Saudi Girl Shows Aptitude for Automobile Mechanics

A Saudi girl has proven that she has an aptitude and a fondness for gears, mechanical moving parts, and electrical systems- all found in the modern automobile. She has completed the two year program of study for auto repair and maintenance at a college in Oregon in the United States of America. She has remaining only to complete the practical training and she has chosen to do this also at the same college, rather than an outside shop facility.

Kadeeja Y. Al-Saeed initially was taking basic pre-university core requirements at the community college, and took an offered class of basic auto repair to help her with her transport issues. She found that there were also female instructors, as well as some female students. She discovered that she excelled at it, and was asked several times by her instructors to assist other students in the class. Instructors told this reporter that she will be really missed after she is gone. They explained that her bright spirit and kind smile lit up the class and auto lab, and she had a friendly but serious demeanor regarding her studies, and was very focused on her goals.

Kadeeja herself revealed that she had main important figures in her life that greatly influenced her besides her inner Islamic faith. Her father, a flight engineer in the Kingdom, exhibited towards her a special bond of gentle firmness and understanding that nurtured her loving respect towards him and confidence to pursue her dreams of higher education abroad. Although she chose an unusual field, he kept his open mind and gave intelligent advice to pursue a secondary career. He likewise encouraged her older sister and younger brother in their paths.

Her mother, an educator, encouraged her to often pray if she had uncertainties or decisions to make in her life, and God would guide her. Her maternal grandparents were also an influence on her as she spent her summers with them in their homes. Her grandmother was the type that catered to helping her children and grandchildren, especially in learning, and gave praise, encouragement and help generously.

Kadeeja explained that her maternal grandfather was a unique sort of person who followed his inner calling, and although descending from well to do immigrant parents, he loved to be known as a regular fellow who would feed the homeless and encouraged his grandchildren to participate in volunteer services of that sort. He also loved to collect knowledge for the benefit of the mind, and well rounding the person's character. He also subscribed to the German work ethic that work for both young or old creates a bond and forms good character. Kadeeja said that Grandfather Waleed Fareed exercised his mind many times by learning new skills such as mechanical engineering on ships, and obtained a bachelor of science, rather unusual in those days, He enjoyed a hobby of radio repair work, as well as doing engineering labor on the New York (Hudson) Holland Tunnel. Locksmithing, carpentry, and a frequent pastime: working and repairing his own automobile influenced her as she absorbed what family members cultivated all around her.

Kadeeja's paternal grandparents also contributed to what she has become today. Her paternal grandmother lived with her in the same home for many years, and imparted religious wisdom often from the radio to those near her and cultivated a love of cooking that Kadeeja also shared. Her grandfather Mohammed after living abroad for many years returned to Saudi Arabia to become the first director for the Eastern Province Post Office in Al-Khobar in the 1960's and 70's. He also had the first automobile among the public in the Eastern Province area, and agreed to take fellow citizens, neighbors, and relatives to the hospital when need arose.

Kadeeja stated to this reporter: "I hope to study or learn many things in my lifetime that will be useful." Now that she has completed the auto repair course under her belt, she is enrolled to attend the local Portland University with her brother Jamal. He has completed the pilot's license program at a young age, and is now interested in achieving a business degree.

Their eldest sister, Bedriya, who achieved the prize for Best Business Plan in the 2007 Jeddah Economic Forum is working and finishing her master's degree while married in the UAE. She said about her sister " It's great to think 'outside the box' like she does." She also said that she's happy for her accomplishing so much so far and she's glad that all of the siblings have been able to study what interests them. She pointed out that it's good for children when parents show excitement and give oral praise over their children's learning. This makes the children enjoy learning more, and try harder to succeed. She said that her sister Kadeeja was also quite good at and interested in fashion design, but at that time directly after high school, around 2005, she didn’t find any local fashion training institute, except abroad in Europe, and her parents didn't encourage her to go to a foreign country alone at such a tender and impressionable age of 18 or 19. Now, with her good character and age she is enjoying learning and benefitting by that.

Kadeeja's mother says, "We are all proud of Kadeeja, and we pray for their continued successes. She is now studying photography and art, as she is more certain that if her services aren't appreciated or requested for technical help for women in the Kingdom, then she would have another secondary career to depend on."

Kadeeja herself dreams of working in and managing her own auto shop to give women the services they would need for their cars in the future. She said, "It's real important for females to be able to feel comfortable and at ease when they drive themselves and also in repair for their own cars, whether they are out of the Kingdom or in Saudi. I found this out when I dealt with my own families car issues in the US."

It's a hope by many women that there would be a female or females for them to go to for their own auto maintenance and needs when or if the day comes when some of them will be driving. She and her sister both believe that even if females sometimes still either depend on family members, or use limousines or drivers for transport, due to varied reasons such as traffic conditions, peak times or other personal reasons where they may choose not to avail the rights that may be offered them, they would still most likely prefer to go to a female to upkeep their own vehicles, instead of going to a non-relative male stranger.

This is in line islamically with valuing both halves of society for their aptitudes and special skills; while keeping separate but equal facilities for both segments of society.

Kadeeja also remarked, "I don't see why there is so much hesitation here for women driving. Women drive in other Muslim countries I have visited, such as the Emirates, Jordan, and Kuwait." She explained further that men in other Muslim countries behave for the most part decently when women in other Muslim countries drive. Why do we underestimate ourselves here in the Kingdom? We Saudis have the potential to be just as courteous to each other on the road as other Muslim countries with the right behavioral encouragement. She suggests if males harass the females that are new drivers that they should just be "ignored" as it is a sign of their immaturity.

The sovereignty of Saudi Arabia has the ability to open driving as gently or as suddenly as they choose. The laws could reflect the oldest age in the first phase, such as women over 45. There may be very few at that age wishing to join traffic, so it would be a rather quiet beginning in this introduction. Although younger women may feel frustrated, it would be only temporary when they realize that eventually it will be their turn to drive also. Each year the law could lower and allow 2 years younger to get behind the wheel perhaps. This way, male drivers would think in terms of "these are my mothers, aunts, and sisters in Islam who need to transport themselves or assist the hardworking males in society. I should mind my own business and not bother them."

The author of this piece has had her pieces published under various names in Saudi Gazette since her debut poem on January 20, 1989.

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