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both ends meet and keep doing the hard and extremely
hazardous work. Theirs was a short life because of the
constant shortage of oxygen and the recurrent attacks by
sharks. Whenever the head of the family died, his older,
and even young, sons would take over. Thus this profession
was trnsmitted from father to son to grandson, because the
commodity is in great demand at all times.
In the thirties of the last century, the Japanese succeeded
in implanting pearls in special nurseries. Such pearls are
not chemically different from natural pearls. But the latter
have a longer life. To distinguish between the artificial and
natural pearls one has to break the pearl, as it is difficult to
distinguish them by merely looking at them. X-ray helps of
course. How ever, I do think that natural pearls are brighter
and are never dimmed. But this is a personal impression.
During the last few decades, the extraction of pearls has
nearly stopped. However, I have learned that it is being
revived, this being for a number of reasons, particularly
the new demand on natural pearls, and the emergence of
a generation of amateur sportsmen, as well as the security
provided against assaults by sea monsters (by using special
techniques).
As to the boats, these have hardly changed during the
last two thousand years and are still made in the same old
manner without any nails or mechanical tools (drills are
rarely used). These boats are quite durable and it is said
that they are safer than those made the modern way.
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Diplomatic Life
The reader may be interested in knowing something
about the function of an ambassador’s spouse and how she
spends her days. Obviously, her main task is to provide a
comfortable and peaceful home life in addition to giving
moral encouragement and support to her husband in his
demanding and variegated work. In representing his
country, an ambassador does not bear responsibility alone,
not even the embassy staff and their families alone. He
is a link between his government and the leadership of
the country to which he is accredited. He continuously
receives a flood of information; he classifies and analyzes
same and gives directives. He arranges meetings and
press conferences and many such things. He does not have
a comfortable and peaceful sleep because responsibility
weighs heavily on him. The role of an ambassador’s wife
is confined to her standing by him, sharing his feelings
and supporting him morally. In short, she has to be a real
friend, an advisor and even a critic. Obviously, she has to
have superior qualifications because she is considered not
merely a woman but a representative of her people.
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Many are under the impression that the life of a
diplomat is one of continuous enjoyment. This, however,
is not true. His life is not always without clouds. The main
difficulty relates to having to live away from home, from
relatives, friends and one’s children and grandchildren,
all this in the absence of books, things that are cherished
and in a different community and atmosphere. While an
ambassador is busy in his favorite work, his wife would
often have to sacrifice her own work. But if she is a self-
dependent person, such sacrifice would not be much, as
she is bound to find something to busy herself with and an
opportunity to exploit her talents and seek to expand the
scope of her information.
An ambassador’s wife must be sociable. Therefore, she
should be fluent at least in English, and preferably in the
language of the country where she is staying. She must
know the history of her country, its physical characteristics,
customs and other information about it. She must have
a good taste and a special costume. It would be a good
thing to learn some national dishes of her country and
how to prepare them well. Obviously, she must be widely
knowledgeable so that she can make conversation with
her neighbors at table during parties and diplomatic
banquets (there is a special seating arrangement according
to diplomatic protocol. Husband and wife may not sit
adjacently. The same applies to guests. The hosts would sit
at the opposite ends of the table). Finally, an ambassador’s
spouse must be on good terms with the spouses of other
ambassadors, particularly those of states that have mutual
interest with her own country. I can assure you that good
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relations among such women have a great influence on the
relations between their husbands.
The ambassadors’ spouses in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, as in other countries, are members of the Society
of Ambassadors’ spouses (AWA). Groups are formed
according to geographical distribution. Each group choose
their chief and coordinators, who, together with all the
other members, draw up the programs of the society’s
activities. These comprise charity auctions, bazaars and
banquets throughout the country, as well as visits to
schools, retarded children, the wounded in hospitals, and
participation in official occasions and other visits.
The ambassadors are also united in groups. The
most senior ambassador is considered the dean of the
diplomatic corps and is the head of the diplomatic mission
who would have spent the longest period in the country
of accreditation. My husband is at present the dean of
the Asian Group. I, myself, am the head of the European
Group (part of the Azerbaijan territory is in Europe). The
dean is usually greatly respected and is usually invited
to all diplomatic functions. The Saudi Foreign Ministry
communicates many of its decisions and recommendations
to the state ambassadors through him.
Receptions given on official occasions, such as National
Day, the Army Foundation Day, and other important events
are among the elements of diplomatic life. Given that Saudi
Arabia has 100 foreign ambassadors, financial institutions,
representations and missions of various international
organizations that have annual celebration occasions, you
can imagine the frequency of such occasions. To these
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