feel the joy of Eid while he sees so many people getting killed on the TV. “This Eid is going to be different and sadder than the previous ones,” he said. Sociologist Ehsan Tayeb said expatriate workers who do not associate with others and who do not integrate well in a society are bound to feel lonely during Eid. “Social ties can relieve the pain of homesickness. Most Arab countries have common Eid traditions. However, some have completely different traditions and the residents of those countries will feel a great amount of homesickness during Eid,” he said.
