European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 23, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Bowing to religious codes a Merican military people Are accustomed to rules but for those who serve in the / % a Middle East the Muslim restrictions Are y not about work but about fashion. A there is a Rule for everything a said senior master sgt. Theresa Bowe assigned to the 437 Mission support so from Charleston fab . A in fact a said Bowe who frequently travels it through the Middle East a there Are 10 rules for every rule.�?�. It May be 140 degrees in the Shade but you wont find americans in downtown Manama Bahrain wearing shorts and to shirts. Despite the heat military personnel Are held to a Muslim dress code in Bahrain and other Middle Eastern countries. Men must Wear shirts with collars and shorts Are forbidden. Women in Bahrain May Wear shorts or dresses As Long As they reach the knee. In Bahrain women a blouses must have sleeves and their shoulders must be covered. Though sandals for women. Are common in Bahrain they Are not allowed to Wear them in saudi Arabia. A a it a changed my wardrobe my whole Way of life a said senior chief Petty officer Betty Mccullough who is assigned to the administrative support unit in Bahrain. A i have to plan what in a going to Wear even to the . Military women travelling in saudi Arabia Are issued an Abaya a Long free flowing dress that is the traditional Arab garb for women. A Scarf covers the hair and most of the face. The More formal shopping malls and Restar aunts in saudi Arabia require All women to Wear Bayas. In some Rasta a amps Suo Palumbo Robes mix with Western clothes at Bahrain High school. Rants the owners place a screen around the worn and a chair so other customers wont be disturbed. Public displays of affection in saudi Arabia Are not just looked Down upon they Are prohibited according to Bowe whose military husband sometimes travels with her in the Region. Women Are not allowed to venture anywhere on their own in saudi Arabia nor Are they allowed to drive. Military women Are warned never to look arabian men in the Eye for fear the gesture would be misinterpreted As provocative or disrespectful Mccullough said she was advised not to answer male pass Crsby who speak to her. The Only people who seem to have More restrictions in the area Are foreign journalists and photographers. They Are routinely denied Entrance visas to the country. Those few who Are allowed in arc under strict escort and arc required to ask permission for each photograph they take. Done to even think about picking up your fast food Chicken with your left hand. The left hand is considered unclean. American visitors arc told never to Cross their legs leaving their heels facing passersby because it is considered an insult. Even with the dress code Bahrain is considered the most Liberal of the Muslim countries. Many for Eigners refer to it As the Las vegas of the Middle East. Though most Restar aunts in Bahrain do not serve alcohol it is served in the hotel establishments. You can forget alcohol in saudi Arabia. There is Good news for women in Bahrain who go to any government or Public building such As the Post office. Women arc immediately ushered to the front of every line. A you learn to live with it a said Mccullough. A a it a part of duty part of your respect for someone Al Sci a country. 1 think they appreciate the fact that we sue Palumb Othis school makes the Grade with International set any parents dream of sending their in in Chi Dren t0 tie top private school in i i their area. For military people in a i j Nama Bahrain the dream is a reality. Students from 54 nations walk the Halls of the department of defense dependent school in Bahrain Many of the kids think they Are. Attending an american private school. A the Community secs this school As a private institution school in the country a said Jim Abernathy an american businessman whose two children attend the Bahrain school. A a it a fascinating to see their reaction when they realize it is a typical american school run by the the kindergarten through 12th-Grade school has More than 900 students. Less than 20 percent of those Are . Military family members. Parents who Are nonmilitary and non Dod sponsored must pay almost $9,000 in annual tuition costs for their children to attend a Dodds school. Those parents also pay a $1,500 building Levy to the private organization that owns the school building. The Cost covers Upkeep of the building and construction the school has a new gym and swimming Pool. Many of the students Are children of american or foreign diplomats ambassadors Royal families and corporate businessmen. But principal Carl Albrecht insists that Money or social standing have Little to do with the school s reputation. He said his school uses the same curriculum As every other Dodds school. The Only difference May be the Way his teachers instruct. English is the official language of the school but some foreign Chil Dren arc not familiar with american history or legends. A a a a a a. More than 95 percent of the students who graduate from the Bahrain school go on to colleges and universities All Over the world Albrecht said. A a a a Are in Vogue at Bahrain High school a said a Lorraine Karr a science teacher. A there the unruly Are the minority. The kids themselves demand More.�?�. a �.�, a a a a ,. The Abernathy said their decision to move to Bahrain was partly based on the schools Good reputation. Petty officer 1st class Christian Jean Charles said she is very pleased with the school and teachers. She said teachers seem to push her children harder and give More Homework than teachers did in stateside schools. The multicultural backgrounds actually add to the academic atmosphere said Jean Charles because Many of the foreign students seem to try harder than their american counterparts. She said americans Are often overshadowed during awards ceremonies. A if you re paying a lot of Money to Send your child to school you re going to make sure he or she stud ies a said Molly Russel a second Grade teacher. The school offers a wide Range of athletic activities but few sports for Competition with other schools. There a a dearth of other schools on the Island and not All of them play the same Type sports. A there Isnit much school spirit As far As sports is concerned a said Cle Shonda Venter a Sophomore and military family member who has attended several Dodds schools. A in some ways i think it should be More americanized because supposed Lobean american school. But i have met people from a lot of countries some i did no to even know existed. They say this is the Best school in Dodds arid i think it sue Palumbo. A amps sue Palumbo Cle Shonda Venter an american family member works with fellow Sophomore Kumiko Arai a japanese in science class at Bahrain High. October 23, 1994 sunday Page 5
