Teacher experiencing new cultures in Saudi Arabia

Joshua Byrd is a stranger in a strange land.

The 29-year-old school teacher, who spent his youth growing up in Spokane, Coeur d’Alene and Hungry Horse recently traded in the Pacific Northwest for the Middle East. In September, Byrd began his new job teaching English and science to seventh and eighth graders in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

“I had interviews with schools in Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia. I signed here because the contract was great, but also because Saudi Arabia has traditionally been an isolated country, few people get to visit, let alone live and work in. So I jumped on the opportunity and here I am,” Byrd said.

Byrd says he spent a lot time trying to decide his path in life before becoming a teacher, including spending time attempting to become a pilot, but found teaching to be his passion after spending time as a volunteer with summer camps and after-school programs.

“I decided to try the education program at the college I was attending. After my first quarter in that program, I knew I had found my calling,” he said. “I struggled finding motivation in school myself, but once I found my motivation, I wanted to share that passion and drive with others.”

When it came time to find a teaching job, Byrd said his first choice was Europe, but those dreams were quickly dashed at his first international job fair.

“I was initially looking to land a job in Europe but I also wanted to keep my options open because you never know what can happen at these sorts of events,” he said. “When I first got there, the company I currently work for had left me a message asking me to stop by their table when the fair began. So I did and I set up an interview later in the afternoon. I quickly learned that most European schools will only hire international teachers with at least two years of experience, so I had to adjust my plan.”

When Byrd arrived in Saudi Arabia in September, 2017, he was somewhat surprised by what he found. While Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country with strict rules that persist through everyday life, he also found a surprising amount of Western influence.

“They have many stores and restaurants that are the same. KFC, Starbucks, and other American chains are plentiful here. Sometimes you have to look around, but you can get many of the same comforts and products as you can back home. Western influences have surely made their way into the lives of the people here. I am always asked on my opinions of Western matters and culture because many Saudis are fascinated by our culture, just as we are interested in theirs,” he said. “The amount of Western influence is pretty surprising to me as well. But what I find fascinating is, although that influence is here and prominent, it does not appear to really have a large effect on their own culture.”

While initially fearful of offending locals with his Western ways, Byrd said he quickly became comfortable in his new surroundings.

“I was actually pretty intimidated when I first arrived because I didn’t want to offend anyone and I didn’t know a single person here,” he said. “As a westerner, you have to be more conscious about what you are doing out in public. However, I have never had any problems here, not being Muslim myself. People are very friendly here and have always willing to explain things to me or to help me out, being obviously western and most likely not Islamic. Despite the differences, life here is not too bad. It certainly takes some getting used to, but when the more you look here, you begin to uncover a fascinating culture and way of life.”

Byrd admits that the culture was somewhat different from what most people would expect when thinking about Saudi Arabia.

“There are a few stereotypes, of course; some more extreme than others. This is also a country that is in the midst of many cultural changes, so we have many misconceptions about Saudi Arabia, some which may have been true in the past, are no longer true. Although there are still laws that cause gender inequality, women are not treated terribly here. There is a respect for women here. However, compared to back home, it is not the same,” Byrd said.

Byrd said he plans to visit home during his summer break, but in the meantime, he misses his family, the mountains and the trees, but, living in a country where alcohol is illegal, Byrd says he really misses beer.

“I knew before hand that there was no beer here but I did not think I would miss being able to come home and have a beer after a long day,” he admitted.

Byrd says he has enjoyed his time in the Middle East so far and is considering signing on for another two-year stay at the end of his current contract.

“I am very fortunate to have met so many wonderful people here, including my girlfriend that I met from South Africa. Not only am I learning about the culture here, but I get to meet others from around the world and hear about their experiences. There are so many wonderful people here and we really look out for each other because it can be difficult living and working in a foreign place, especially away from family and loved ones,” he said. “For me, it’s all about expanding your range of knowledge and understanding because there are so many benefits to doing so. It helps us to understand the world around us and to have positive impacts on the world. Knowledge, for me, is passion and the greatest tool that humankind has access to.”