Roommates: Here and in Saudi Arabia

In some cases, staff-level RNs, RRTs, etc., need to share housing.

But you say you don't want a roommate? Your children have finally left home, your husband left 10 years ago, and you no longer want to be someone's disciplinarian, therapist, or housekeeper. I understand. I can tell my share of stories (and I have heard even more) about intolerable roommates.

There is the roommate who sits around in a bathrobe all day, even on weekends, even when guests are over. There's the roommate who tries to one-up you in conversations with your friends, family members, and worst of all, your boyfriend. There's the roommate who is chronically late on the rent and borrows your clothes, toiletries, books, and food. There's the roommate whose boyfriend moves in with you, empties your fridge, hijacks your TV, and racks up your water and electricity bill. You get the idea.

With all this in mind, you may ask if it is even advisable to share housing with a complete stranger. The answer is yes. After all, things are different in the Middle East; most significantly, members of the opposite sex aren't allowed in your housing, and alcohol is prohibited. Beyond this, there are many other things to recommend having a roommate.

It's a learning experience: Your roommate may be from, say, Denmark or Cape Town, so you can learn about her country, healthcare system, interests, and life in general. One day you can visit each other's homeland!

Even if you have different interests, it's a learning opportunity. You love tennis and she is a skilled photographer. She's a history buff and you're into comedy.

If she works in a different area of the hospital, you can learn the ins and outs of different specialties or departments, and broaden your circle of contacts, and potentially, friends.

If your roommate has already been there for awhile, when you first arrive, she can orient you to aspects of life in Saudi Arabia that aren't covered in orientation. Where can you get the freshest vegetables? Which is the best shop for gold? She will introduce you to her network of friends. If you are worried about cleanliness, you can share the cost of someone to clean your apartment each week.

If you are the sociable type, she can invite you out, introduce you to others, and speed your way into different circles.

If you're more the shy type, or even somewhat of a loner, you will still have someone around to talk to about the ups and downs of your day.

Think you can't get along with someone who is different? Just last week, I had a call from one of our nurse recruits from more than 10 years ago, and we started talking about her former roommate, Marie Laywine, who was another one of our nurse recruits, and who had been a particularly original personality. I, too, had been an admirer of Marie. I looked her up online (link: http://www.marielaywine.com/), and found that she is now a full-time artist, working out of a converted church in a village in Dorset, England. Her paintings are wonderful.

That's all very nice, you say, but what happens if things don't work out? If, after giving it an honest try, it just isn't working, you can request a change in apartments. And that second roommate may be the one that, decades later, you remember fondly, and are planning to visit at her home in Wellington, Winnipeg, Worms, or Walla Walla.

Helen Ziegler