Out and about is a column where we chat to people who live abroad or who used to live and work there. This week we talk to Sigmar Rosenthal, a history teacher now living in Bahrain. He also shares some interesting facts about Bahrain with us.

Hi Sigmar, from where in South Africa are you and why did you decide to live in Bahrain?

My wife and I are from Cape Town. We decided to come to Bahrain so we can travel and see the world. The Middle East is a very easy-going place to live and is very welcoming. We decided on Bahrain also for financial reasons because teachers in South Africa are not paid well enough to travel and save.

Tell us more about your job. What does a typical day look like?

I am a history teacher and I work at a private international school. My work week is from Sunday to Thursday because Friday in Bahrain is a day of prayer as well as a family day for most of the Bahrainis. My workday is usually from 07:30 to 15:00 every day. Teachers here focus on academics only and do not necessarily present extramural activities. Most of the learners at the school are Bahrainis and I had to adapt to cultural differences.

Adapting in a new country can be challenging, what was the strangest/biggest adaptation you had to make abroad?

• A major positive factor of Bahrain and the Middle East as a whole is that they make it relatively easy for foreigners to adapt. All accommodation is furnished and the Arabs are very hospitable. What was challenging, though, was shifting the weekdays, because every Friday feels like a holiday and every Sunday feels as if I am working over a weekend.
  
• Furthermore, the Middle East is extremely hot in summer, with temperatures rising to more than 50 degrees. It feels like one is sitting in a warming oven. Fortunately, everything is equipped with air-conditioning, even the bus stop. In winter the weather is excellent, and then we enjoy outdoor life and nature.

• Traffic is chaotic and I had to learn to get used to it and control my road rage.

Did you find it difficult to adapt there or was it easy to make new friends and get involved in the community?

It was very easy to adapt and socialise because there are many South Africans living here. Bahrain has a rugby club where South Africans like to gather. I play cricket here and we often have a braai with wood imported from South Africa. It is easy to get products from South Africa and we often buy Ouma rusks or even Steers gravy and biltong. When we enjoy a brandy at the fire I often joke and say it feels like South Africa’s tenth province.

Was it difficult to adapt to the climate?

Yes, it was. In summer the weather still is a challenge. Temperatures often reach more than 50 degrees, and life without air-conditioning would be unpleasant, even impossible. Fortunately, Bahrain and most Middle Eastern countries are very well prepared and all rooms and buildings have air-conditioning. But during the other seasons the weather is perfect, with little or no rain. It can even get cold and sometimes one needs a jacket. Furthermore, Bahrain is an island and the sea is excellent for cooling off.

What are you doing for recreation in Bahrain?

We like a braai, and every now and then we go on a 4×4 adventure. My wife and I are keen scuba divers and we regularly go for a dive in the Arabian Gulf. I also like playing cricket at the club.

If you could go back in time, what else would you have packed before leaving South Africa?

A juicy Karoo lamb chop and game biltong. I also would have liked to bring my parents along, because one gets homesick when you are this far away from home.

Any lessons you have learned?

That the world is smaller than you thought and that South Africans, and particularly Afrikaners, always get together. We find one another through our language and understanding, even in the most remote countries.

Are there any truly South African shops nearby where you can buy comfort food such as biltong?

Luckily yes! All shops sell South African products such as meat, fruit, spices, gravies, wood and yes, even biltong! We even have a biltong shop and South African restaurants. Most South African drinks also are served and sold here.

Anything else you would like to share with us?

Initially I had a complete misperception of the Middle East and their culture. So far, I have been simply surprised at how at ease and welcome I feel. We are thoroughly enjoying ourselves, but we return to South Africa every year to soothe our homesickness.

Some interesting facts about Bahrain.

• The country is governed by a king.
• The Bahraini dinar (currency) is the second strongest in the world.
• Fuel is very cheap here, about R8/litre.
• There is a bridge across the sea from Bahrain to Saudi Arabia that is about 35 km long.

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