tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29155209115801236672024-03-13T19:17:02.051+03:00From USA to KSA...and back again!Welcome family and friends and all those interested in learning more about life in the Middle East-as an expat. We invite you to join us on our mysterious journey, which began in Texas and continues to Saudi Arabia...and now one year later....back to the US! One year of life in Jeddah was enough to write a book. So many good and not so good things were experienced. We write about them here.....Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-59342663506797809792014-07-26T23:35:00.000+03:002014-07-26T23:35:11.731+03:00The End....and the Beginning!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aO8nNC30eiw/U9QPJgBtBlI/AAAAAAAABR4/X6HdIo4Pbko/s1600/ksa+andrea+on+mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aO8nNC30eiw/U9QPJgBtBlI/AAAAAAAABR4/X6HdIo4Pbko/s1600/ksa+andrea+on+mountain.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Taif mountain, watching the sunset. That's a rare photo of me <br />
with my head covered! I usually wore just the abaya. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It has been one full year since my family and I have moved back to the US from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. I have had much time to reflect on my experiences while I was there, but I am finally taking the time to write about it. This will most likely be my family's last post on fromusatoksa, for obvious reasons. <br />
<br />
Any time someone asks me "Did you like living in Saudi Arabia?"....my answer is always one of these responses: "NO" or "I am very happy and blessed to be back in the US. The summer of 2013 was when we left and during that time, the SARS virus was emerging, Syrian refugees were entering the country and hundreds of groups of people (Phillipino's, Indonesians, Indians, Somali's) were having terrible times getting their work visa and sponsorship taken care of. Essentially, there were thousands of people stuck and stranded in Saudi and my family witnessed them standing in lines outside of their embassy, being arrested during mid-day and camping out underneath overpasses. I was overwhelmed with sadness that these people were helpless. They had legally entered the country but their employers either refused to update their paperwork or refused to release them from their sponsorship and allow them to work for another employer. Every day while I was at work (and waiting for my paperwork to also be completed) I heard talk of "the crackdown" and "work raids." Busses were even driving around the city searching for "illegal's." <br />
<br />
This all happened at a time when I was wondering if this was really the best place to expose my children to another culture. I was so happy to have the time with my husband's family there and those are the memories that I cherish the most. Every time I think of my relatives there, it as if they are right there beside me! I was bummed that things weren't as I had planned for them to be in KSA, however, I am still in the process of learning that I am to live by God's plans and not my own. As much as I try to plan things out (years in advance!) God always has his best plan and pathway already determined for me. <br />
<br />
So, when the decision was made to return to the US, I did so blindly - with no job, no house, nothing waiting for me on the other side. However, everything meticulously fell into place (God's plan).....I got a teaching job within 2 weeks. We moved into our NEW HOME just 2 blocks from my parents home! The kids went to VBS and I once again was able to openly worship God in church and learn in my Sunday School class! God handpicked our church and our home! Every time it rained on the way to work, I thanked God because it never rained in Saudi Arabia. Every time I smelled fresh cut grass and flowers, I thanked God, because grass was only found in small spurts in KSA. Each morning when I heard the birds sing, I thanked God because at our home in KSA, all I ever heard were pigeons! <br />
<br />
Now.......one year later....it is July 2014 and I now have a job working a few blocks away from the same home we moved into last summer. Our children are thriving and since we live in the town where I grew up, they just are bewildered and amazed at how everyone knows their mom! Our oldest son continues to enjoy boy scouts, our daughter is still crafty and always creating something! She is in dance classes and has been in a few pageants (per her begging requests!). Our youngest son adores our pets: 3 cats and 4 kittens. My husband is excelling with his photography business (country road clicks) and "the South" is beginning to grow on him too!<br />
<br />
Summer will soon come to a close within the next few weeks and everyone will return to school. Our saga will continue as we comfortably stay in the US with no plans to move overseas ever-again! </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-27060553403335844742013-06-18T08:51:00.001+03:002013-06-18T08:51:51.281+03:00Free!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xrd3QU6aFtU/Ub_1Lfa_2PI/AAAAAAAABOs/kz9FZ7vwnLA/s1600/free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xrd3QU6aFtU/Ub_1Lfa_2PI/AAAAAAAABOs/kz9FZ7vwnLA/s320/free.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Now that I am in the US, I feel free to write more and free to say the things that I had to be more careful not to talk about, like religion and Christianity. It has been so nice to be back in the Bible Belt in Southern Alabama. It is like a polar opposite from Saudi Arabia. Within a 30 minute drive, I counted 7 churches. There are also as many Christian radio stations as non-Christian ones. Now that it is summer time, Vacation Bible School is being offered at almost every church. It is just wonderful.<br />
<br />
In Saudi Arabia, it is against the law to publicly practice (or even discuss) anything other than Islam. Before I went there, I was aware that there were countries where sharing one's belief in Christianity was not always welcomed. I had been to some of those countries. However, in Saudi Arabia, it was not allowed. It is so hard to explain this concept because in any other country in the world, people can freely follow a religion or not. Freedom to believe "whatever" is possible. <br />
<br />
I will never forget the moment I joined a "Christians in Saudi Arabia" facebook group. I asked in code words if there were any "meeting places for other believers." I received a few responses saying, "How could you come here and expect to go to church....don't you know that you can't meet with other Christians here-this is a Muslim country....you should just practice your religion in the privacy of your own home-for your own safety and for the safety of your family." Stunned-that's how I felt. Bewildered- that other Christians were too afraid to meet with another. Amazed-that my pursuit of simply meeting other believers would probably not happen. <br />
<br />
And it was true. I never did find any church to meet with. I did hear of individuals who met in a small group and I did meet a few Phillipino's who asked me my religion and I told them and they responded that they too had the same beliefs. But that was it-it was just not enough. Having no support group was just no way to live there. I am sure that others have better stories and I hope they do, but this is my story and unfortunately things did not work out the way that I had planned.<br />
<br />
I feel truly blessed. God took me through many trials and I did not go crazy (well, maybe once or twice). I hung on for as long as I could and God gave me a way out-safely. I feel like this little bitty town is heaven on Earth! Thanks for reading my ranting and ramblings! What do you think? -Andrea</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-68460412750597034362013-06-15T15:10:00.002+03:002013-06-15T15:10:25.432+03:00Sweeeet Home Alabama!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gSt7AJCqLg8/UbxZlfAF3-I/AAAAAAAABOc/vrm0YzkJvtU/s1600/barn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gSt7AJCqLg8/UbxZlfAF3-I/AAAAAAAABOc/vrm0YzkJvtU/s320/barn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Nearly two weeks ago, my family left Saudi Arabia. Our adventure was cut short due to problems that had been developing for months with our employers, the countries newly enforced laws and our safety. Although it was sad to say goodbye to our close family members and friends, it was necessary. <br />
<br />
Ideally, I would have waited until July, however, I realized that there was no need for me to continue looking for confirmations. I had confirmations and needed to just do it-and I did. I can't argue with God's timing. I have no regrets! Being back in America is absolutely amazing!.<br />
<br />
While we were still in Saudi Arabia, everything back in the US just fell into perfect place. A house came onto the market, just weeks before....and it was nearby my parents! This house is just perfect, I must say-it's like it was tailor made just for us. It came with a dishwasher, stove, refrigerator, washer, dryer, nice carpet and perfectly chosen painted walls in each room! We have a huge back yard, front yard and empty lot to the side of us. Most people in the US do have most of the above, but to me, I now think of them as luxuries and blessings! In Saudi Arabia, I washed all the dishes by hand, I hung all the clothes to dry and we had no yard or patch of grass anywhere close to our home! <br />
<br />
Just yesterday, we got a new SUV....well, its older than my 2nd and 3rd child....but it looks new! It has new tires, leather interior and is just perfect for us! <br />
<br />
This past week, the kids went to VBS and they all made good friends and are so excited to start school with them in the Fall!<br />
<br />
We also just adopted 4 cute little orange kittens. They are so tiny and just 5-6 weeks old, so the kids are learning to take care of them and they are giving them so much love. They stay outside and have so much room to play!<br />
<br />
I set up our cable, internet, car insurance and other necessary bills. I changed our address and phone number as staying in Alabama will most likely become long term. The kids love it here and appreciate it so much more than I did when I was a child. I am so impressed at how well they have adapted and made new friends so quickly. As a said, everything has fallen into perfect place!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-7571507833989664292013-05-28T18:23:00.001+03:002013-05-28T18:30:04.533+03:00Momma Can't Drive<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img height="320" src="http://mballestero.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/car-clip-art.jpg" width="320" /><br />
<br />
Most Americans are used to having a car. Usually, it is common to have at least two cars per family-one for dad and one for mom. In Saudi Arabia, it is a bit different. Why? Women are not allowed to drive. So, in Saudi Arabia, most families have one car-one for daddy. If that family is ever so fortunate, they will have another car that is driven exclusively by the family driver. Momma and the kids usually ride with the family driver, while daddy drives his car to work.<br />
<br />
Sometimes this becomes a problem. Like today-my daughter's school called me while I was at work and told me that she was sick and that I had to pick her up. I hung up the phone and just sat there-thinking-"How am I going to manage picking her up from school?" I took out my phone and got to work. I called my husband-no answer. He must have been in an important meeting. I called my driver and he is unavailable, because he is also a driver for 3 other clients and is busy driving them for the next two hours. I tell my boss that I have to pick up my daughter. I tell her of my dilemna. She graciously offers me her driver to pick up my daughter. Whew! I was so happy that she did this, because I would have just taken a taxi, however, taxi's are not allowed through the security gate at school.<br />
<br />
As me and my boss's driver enter the security gate, to retrieve my sick daughter, the security officer will not let us through. Why? Because we do not have a car pass to enter. I explain that my own driver has a car pass and that this guy is not my driver. He tells me to call the front office to get them to vouch for me coming into the school without a pass. I call. No one picks up the phone. Luckily, I have an old school tuition bill in my purse that I show to "prove" that my daughter goes to school there. What security, right?!! They finally let me through after I pitch a fit. <br />
<br />
I pick her up from the nurse and as I'm leaving, security asks for an exit paper! What! I tell them that this is my daughter and that the nurse has the paper....and then I go. All this-just to pick up my sick daughter. I can't imagine what would have happened if a friend or someone else went to try to pick her up. Luckily, my work allowed me to get her! <br />
<br />
As we are sitting in the car, my daughter tells me that she's hungry. Right. She did not have lunch. I ask the driver to swing by McDonald's. He says "no," that he has to get back and finish his work. I understand, however, for some reason, I just break down sobbing in the car. My daughter comforts me by rubbing my arm and giving me a hug. When she asks why I'm crying, I decide to be honest with her. I tell her that I am just frustrated because I wanted to be able to pick her up sooner and get her lunch, but I couldn't. Because, in Saudi Arabia-Momma Can't Drive.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-65301471521641060682013-05-13T10:06:00.002+03:002013-05-13T10:06:42.523+03:00Not Allowed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YVng-0HuI4w/UZCQ2HIbW_I/AAAAAAAABN4/cHSxI1NsUjQ/s1600/mouth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YVng-0HuI4w/UZCQ2HIbW_I/AAAAAAAABN4/cHSxI1NsUjQ/s320/mouth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
As most people know, Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country ruled by Sharia law. This means that the Muslim holy book, the Qu'ran dictates laws and lifestyles in the kingdom. This applies to Saudi citizens and guests of the country, or expatriate visitors and workers. All are expected to respect Islam, whether one is a Muslim or not.
Unlike the United States, other religions are not welcomed or allowed to be practiced publicly. Are there churches or temples here-not at all. Are there makeshift alternate religious meetings held in private homes? Possibly.<br />
<br />
Even discussing another religion, can be dangerous. I just came across a newspaper article from the Saudi Gazette about such an event. In the article, an expat discussed Christianity with a Saudi citizen, who then converted to Christianity. This is a big deal here, because converting to another religion is not acceptable or allowed in Islam. The article states that the citizen was "brainwashed" by a fellow Saudi and a Lebanese. They were both sentenced to 2-6 years in jail, as well as "lashes." Could you imagine being in a place where different thoughts are views are not welcomed? Well, that place is here.<br />
<br />
Read the exclusive article for yourself here:
<a href="http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130513165497"></a><br />
<br />
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130513165497 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-37191676754622319842013-05-11T01:16:00.000+03:002013-05-11T01:16:21.564+03:00Places I would like to visit in the Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaAfter watching the video posted by Saudi Cultural and Tourism Agency [STCA] I wanted to compile a list of places I want to to visit in the Kingdom.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hw4vKWqE-VE" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
The video really made me think where to go on my weekends and what to do. After a few hours I started creating a list of places I want to see in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.<br />
<br />
<b>Top of my list Mada'in Saleh. </b><br />
Madain Saleh (Al-Hijr) dates back to the Nabataeans Civilization considered as on of the very important archaeological site in Saudi Arabia that is called "The Capital of the Monuments" as it contains huge amount of diverse and multifaceted monuments.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="2"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: 0px solid #fff;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://500px.com/photo/3161212" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mada'in Saleh by Ronel Quizon (ronelquizon)) on 500px.com" border="0" height="320" src="http://pcdn.500px.net/3161212/303b6415eb5f8b45756cd9dbf0198d46207d3dfa/3.jpg" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><a href="http://500px.com/photo/3161212">Mada'in Saleh</a> by <a href="http://500px.com/ronelquizon">Ronel Quizon</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Second on my list is Edge of the World</b><br />
Edge of the world, located in Riyadh is a popular destination for trekkers, mountaineers, mountain bikers, and campers. One would easily be amazed with the great shapes and texture of mountains rocks surrounded by desert sand dunes. While positioned on the cliff's edge, you'll get the feeling of standing at the edge of the world.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="2"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: 0px solid #fff;"><a href="http://500px.com/photo/15494931"><i><img alt="Edge of the World by Rafael Uy (RafaelUy)) on 500px.com" border="0" height="320" src="http://pcdn.500px.net/15494931/af366464796b02b78df5d913c0418b1b98b8ae30/3.jpg" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;" width="320" /></i></a><br />
<i><a href="http://500px.com/photo/15494931">Edge of the World</a> by <a href="http://500px.com/RafaelUy">Rafael Uy</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
<b>Third on my list is Jable Qara (Qara Mountians)</b></div>
<div>
Even though I've been there once I would like to take the whole family to the beautiful place. It is a network of crevices in the mountain where the natural light provides amazing mood lighting for small but cozy places in the mountain. The Jabal Qarah is at a distance of 10 KM from Hufu. Hufu is a city in the well known Al Hasa Oasis of the Eastern Region.</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<a href="http://500px.com/photo/16059241"><img alt="Standing Tall by Sohail Chouhan (sohailchouhan)) on 500px.com" border="0" height="213" src="http://pcdn.500px.net/16059241/0a4b76523d761c3abfdd729c47a3c9c1229ff90b/4.jpg" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;" width="320" /></a><br />
<i><a href="http://500px.com/photo/16059241">Standing Tall</a> by <a href="http://500px.com/sohailchouhan">Sohail Chouhan</a></i><br />
<br />
<b>Fourth on my list is Wahba Crater </b><br />
The Wahba Crater is one of the most spectacualr sights in Saudi Arabia. How was the Wahba Crater formed? There are two theories on how the Wahba Crater was made. Most people believe the crater was made by volcanic activity in the form of underground explosion, caused by the hot lava coming int ocontact with the underground water. This cause a massive explosion leaving the crater. The second theor, which has no scientific foundation due to no evidence, there is no trace of shocked quartz or high levevl of iridium, is that was formed by a meteorte. The crater is a 1.3 KM wide circle and the sides are 200 meter high.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="2"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: 0px solid #fff;"><a href="http://500px.com/photo/3773032"><img alt="al wahba crater by Danyl Lada (anythingbx)) on 500px.com" border="0" height="320" src="http://pcdn.500px.net/3773032/b395a28bda2d20db33f3c32bdd96f54e5763b041/3.jpg" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;" width="320" /></a><br />
<i><a href="http://500px.com/photo/3773032">al wahba crater</a> by <a href="http://500px.com/anythingbx">Danyl Lada</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There are many more places in the Kingdom I would like to visit but for the starters these are it.<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17351767318857828506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-18493092201888345912013-04-25T02:15:00.002+03:002013-04-25T02:28:39.446+03:00Update:Crackdowns of Expats Working in Saudi Arabia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="yiv367042938MsoNormal" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1366615052314_6937" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1366615052314_6908" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> Written by: Anonymous in Saudi Arabia</div><div class="yiv367042938MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This past month, Labor forces in Saudi Arabia have cracked down on illegal workers. Eyewitnesses have reported to the local newspapers various accounts of situations faced. Many Western expats do not discuss such issues, because of course, it is not affecting them firsthand. For some reason though, even though I am a "Westerner" it is deeply affecting me. To see human rights be diminished is down right sad and wrong. If anything, the least that I can do is make people aware of the reality that thousands of expats are dealing with-right here and right now.</span></div><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1366615052314_6906" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Many expats entered Saudi Arabia on a visit visa or a work visa. Everyone has a story. Usually the salary here is higher than in their home country. Saudi employers may have helped them attain a legal visa to work, and others allowed them to work illegally. In many cases, things go wrong and the Sponsor decides not to pay workers on time, refuses to renew thier work visa/iqama, or holds their passport to prevent them from leaving. Some people living in Saudi Arabia feel that this does not happen. Again, those who feel this way are the ones from Western countries who do not even associate with those from Pakistan, Indian, Bangledesh, Sri Lanka, the Phillipines and many other neighboring countries. Shockingly, when these expats want to return to thier home country, they are not allowed. Can you imagine moving somewhere and feeling that you may not be allowed to leave when you need to? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In order to leave the country, the Sponsor/Employer must first apply for an exit visa or multiple-exit/re-entry visa. These visa’s cannot be applied for by the expat, only the employer. Thus, if the employer chooses not to apply for the Visa, then the worker cannot leave. Some expats visa's expired and employers chose not to renew it. The high fees kept the expat from renewing it and as a result, they were left here illegally. This is quite common and the foreigners continues to work or search for work elsewhere. If he finds work from another employer, he cannot legally be hired, unless the previous employer grants permission. Can you see the predicament that foreigners are put in? Entrapment. Yes, it sounds harsh-but especially to those who are living right now in Saudi Arabia and wondering what to do next. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="yiv367042938MsoNormal" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1366615052314_6905" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1366615052314_6895" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">During the week of April 20, 2013, I drove past the Phillipino Counsolate to see for myself if those expats were truly camping outside. I saw it with my own eyes - hundreds of Phillipino citizens were camping under blue tarps and some were lucky enough to be in tents. The heat has caused children to become ill, as these Phillipino nationals wait to be released to return back to their country. In fact, before last months "Raid", they asked to be repatriated back to the Phillipines. Many of them do not even have their passports due to their employers keeping them. Others do not have a valid iqama to legally work in Saudi Arabia. They want to go home and they are simply waiting to be allowed-all at the mercy of forces in Saudi Arabia.</span></div><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1366615052314_6902" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On April 24, a similar story was posted from yet another media source. Sri Lankins are now gathered below a bridge in Jeddah...waiting to be returned to Sri Lanka. Lucky for them, Saudi Arabia has agreed to send them back, but only at 25 people per day. One can only imagine what it must feel like to have no control over where to stay or where to go. Read more about this situation here: <a href="http://www.emirates247.com/news/sri-lanka/saudi-arabia-grants-amnesty-for-thousands-of-sri-lankan-workers-2013-04-23-1.503772">http://www.emirates247.com/news/sri-lanka/saudi-arabia-grants-amnesty-for-thousands-of-sri-lankan-workers-2013-04-23-1.503772</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This crackdown is now affecting the local economy. In Dammam, Saudi Arabia one such shop has been forced to increase the cost of their clothing. You can read more about it here: <a href="http://www.arabnews.com/news/448854" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.arabnews.com/news/448854</a> The Arab news quoted </span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1366615052314_6940" lang="EN" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Shoua’ Al-Dheilan, Workshop Committee president, saying: “The price increase is the result of the campaign against laborers who were in violation of their status. This prompted the regular women workers to demand higher wages if the workshop owners wanted them to continue. This in turn increased the cost of a number of services.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="yiv367042938MsoNormal" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1366615052314_6942" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1366615052314_6941" lang="EN" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Again, it is disheartening to hear the newspaper dab foreign workers as being “in violation of their status.” They have no choice and now that they are being forced to fix their status, they are being denied. So, what is the solution? For some, the only solution is to return to their home country. For many, the question remains-how?</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="yiv367042938MsoNormal" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1366615052314_6944" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1366615052314_6943" lang="EN" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Additional Articles (to affirm that this is really happening) <a href="http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130421162259" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1366615052314_6945" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130421162259</a> </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="yiv367042938MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-29/middle-east-news/38124538_1_saudi-arabia-new-labour-policy-expatriates" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-29/middle-east-news/38124538_1_saudi-arabia-new-labour-policy-expatriates</a> </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="yiv367042938MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/34-expats-want-leave" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/34-expats-want-leave</a> </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="yiv367042938MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/07/saudi-expatriates-crackdown-idUSL5N0CU0N920130407" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/07/saudi-expatriates-crackdown-idUSL5N0CU0N920130407</a> </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="yiv367042938MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.arabianbusiness.com/at-least-2m-expats-in-saudi-lose-jobs-report-495107.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.arabianbusiness.com/at-least-2m-expats-in-saudi-lose-jobs-report-495107.html</a> </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="yiv367042938MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/arabic/subjects/5/2013/3/31/28631.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/arabic/subjects/5/2013/3/31/28631.htm</a> </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="yiv367042938MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://workinginsaudiarabia.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://workinginsaudiarabia.blogspot.com/</a> </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="yiv367042938MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130421162251" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130421162251</a> </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="yiv367042938MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Interviews with Residents in Jeddah:</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="yiv367042938MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1366615052314_6959" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1366615052314_6957" lang="EN" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Akhbar, who works in the car industry put in his resignation letter to his company-3 months ago! They have refused him to leave until he finds a replacement for his company.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="yiv367042938MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1366615052314_6955" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1366615052314_6954" lang="EN" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ana, a Phillipino national comes to the Phillipino Counsolate daily. She continues to ask them to send her home. Her Visa/Iqama to work as a house maid expired and her sponsor refused to renew it. She has her passport, but no way of leaving, due to not being able to afford the financial fines accrued as being an “over-stayer.”</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="yiv367042938MsoNormal" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1366615052314_6953" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-66258471084468583112013-04-10T14:46:00.000+03:002013-04-10T14:52:35.086+03:00Say "Hi" to Dubai<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mWP5yZQfxBs/UWVQP2Z0GxI/AAAAAAAABNU/EuXhtK2sci0/s1600/dubai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mWP5yZQfxBs/UWVQP2Z0GxI/AAAAAAAABNU/EuXhtK2sci0/s320/dubai.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When I began planning our family trip to Dubai, Iwas happy to learn of Passion Tours via Hello Travel (an online travel agent site). I knew nothing aboutattractions or appropriate activities for my 3 children, photographer husband and shop-o-holic me! Their recommendation meant a great deal to me and so after looking at several tourism companies, I chose Passion as a result of great communication, good price quotes and professionalism.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We stayed in Dubai for 4 nights and 3 days and were able to experience a dhow cruise, city tour and Desert Safari. All tours, as well as airport arrival, included pick-up (transfers) and drop-off. We did not have to arrange any transportation at all and I really appreciated that. We only took a taxi and the metro once, on the hours that we were not wrapped up in our tours. All vehicles were new and clean vans that fit our family comfortably.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I asked him to find a hotel near the Gold Souk and very close to the Metro station and he did. We stayed in the Flora Grand Hotel and the station was one block away! Breakfast was included in our package and we were pleased with it. The hotel was lovely and was very clean. The staff all spoke very good English and responded to our needs immediately. Our family of 5 all felt very comfortable there. We even took the Metro to the Mall. It was about 6 stops away, but it only cost 6.50 AED and kept us out of traffic!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our first tour was the dhow cruise on Dubai Creek.We arrived around 7pm and enjoyed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a dinner buffet. The entertainment was good and we enjoyed seeing all the buildings at night as well as the other dhow boats cruising by. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The next day, we took a private city tour. Our tour guide spoke very good English and gave us a brief history of each place. He showed us: The Kings Palace, Atlantis, Burj Kalifa, and Gold Souk. At the end of our tour, we stayed at the Gold Souk and shopped our hearts away. It was so much fun as we were able to get very inexpensive souvenirs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Later that afternoon, we were picked up for the Desert Safari. This by far was everyone’s favorite! The desert safari company was absolutely superb! The driver was very professional and drove on those sand dunes with such ease and enjoyment! The food at the desert camp was the best on our Dubai trip. My daughter and I had our hands painted with henna, my husband smoked the hubbly bubbly “shisha,” and our sons “sand boarded”down the sand dunes! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our last day was filled with our own schedule. We stayed at the Dubai Mall and took the children to “Build-A-Bear Workshop” where they were able to make their own stuffed animals and purchase bear sized clothing for them! They also enjoyed the Aquarium and the huge candy store. We had dinner at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Texas Roadhouse (yum!) and then ended our evening at the mall’s movie theater. What a wonderful trip we had, and all thanks to the coordination of Kirin and his team at Passion Tourism. I recommend his company to anyone living in or near the Middle East and planning tot ravel to Dubai. Vacation should be stress-free, right?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: "Freehand591 BT"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #E46C0A; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">Regards, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: "Freehand591 BT"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #E46C0A; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: "Freehand591 BT"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #E46C0A; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">Andrea<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qL4ITuz3YCk/UWVNRIXuKGI/AAAAAAAABL0/Z-NAVKF4ALU/s640/blogger-image--1669623016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qL4ITuz3YCk/UWVNRIXuKGI/AAAAAAAABL0/Z-NAVKF4ALU/s640/blogger-image--1669623016.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Looking at the Burj Kalifa</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SpJn1Eenp2k/UWVNrn0Oh3I/AAAAAAAABMk/feTdomgcRgY/s640/blogger-image-744755231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SpJn1Eenp2k/UWVNrn0Oh3I/AAAAAAAABMk/feTdomgcRgY/s640/blogger-image-744755231.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Looking upon the Burj Kalifa</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WRqugoaNkN0/UWVNWrPZq0I/AAAAAAAABME/8508IDeczBQ/s640/blogger-image--1700200584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WRqugoaNkN0/UWVNWrPZq0I/AAAAAAAABME/8508IDeczBQ/s640/blogger-image--1700200584.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
Desert Safari - Part 1- Quad Bike Riding!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4yHGgwFfFUg/UWVNZq7KzUI/AAAAAAAABMM/mMnjWzP962s/s640/blogger-image--1372645489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4yHGgwFfFUg/UWVNZq7KzUI/AAAAAAAABMM/mMnjWzP962s/s640/blogger-image--1372645489.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Twisty building in Jumeriah</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-IpMeT4hqyFY/UWVNozpH_lI/AAAAAAAABMc/v9AzG27bD7M/s640/blogger-image--373575526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-IpMeT4hqyFY/UWVNozpH_lI/AAAAAAAABMc/v9AzG27bD7M/s640/blogger-image--373575526.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
Peacocks outside the King's Quarters</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-De1oWRHiqbM/UWVNuPb-vnI/AAAAAAAABMs/9j4jh_jHAmk/s640/blogger-image-855707172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-De1oWRHiqbM/UWVNuPb-vnI/AAAAAAAABMs/9j4jh_jHAmk/s640/blogger-image-855707172.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Burj Al Arab</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RWWOtzU1CAI/UWVNTzBG51I/AAAAAAAABL8/zQg7ZQyQRH8/s640/blogger-image-1817855933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RWWOtzU1CAI/UWVNTzBG51I/AAAAAAAABL8/zQg7ZQyQRH8/s640/blogger-image-1817855933.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
Traditional Dance performed on the dhow cruise</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AF-VCEkwbZU/UWVNcJRn-VI/AAAAAAAABMU/DK946GaEDuY/s640/blogger-image-2054523060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AF-VCEkwbZU/UWVNcJRn-VI/AAAAAAAABMU/DK946GaEDuY/s640/blogger-image-2054523060.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
dhow Cruise at night</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If you are looking for a great travel agent for the Dubai area, feel free to contact Passion Tourism who I highly recommend the team at Passion Tourism!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Dubai Office:Room no: 508, Star Line building, Rigga road, Deira<br />
Dubai, U. A. E, Mobile no: 00971(0)567746650 (24Hrs assistance)<br />
Head office:Room no: 2, Illikal Parambu, R.S.A.C Road, Vytila P.O<br />
Cochin 19, Kerala, India, P.O Box no: 682019<br />
Mobile no: 0091(0)9745 543 533 (24Hrs assistance)<br />
<a href="mailto:sales@passiontourism.com" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1365579985644_12126" ymailto="mailto:sales@passiontourism.com">sales@passiontourism.com</a> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.passiontourism.com/">www.passiontourism.com</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-26448130339839279992013-04-06T08:34:00.001+03:002013-04-06T08:34:22.607+03:00Raids in Saudi Arabia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I_56l-gX4Gg/UV-zpGZyBqI/AAAAAAAABLk/vNJrxO2Ubfs/s1600/alien.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I_56l-gX4Gg/UV-zpGZyBqI/AAAAAAAABLk/vNJrxO2Ubfs/s200/alien.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">A true test of social media took
place this past week across Saudi Arabia. Many people heard stories of how
foreigners were being deported due to illegally working or working for someone
other than their original sponsor. It is true that many foreigners (also called
expatriates) are working, although their visa says “not permitted to work.”
However, companies and businesses in Saudi Arabia still recruit such “local
hires.” It is simply cheaper because it prevents the company from having to
provide visa’s and airline tickets, as well as accommodations for such
employees. Some of the workers may be housewives, or may have formerly worked
for another employer and found work elsewhere for better pay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">One reason for these recent raids is
to ensure that Saudi citizens have jobs. According to </span><a href="http://riyadhbureau.com/blog/2013/1/saudi-unemployment-12-percent"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://riyadhbureau.com/blog/2013/1/saudi-unemployment-12-percent</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>t</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">he unemployment
rate is more than 12.1% among Saudi’s. Saudization is a drive that has been occurring
for the past few years, which has made it a law to employ Saudi citizens. These
recent raids on schools, hospitals, shops and even cell phone companies is one
way to ensure that businesses are following the rules. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Widespread panic and/or discussion
via Facebook and twitter took place. Some people wondered if the panic was
caused by rumors. They wondered if it was just a way for certain facebook
groups to bring more traffic to their pages. I can tell you first hand, that
these raids did take place and panic occurred. I interviewed several people who
spoke of their experiences (all from Jeddah).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Yousef
explained how he received daily texts from his child’s school, saying that the
school was closed due to electrical problems. Another parent with a child at
another school received similar texts from his child’s school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Rania,
a college instructor in Jeddah was told that classes were cancelled and not to
come to work until further notified. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Apartment
“gaurds” also called “haris” were rounded up in Mohammed’s neighborhood. They
were not paid and were taken to jail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Danya’s
daughter went to school only to have her class combined with several others,
because many of the teachers were afraid to come to work, due to fear of being
taken and deported.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">As Zahid
arrived to work, he was told to go home and work from home until further
notice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Government
employees were checking iqama’s at Saad’s workplace (cell phone business). This
went on for hours, he said, until finally, they instructed the company to check
their own worker’s iqama’s for legality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Janet
noticed that the local bookstore has less employee’s working, compared to a
normal Wednesday evening.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">All interviewee’s named above, have
now returned back to work. Things have since calmed down and many people’s
fears are gone. However, many have not. Some are now more insecure about
staying in Saudi Arabia. They feel unwanted. They feel that they have worked
very hard to improve their company. According to a recent article in the Arab
News, companies now have 2 months to get their papers and employees in order.
The article can be found here: <a href="http://arabnews.com/news/447011"><span style="color: blue;">http://arabnews.com/news/447011</span></a>
Many countries go through this process of cleansing the country of illegal
workers. It is also a reality that employers are not abiding by the laws of
their country (they are hiring these workers!) It is no doubt that change is occurring
in the kingdom. It is my hope that foreigners will be protected and feel safe
once again. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">*Names have been changed to protect
the privacy of those interviewed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-35695061109383523862013-03-04T11:19:00.000+03:002013-04-06T02:15:03.936+03:00Another World, Another Place - The Truth About Life in Saudi Arabia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Each time I’ve traveled, I always try to tell myself this one fact that always rings true:This is not America. It helps me to deal with the change that is inevitable. However, it does not cover up the vast differences that are experienced. I have been living in Saudi Arabia for 9 months now-and I feel like this is an accomplishment of endurance, strength and willpower! Other Americans here have told me that if you can make it through one year, than you’ll be able to stay for many! Now, I understand that statement and I would encourage any new expats to make and reach the goal of staying one full year (at the least). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">However, in order to“make it” or survive, there are a few things that need to be considered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Culture</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">-The cordial way to greet someone that you know is with a hug and a kiss on each cheek. In fact, yesterday, I saw two older men doing this back and forth and I heard about 8 kiss sounds! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Friendliness</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">-It is very common to see two men or boys walking along and holding hands. It is an action of friendship and should not be confused with what this action would mean in the US.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Men’s Clothing</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">- There are many foreigners living in Saudi Arabia, therefore there is a wide variety to be seen. Many men wear loose fitting thobes, which is like a long white button up shirt, that goes to the ankle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Women’s Clothing</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">- Women are required to wear an abaya. They can be purchased in the airport if you arrive without one. The average price for a simple abaya is around $40.Most are black, but they also come in navy, dark brown, gray and burgundy. I’ve even seen some nice denim abaya’s too. Some have lace, colored fabric added, and even jewels. The head scarf is not required to wear out in public, unless you are in Riyadh, which is a more conservative city. I like wearing the abaya. It keeps me from figuring out what to wear or iron. When on a compound, though, an abaya does not have to be worn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Internet</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">- Most things that you access in the US can be accessed in KSA. Facebook,YouTube and Twitter are widely used here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Shopping</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">- No dressing rooms for women exist in any clothing stores-at all. Gap has a men’s dressing room, but they are not allowed to let women try on clothes in it. Many just buy their clothes, take it home and try it on and if it doesn’t fit-return it. The return/exchange policy is also different from store to store. </span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Celebrations </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">-Stores are not decorated for Christmas. Saudi National Day, Eid and Ramadan are the only national events/holidays that take place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Restrooms</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">- Each toilet comes equipped with a water spraying hose (for your bottom). As a result, the floors get slippery! Some public places have toilet paper or tissue, other do not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Medication </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">-You can get antibiotics, such as Zithromax and amoxil without a prescription. Pharmacies are plentiful in Jeddah and most of the pharmacists speak English.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Transportation</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">- Wear your seat belt and hold on for dear life, if you are the passenger. Women aren’t allowed to get a driver’s license or drive in Saudi Arabia-ever. Their husband, father, brother, son or driver will drive them from place to place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Opening Hours</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">- Sometimes stores are open, sometimes they are not. It depends on the shop owners mood. The hours vary depending on prayer time. Luckily, there is an app for that. It's called “Athan” and it tells you when the prayer times are for each day. Right before and during prayer time, every store and eatery closes. The shades are pulled down over the windows and the doors are locked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Prayer Times</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">- 5 times a day you will hear a “call to prayer” which is in Arabic and spread from each speaker at each mosque. If you are outside anywhere during the call,you will hear it. Sometimes prayers from 3-4 mosque’s can be heard at one time and it sounds like a chorus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Meat</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">– Many places mix up lamb and beef and just call it meat. Lucily if you want to buy fresh beef, to cook on your own, you can go to Danube, Panda or Manuel and ask specifically for Brazilian Beef. Unfortunately, there is no Wal-Mart or Target here. You will be buying in kilo, not pounds. So, if you want a pound, ask for 1 kilo and that should be about right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">14.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Tea</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Even when its 100 degrees outside, hot tea will be served and enjoyed by many.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">15.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Living Conditions</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">- Life on a compound, apartment or villa each entail different experiences of living. Most apartments do not have a pool or communal area with washer dryer,etc… Many apartments do not come with cabinets in the kitchen and most do not have built in closets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">16.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Visa Process </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">(before, during, after) is unlike any other country. It is extremely slow and leaves you feeling anxious. Things can go wrong in the process and things can go right. There are tons of blogs and website that offer visa and iqama (residence/work permit) advice and support.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Well, that is all I can think of now. Thanks for reading!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> -</span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Freehand591 BT"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Andrea</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tuBBs4s6dGA/UTRUf0LfWGI/AAAAAAAABLA/X_8gO7BnKHQ/s640/blogger-image-30193418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tuBBs4s6dGA/UTRUf0LfWGI/AAAAAAAABLA/X_8gO7BnKHQ/s640/blogger-image-30193418.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gPq6Roo-SKM/UTRUjB92IlI/AAAAAAAABLI/iBw4H5pN2vg/s640/blogger-image-1616931248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gPq6Roo-SKM/UTRUjB92IlI/AAAAAAAABLI/iBw4H5pN2vg/s640/blogger-image-1616931248.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-30001163814521817832013-03-02T09:54:00.001+03:002013-03-02T09:54:29.948+03:00Getting Yelled Out by a Stranger - An Encounter with the Religious Police<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com.sa/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=QT41Or4K_Ck3JM&tbnid=ye7LBTQ-3IDrVM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.arabnews.com%2Fsaudi-arabia%2Fchief-says-haia-need-female-staff&ei=058xUa3tHIOPtAagooGoBQ&psig=AFQjCNGxb44ROVu4fIR1qTgvd55V8G7zzg&ust=1362293066764060" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img height="241" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.arabnews.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/galleryformatter_slide/Haia%20honor.jpg" style="margin-top: 63px;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture from Arab NewsPaper in Saudi Arabia (<a href="http://www.arabnews.com/">www.arabnews.com</a>) <br />
<br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">I got yelled at…by the
muttawa! The muttawa (also called haia) are commonly known as the religious
police in Saudi Arabia. I have waited 9 months in anticipation for this to
happen. I now feel inducted into society! I was sitting in the car, after going
out to a local restaurant. Hubby was not yet in the drivers seat and I turned
to see this white Jeep Cherokee type SUV pulling by slowly. We were parked and
he was yelling something loud in Arabic. He was a guy of about 60 or 70, had
his hair covered in a white scarf thing and had a long gangly beard. He was
also wagging his finger. I didn’t even realize what was going on. I was just
spectating and rolling my eyes at this crazy guy yelling at me. I mean, how
often do you get yelled at, and out in public??! So, traffic kept moving and he
was gone and then I told hubby what happened. </span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Then, it hit me-I had a muttawa encounter! The guy was most likely yelling at me to cover my head with a scarf (which I never do-because I don't have to). I told hubby, I think I just got
yelled at by the muttawa! The car was almost long gone, but he was able to see
it and verified that, yes, I had in fact had a muttawa encounter! How exciting-right!??
Well, that was the most exciting thing that did happen to me all day! And I’ll
leave it at that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">In case you are
wondering what the “Muttawa” are…..Well, they have a very important job in
Saudi Arabia. Their job includes, but is not limited to the following:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Telling
women<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to cover their head (even though
it is not required by law)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ensuring that
shop and store owners close during prayer time <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Monitoring
product packaging, to keep them free from images of women in swimsuits (like having
a woman sitting in a pool, on the package of a blow up pool or float) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Browsing books
and magazines to eliminate pictures of women that are “too </span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> revealing” (example:
a woman’s legs being revealed in a shaving or razor advertisement)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Making sure that
single men and single women are not socializing in public (it is against the
law and people do go to jail for this) Often, I see the muttawa walking the
malls. They have walked past me in 3 separate instances and not yelled or said
anything to me in the mall.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thanks for reading!</span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: "Freehand591 BT"; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Andrea<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-1050824691422740592013-01-19T09:19:00.000+03:002013-01-19T09:33:40.209+03:00The Most Interesting and Fun Theme Park in Jeddah<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="100" src="http://www.alshallal.com.sa/logo.gif" width="320" /></div>
Al-Shallal is the name of this theme park in Jeddah. I call this the "best" one, because all three of my children l-o-v-e-d it! With children, it is hard to find something for everyone to enjoy-especially since the youngest is 5 and the oldest is 10. It reminds me of a miniature Disney World-sort of. It is across from the beach on Corniche street (between Thalia and Sari Streets). The trees, flowers and grass made this place so nice to be at!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uISJQvaG4sE/UPBOMq_UkKI/AAAAAAAAA8g/d90pUejjVDw/s640/blogger-image-1477517294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uISJQvaG4sE/UPBOMq_UkKI/AAAAAAAAA8g/d90pUejjVDw/s640/blogger-image-1477517294.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is the indoor skating rink. It is the largest one I have seen in Jeddah. It is the size of the ice skating rink at the Galleria in Houston, Texas. Also, I saw women skating in their abaya's. I believe they were teenagers, as mostly older children and teenagers were skating.Behind the ice is the indoor mall section. It has clothing stores, cosmetics, tea shops and even a fresh flower stand! There were also tons of candy stores and kiosks as well as various eateries such as Papa Johns, Chinese food and coffee shops! There is also a Chinese Museum that shows how silk is made. A lady showed us the actual cocoon of a silk worm!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mrkyPUojsik/UPBOQzfGonI/AAAAAAAAA8o/_uhYZpsPLag/s640/blogger-image-252112566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mrkyPUojsik/UPBOQzfGonI/AAAAAAAAA8o/_uhYZpsPLag/s640/blogger-image-252112566.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here are the boys gearing up for a go-kart race on the outdoor track!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DdvhIVgWM0s/UPBOXEQj5XI/AAAAAAAAA84/hjoAKLTEeAA/s640/blogger-image-77367062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DdvhIVgWM0s/UPBOXEQj5XI/AAAAAAAAA84/hjoAKLTEeAA/s640/blogger-image-77367062.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is one of the shops inside the mall section. I took a picture of this particular store because it reminds me of Valentine's Day!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3vWWMZS5Xe4/UPoru-1uEiI/AAAAAAAABGM/H61Ec7ylCRU/s640/blogger-image--1121822581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3vWWMZS5Xe4/UPoru-1uEiI/AAAAAAAABGM/H61Ec7ylCRU/s640/blogger-image--1121822581.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
This is a track with cars and it was free. There are 5 free rides here! The entry fee to Al-Shallal is 25 SR per person.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SGHhAQrUD1Q/UPor5PIXFyI/AAAAAAAABGk/J4fnBan3lVI/s640/blogger-image-433222442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SGHhAQrUD1Q/UPor5PIXFyI/AAAAAAAABGk/J4fnBan3lVI/s640/blogger-image-433222442.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
For 30 SR for 15 minutes, you can take a boat in this pretty little lake. This is a view from our boat as we look onto the restaurant that is in this picture. All 5 of us were allowed to go into the boat, even though they told us it was just for 4.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Hr5OSnXyXY8/UPBOUGW5pwI/AAAAAAAAA8w/jdeEqUF-tgo/s640/blogger-image-2085496500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Hr5OSnXyXY8/UPBOUGW5pwI/AAAAAAAAA8w/jdeEqUF-tgo/s640/blogger-image-2085496500.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
A private room at the restaurant on the lake. We didn't eat here, but we want to next time!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zi93Dp2ofSc/UPor7-hmjII/AAAAAAAABGs/D3LLUdaIzKM/s640/blogger-image-386469121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zi93Dp2ofSc/UPor7-hmjII/AAAAAAAABGs/D3LLUdaIzKM/s640/blogger-image-386469121.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
It's hard to believe that all of these pictures come from the same place, right? This is the go-kart track. Beside it are the swings and a dropping tower type of ride. Basically, you go to the ticket booth, buy a plastic card and load money onto it. You swipe your card for each "carnival" type of ride-most of them costing around 15 SR.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LwoxphdXDI4/UPor_Gxh0CI/AAAAAAAABG0/IHSdZAUdqUs/s640/blogger-image--1713460014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LwoxphdXDI4/UPor_Gxh0CI/AAAAAAAABG0/IHSdZAUdqUs/s640/blogger-image--1713460014.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
Here is another restaurant. The flowers are just so lovely! This was taken in January, which is Jeddah's "spring" type season as the temperature is around 85-90 F in the day and 70 in the evening!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YM99QnsmJs0/UPoryqeDdPI/AAAAAAAABGU/Hbrdzcu4hyY/s640/blogger-image-2008166179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YM99QnsmJs0/UPoryqeDdPI/AAAAAAAABGU/Hbrdzcu4hyY/s1600/blogger-image-2008166179.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
The airplane kiddy ride (another free one!)</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dEC356KYDnk/UPo1N97LZ5I/AAAAAAAABHw/dALRurDpgOk/s640/blogger-image--1142215807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dEC356KYDnk/UPo1N97LZ5I/AAAAAAAABHw/dALRurDpgOk/s640/blogger-image--1142215807.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
It has an outdoor waterfall!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zBUZK6n8ih8/UPo1QzZTG6I/AAAAAAAABH4/ujPtd6hIbQI/s640/blogger-image--1681392417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zBUZK6n8ih8/UPo1QzZTG6I/AAAAAAAABH4/ujPtd6hIbQI/s640/blogger-image--1681392417.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here is my daughter dressed in the "afro" wig that she bought. Behind her is the REAL roller coaster. It goes backwards, forwards and upside down! It is the largest roller coaster in the Middle East, by the way! Also, if you look carefully, you can see the tea-cup ride, like at Disney World!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MV0TkHrgL6M" width="420"></iframe><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
To read more from others, follow the links: </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://travelblog.finddubaihotels.com/599/al-shallal-theme-park-in-jeddah/">http://travelblog.finddubaihotels.com/599/al-shallal-theme-park-in-jeddah/</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Phone numbers for the park are listed here:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.alshallal.com.sa/">http://www.alshallal.com.sa/</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-39974710439336165292013-01-11T15:37:00.000+03:002013-01-13T11:08:24.397+03:00Andrea's Taxi Adventure!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><img height="300" id="il_fi" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qCLxhJxgDiU/Tr0kFwiuSjI/AAAAAAAAAks/facs__bsRek/s400/A+Taxi+in+Saudi+Arabia+%25281%2529.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I took a taxi, all by myself- 3 times last week!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was one way of me “feeling independent.”
You see, it gets a bit annoying to have to depend on men to be able to go
somewhere. Being that I am a woman, I am not allowed to drive in Saudi
Arabia. Why? Well, its the law. There are no public transportation systems in
place here either (no subway or metro busses) thus forcing me to take a taxi,
hire a personal driver, or use the hubby. I do have a driver that takes me to
and from work each day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I want to go
somewhere to grab a bite to eat, I use a taxi. Thus...adventures always follow!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t know why it
took me 7 months to realize that I could travel in a taxi alone. Perhaps I didn’t
trust a stranger or maybe it was that I didn’t trust that I could navigate
myself around Jeddah. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, a simple taxi ride here, always transforms into an
interesting story. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Earlier this week, I walked out of my office and waited for a taxi to drive up. I then asked the
driver if he could take me to Hardees. He said “yes.” I said, “Do you know how
to get there, because I don’t.” He said “yes, I know.” I then said, “Are you
sure?” Of course he said that he did, so I got in and off we went! We drove and
drove and drove and I saw no Hardees anywhere. I did not panic because this is
his job to know where places are. He then picked up his cell phone and asked
someone how to get to Hardee’s. Oh brother! He didn't know! Ten minutes later we arrived to Hardee’s. I was
craving a Frisco burger, so this was my motivation in taking this particular taxi ride. I asked
him to wait, so that he could take me back to my office. I made sure he was
willing and asked if it would cost 15 SR-he agreed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He waited, we returned and he triple charged
me for the fare! Hubby taught me earlier this year that 15 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">riyals</i> is the common price for one way. That’s about $ 4.00. So,
when I handed the guy 15, he started shouting at me, “not 15….50.” Oh, one of
us misheard the other, earlier, I guess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well, 50 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">riyals</i> is $ 13.00. I
told him that I had never paid that much for a taxi here and that since he got lost
and lied, saying he knew where I wanted to go, that I would not pay that much
for the ride. He got angrier and so I took out 10 more <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">riyals</i>, handed it to him and he yelled some more. I simply opened
the door…and said “bye-bye, now.” Later, I learned that it is typical for taxi drivers to try to charge Americans more money. I was flabbergasted as to how this guy would
overcharge me-but I did not let it ruin my day. Actually, I was happy to have a
new story to write about!</span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #558ed5; font-family: "Freehand591 BT"; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #558ED5; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: "lumm=60000 lumo=40000"; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: text2; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #558ed5; font-family: "Freehand591 BT"; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #558ED5; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: "lumm=60000 lumo=40000"; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: text2; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">-Andrea</span></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #558ed5; font-family: "Freehand591 BT"; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #558ED5; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: "lumm=60000 lumo=40000"; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: text2; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">More interesting Taxi Tales:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://americanbedu.com/2009/02/26/men-and-taxis-in-saudi-arabia/">http://americanbedu.com/2009/02/26/men-and-taxis-in-saudi-arabia/</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<a href="http://canadianinriyadh.blogspot.com/2009/03/saudi-taxi-driver-learns-lesson.html">http://canadianinriyadh.blogspot.com/2009/03/saudi-taxi-driver-learns-lesson.html</a><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<a href="http://www.hziegler.com/articles/list-taxi-travel.html">http://www.hziegler.com/articles/list-taxi-travel.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20120522124675">http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20120522124675</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/08/31/235333.html">http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/08/31/235333.html</a><br />
<br />
Photo from: jeddahphoto.blogspot.com More wonderful photos of Jeddah are here!<br />
<br />
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-9801592693769135192013-01-08T12:48:00.000+03:002013-01-08T12:49:22.369+03:00What is Christmas in Saudi Arabia like?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="228" id="il_fi" src="http://12stepjewelry.com/images/xmas_camel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here in Saudi Arabia, the only celebrated holidays are: Saudi National Day and Eid. The New Year and birthdays are usually not big celebrations, like in the United States. Knowing this, I was curious as how to plan Christmas for my children. I failed at Halloween because I couldn't locate any places for my children to trick-or-treat. Yes, I bought them candy and such, but they were very disappointed in me, that the real Halloween celebrations didn't happen for them. So, I made it my goal to make Christmas more exciting for them. </div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The day before, I bought them bicycles and paid about the same price as I would have in the US. I also found Christmas candies at Danube grocery store and spent double the price for Reese's peanut butter trees, candy canes, York peppermint patties and large plastic candy canes filled with Hershey kisses. I found these candies in boxes, read the label and opened them up. They were not even on the shelf yet, on December 24! I was lucky! Now, about 3 weeks later, these same candies are in various grocery stores across the city. I guess their logic is that if they don't put them out for the holiday, than they are not promoting it.</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Qm4ckp9L60A/UOvoqDbd9cI/AAAAAAAAA7A/DvYfUhpi5LA/s640/blogger-image-868617005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Qm4ckp9L60A/UOvoqDbd9cI/AAAAAAAAA7A/DvYfUhpi5LA/s400/blogger-image-868617005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
From word of mouth, I heard that taller fake trees can be found, if you happen upon one. I don't know where though and I haven't seen them. However, not having a large tree didn't bother the kids or me, at all. They loved having their own trees, which they had the last several years in the US. It was a piece of "home" and "tradition" for them.</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Qm4ckp9L60A/UOvoqDbd9cI/AAAAAAAAA7A/DvYfUhpi5LA/s640/blogger-image-868617005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The week before Christmas, we were lucky enough to travel to the US for a week and celebrate Christmas with my family. While there, I found some Christmas crafts at Michael's and brought them back. On December 25, the kids found them in their stockings, along with their Christmas candies. My boss also bought each of the kids a present and those were placed under their miniature trees (which I had brought back in my suitcases). I let the kids know that all these presents were from me and dad, since Santa had already "visited" them in the US at their grandparents house. We spend the day in our pj's all day! We baked cookies and decorated Gingerbread men (from mixes I had brought over). </div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aYsC715JRa0/UOvow4ENa_I/AAAAAAAAA7Q/Ov5NkA2zSBQ/s640/blogger-image--1041356149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aYsC715JRa0/UOvow4ENa_I/AAAAAAAAA7Q/Ov5NkA2zSBQ/s400/blogger-image--1041356149.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I think I redeemed myself for this holiday as the kids seemed to really enjoy everything!</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: "Freehand591 BT"; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: red;">-Andrea</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: green; font-family: "Freehand591 BT"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;" trbidi="on">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: "Freehand591 BT"; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b> <a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dwTFq1_jnVM/UOvonVBRkVI/AAAAAAAAA64/KXVNw077jtQ/s640/blogger-image--61582311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dwTFq1_jnVM/UOvonVBRkVI/AAAAAAAAA64/KXVNw077jtQ/s400/blogger-image--61582311.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
The Christmas candies are taped with white labels, to cover up Santa and Rudolph.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Qm4ckp9L60A/UOvoqDbd9cI/AAAAAAAAA7A/DvYfUhpi5LA/s640/blogger-image-868617005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Fm3K0m9bN7M/UOvosuvg6WI/AAAAAAAAA7I/5TGA7sMcfOM/s640/blogger-image--1699951658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Fm3K0m9bN7M/UOvosuvg6WI/AAAAAAAAA7I/5TGA7sMcfOM/s400/blogger-image--1699951658.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
My daughter's mini-tree and presents.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aYsC715JRa0/UOvow4ENa_I/AAAAAAAAA7Q/Ov5NkA2zSBQ/s640/blogger-image--1041356149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bDZZFDwmKh4/UOvoyclVdOI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/JESkL_gwQhE/s640/blogger-image-79315380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bDZZFDwmKh4/UOvoyclVdOI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/JESkL_gwQhE/s400/blogger-image-79315380.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
My oldest sons tree and presents.We didn't even add ornaments. No one mentioned it and no one missed them.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wx8-5QBwmU4/UOvozn34cwI/AAAAAAAAA7c/9_ELxnFX3Bk/s640/blogger-image-304748283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wx8-5QBwmU4/UOvozn34cwI/AAAAAAAAA7c/9_ELxnFX3Bk/s400/blogger-image-304748283.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
This is a "Pinterest" inspired tree that I made out of a ladder. I found the tinsel stuff at a local stationary shop here. The lights I had brought over from the US.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2Hh_0EINjAo/UOvo1b9RdvI/AAAAAAAAA7o/ZvAFSRcbipw/s640/blogger-image-1820367341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2Hh_0EINjAo/UOvo1b9RdvI/AAAAAAAAA7o/ZvAFSRcbipw/s400/blogger-image-1820367341.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is our youngest ones little tree and presents. As you can see, the trees got a little warped in the suitcases. Oh well. No one seemed to care. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fzPjIhhaeUo/UOvomdi8hvI/AAAAAAAAA6w/gRrlNB5Djyg/s640/blogger-image-843000850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fzPjIhhaeUo/UOvomdi8hvI/AAAAAAAAA6w/gRrlNB5Djyg/s400/blogger-image-843000850.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is our door filled with our Crhistmas cards and Gingerbread crafts that the kids made.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Side note: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
New Year's day was another "fail" as fireworks could not be found. Mainly my daughter was mad about that. The boys could care less. The next upcoming holiday that I hope to make special for the kids is: Valentine's Day! Stay tuned to see what kind of heart related items I will be able to find!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>camel picture from:</strong><span style="color: black;">12stepjewlery.com</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-13988307585019541622013-01-07T16:33:00.000+03:002013-01-07T16:33:44.561+03:00Pearls and Old Things<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I love old things. I love things with stories and with a unique past. Good thing. There are many old and interesting things in this city I am living. In the US, I found old things also. It was actually my hobby and thrill to go to every Goodwill, Salvation Army or second hand store. Even when I visited friends and relatives in other cities, if I spotted a Goodwill, I had to stop there and shop! Over the years, I obtained many children's books and puzzles for my kids and my classroom. It was a good way to get a shopping rush! However, the rush for me was finding something that had a "story." One old thing that I found was a tattered and falling apart old brown colored Bible. Before I bought it, I wondered "Who owned it before me? Who read it and was comforted by its words?" Actually, every time I read a "used" book, I wonder who held it before me.<br />
<br />
So, how does this relate to Saudi Arabia and Pearls? Good question. Thanks for being patient with me as a rambled the above pre-amble to my story.<br />
<br />
Pearls. Pearls are old. Did you know that the rarest and roundest most prized pearls can take about 5 years to form? I found this out, after I purchased some REAL pearls from Al-Balad, one of the oldest areas within Jeddah.<br />
<br />
I recently became interested in pearls when I saw strings of them for sale at the street market. I had never seen such interesting things for sale at a street market before. Pearls are usually in jewelry stores or around someones neck! I will never forget that elderly man sitting criss-cross on a rug, with strings (literal white strings!) of pearls. Now, what I found most interesting was that these pearls were not perfect. They were cream colored and not round. Each one looked a bit different. I asked the elderly vendor if they were real and he said "yes, of course, look at them, you can tell that they are." He showed me his fake pearls and his real ones. Somehow I knew that he was right. So, I paid less than twenty US dollars for them and brought them home.<br />
<br />
Investigation time. Why were the pearls so cheap? I went on YouTube and found out that the more rare a pearl is, the more expensive it will be. Pearls that are rare, are the ones that are almost completely round and have a high sheen. They usually take up to five years to form.<br />
<br />
Here are a few video's about how pearls are formed and tips for Pearl shopping.<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jSwj1NpVI90" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/T18E58vOTus" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
The pearls that I now own are not the rare. However, I wonder how many people own these type. I just love them, they are mostly round, a little bumpy in places and they have a medium sheen. To me, they are more beautiful that the rare and expensive ones. What do you think? <br />
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-eqh_Y8tvMQE/UOrNsBGnY1I/AAAAAAAAA5Q/olrLBpCfas0/s640/blogger-image--434275336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-eqh_Y8tvMQE/UOrNsBGnY1I/AAAAAAAAA5Q/olrLBpCfas0/s640/blogger-image--434275336.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3PlDiWMQuFc/UOrNtnqu4HI/AAAAAAAAA5U/xVWhKHQjiM0/s640/blogger-image-265063122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3PlDiWMQuFc/UOrNtnqu4HI/AAAAAAAAA5U/xVWhKHQjiM0/s640/blogger-image-265063122.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OReXg0KK4Ng/UOrNu1eJHlI/AAAAAAAAA5g/hRP0Sv53uk4/s640/blogger-image--384457992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OReXg0KK4Ng/UOrNu1eJHlI/AAAAAAAAA5g/hRP0Sv53uk4/s640/blogger-image--384457992.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-87109290303799887502013-01-06T22:50:00.001+03:002013-01-07T00:32:57.594+03:00Long ago in Cambodia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
Just 11-12 years ago, I visited Cambodia, with some fellow teachers-Dylan and MaryBeth. To this day, we still keep in touch via facebook. Gosh, I am in my early thirties, yet Smartphones were not yet around when we were vacationing in Cambodia! I feel so old now *sigh*! So, a few weeks ago, I found my picture albums and snapped pictures via my iPhone. Thus, making me appreciate my iPhone even more.<br />
<br />
You may be wondering how I ended up in Cambodia. Did you even know I went there? During my first ever teaching job, fresh out of college, in the year of 2000, I taught Preschool in Taiwan. During a 3-day weekend, Dylan the adventurous teacher, arranged a trip to Cambodia. I was invited to come along with he and MaryBeth, and during that invitation all I could think about is "where the heck is Cambodia?" I referred to my map and found out that it sits near Vietnam and Thailand. I also learned from Dylan the vast and sad history that this country faced. It experienced a genocide! Deemed a safe country, I was ready for an adventure and glad that I didn't have to plan anything! To this day, it is one of the most impactful places that I have experienced. It's beauty and simplicity still exist in my mind and are proved in my pictures below.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-I9Ax6Q2DqZM/UOnUYfzLiSI/AAAAAAAAA1w/WemChLTw8vw/s640/blogger-image--1964234599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-I9Ax6Q2DqZM/UOnUYfzLiSI/AAAAAAAAA1w/WemChLTw8vw/s640/blogger-image--1964234599.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is a famous temple in Siem Reap, called Angkor Wat. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Y2MFi5TtNnQ/UOnUZ7cU_3I/AAAAAAAAA14/YdikCNY_WaA/s640/blogger-image--1321207672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Y2MFi5TtNnQ/UOnUZ7cU_3I/AAAAAAAAA14/YdikCNY_WaA/s640/blogger-image--1321207672.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I remember our guide telling us about this temple entrance. It was the gateway to the jungle temple.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MiEZFkS-NPk/UOnUbHkZRHI/AAAAAAAAA2A/Hjj-Qgnkl9k/s640/blogger-image--895861047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MiEZFkS-NPk/UOnUbHkZRHI/AAAAAAAAA2A/Hjj-Qgnkl9k/s640/blogger-image--895861047.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's me and our teenage guide, at a lesser known temple.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cfjhOXpkuAE/UOnUdPoO40I/AAAAAAAAA2I/sCY50WzQzVE/s640/blogger-image-1361664485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cfjhOXpkuAE/UOnUdPoO40I/AAAAAAAAA2I/sCY50WzQzVE/s640/blogger-image-1361664485.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was hot in Cambodia!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oEGe1joSDF8/UOnUeMSqvyI/AAAAAAAAA2M/ki5mptxot1w/s640/blogger-image-533794680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oEGe1joSDF8/UOnUeMSqvyI/AAAAAAAAA2M/ki5mptxot1w/s640/blogger-image-533794680.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The above and below pictures show the crumbled gates that surround the jungle temple.</div>
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xXVFzhXXOag/UOnUjRgPAxI/AAAAAAAAA20/VM-LM_8HATY/s640/blogger-image-61417940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xXVFzhXXOag/UOnUjRgPAxI/AAAAAAAAA20/VM-LM_8HATY/s640/blogger-image-61417940.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The setting of a movie scene from "Tomb Raider" with Angelina Jolie, was set here, at the Jungle Temple.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iI7lcjy35Mk/UOnUfDHtg3I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/g96tJQfBSzQ/s640/blogger-image--1641166687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iI7lcjy35Mk/UOnUfDHtg3I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/g96tJQfBSzQ/s640/blogger-image--1641166687.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
MaryBeth and I explored yet another ruined temple. They were so amazing in person!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KtOfIUczRpc/UOnUgDHJvGI/AAAAAAAAA2c/rVynxDc2zRk/s640/blogger-image-1273820523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KtOfIUczRpc/UOnUgDHJvGI/AAAAAAAAA2c/rVynxDc2zRk/s640/blogger-image-1273820523.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I believe this is at Battambang, a government building. Here, there was a Buddhist temple that we entered that was glittered with real jewels and gold-even the floor was exquisite!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-z0PdfufhVGI/UOnUgzLQhhI/AAAAAAAAA2o/jJV5AalS3s8/s640/blogger-image-1959554042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-z0PdfufhVGI/UOnUgzLQhhI/AAAAAAAAA2o/jJV5AalS3s8/s640/blogger-image-1959554042.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I took this picture, somehow, while riding on the back of a motor bike. When we visited the roads were mostly dirt roads. Motor bikes were the main mode of transportation.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aiU0ixVWkYw/UOnUiQhyIzI/AAAAAAAAA2w/7ZNH2HHWprY/s640/blogger-image--1573266553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aiU0ixVWkYw/UOnUiQhyIzI/AAAAAAAAA2w/7ZNH2HHWprY/s640/blogger-image--1573266553.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We took an elephant ride up to see some more ruins. It was fun!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-apeDlUSQFcQ/UOnUkaK235I/AAAAAAAAA3A/kyZ7rSS4Hjg/s640/blogger-image-999301065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-apeDlUSQFcQ/UOnUkaK235I/AAAAAAAAA3A/kyZ7rSS4Hjg/s640/blogger-image-999301065.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is what Americans look like after a long day of hiking, sweating and riding motor bikes through a jungle!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jhBfxRV6d2Y/UOnUloU-mmI/AAAAAAAAA3E/xJpqla1l67U/s640/blogger-image--164670162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jhBfxRV6d2Y/UOnUloU-mmI/AAAAAAAAA3E/xJpqla1l67U/s640/blogger-image--164670162.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zlybTG1kvWM/UOnVg3w4sMI/AAAAAAAAA3U/rtm0AK-5npY/s640/blogger-image--549130554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zlybTG1kvWM/UOnVg3w4sMI/AAAAAAAAA3U/rtm0AK-5npY/s640/blogger-image--549130554.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Dylan is at the top, acting like the temple's king. For some reason, we each felt so special to be walking upon a place that perhaps a former king lived.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AXiJN1cvkBs/UOnViDxDYlI/AAAAAAAAA3c/tcGbnkmS0Hw/s640/blogger-image-1803615791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AXiJN1cvkBs/UOnViDxDYlI/AAAAAAAAA3c/tcGbnkmS0Hw/s640/blogger-image-1803615791.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We came across a waterfall and so what did I do-went swimming in it! How refreshing! For some reason, that was something on my bucket list that I always wanted to do.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-sEFL-3UJnVA/UOnVjS066RI/AAAAAAAAA3g/AtaGme9YLBQ/s640/blogger-image--1515948959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-sEFL-3UJnVA/UOnVjS066RI/AAAAAAAAA3g/AtaGme9YLBQ/s640/blogger-image--1515948959.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Even though Buddhism is not my religion, I can't help but recall the beauty in such buildings.They have some nice places of worship!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, hats off to my fellow teacher friends! It was a great trip! I recommend Cambodia to anyone who is adventurous and curious about the history of other cultures! Be sure to Google Cambodia or even visit Wikipedia to find our more.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-55347412859130270712012-12-31T16:10:00.002+03:002013-01-01T11:26:14.018+03:00What Happens When You Vacation BACK to the US from Saudi Arabia?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ohPkFnX1o-g/UOGLjn1xBLI/AAAAAAAAAzw/WI1fJ-9KyPM/s1600/airplane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ohPkFnX1o-g/UOGLjn1xBLI/AAAAAAAAAzw/WI1fJ-9KyPM/s200/airplane.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image via <a href="http://www.carseatblog.com/">www.carseatblog.com</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">First of all, how was it possible that we all were
able to come back to the US for a mini-vacation? We have only been in Saudi
Arabia for 6 months. My company was so generous and thoughtful to give me and
the kids’ airline tickets to visit the US. During the month of November, I had
a bit of a “culture shock” melt down and I think my boss agreed that I just
needed a little break to refresh and recharge. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Before we flew out, each family member stated what
we needed to stock up on when we got back to the US. Other than being with and
enjoying our family, our other mission was to load up on the things that were
either too expensive or too hard to find in Saudi.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HJptFkeKXEk/UOGJ5XWp3LI/AAAAAAAAAy8/vzDDyJ-xgJk/s1600/wal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HJptFkeKXEk/UOGJ5XWp3LI/AAAAAAAAAy8/vzDDyJ-xgJk/s320/wal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The “stocking-up” began with my brother taking the
kids to Wal-Mart. Not just a regular Super Wal-Mart, but a miniature regular
sized small town Wal-Mart. His trip with them took <strike>over an hour</strike> 2 hours! My brother let
them buy whatever they wanted and it was just so funny to see the random things
that they chose to buy (based on the things that they must have missed the
most).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our
youngest son bought:<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Chocolate donuts and beef jerkey<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Angry bird game and watch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Trident ice-cream flavored gum –and a<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">12 pack of Capri Sun drinks! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-layyR1pRvxM/UOGOo8X86mI/AAAAAAAAA08/XugUda08CGA/s1600/do.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-layyR1pRvxM/UOGOo8X86mI/AAAAAAAAA08/XugUda08CGA/s1600/do.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our
daughter bought: <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">US Weekly magazine<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Press on finger-nails complete with art
designs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">12 pack of HUGS juice drinks –and a<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mini-video camera</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EEgE8sdW95E/UOGN1AYa0vI/AAAAAAAAA00/SaBW7-HJEbw/s1600/us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EEgE8sdW95E/UOGN1AYa0vI/AAAAAAAAA00/SaBW7-HJEbw/s320/us.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our
oldest son bought:<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Beef Jerkey<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">gum and candy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A remote control helicopter</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">While the kids were going crazy at the little
Wal-Mart, the hubby and I were hoarding items at the Super Wal-Mart in the next
city over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Here
is what we (mostly me) bought:<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">5 boxes of Cold-brew Lipton Iced Tea
bags<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">5 tubes of Burt’s Bee’s chapstick<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">5 automatic eye-liners (self-sharpening)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My favorite shampoo and conditioner <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Tomato bouillon cubes<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Goldfish snacks and Cheez-itz</span><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Chili powder (to make home-ade chili
with)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ranch Dressing mix<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Creamy peanut butter-3 jars<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Grits (oh, how I missed them!)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">4 bottles of makeup foundation, powder,
eye shadow and lipstick<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Tampons<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Saltine crackers<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Loads of kids Tylenol chewable tablets
and chewable Pepto Bismol tablets <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Socks for the boys</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1N7zwOxsO5Y/UOGM1AS85BI/AAAAAAAAAz8/iuCR5b3UpQY/s1600/gr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1N7zwOxsO5Y/UOGM1AS85BI/AAAAAAAAAz8/iuCR5b3UpQY/s200/gr.jpg" width="112" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Things
I forgot to bring back</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(dang it! why didn’t I think of that while I
was there!)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Chef Boyardee Ravioli<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Neosporin<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Bengeit mix (not available, sadly)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hot Tamales candy<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Bubble-icious-gum<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After our major splurging trip, we made sure to eat
at our favorite places throughout the week. We went to: Larry’s BBQ-twice, Cracker
Barell, Captain D’s, McDonald’s (for breakfast), IHOP, Chick-fil-A and Olive
Garden. Stores we (me) got carried away in were: Old Navy, Bath & Body
Works, JCPenny, Dillards, WAL-MART, Target, Barnes & Noble, Michael’s, Kohl’s
and several shoe stores.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I was sure to also bring back many children’s books,
Beth Moore and Joel Osteen studies, a mini-Christmas tree for each child, new
clothes and shoes for the whole family, magazines and my Keurig coffee maker!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-td79--MNsQM/UOGNLliEaqI/AAAAAAAAA0s/QL9Zr9rjqT8/s1600/k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-td79--MNsQM/UOGNLliEaqI/AAAAAAAAA0s/QL9Zr9rjqT8/s200/k.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Of course there were more high-lights of our trip,
but the best ones of all were spending time with friends and family that we
hadn’t seen in years! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-69012394972131120612012-12-08T13:41:00.000+03:002012-12-08T23:13:29.167+03:00Wild Monkeys!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EI33zb2v5eE/UMObI03QNZI/AAAAAAAACUg/JltzFfYj0Xc/s1600/untitled-(294-of-418)-WO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EI33zb2v5eE/UMObI03QNZI/AAAAAAAACUg/JltzFfYj0Xc/s640/untitled-(294-of-418)-WO.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It is hard to believe that my family has been in Saudi Arabia for 6 months now! We are lucky to have relatives close by to fill us in on things to do. Life here can get a bit boring. Why? Well, we can’t just walk outside our apartment and go for a walk. We do sometimes, but only when we need to get a snack or a few groceries. (I am notorious for “forgetting” to buy things when we go to the grocery store!) We don’t have the “American” luxuries of our Texas neighborhood, where we had a pool and a playground nearby. Unlike most western expats we live in an </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">apartment</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> instead of a compound.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WSHRB38q2UI/UMOcOndMjAI/AAAAAAAACUo/nWUpD-yoBD4/s1600/untitled-(9-of-91)-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WSHRB38q2UI/UMOcOndMjAI/AAAAAAAACUo/nWUpD-yoBD4/s320/untitled-(9-of-91)-Edit.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, let me get back to why I am writing this blog post today. Well, over the weekend, we had an amazing little adventure…..with monkeys! Before I tell you about the monkeys, let me tell you about the events leading up to it. We left at sunset and drove towards the mountains. It was about a 3 ½ hour trip and my 2 brother in laws and sister in law joined us. The kids rode with them most of the way and gave Sohail and I little break from “he hit me” and “she touched me!” We drove past Taif to a city called Shifa. We stopped for some roasted corn, fresh fruit and our dinner of roasted chicken and rice. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WSHRB38q2UI/UMOcOndMjAI/AAAAAAAACUo/nWUpD-yoBD4/s1600/untitled-(9-of-91)-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NqC1JE_x9QU/UMOcy--VuyI/AAAAAAAACUw/E2etKXANWhI/s1600/untitled+(19+of+91).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NqC1JE_x9QU/UMOcy--VuyI/AAAAAAAACUw/E2etKXANWhI/s320/untitled+(19+of+91).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Then, we checked into a resort that my husband and his brothers had stayed in last year. It was a sweet little villa type home that had a kitchen,a living room, 4 bathrooms and 4 bedrooms. It was not a Hilton, but was nice and clean and we loved it! It had a playground that we played on at night time and we also made a fire. The kids had fun burning wood and making torches! What we loved about our stay was that it was cold. It felt like December in the mountains! We wore sweatshirts and jackets and were freezing! Compared to the daily winter weather of 90 degrees Fahrenheit, this mountain air was amazing!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The next morning we slept past noon and then checked out of the resort. We headed back down the mountain on the ever so winding road! We stopped to see </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">cactus</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> and flowers. And then….we saw WILD MONKEYS! We pulled to the side of the road and saw so many…they were climbing the mountains in packs! There were large daddy monkeys with furry manes and medium sized mommy monkeys with babies either on their backs or stomachs. We decided to feed the monkeys and pulled out some apples and bananas. Several monkeys then jumped on our car. They were so big and my daughter screamed as my little boys laughed hysterically. After the monkeys jumped off our car, we threw the fruit out the window. It was so cute to see them holding the fruit like people do! However,the big daddy monkey kept taking it all and not sharing! We were astonished at such selfish behavior! Oh well. After our fruit was gone, we continued down the spiraling road. A few hours later, in Taif, we stopped at another local fruit stand and bought strawberries, tiny red apples, tangerines and baby bananas!Then, about an hour later we saw more MONKEYS! This time, our little one threw an apple and the daddy monkey caught it! Oh what an adventure!</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> We then stopped to take pictures of the mountains-we couldn't resist!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>To end our adventure, all the kids chanted “we have to go to the bathroom!” So, we found a rest area and my daughter and I endured the “squatty potties” again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No problem-we are used to it now! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YbHJDbw2ldw/UMMUQji5XMI/AAAAAAAAAvc/aNnHrstmbbc/s640/blogger-image--115520607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YbHJDbw2ldw/UMMUQji5XMI/AAAAAAAAAvc/aNnHrstmbbc/s640/blogger-image--115520607.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FjolFNnagf0/UMMXoIWQOJI/AAAAAAAAAws/EdwDqR94k9k/s640/blogger-image-1812521311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FjolFNnagf0/UMMXoIWQOJI/AAAAAAAAAws/EdwDqR94k9k/s640/blogger-image-1812521311.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-IdecpIwoohk/UMMUfvC6mkI/AAAAAAAAAvk/JcrDFeGaYfs/s640/blogger-image-606463384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-IdecpIwoohk/UMMUfvC6mkI/AAAAAAAAAvk/JcrDFeGaYfs/s640/blogger-image-606463384.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AdN1Gs7MOUU/UMMUESl6_OI/AAAAAAAAAvU/fEEPS1ph_PA/s640/blogger-image--1814545726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AdN1Gs7MOUU/UMMUESl6_OI/AAAAAAAAAvU/fEEPS1ph_PA/s640/blogger-image--1814545726.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EiKaisrRoes/UMMUheYoaiI/AAAAAAAAAvs/Ck9pN0wJWvA/s640/blogger-image--652330955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EiKaisrRoes/UMMUheYoaiI/AAAAAAAAAvs/Ck9pN0wJWvA/s640/blogger-image--652330955.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2Q2T_Q8n4YM/UMMUjefm9LI/AAAAAAAAAv0/VSmCJAt-sBI/s640/blogger-image--487126369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2Q2T_Q8n4YM/UMMUjefm9LI/AAAAAAAAAv0/VSmCJAt-sBI/s1600/blogger-image--487126369.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-di5gnLQbZIY/UMMXqMffk9I/AAAAAAAAAw0/Qn91KBLdpes/s640/blogger-image--1157604975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-di5gnLQbZIY/UMMXqMffk9I/AAAAAAAAAw0/Qn91KBLdpes/s640/blogger-image--1157604975.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1-hUc61gGjY/UMMXrlxdNsI/AAAAAAAAAw8/ZSj0cJkZXss/s640/blogger-image-284693821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1-hUc61gGjY/UMMXrlxdNsI/AAAAAAAAAw8/ZSj0cJkZXss/s640/blogger-image-284693821.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KmP9lKuxq1c/UMMXtB4HP9I/AAAAAAAAAxE/7SYqAb5h7OU/s640/blogger-image-1590712576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KmP9lKuxq1c/UMMXtB4HP9I/AAAAAAAAAxE/7SYqAb5h7OU/s640/blogger-image-1590712576.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SH_txSPot5k/UMMXuScpK-I/AAAAAAAAAxM/oLroC_y0ix4/s640/blogger-image-2144920804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SH_txSPot5k/UMMXuScpK-I/AAAAAAAAAxM/oLroC_y0ix4/s640/blogger-image-2144920804.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Tws45P0CbjI/UMMXvgkbQvI/AAAAAAAAAxU/RJHsK9BkVT8/s640/blogger-image--405297124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Tws45P0CbjI/UMMXvgkbQvI/AAAAAAAAAxU/RJHsK9BkVT8/s640/blogger-image--405297124.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9Lse1lPySZ4/UMMXxCVD1rI/AAAAAAAAAxc/YxwQZkp4j9Y/s640/blogger-image-1796910544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9Lse1lPySZ4/UMMXxCVD1rI/AAAAAAAAAxc/YxwQZkp4j9Y/s640/blogger-image-1796910544.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SmtLCOcy1JM/UMMaB9DvpUI/AAAAAAAAAxk/q6wAyZKLRbs/s640/blogger-image-630127793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SmtLCOcy1JM/UMMaB9DvpUI/AAAAAAAAAxk/q6wAyZKLRbs/s640/blogger-image-630127793.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qyqK0NbtqZE/UMMaDJzRYyI/AAAAAAAAAxs/M638356uS2c/s640/blogger-image-284114707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qyqK0NbtqZE/UMMaDJzRYyI/AAAAAAAAAxs/M638356uS2c/s640/blogger-image-284114707.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9ZkRR0xT7Cw/UMMaEzNhR1I/AAAAAAAAAx0/jOHavm9hylk/s640/blogger-image-939688401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9ZkRR0xT7Cw/UMMaEzNhR1I/AAAAAAAAAx0/jOHavm9hylk/s640/blogger-image-939688401.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wq2CUc8KilI/UMMaG5MgpYI/AAAAAAAAAx8/I5AvAXZh9_w/s640/blogger-image--380772752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wq2CUc8KilI/UMMaG5MgpYI/AAAAAAAAAx8/I5AvAXZh9_w/s640/blogger-image--380772752.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KRRt3bheSyU/UMMaKtu9RKI/AAAAAAAAAyE/v87KY6Z0Mzg/s640/blogger-image-560016064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KRRt3bheSyU/UMMaKtu9RKI/AAAAAAAAAyE/v87KY6Z0Mzg/s640/blogger-image-560016064.jpg" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-60575273673421548982012-11-29T18:43:00.001+03:002012-11-29T18:43:34.858+03:00Family Day!Today, we had a family day at the beach. We arrived about an hour before sunset, where the kids played on a few of the playgrounds lined up in the sand. We saw some locals picnicking near the water. We then bought a kite from a lady who had a makeshift store laid on top of a blanket on the sand. As the sun began to set, the cotton candy vendors emerged and so we bought some (at a quarter a bag!). We ended the night by wasting money on some light up toys for the kids. Total cost-less than $10! <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0NREe3uQM1I/ULeCgHrc5LI/AAAAAAAAAtk/N6Z9VKbGzM0/s640/blogger-image-1940228324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0NREe3uQM1I/ULeCgHrc5LI/AAAAAAAAAtk/N6Z9VKbGzM0/s640/blogger-image-1940228324.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7bIKpf4d8xg/ULeCg5TwiKI/AAAAAAAAAts/HKuh0cmDghk/s640/blogger-image-372065507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7bIKpf4d8xg/ULeCg5TwiKI/AAAAAAAAAts/HKuh0cmDghk/s640/blogger-image-372065507.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5uL3ZVM3W1M/ULeChlDot7I/AAAAAAAAAt0/l0EXneNH50A/s640/blogger-image-674461315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5uL3ZVM3W1M/ULeChlDot7I/AAAAAAAAAt0/l0EXneNH50A/s640/blogger-image-674461315.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r8y8seh2Vmo/ULeCi9d0LDI/AAAAAAAAAt8/W31EXXnZ83k/s640/blogger-image-270806902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r8y8seh2Vmo/ULeCi9d0LDI/AAAAAAAAAt8/W31EXXnZ83k/s640/blogger-image-270806902.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nV1fmOcKM9M/ULeCkgsTs7I/AAAAAAAAAuE/iLNfJOheLuI/s640/blogger-image-160767894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nV1fmOcKM9M/ULeCkgsTs7I/AAAAAAAAAuE/iLNfJOheLuI/s640/blogger-image-160767894.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ACKl64hMuR4/ULeCljH_coI/AAAAAAAAAuI/ApsP_HwjugQ/s640/blogger-image-570532577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ACKl64hMuR4/ULeCljH_coI/AAAAAAAAAuI/ApsP_HwjugQ/s640/blogger-image-570532577.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ETzHDEDMRpo/ULeCmyMVp3I/AAAAAAAAAuQ/QtJzgVtoMGQ/s640/blogger-image--547881592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ETzHDEDMRpo/ULeCmyMVp3I/AAAAAAAAAuQ/QtJzgVtoMGQ/s640/blogger-image--547881592.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-171mlPkYjEs/ULeCnkKSTGI/AAAAAAAAAuc/7zyp7SYLg4U/s640/blogger-image--820040186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-171mlPkYjEs/ULeCnkKSTGI/AAAAAAAAAuc/7zyp7SYLg4U/s640/blogger-image--820040186.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tya27CC6yZQ/ULeCoW1FJXI/AAAAAAAAAuk/TSnxMUk25AM/s640/blogger-image-1584100713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tya27CC6yZQ/ULeCoW1FJXI/AAAAAAAAAuk/TSnxMUk25AM/s640/blogger-image-1584100713.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-85542714515695473462012-11-24T15:45:00.000+03:002012-11-24T15:47:54.630+03:00An American Thanksgiving in Saudi Arabia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><img height="125" id="il_fi" src="http://www.clipartpal.com/_thumbs/pd/holiday/thanksgiving/kids_w_turkey.png" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">One week before Thanksgiving, I searched several super markets and did not find a turkey. Luckily, my brother in law came to the rescue and talked to a very important person. He found out that some turkeys had recently been delivered to Sarawat Store. So, with our three children in tow, we went and bought three turkeys. Thanksgiving Day was on Thursday, the first day of our weekend here (the work week is Saturday-Wednesday and the weekend is Thursday and Friday). </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After getting off of work Wednesday, I began prepping all the meals. The next day at noon, Sohail and I spiced up the turkeys and began our adventure of cooking. Keep in mind that our German sized oven has no temperature setting. It is run by gas and literally has fire on the top and bottom of the inside of the oven. So, we bought a convection oven that is run on Celsius (even though I have always cooked using Fahrenheit). Then,we borrowed another oven from our sister in law. Each oven had a turkey in it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">By 6 pm our guests arrived: my two brother-in-laws and sister in law from Pakistan, my friend from Australia & her family and my friend from Dubai & her family. Instead of being the common host, I put my guests to work! They were so willing also-the true mark of good friends! Everyone helped do one of the following:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>make the mini-apple pies, make fresh whipped cream, decorate the deviled eggs, set the table and more. I couldn’t have pulled it off without their help! In the US I would have had 2-3 days off of work, at least, for preparations.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I must say that the food was absolutely delicious!It was exactly how I would have cooked it in the US. I served cornbread stuffing, green bean casserole, homemade turkey gravy, cranberry sauce, twice baked mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and apple pie. To top it off, we had Lemon cheesecake from Jade and Strawberry Delight from Farwa. Oops-we forgot to drink our fake wine (sparkling apple juice) from Amena! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The kids fixed each other’s hair and makeup. Cute little baby Adam found every open socket on the wall (sorry Amena) and we adults enjoyed talking about our new lives in Saudi Arabia. It was a night to remember!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6Tqpda18JIk/ULC-rweY5YI/AAAAAAAAArk/SUYjaVALCT0/s640/blogger-image-1078828324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6Tqpda18JIk/ULC-rweY5YI/AAAAAAAAArk/SUYjaVALCT0/s400/blogger-image-1078828324.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am thankful for new friends!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nSxlDXwgS_Q/ULC-s71A_zI/AAAAAAAAAro/t2W7a47aWPk/s640/blogger-image-564966589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nSxlDXwgS_Q/ULC-s71A_zI/AAAAAAAAAro/t2W7a47aWPk/s400/blogger-image-564966589.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The happy couple!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KOv1xn7WQsE/ULC-uQJm26I/AAAAAAAAAr0/wM50ueGaxC4/s640/blogger-image-703291113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KOv1xn7WQsE/ULC-uQJm26I/AAAAAAAAAr0/wM50ueGaxC4/s400/blogger-image-703291113.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The infamous "Turkey 1"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4ibP8HHrdEg/ULC-vconjYI/AAAAAAAAAr8/_aS2wzO-Tl4/s640/blogger-image--1197550720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4ibP8HHrdEg/ULC-vconjYI/AAAAAAAAAr8/_aS2wzO-Tl4/s400/blogger-image--1197550720.jpg" width="387" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am thankful for more new friends!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JyGcSufGYc0/ULC-wjmphaI/AAAAAAAAAsE/OpYZ_E1aBpY/s640/blogger-image--1425081563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JyGcSufGYc0/ULC-wjmphaI/AAAAAAAAAsE/OpYZ_E1aBpY/s400/blogger-image--1425081563.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Turkey 2</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-UscqLzEh0oc/ULC-xwts1-I/AAAAAAAAAsM/wiQLhmEIt44/s640/blogger-image--745644838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-UscqLzEh0oc/ULC-xwts1-I/AAAAAAAAAsM/wiQLhmEIt44/s400/blogger-image--745644838.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Turkey 3</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Dm_KwNeTrF8/ULC-zcrwbKI/AAAAAAAAAsU/0ijH2KunVL0/s640/blogger-image--817686380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Dm_KwNeTrF8/ULC-zcrwbKI/AAAAAAAAAsU/0ijH2KunVL0/s400/blogger-image--817686380.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Mini Apple Pie-1 for each guest</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aSsiSR6YDw0/ULC-0XLxirI/AAAAAAAAAsc/L6kWU2aBvlw/s640/blogger-image-1868995334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aSsiSR6YDw0/ULC-0XLxirI/AAAAAAAAAsc/L6kWU2aBvlw/s640/blogger-image-1868995334.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Thanksgiving Meal!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-x5Ud2jiJfF8/ULC-1UTmRpI/AAAAAAAAAsk/7C00O3HCgT4/s640/blogger-image-1512879851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-x5Ud2jiJfF8/ULC-1UTmRpI/AAAAAAAAAsk/7C00O3HCgT4/s640/blogger-image-1512879851.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The after-party!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qpEMRe34CVg/ULC-2J2tXbI/AAAAAAAAAso/8iP9npsoqNM/s640/blogger-image--84987043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qpEMRe34CVg/ULC-2J2tXbI/AAAAAAAAAso/8iP9npsoqNM/s400/blogger-image--84987043.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Deviled Eggs!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nTWQonH7aF0/ULC-3Qc3LNI/AAAAAAAAAs0/TpYLNA5qZH0/s640/blogger-image-1687479440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nTWQonH7aF0/ULC-3Qc3LNI/AAAAAAAAAs0/TpYLNA5qZH0/s400/blogger-image-1687479440.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Green Bean Casserole!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Oh no, I forgot to take pictures of everyone else-sorry guys!</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-38023828135913888932012-11-10T09:37:00.000+03:002012-11-10T09:37:47.580+03:00Life as a Saudi Woman-What is it Like?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="nospace" style="background: white; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
“A Day in the Life of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a
Muslim Woman” is a YouTube video that shows a live, casual interview with a
Saudi woman. The video outlines her typical day in Saudi Arabia. Several positives
and realities are outlined within the video.<br />
<o:p></o:p> </div>
</div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Mv4Mb_TAfbU" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Sources:
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://leanman.hubpages.com/hub/Expat-Living-and-Working-in-Saudi-Arabia-Rules-Regulations-Laws">http://leanman.hubpages.com/hub/Expat-Living-and-Working-in-Saudi-Arabia-Rules-Regulations-Laws</a>
<br />
<br />
Thank you "leanman" for sharing this video on your site! -Andrea</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-64729382897180618982012-11-08T10:34:00.001+03:002012-12-05T16:17:28.440+03:00Culture Shock in Saudi Arabia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: white; border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img height="302" src="http://www.arthursclipart.org/homes/homes/arabian.gif" width="400" /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Culture
shock is defined in Collins American Dictionary as: “</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">feelings</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> of </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">isolation,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> rejection, etc, experienced when one </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">culture</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> is </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">brought</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> into sudden contact with another, as when a </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">primitive</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> <span style="color: black;">tribe </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">is</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">confronted</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> by modern civilization.” </span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Did you know, that no one is immune to culture
shock, no matter our prior travelling experiences? Several stages occur when
one is immersed in another culture. The first stage is “the honeymoon phase”
where everything seems new and perfect and exciting. I did go through that
stage already and it lasted about 2 months. Then, Ramadan happened and that was
a bit hard adjusting to having no eating places open for breakfast or lunch
(even Starbucks!) I made it through. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The second stage is “The Honeymoon is Over Phase.” One
is inundated with sadness and/or anger. Everything just seems wrong and total opposite
of what you are used to. The people and their practices seem strange, transportation
practices are odd and hygiene practices become strange. This is by far the toughest stage. I experienced
some moments of sadness, but just a few times. I cried a few times when my oven
exploded-twice <span style="color: purple;">(Since writing this, I got a small counter top electric oven, to avoid future explosions)</span>. I also cried when I locked myself out of my apartment by
accident and had to wait an hour to get back in (<span style="color: purple;">I've done this once again, since writing this</span>). So, my tears were more of
frustration than of sadness and this happened just in certain situations. Next,
was being angry and this is the stage that I went through several weeks ago. I was
in the mood of blaming difficult situations on the country itself. I was angry
that my kids school was not anything like what I expected. I was angry that I
am still on a Visit visa (after 4 months)! Also, I was just plain sad and angry
about the weight that I am gaining here. On the other hand, sadness emerged
when I realized that there is no place near our apartment for children to play
at-like parks, sidewalks, etc…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The third
phase is the “Negotiation Phase” where one decides to either deal with it all
or leave and go back to the country where you began. This is a tough place to
be, mentally. It is hard to sleep and hard to be out in the new society. Your
mind is filled with constant questioning and decision making.<span style="color: purple;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“The everything’s ok Stage” is the fourth one. You begin
understanding and accepting the ways of
the people. You can communicate with the locals and you don’t feel like an
outsider anymore. This stage occurred when I initially arrived to Saudi Arabia.
I felt like I blended in nicely being
that most of the people here speak English. Many are from: the Phillipines,
Pakistan, Africa and Bangladesh, India, South African, the UK, Australia, and
Egypt. On the other hand, Last month, I
ran into a very mean lady who yelled at me because she did not get her order
taken before me at Starbucks. I was in line in front of her! This was a
shocking incident, to say the least! Also, I had a lady bash me with her
shopping cart-twice-and I still don’t know why! Thankfully, I have met some very
nice and friendly locals too. The mean ones just tend to stick out more
(sadly). So, I guess I can safely say that I have accumulated to the culture by
experiencing both negative and positive social actions!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">My anger and sadness has luckily passed, although it
took over a month. It was during month 4 of living here. Month 5 has amazingly
begun and I am mentally doing just fine. I have accepted the culture and
learned where not to go when I am in a bad mood. I have also realized that by
going shopping in the daylight hours, I see more expats! I have recently had
some new opportunities here presented to me. As a result, my spirits have
lifted and I am looking forward to our continued future here in Saudi Arabia! -Andrea</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p>*Update*</o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p>I am now in my 6th month. I am have been in the "negotiating stage" for the last part of month 5 and it has been 2 1/2 weeks of negotiating. How wierd it is to go through this stage. For today, at least, I am over it and past it. I hope this stage doesn't come back. It was very dark and sad. At least twice a day, I made plans of working somewhere else, living somewhere else, and moving somewhere else...anywhere but here! I drove myself crazy making decisions and changing decisions back and forth. I simply could not find a solution for all of my "problems" that I was facing. During this time, in desperation, I talked to my friends and family on the phone, on facebook, and through e-mail....about 15 people total. I felt really crazy and out of my mind...but honestly, getting their perspective and honest advice really helped me. They all gave the same advice as well. "Just stick with this-you can do it-chin up-etc....." I also read ALOT of other expat blogs from Americans living in other countries. So many of them were experiencing the same "culture shock" type feelings. I did not feel crazy anymore-whew! The most important factor that I haven't mentioned yet is that my faith in God has guided me through this. Through daily prayer and reading of the Word, I was able to put some positive thinking into my emotional heart. I kept hearing "wait" and "be patient." It was so hard, but God did bring me over this hump. I feel very humbled now and know that without God as my guide, I would have gone literally-crazy! I am thankful that it didn't happen.</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Sources:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.hziegler.com/articles/culture-shock.html">http://www.hziegler.com/articles/culture-shock.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Clipart from: arthursclipart.org</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 21px;">For your entertainment, check out this video that represents how one feels when moving into a new country:</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EkZyvDZFC8Q" width="420"></iframe> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17351767318857828506noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-25171562148197268942012-10-31T00:24:00.000+03:002012-11-07T17:33:56.718+03:00Visiting a American-like city, Within the Desert<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yes, after 4 months of living in "Opposite World," as we all call it now, I was ready to take a little break and step back into someplace different that was a little more "Americanized." So, my sweet husband drove me 3 1/2 hours away to a quaint little city called Yanbu. He actually grew up in Yanbu, as a young child and he took us on a family tour through the neighborhood that looked like a little piece of America. I was amazed and thrilled to see cute little houses sitting on green grassy yards. The streets were nicely paved, without potholes. Unlike Jeddah, people obeyed traffic lights, followed the speed limit and stopped at stop signs. Parks and playgrounds sat on the corners of several neighborhoods. For a moment, I felt like I was in Florida as we drove between a long stretch of towering palm trees.<br />
<br />
During our day trip, we decided to spend the night in a hotel and believe it or not, we stayed in a Radisson. It was more pricey than we planned, but there were no available rooms elsewhere. This was the end of the Hajj vacation, so we should have known. On the other hand, the cost was about 70% of what we would have paid in Florida for a beach front room.<br />
<br />
We awoke to a nice "super-sized" American style breakfast buffet. It was complete with bacon, waffles, fresh fruit, cereal and omelettes. It was so tasty! Not too far away, we could see the beach outside of our window. It was pretty much deserted so we thought we would go for a swim. Being that we were near the industrial part of Yanbu, the beaches had a little grime and slime along the shore. We decided to just stand and look at the water, instead of swim in it! Either way, it was nice to be able to drive our car right up on the sand near the water.<br />
<br />
After not swimming at the Beach, we went for a little drive past the shipyard. We saw the import "ports" and a cute little orange tugboat. Next, we happened upon a historical site where old buildings were toppled one on top of the other. The archways of the former doors and windows were strikingly exquisite! The blue, red and green doors were like artwork just sitting there waiting to be discovered. So, once again, I pulled out my trusty iPhone and snapped some photo's of "Old Yanbu."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Q_xoE9XbAeA/UI_MvcBhk6I/AAAAAAAAAoo/ziUWy-cJchI/s640/blogger-image-389429024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Q_xoE9XbAeA/UI_MvcBhk6I/AAAAAAAAAoo/ziUWy-cJchI/s640/blogger-image-389429024.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VHpPq5pGuG0/UI_MxfcAJ5I/AAAAAAAAAow/ofKSkNJvt-s/s640/blogger-image--250447077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VHpPq5pGuG0/UI_MxfcAJ5I/AAAAAAAAAow/ofKSkNJvt-s/s640/blogger-image--250447077.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KQydOc6yWog/UI_MzZcP0uI/AAAAAAAAAo4/Cb4Xg8-VGYo/s640/blogger-image-1349621121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KQydOc6yWog/UI_MzZcP0uI/AAAAAAAAAo4/Cb4Xg8-VGYo/s640/blogger-image-1349621121.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YeT3PPNB2tA/UI_M0b-i_fI/AAAAAAAAApA/ENyvujQhDQo/s640/blogger-image--1513803009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YeT3PPNB2tA/UI_M0b-i_fI/AAAAAAAAApA/ENyvujQhDQo/s640/blogger-image--1513803009.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OOpeCqEQSAI/UI_M1lN1LWI/AAAAAAAAApI/g948leDzEE0/s640/blogger-image--1209468586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OOpeCqEQSAI/UI_M1lN1LWI/AAAAAAAAApI/g948leDzEE0/s640/blogger-image--1209468586.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UsLn4dtfEdM/UI_M27KvR4I/AAAAAAAAApQ/CQRKJWdtcDI/s640/blogger-image--1306949756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UsLn4dtfEdM/UI_M27KvR4I/AAAAAAAAApQ/CQRKJWdtcDI/s640/blogger-image--1306949756.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1tQWVcfQzDY/UI_M4PasvHI/AAAAAAAAApY/7WTu1ga5WDo/s640/blogger-image-479330117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1tQWVcfQzDY/UI_M4PasvHI/AAAAAAAAApY/7WTu1ga5WDo/s640/blogger-image-479330117.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Nb2f07GRN7o/UI_M5T7W8sI/AAAAAAAAApg/bbzTo1O17uw/s640/blogger-image-2016253102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Nb2f07GRN7o/UI_M5T7W8sI/AAAAAAAAApg/bbzTo1O17uw/s640/blogger-image-2016253102.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4DOzAFRzSmk/UI_M6e9Vs1I/AAAAAAAAApo/1_z-Rz-YEUI/s640/blogger-image-400349029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4DOzAFRzSmk/UI_M6e9Vs1I/AAAAAAAAApo/1_z-Rz-YEUI/s640/blogger-image-400349029.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aP2AgQGiq44/UI_M7jh9FNI/AAAAAAAAApw/TRyeBb3ndpk/s640/blogger-image-591577899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aP2AgQGiq44/UI_M7jh9FNI/AAAAAAAAApw/TRyeBb3ndpk/s640/blogger-image-591577899.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0HzO0Zbi404/UI_M8291mWI/AAAAAAAAAp4/Ojm6rj87cnQ/s640/blogger-image--551987768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0HzO0Zbi404/UI_M8291mWI/AAAAAAAAAp4/Ojm6rj87cnQ/s640/blogger-image--551987768.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MNyAvUvBwak/UI_M9-QpZoI/AAAAAAAAAqA/d9FoR1Ivt80/s640/blogger-image--1311277379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MNyAvUvBwak/UI_M9-QpZoI/AAAAAAAAAqA/d9FoR1Ivt80/s640/blogger-image--1311277379.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5L2sj2Cc_0w/UI_M_S1UVZI/AAAAAAAAAqI/XLoJYSJSQCA/s640/blogger-image--686405138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5L2sj2Cc_0w/UI_M_S1UVZI/AAAAAAAAAqI/XLoJYSJSQCA/s640/blogger-image--686405138.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JDp4e4Vbgzs/UI_NABJ39mI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/IdVTleir2Bw/s640/blogger-image--754489489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JDp4e4Vbgzs/UI_NABJ39mI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/IdVTleir2Bw/s640/blogger-image--754489489.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qBa9RhTc65s/UI_NBZs0eII/AAAAAAAAAqY/L98xYIvY4WA/s640/blogger-image--1209872479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qBa9RhTc65s/UI_NBZs0eII/AAAAAAAAAqY/L98xYIvY4WA/s640/blogger-image--1209872479.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cG43ezljZRU/UI_NDEwxdrI/AAAAAAAAAqg/iZzd9n4EgHw/s640/blogger-image--563004985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cG43ezljZRU/UI_NDEwxdrI/AAAAAAAAAqg/iZzd9n4EgHw/s640/blogger-image--563004985.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-j1-O4EbD3G4/UI_NEdkxfRI/AAAAAAAAAqo/dQUfV11Sqhc/s640/blogger-image-498732797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-j1-O4EbD3G4/UI_NEdkxfRI/AAAAAAAAAqo/dQUfV11Sqhc/s640/blogger-image-498732797.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u4ry5Y5m6YA/UI_NGLzDCSI/AAAAAAAAAqw/RKJ4GoZs2Ds/s640/blogger-image--494754064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u4ry5Y5m6YA/UI_NGLzDCSI/AAAAAAAAAqw/RKJ4GoZs2Ds/s640/blogger-image--494754064.jpg" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-61094451308683173012012-10-25T20:48:00.001+03:002012-10-28T03:01:12.173+03:00Small Town Charm in Saudi Arabia!We went on an adventure today to Al Balad, also known as "Old Jeddah." I was surprised to see that people still lived in the dilapidated buildings. For some reason though, Al Balad has such charm! Children play in the grassy areas, men are seen biking, and women walk down the silent streets as they are covered in black from head to toe. I guess the charm comes from the fact that this is still a part of Saudi Arabia, yet it feels so different. The pockets of colors on the windows and doors and the age old trees between nearby buildings brought such warm feelings. Here, the little boys begged to have their picture taken-and I gladly did. It was like a miniature small town where people weed out and about instead of hidden inside the privacy of their own homes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2iqtyHfloic/UIrFP-l47II/AAAAAAAAAmc/we2K_fwMLgY/s640/blogger-image-1828572406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2iqtyHfloic/UIrFP-l47II/AAAAAAAAAmc/we2K_fwMLgY/s400/blogger-image-1828572406.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zFPkI-guwZg/UIrFRtuOc5I/AAAAAAAAAmk/v5rGd9dwwws/s640/blogger-image-883758352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zFPkI-guwZg/UIrFRtuOc5I/AAAAAAAAAmk/v5rGd9dwwws/s640/blogger-image-883758352.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Sz_V_pa79y4/UIl7XuQMc7I/AAAAAAAAAko/efxqRImysEs/s640/blogger-image--1279520741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Sz_V_pa79y4/UIl7XuQMc7I/AAAAAAAAAko/efxqRImysEs/s640/blogger-image--1279520741.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZY-RTxPCDJI/UIrFSoHzhmI/AAAAAAAAAms/TM7ssE2f1Kw/s640/blogger-image--518460784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZY-RTxPCDJI/UIrFSoHzhmI/AAAAAAAAAms/TM7ssE2f1Kw/s400/blogger-image--518460784.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-E-Ax4iOt9BU/UIrFTnuVj5I/AAAAAAAAAm0/rbNRdgBYaa0/s640/blogger-image--684923545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-E-Ax4iOt9BU/UIrFTnuVj5I/AAAAAAAAAm0/rbNRdgBYaa0/s640/blogger-image--684923545.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1W3Yo_dnf5U/UIl7bKmSZ6I/AAAAAAAAAlI/ISeIxoO0W4A/s640/blogger-image--1390410475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1W3Yo_dnf5U/UIl7bKmSZ6I/AAAAAAAAAlI/ISeIxoO0W4A/s640/blogger-image--1390410475.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NdEvHlHEhZo/UIrFU-MrK-I/AAAAAAAAAm8/Pemw2leR7Rk/s640/blogger-image-919084617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NdEvHlHEhZo/UIrFU-MrK-I/AAAAAAAAAm8/Pemw2leR7Rk/s640/blogger-image-919084617.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-eajmYNQgqTQ/UIrFV7S66hI/AAAAAAAAAnE/dnSKh6wLYEg/s640/blogger-image--1539985656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-eajmYNQgqTQ/UIrFV7S66hI/AAAAAAAAAnE/dnSKh6wLYEg/s640/blogger-image--1539985656.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1_CHUFwIu-M/UIl7bxbVb6I/AAAAAAAAAlQ/20toNURkRjs/s640/blogger-image--1474912574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1_CHUFwIu-M/UIl7bxbVb6I/AAAAAAAAAlQ/20toNURkRjs/s640/blogger-image--1474912574.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-f_U9mRcdYLo/UIl7VR_y3OI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/o09O3MPFU5g/s640/blogger-image--1453966884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-f_U9mRcdYLo/UIl7VR_y3OI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/o09O3MPFU5g/s640/blogger-image--1453966884.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-43grsVrAiDc/UIl7aD0WMFI/AAAAAAAAAlA/rEyQowcJFB4/s640/blogger-image--472205407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-43grsVrAiDc/UIl7aD0WMFI/AAAAAAAAAlA/rEyQowcJFB4/s640/blogger-image--472205407.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3ncaOXHnp0c/UIl7WJG2SzI/AAAAAAAAAkY/83uB4Xjs8zI/s640/blogger-image-67646918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3ncaOXHnp0c/UIl7WJG2SzI/AAAAAAAAAkY/83uB4Xjs8zI/s640/blogger-image-67646918.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3cxDDiVDTIc/UIrFXT2i_YI/AAAAAAAAAnM/g6-avvgZ3Dg/s640/blogger-image--1391638752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3cxDDiVDTIc/UIrFXT2i_YI/AAAAAAAAAnM/g6-avvgZ3Dg/s640/blogger-image--1391638752.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-v-JaoKfKk7I/UIl7dBIPRcI/AAAAAAAAAlY/RAvjfHQzbvc/s640/blogger-image-2045807554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-v-JaoKfKk7I/UIl7dBIPRcI/AAAAAAAAAlY/RAvjfHQzbvc/s640/blogger-image-2045807554.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Xaa0pCf-108/UIrFYaIl6MI/AAAAAAAAAnU/ALxLOCdsook/s640/blogger-image-1109564194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Xaa0pCf-108/UIrFYaIl6MI/AAAAAAAAAnU/ALxLOCdsook/s640/blogger-image-1109564194.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tbxRidmLuRU/UIrFZzJhr1I/AAAAAAAAAnc/hbOlrKfeN1M/s640/blogger-image--525118091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tbxRidmLuRU/UIrFZzJhr1I/AAAAAAAAAnc/hbOlrKfeN1M/s640/blogger-image--525118091.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v--7ypRbQZo/UIrFbKm0nuI/AAAAAAAAAnk/qhR6xO5Uoik/s640/blogger-image-1689170236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v--7ypRbQZo/UIrFbKm0nuI/AAAAAAAAAnk/qhR6xO5Uoik/s640/blogger-image-1689170236.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m7k4Pj5r3pY/UIl7d8B-JLI/AAAAAAAAAlc/WmbeakB4l4Q/s640/blogger-image--1654072147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m7k4Pj5r3pY/UIl7d8B-JLI/AAAAAAAAAlc/WmbeakB4l4Q/s640/blogger-image--1654072147.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3UpdCIE0Agc/UIrFcQ-oPBI/AAAAAAAAAns/X3EF9V7-Nts/s640/blogger-image-772124415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3UpdCIE0Agc/UIrFcQ-oPBI/AAAAAAAAAns/X3EF9V7-Nts/s640/blogger-image-772124415.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZLrRTqeJvF0/UIl7Y1CqB_I/AAAAAAAAAks/8nO0Ud5hKS4/s640/blogger-image--2008450784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZLrRTqeJvF0/UIl7Y1CqB_I/AAAAAAAAAks/8nO0Ud5hKS4/s640/blogger-image--2008450784.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-X9MxYdWqBVU/UIrFdKpBOVI/AAAAAAAAAn0/Kgtv2kRJ_mc/s640/blogger-image--111711713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-X9MxYdWqBVU/UIrFdKpBOVI/AAAAAAAAAn0/Kgtv2kRJ_mc/s640/blogger-image--111711713.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eo50XIVGZzI/UIl7esbPbjI/AAAAAAAAAlo/3Ix-HX-dPfM/s640/blogger-image--667223393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eo50XIVGZzI/UIl7esbPbjI/AAAAAAAAAlo/3Ix-HX-dPfM/s640/blogger-image--667223393.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-u-t_WJmSx0U/UIrFeVY41iI/AAAAAAAAAn8/HRolQXRtO5A/s640/blogger-image-1757115303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-u-t_WJmSx0U/UIrFeVY41iI/AAAAAAAAAn8/HRolQXRtO5A/s640/blogger-image-1757115303.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wlCcNrHyb6U/UIl7ZX5PHAI/AAAAAAAAAk0/KXMe8INvjFk/s640/blogger-image--1729397466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wlCcNrHyb6U/UIl7ZX5PHAI/AAAAAAAAAk0/KXMe8INvjFk/s640/blogger-image--1729397466.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9zL8E3feci8/UIl7WwScs9I/AAAAAAAAAkg/3BUK5kNecZ8/s640/blogger-image-731020609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9zL8E3feci8/UIl7WwScs9I/AAAAAAAAAkg/3BUK5kNecZ8/s640/blogger-image-731020609.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6qPwln9QHms/UIl7f6fuynI/AAAAAAAAAlw/eIbew_KPpSQ/s640/blogger-image-441882838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6qPwln9QHms/UIl7f6fuynI/AAAAAAAAAlw/eIbew_KPpSQ/s640/blogger-image-441882838.jpg" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2915520911580123667.post-15961970980391674112012-10-24T00:40:00.000+03:002012-10-24T00:40:15.190+03:00Saudi Labor Laws and Women Working<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
Most if
not all of you know how women are treated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. King
Abdullah is trying his best to give the basic rights every woman deserves. Even
with all the advancement they have a long way to go. Today I read an interesting
article discussing the Saudi government allowing women to work in jewelry
store. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<img alt="ArabNews" src="http://www.arabnews.com/sites/default/files/sky_logo.png" /><br />
<div align="center" class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
The shocking part of the article
was a statement by one of the shopkeeper. <span style="background: white; color: #111111;">“These kinds of shops has long working hours, sometimes we
work from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. one shift with only prayer-time breaks. Women
need to take care of their children and cook for their husbands, not work long
hours selling and buying gold,” To read the rest of the article please <a href="http://www.arabnews.com/saleswomen-be-allowed-work-jewelry-shops">click
here</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; color: #111111;">I was shocked by how this guy perceives women
and then by the existing labor laws which will allow shop owners to force their
employees to work long hours. I am not sure if the shop owners have any
incentive to hire anyone who will not work like a slave. Unless the law
requires every employer to avoid treating like a slave and provide 8 hours’
work schedule and days off to enjoy the family, passing the new law is useless.
The women of Saudi Arabia will have a difficult time getting the employment and
the rights every human deserve. It is my opinion Saudi Labor Ministry first
need to review their labor laws before trying to improve the work conditions
for Saudi women. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-size: 10.0pt;">P.S. Make sure to read
the comments posted in the comment section of the Arab News website. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17351767318857828506noreply@blogger.com2