H1N1 rumors Yesterday morning the minister of health, Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeah publicly got himself and one of his daughters vaccinated at a launch ceremony for the H1N1 vaccine campaign. This was reported in today's newspapers. So I went through the comments posted on the article and just as I suspected many if not most doubted that what was in the needles used on the minister and his daughter was the vaccine or just water or vitamins. I've heard this so many times and now it's posted for everyone to see; our obsession with conspiracy theories. Logical arguments have no power at all in these cases. Just last night I was on the phone with a friend who had kept her daughter out of school this year and absolutely refuses even the idea of the vaccine. She touts around a newspaper article about an official from New Zealand being fired from the WHO because he/she has voiced objections to the vaccine. I agree that the H1N1 might be over-hyped in the media and that drug companies are making good money out of the vaccine. But that the Saudi health minister would be in on a conspiracy to vaccinate Saudi citizens?! Some of the rumors going around are that it makes people sterile and that its effects do not become evident until five to 10 years later. And so the minister would know this as a fact and like a villain out of a movie, he would push the vaccine on the Saudi population. We watch way too much TV. – saudiwoman.wordpress.com KSA marriage Engaging in a dialogue recently with other foreign wives who are married to Saudis made me realize something that over time I and others have come to accept about marriage to a Saudi and that is abnormal is normal. What one would take for granted and find to be very straightforward in other places of the world is not always the case in Saudi Arabia and particularly when it comes to marrying a Saudi and living in Saudi Arabia. It is normal to take several years for most marriage approvals to be obtained. Those foreigners whose marriage has been approved in mere months fall into the abnormal category. It is normal for most foreigners who marry a Saudi to have to undergo several marriage ceremonies at the request of the government to get the marriage approved. For example if the marriage took place in a third country where neither the bride nor groom held nationality, another marriage must take place in the home country of one of them. It is normal that there will always be exceptions to the marriage process in spite of clear-cut guidelines. It is also normal that multiple ministries review the marriage approval request and have the ability to approve or disapprove. In one case I am aware of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs waived its approval of a couple's marriage request saying it would abide by the decision of the Ministry of Interior. The Ministry of Interior approved the marriage request. Upon learning of the approval from the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs then decided that the King himself must approve the marriage request due to the background and positions of the couple involved. For those who are planning to marry a Saudi, have patience and a sense of humor.
