friends of mine and I were having a discussion last night in line with this thread(somewhat). They being Muslim westerners and converts were telling me how they come to the gulf with way high expectations..namely it being a Muslim country hence they expect to feel more welcome, more secure,more accepted and of course not oppressed! and when they do face various discriminations and oppressions it shocks them. after all they did expect much better from "Muslim" countries what with the Islamic views on equality for all, fairness for employees, oppression being darkness ,etc.As a result so many of them leave then disillusioned. and that's when we concluded that it always helps to first get to know what your getting into, lower your expectations or better still expect the unexpected, and as a friend of ours said (advice from her hubby) "pack your suitcase with patience" Perhaps then we'll have less to whine about and learn to appreciate more the benefits these lands have to offer us!