Part 4: Free Advice from HollywoodBQ
2 years is a good amount of time. You'll go through the various stages of adaptation within that time frame.
You'll have the opportunity to travel through Europe, Asia, Africa if you like.
Your kids will have some great opportunities but... be warned, it's like trying to put the Genie back in the bottle, once you do this, they will never be the same. Maybe the younger ones. But, the kids that are over about 5-6 years old will remember their experiences forever.
The downside will be when you move back to the USA. Your kids will have experiences and knowledge outside of the classroom that their peer group won't be able to fathom. And, if you're planning to move back to the same town, and they're going to potentially go to the same school with their old friends who they've been away from for 2 years, you can expect that they're going to have a VERY hard time adjusting. Their friends will have moved on. And, their friends will seem homely/dumb/quaint/simple compared to their friends in KSA who have also all been to Rome/Paris/London, etc.
Somebody will ask your school age children what they did last summer and the true answer will be - The Louvre, The Champs-Elysee, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, etc. But the responses will be either - What's that? Or, a level of resentment or attitude that your kid is pretentious. Meanwhile, that's really what happened even if nobody else can understand it or believe it. In my case, I remember my cousins talking about going to New Braunfels as if it was the coolest thing ever - and it did sound pretty good. What did we do? Pyramids at Giza, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Tutankhamen's Tomb, Nile River, etc.
These days, with the Internet and Social Media, it is much easier to stay in touch with the friends that you and your kids will make. That will help a lot.
I'll tell you, as long as the money's right for your situation, I'd do it in a heartbeat with no regrets.
Another downside you'll face coming back is the arguments you'll get in with people about Islam and Saudi Arabia. You will have the benefit of having seen things first hand and will be able to comment from an educated and experienced point of view. Versus people who have only read or listened to hype artists who are trying to sell a book/movie/advertising.
Frankly, Saudi Arabia has pretty simple and clear-cut rules and as long as you play by the rules, you've got nothing to worry about. But, fair warning, during religious holidays, they do crack down on folks violating any religious rules - women's clothing, etc.
Hopefully that will help you with your decision. These days, the conveniences are unbelievable, McDonalds, satellite television, etc. When I first moved to Saudi Arabia, there was only a two lane road that went to my town and our telephone was a party line (shared between 4 households). With easy access to weekend getaway spots now, you should be in pretty good shape. But, do keep aware of your surroundings at all times.
Oh, and as far as not letting folks know you're American, they'll know. The Nike Shoes and Baseball caps are the usual dead giveaways. If you get into conversations with Saudis who have been educated in the USA, especially Texas, they'll talk your ear off about how much they love it. Cheers!
