One of my expat assignments while working for a well know I-Bank was for 18months in the Middle East - I was based in Bahrain. Unlike my prior assignments in Hong Kong and London, I left my wife and children here in the states - the ME sucks big time - obnoxious displays of wealth, open bigotry and racism, religious hypocrites (you get the picture).... that amount is a drop in the bucket - the scale of wealth is such that it is hard to get your head around it.... I hated it so much that I quit the firm - nothing is worth living in the hell hole that is the ME.....
Originally Posted by Roothead
Gosh I'm surprised!
I find inconsistencies everywhere but I think - that's just life. So when I experience a well-funded inconsistency I tend to just enjoy. Partying with Arabs and whomever a case in point.
I've been privy to spending time with a huge diversity of people and the ones where I would walk out the door would have to be child and animal abusers. The others - well, it tends to be interesting.
I've had dinner with, amongst others, a guy who cut off hands (for theft) in Saudi Arabia, a guy who had his kid's kidnappers shot through the head (6 of them - Latin America). I have to say, it's very interesting stuff.
But no I would never sit down with someone like Hitler or Saddam Hussein no matter how fine the champagne.
PS - I stayed in Bahrain courtesy of a Prince - it was the first time I experienced a swimming pool in a living-room and also Japanese food. Wonderful!!