Killing Time in Saudi Arabia

An American Experience

In the third book of the autobiographical American Experiences in Arabia series, the author takes a job in Saudi Arabia, biding his time until he can return to Oman and keep a promise he has made to his Omani students as well as a local interest.

In 2003, following the Invasion of Iraq, Saudi Arabia erupts in an armed insurrection-just a few months before the author arrives. The author soon discovers the defense contractor with whom he has contracted his services, hires former American soldiers as trainers. The author also discovers the defense contractor's management has a rather dim view of teachers (like the author) who are in charge of instructing the Saudi National Guard officers in English, and an even dimmer view of allotting resources to them. With terrorist attacks, shootings and ambushes happening every week, the author soon finds himself feeling that if he is ever going to survive the ordeal, he is going to have to, "go native."

Killing Time in Saudi Arabia is, like the previous books in the American Experiences in Arabia series, one of the best ways to understand Arab and especially Saudi Arabian culture. Killing Time in Saudi Arabia is also the best way to understand the personalities of the Saudis through the friendships the author develops among the officers of the Saudi Arabian National Guard, or more accurately, the personal bodyguard to the Saudi King.

Killing Time in Saudi Arabia is also the story of how Westerners and expatriates, who make up almost half of the Saudi population, survive and actually thrive in such a seemingly oppressive environment. The reader will be amazed to find that the expatriates of Saudi Arabia have created their own culture within a culture that is as vibrant and exhilarating as the one they left, if not more.

Killing Time in Saudi Arabia: An American Experience is an amusing and informative book based upon the true-life experiences of the author as he experiences teaching Saudi Army Officers, an insane social orienteering activity developed by the British called "Hashing," a "Capsula," and a South African nurse with whom he traveled the country looking for whatever adventures Saudi Arabia had to offer.

"...love, war, tourism and teaching... humor is embedded in every chapter; so if you don't want quirky observations and tongue-in-cheek wry remarks, look elsewhere ... "

D Donovan eBook Reviewer, MBR

From the Author,

More than any of the other books of the American Experiences in Arabia During the War On Terror series, Killing Time in Saudi Arabia was both the easiest and the most difficult to write. It was easy to describe the wonderful people and the incredibly inspiring, yet sometimes intimidating desert locations. It was difficult after the time I spent there to ever come to grips with the imminent danger that it was necessary to shrug off, or else spend my days extremely miserable and lonely in a desolate foreign environment. Saudi Arabia, however, seemed to offer a lot in the way of cultural, social and definitely memorable opportunities. Luckily, there were a number of people with whom I lived and worked, or encountered socially, that had many of the same feelings I possessed about how to keep a semblance of sanity in so foreign an environment, so far away from the love of friends and family.

I was also extremely fortunate to find that so much was possible socially, recreationally and even in a way financially, due to the general tolerance and support of the Saudis themselves. There would have been very little to write about, if I were physically able to write Killing Time in Saudi Arabia, if all that was said about the Saudis in the media were true. Unfortunately, there were very small pockets of people who felt compelled to use violent action because of the recent invasion of Iraq and the events at Abu Gharib. The insurrection, with a few exceptions, was ignored in the Western media as headlines from the Iraq Invasion dominated the headlines. The fact was however, the Saudis, as is more than apparent in Killing Time in Saudi Arabia, went to extreme measures both officially as well as socially and personally to ensure the protection of Westerners.

That is the story that I think should be told along with any other about the Saudis, because unlike many of the stories that are passed around outside of a culture that hasn’t changed for fifteen hundred years, Killing Time in Saudi Arabia is a real testimonial to their character, their respect and their kindness. It will only take a few minutes reading to imagine that you too are in the middle of Riyadh on the high Arabian Plateau in January and you are working for a homeless military contractor, they having been blown up a few months before. It is then your very life depends on the majority of the population not sharing the sentiments of the previous pyroclastic perpetrators. The fact will always remain, due to my unquenchable desire to learn, discover and explore, that were the Saudis any less protective, supportive, friendly and hospitable during those extremely dangerous times, there would have been no story to tell, and most likely, I would not have survived long enough to tell it.

But this is not my story at all...

It is our story.

Matthew D. Heines

Saudi Arabia, terrorism, EFL, military contractors, teach, funny books, romance, red sea diving