Three of my girls attended a small Saudi school in a neighborhood in Riyadh. This is a story of the first fire drill they tried to implement and how it was handled in a typical Saudi school.
The girls dropped their backpacks as they entered the villa, warning glances shot between the three as they made their way across the room. A familiar feeling gripped me reminiscent of many school days in the past. I struggled to keep silent knowing that any events that occurred at school were supposed to stay within the confines of that day, place and time. Issues that were daringly brought to light, were then dissected and proper instruction on avoiding further incidents were discussed at length. This process could take days or possibly months and involved potential restrictions on an already guarded freedom.
I greeted them, hugging and holding them close, a signal that meant I knew there had been trouble. They smiled with relief and ran to change out of their uniforms leaving a trail of shoes and hair ties behind them. I watched as they gleefully hopped up the stairs and then back down to sit for their afternoon meal. He must have sensed the tension as well and inquired about their day in an unrelenting fashion until little Soos finally broke down and opened the door for the upcoming inquisition.
Teachers and supervisors scurried through the building waving their arms frantically, girls sobbed uncontrollably making their way down the stairs, tripping and flailing along the way. The school staff yelled out, exclaiming that there was fire everywhere, instructing the young ones to run, pointing to their bodies at make believe flames they brought to life with frenzied voices. Mayhem overtook the facility and the two buildings that surrounded a small courtyard were engulfed in a simulated inferno. Girls whaled as they called out for their siblings, tumbling down stair wells, hurling backpacks and pleading for God’s help from impending doom. Saleeha and Fattima found each other and searched for little Soos in the pandemonium and disorder. They located her and with no evidence of a fire, stood near the gate, watching in horror as the scene unfolded. Finally the principal spoke into a microphone in an angry and irritated tone, announcing that the first of many fire drills had now been completed.
How distressing for the girls and so unnecessary!
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To be honest I was horrified to send them each and every day Frances! There was always something and this made me so scared. Thanks for reading!
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Oh Lynn, it is difficult to believe this is the way the conduct their fire drills. Any child would be horrified about this type of ordeal. Thanks for sharing, I find it interesting and in this case upsetting that these types of situations occur. Have a great Sunday. 🙂
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Thanks for your kind support dear Terry! It was scary every day not knowing what would happen xx
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A traumatic event for the young ones and unnecessary had there been an explanation prior to the fire drill or even an actual calm drill instead of mayhem.
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Yes it made me worry what if there was an emergency,
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Yes
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Such a lovely family…awesome!!
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OMG, again sounds like just controlling with fear, unnecessary harassment, and traumas.
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Yes it was so scary each day x
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Only to tell from your stories it totally feels that way!
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It was hard to send them each day xxx
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I can imagine! Heartbreaking when you knew what already happened and can happen again.
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Yes so true xxx
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💖💖
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What a sad way to learn about, how to handle a fire in school. So happy for all of you to be back in US, dear Lynn.
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Thanks dear xx
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How horrific to traumatize the children that way! I’m so glad you are back where even something like that would never be tolerated.
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Thanks so much. School was the worst part of life there! Always worried each time they left for school. Thanks KR
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Absolutely horrifying !!! Seems like they need to be educated on how to actually perform a fire drill !!! (still shaking my head) xxx
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Yes for sure and on many other issues as well
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Oh dear..how hard must have been for the kids & harder for the parent….
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Thanks for reading xx
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This is so shocking, Lynn. It’s hard to comprehend the cruelty in such an act. Those poor kids. I’m almost speechless. What in the world were those adults thinking?
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This was a very small blip, believe it or not. Constant humiliation, mocking them, and telling them they were not smart!!!!
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You did a great job countering all that negativity and making them feel loved and valuable. You deserve a giant medal, Lynn.
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Your so kind! Thank you for saying that xx
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The whole point of a fire drill is to get an organized response to danger. It seems like they just wanted to create a chaos that would have been deadly in the real life experience of a fire.
Leslie
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It was so scary! Little soos was only 6 and terrified. X
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That was very counter productive!
Leslie
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Yes it was!
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Dear Lynn. What a blessing to your kids for you to be able to validate – “yeah, that was crazy and scary.” You are amazing and so loving. ❤
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Thanks so much xxx
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Oh your poor girls to be involved with such senseless mayhem. Another slice of your life that leaves me speechless.
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Thanks for always reading Bernadette xx
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How awful 😦
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How are you dear? Miss u
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Hi, I’m good thank you, I seem to have gone quiet recently…not sure why?! I hope you’re doing well xx
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Me too! I have struggled with posting. So glad you are well xxxxx
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Yes, me too, I’m not sure where the time has gone!!
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I know! xx
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It does seem to have been a particularly sadistic regime and not in the slightest bit justified in being that way. That your girls have come through so balanced and unaffected really must be a testiment to your mothering skills and the way you glued your family together so that they were able to support each other fully and wholeheartedly. xx
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Thanks dearest Fionaxxxxxxx
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No thanks required dear Lynn – you ARE an inspiration – both to your actual family and your blogging family …. You represent what a mummy can and should be 🙂 xxx
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Thanks sweet Fiona!! Xoxo
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It reminds me of my year with ADEC and the mayhem of the lunch patrol. The children were allowed to run around and the foreign teachers…we were at a loss trying to control. No help from Administration. That is why my previous post, I was relieved to find another blog which validated that scenario from a teacher who arrived with her 2 children and left after 3 months.
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Yes so true
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How many little children must have gone home traumatized that day, and the following days. How horrid.
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This is the best example I can give of what daily life at school was like there. Thanks for reading Colleen,xxx
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You write so exceptionally well. It brings so much emotion with your words.
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Your too kind xxx
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I may be kind. But it’s the truth. 🙂
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thanks dear xx
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Typical…
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Yes …..
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You’d think they would discuss how to react during fire drill BEFORE experimenting with one! Sounds like the administration were clueless…but your girls handled it with true style! 🙂
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This was a small example of how they dealt with everything so it was nerve wracking Linda xx thanks for your support x
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Always Lynn!! And the great thing is that you were able to raise them to become confident young women – in spite of everything!! Great job!! 🙂
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Thanks so much! I have to make your pasta! Which is the easiest Linda?
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Out of the three gnocchi that Chef Nunzio made – I think the ‘original’ potato gnocchi looked the easiest – but I think I’ll leave the gnocchi making to restaurants!! I’ll stick to my Spaghetti Bolognese (https://fabulousfaresisters.com/2015/03/26/spaghetti-bolognese/) – Let me know if you ever make it – it’s our family favorite! 🙂
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I really want to! Thanks xx
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Sounds like the administrators couldn’t have managed a real fire. Scary.
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It was so scary and that is the basic fear we lived with that lead me to finally take them out of school. Thanks so much for reading xxc
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How can they do this! Little children, they could be extremely terrified and even an accident could have occurred… 😦
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It was so scary Mani, I was afraid to send them back. Little soos was only 6!
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It IS terrifying… oh..a six-year-old kid…what an ordeal for her…
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Yes it was not fun. Finally after 12 years of that school system i kept them home xx
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Sounds like a farce. What kind of drill was that?
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It was crazy!
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Sounds exactly like it. Like a bad Keystone Kops episode
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Oh yeah!
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Oh My!!!
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Yes
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Cultural? Madness? Questions I always have when you recount your ordeals.
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I honestly dont know! It was always worrisome sending them off to school! After 12 years of it I rebelled and took them out!
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I just don’t know how you managed
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To be honest I spend allot of time feeling foolish and am just now able to write some of these events. My kids say they wouldnt change things because it made them stronger but still insecurities can stick with you. I am a pretty worried and nervous person to be honest, always on guard. So it has many long lasting effects. Thanks so much for always reading, its hard to say my kids went through this daily so input helps! X
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You have many admirers, Lynn
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Thanks Derrick! It means allot!
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So stupid of the teacher not to explain the purpose of the fire drill. I worked on the 11th floor of a high rise and there was a fire drill once a month. Well, walking down 11 flights of stairs is great exercise, I found. Some people grumbled and complained not realizing the importance of the fire drill. We were informed in advance that the fire drill was going to occur.
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Yes I wondered why why craziness
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That’s definitely not the way to do a fire drill causing panic and distress. The idea of a fire drill is to learn to handle stressful situations like a fire without causing panic! I hope the girls were ok and not traumatized from the drill!
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To be honest all of school was traumatic so many times. It was scary sending them off to school not knowing what might happen.
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I can only imagine!
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That is absolutely crazy! I have never heard of a fire drill handled in that way. Those poor kids!
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It was scary and the kids were all in hysterics!
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I don’t blame them for being hysterics. That was handled so badly by the school!
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Yes it was ridiculous
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This so typical of fear mongering and so traumatic for the girls, how awful of adults to act this way. The more I read as I said numerous times before Lynz, the more blessed I feel that you were guided to leave.
Love Sue xx
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Thanks Sue! It was scary to leave but yes the right decision for sure! xxx
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Your stories are truly terrifying. It is unthinkable that anyone should have had to live through these awful experiences. I’m glad you came through and have been able to find happiness on the other side.
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Thanks so much Jonathan!
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It is beyond belief that these people can be so crass! They are no better than abusers!
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It was like this is most ways and I always worried. x
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I am not surprised
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Xxx
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That would scare me, and I am a grown adult!
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yes me too!
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The first thing they tell you over here is to stay calm! Unbelievable and insane. I’m so glad your daughters had you to come home to. xx
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Thanks dear Carole xxx
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I’m so sorry your girls had to go through that. ❤
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Thanks for reading xxx
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Surely fire drills are supposed to teach them how to respond calmly and safely in the event of a real fire? :S That drill seems rather counter-productive to me!
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Yes totally
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Very frightening and what mayhem ensued, Lynn. It would have been such a different life had there been a way to break free earlier. I am glad they are all so well adjusted. This is from your outpouring of love and hopefulness, Lynn. xo
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Thanks so much xxx
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Interesting method, huh? Your poor babies. Well, thank God there was no real danger (not to belittle falling down the stairs) and they all went home safely together.
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Yes so happy for that for sure!
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Whoa! That was helpful, eh? I love your true life stories!
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yeah for sure! thanks!
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This is an awful way to treat children. And as if your children didn’t already have enough stress in their lives!
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yes I agree, it was so stressful!
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Horrible. Orchestrated chaos and fear mongering. This school was more of a torture facility than anything.
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yes I agree for sure
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What a joke! You would think they’d figure out a strategy for order and being able to do a head count once outside. You would think…
Thankfully it was only drill!
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Every day I sent them out that door I was worried! I never knew what was going to happen xxx
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