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What is like living in Yemen?

If you are like me, an aspiring person to study Islam, living here is great! It's a good place to raise a family in an Islamic environments, good education for the children, the people are legendary hospitable. Moreover if you are single, then living in Yemen can cost you almost nothing!

Most Islamic boarding schools here are free of charge, even some of them might giving you a monthly allowance. There are even some universities that provide Islamic studies or 'Ilm Syar'i without tuition fee!

If you bring a family, then the expenses will be much higher but the education still free. Although there are places where a family can stay in a free house provided by the school, like I had experienced in Marib. So you can study, as well as your spouse as well as your children.

On contrary in Indonesia, which holds the most muslims in the world, Islamic school is the most expensive school. Because of that fewer and fewer people there are learning Islam, first it's not interesting for them comparing other fields of study, second even though they find it interesting, a lot of them, like me, won't be able to pursue it because of the cost.   

To say it short, Yemen is really a good place to learn Islam, especially if you are a beginner like me and have no Islamic studies background. Mind you that I came here without any knowledge whatsoever in Arabic language. I did buy Arabic conversation book before coming here though, unfortunately I didn't understand a thing and I managed only to memorize one sentence: "Ana la afham" which means "I don't understand". I'm too a slow learner (which is kinda sad, because I consider myself a fast learner 10 years ago), but no drop out from the school and now I can see the fruition of my effort.

If you are an expatriate and especially from a developed country, living here might different than what I feel. If you are muslim and come from a developing country then it's still bearable, in fact I know this Indonesian expat guy with a family who earn $8000 a month working in an international networking company and stationed in Sana'a. Then he was ordered to be stationed in other country, he refused and lost his job. He wanted to stay in Yemen, because he fell in love with its charm. Unfortunately his story here wasn't a happy ending, he built a luxurious restaurant here after sacked but was having problem with his visa. So he and his family were deported and forbidden to go back. He lost his job and he lost Yemen. At least he fight for love, and just a prove how charming this country might be.

If you are a non-muslim expat though, I don't know if you can enjoy living here except for the undisputed hospitable people (check here why),big salary and facilities provided from the company. I'll list what you might find it hard living here:

1. No alcohol.
2. No night life.
3. No romantic relationship with local women.
4. Especially in Sana'a and northern part of Yemen, no electricity (even before the war!).
5. And in Sana'a no pipe water, you have to fill your water tank manually from water truck.
6. No big malls
7. No amusement parks
8. Public transport is a mess (but still it's better than that of in Jakarta, Indonesia. Imagine that!)
9. Especially in Mukalla, the heat is unbearable.
10. And war 

So you might find it boring to live here. I don't know, I might be wrong because I haven't talked with a non-muslim expat before, and now because of the war basically I haven't seen a single one.

But I know one thing in Yemen that even a person from developed country with high technologies around them, fancy foods and clothes will be fueled with envy: Yemen doesn't tax her population, except for export import.

No tax for land, or the building upon. No tax for car or motorcycle. No tax for plantation either. So if you managed to buy land in Yemen (probably by marrying the local women), built house and plant orange fruits, buy a pick up truck, buy camels and goats, no tax at all and you just sit back and relax, selling your produces with your truck all over the country and become the most free man you'll ever be; I think by this reason alone can make Yemenis the happiest people on earth (if there is no war).

And last, a message for my muslim brothers and sisters, please pray for them in your prayers.

- Mukalla, Yemen -

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