I am writing with regard to the article “20+ years in Saudi Arabia: An expat's view” (Mar. 28). The story of Usman Zafar is pretty much the same as that of all the expats living in Saudi Arabia. The difference is that we are still on the way to dealing with that “struggle of acceptance” that he wrote about.  Maybe the day our fathers are told to leave the Kingdom will be the day we learn how to deal with our “struggle of acceptance”.

Kamran Fareed, Online response



II.



When I read this article, it felt like I was reading my own story. Like the author of the article, I am also from Sahiwal, Pakistan. The only difference is that my father came to Saudi Arabia in 1973. I am in Pakistan doing engineering and when I go back to Saudi Arabia for holidays, I feel the same as Usman  Zafar described feeling in his article. Once I also was confused about which is more like a homeland for me, but I have come to realize that it is Pakistan that is my home because that is where I am free to live my life according to my own will.

Osama Hafeez, Online response



III.



I am also a Pakistani who grew up in Saudi Arabia since my father was working there. My family had a very similar experience, but we went to the US (myself) and UK (my brother) to study, not Pakistan. After realizing that the best way for us to all stay together was to live in a country with freedom, we moved to Australia. We have all migrated there and it is the best decision that our family has ever made. We have sponsored our parents who retired in Saudi Arabia and they have come to live with us.

Amer Muzamil, Online response

IV.



I was also born, raised and educated in Saudi Arabia, a country which I love. It is a place which is still in my dreams along with childhood friends whom I cannot forget. Saying all that, I have lost a sense of identity with any country because Saudi Arabia never accepted me as one of its own. As a Muslim, I sometimes feel sad that countries like the US, UK and other Western countries give people nationality if they live there for four years, but I still need a visa to visit Saudi Arabia where I was born.

Saif Ur Rahman, Online response



V.



From this article and the comments that have been written about it, I have learned that money is nothing but respect and freedom are everything.

Monk, Online response