JEDDAH, 24 September 2005 — Saudi students studying abroad joined the National Day celebrations in a bid to show their pride and admiration for their country. Many students were not even aware that the Saudi National Day was on Sept. 23, as it has never been celebrated on such a grand scale.
“It’s a great idea to have a three-day holiday in commemoration of this day,” said Basil, a 23-year-old student at American University in Sharjah. “Every other country celebrates their National Day; why shouldn’t we do it, too?”
Almost all the students said they felt “a new sense of patriotism”.
“Saudi Arabia is under a lot of pressure right now and so much is going on that you just have to stick up for yourself and where you come from,” said Abeer Mahmoud, an 18-year-old freshman in the University of Michigan. “I hope that on this day more Saudis will be able to appreciate their culture and background rather than looking at other nations in disbelief.”
Abeer was not the only one who felt this way. “Most people you meet are really nice and they don’t care where you’re from,” said Malak. “It’s only just a few who think that we should go through extreme security measures and be watched round the clock.”
Sameera Khalid said, “You’ll be seeing me wearing all green that day so when people ask me I can say it’s Saudi National Day! It’s a good thing I bought those green wrist bands saying ‘Proud to Be Saudi’ this summer.”
Sticking to the nature of all students many of the Saudi students will be taking the day off from classes even though it is not an official holiday in their universities. “If my friends in Saudi Arabia are getting a three-day holiday, I deserve at least one,” said a student, laughing loud and knowing fully well that he would take a day off for any reason.
Some students actually knew the date of the National Day and have been celebrating it for some time. A group of Saudi students in Montréal usually have a barbeque on the day where they invite not only Saudi friends but students of other nationalities as well.
Some students found out about the National Day when talking to family and friends back home, while others came to know from consulates and embassies in their cities.
Consulates and embassies usually hold special events in honor of the National Day. Last year the Consulate General in Los Angeles held a dinner and Saudi citizens in the region were all invited to join in.
