I lived in the Middle East for nearly eight years.
Arriving in the wake of the Arab Spring, my time spent in one of the region’s most benignly welcoming autocracies was, to the surprise of many I’ve spoken to since returning home, overwhelmingly positive.
While many westerners view the region with suspicion, I felt very safe there. Yes, there were rules, some of which I didn’t agree with. But working within their confines, I was able to live happily in my temporary surroundings.
Now, as we watch the USA becoming increasingly dystopian, its rules blurring more by the day, I wonder if there is something to be said for the clarity of my expat life. At the very least, unlike in modern-day America, we all knew where we stood.
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