Well, someday... Saudi has passed a law that women can drive, but first they have to get a driver's license which is not available yet. It has recently struck me just how difficult this process will be. It's hard for a Westerner to understand this. I was thinking, "Let women drive! What's the big deal! The whole world allows it." But, because of Islam and the state the country is in, it's a lot trickier than that. First of all, they need to find women police to pull over the women. Another law they will pass is that if a man follows a woman in the car, he will be put in jail for three years. (This is a scary one. There is no due process of law here and no accountablility. If you're put in jail, kiss your freedom goodbye forever. It'll go easier that way. And what constitutes "following"?) Also, the government buildings do not allow women in them. My husband and his friend and his wife went to the chamber of commerce to take care of a permit and she had to stand outside and wait.

      So, they made a token gesture but it'll be awhile. I don't plan on still being here by then. But, Western women with international driver's licenses are getting ansy. I saw one of my friends driving in the compound when we heard the news. I don't know if she actually left, but her daughter was sick and I wouldn't have doubted it. We can play dumb you know!