In the early 1980’s, I left the shores of the UK to work as Software Manager for the distributor of the computer manufacturer in Saudi Arabia Texas Instruments.
It was a five year stay that taught me a lot.
It taught me about different cultures, all the nationals of the world that were there in small numbers, we had to support each other, as the culture, living standards were certainly not Western, Eastern or British.
It taught me about religion, something I do not discuss with people. But, just to say that it was on a trip to Elephant Island off the coast of Bombay, India, that I had this insight that we all worship the same thing, it is just how we choose to understand it. Too much can be said, perhaps in the future.
At this time in Saudi Arabia, there were many restrictions on what we were allowed to do by the Saudis. We were not allowed to practice our own religion, television was highly censored, there were no clubs, pubs, cinemas, theaters, radio was not broadcast as I remember in English. The Internet did not exist, let alone PC computers.
Drink was banned, but I shared accommodation with an alcoholic, blue movies were banned, but this was the time I saw my first blue movie. Things were not what they appeared to the outside world.
We had to find our own entertainment, hire the latest video from illegal tape libraries, spend evenings walking around vast shopping malls buying counterfeit cassettes of the latest LP’s, or compilation tapes, Out NOW, or attend the weekly British Embassy Cinema Club, sitting outside to watch the big screen, being bitten by hoards of mosquitoes.
But in the privacy of my room, I would listen to the BBC World Service, choosing a frequency according to the time of day for best reception.
The music, “Lilliburlero” (to listen click here) which was played at the start of each hours news stands out in my mind. Another program, is Alistair Cook’s Letter From America. Perhaps the first blog, but on radio.
I seem to remember Alistair Cook starting his weekly correspondence, with a picture of him in my mind of him sitting in a big winged leather chair with such words as:-
“As I sit here…….”,
and he would report and comment on how he saw the world going by him in a quiet, controlled way, no controversy in his voice, no criticism, just putting his rational point of view, allowing the listener to come to their own conclusions, understandings of the issues of the week. He would use stories, metaphors, of happenings to illustrate what he was talking about.
Was he an NLP’er?
Sadly he has gone to the home in the sky, the one we will all visit one day, but I hope his influence, his broadcasts have helped me in writing this blog.
I do not seek to offend, cause controversy, just to say what is happening to me, as I see the world, to perhaps impart some information of my knowledge to help you to enrich your world, to teach some of NLP, Hypnosis, Learning, Memory, Reading, PhotoReading, Mind Maps.
If I write something it comes from my heart, it was correct as I see the word at that time, if I place a picture or photograph for you to see, perhaps that is the only picture I have at that time. It is my Cat On The Mat, my understanding of the world.
I welcome your comments and feedback.
I only see things through my eyes, hear with my ears, feel with my feelings.
I ask that you enrich my world, my understanding with yours.
Please share, so we can all share and become one.