Showing posts with label daily life in saudi arabia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label daily life in saudi arabia. Show all posts

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Family Life in Jeddah

Life here so far is very peaceful and stress-free. Although it is too hot for the kids to play outside during the day time, they don’t mind being inside playing video games on the x-box and computer. However, we are all ready for school to start so that we will be on a more productive schedule.

For me, I have followed the same type of routine and schedule for the majority of my life. As a child, I woke up and went to school each day. I did the same in college and then as a teacher, also. Now, things are beginning to change a bit. We are now  on the other side of the world-8 hours ahead of the US. Here is what our new family schedule is like and will be in the near future, on Saudi time! Honestly, I feel like I am on another planet sometimes! I like it here, but things are so different!

USA (school year)
Saudi Arabia (school year)
*My Prediction
Saudi Arabia (summer)
Ramadan in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (July 20-August 15)
6:30am Wake up & get ready
7:30 Leave for School
8-3:30 Work
3:30-4:30 Stay at work to do more work, kids do Homework
4:30-5:00 Pick up Zayne from PK
5-6:30 Cook, eat or drive to get Dinner
6:30-7:30 Outdoors
7:30-8:30 TV, computer
8:30-9:00 kids bath
9:00 Kids bedtime
6:30 Wake up & get ready
7:00 Kids picked up by bus or driver
8:30 Driver picks me up
9-5:00 Work
3:00 Kids get home from school
3-6 Babysitter (called maid here) is at home waiting for the kids, house clean, snack & prepare dinner
6:00 Dinner
7:00 homework
8:30 Bed time
7:30am Wake up & get ready  
8:45 Driver picks me up
9-5:00 Work
5-8:00pm Nap (yeah baby!)
8-8:30 Cook
8:30 Kids get home
8:45 Dinner
9:30-10:00pm Kids bath, Kids chores: dishes & laundry
10:00 -12:00 Shop, read, or TV
12:00 Bed Time
9:00am Wake up & get ready  
10:45 Driver picks me up
11-5:00 Work
5-6:00 House clean or Nap
6-7:00 Drive to family’s home
7:30 Dinner
7:30-9:00 Family time
9:00-12:00 Shop,  go home, clean, cook, read, blog or TV
1:00am Bed Time!


In the US, we went to work and school Monday-Friday and enjoyed our Saturday and Sunday weekend. Here in Saudi Arabia, the normal work and school week is Saturday, Sunday,Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. The weekend is Thursday and Friday. I don’t know if I will ever adjust to this. I never know what day it is here!

 Pictures of our Daily Life in the Summer Time- Below is a local street, complete with green street signs. What is interesting here is that there are no turn lanes. U-turns are the only way to get to the other side.
This is a picture of me enjoying my ride as my driver takes me somewhere.
Here are the kids, enjoying their summer schedule of expanding their expertise at playing the X-box. They are doing a group dance here.

What we see on a Daily Basis - This is another picture of Jeddah, where we live. The palm trees make me feel like we are in Florida. The beach is actually just a 15 minute drive from our home. I was pleasantly surprised to see green plant life here in the desert. I expected to be living with sand all around me!