But now they go everywhere. In contrast, labor migrants, who usually stay for a year or two and are generally employed in urban areas, experience life in Saudi Arabia more fully. They shop in the markets, ride public transportation and interact with Saudi employers and the public. International migration drew villagers into global circuits as never before. Moreover, the movement of people, ideas and things between Sudan and Saudi Arabia touched the lives of all villagers, whether they traveled or not.
Salaries are much higher abroad, so mughteribiin are associated with wealth and luxury consumption.
A returning mughterib is greeted like a king. The ritual of karama invests the occasion with religious as well as social meaning. The whole village is alerted to an important event as men shoot off rifles and women ululate. Migrants bring back suitcases loaded with gifts to distribute among relatives and neighbors. Through the accounts of mughteribiin and the wealth and goods they brought back, Saudi Arabia came to occupy an important place in villagers' imaginations.