AmericanBadu
Blog about the natural & cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia
about
I’m Joshua Van Alstine — an American writer and researcher living and working in Saudi Arabia. I document the natural and cultural heritage of the Arabian Peninsula, from Bedouin traditions to desert ecology, camel racing, falconry, and ancient history.
Category: Uncategorized
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For over two decades, one of the most repeated narratives I encountered about Saudi Arabia — particularly in the West — was that it is a chauvinistic kingdom, ruled by men, for men. That narrative became so widespread that even many Saudis I met while studying in the United States — men and women alike…
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I have spent more than a decade in Saudi Arabia, a country that has defined both my personal life and professional career. Some know me as Joshua Van Alstine. Others know me as أبو متعب الأمريكي (Abu Muteb Al-Amriki), or American Badu. Together, these identities reflect the same reality: an American who has become deeply…