Kindness

This afternoon I went out to city of Rahima that is just outside the gates of the compound. My husband has been dying to share an ice cream shop with me that the guys at work had eaten at one day. I feel that my time in Saudi will be wasted if I don't experience some of the local flavor; however, being unable to drive makes it extremely hard to fulfill this desire to learn more about the culture. The ice cream/coffee house was one of the nicest coffee shops I have been to. They had such a delectable presentation of sweets, and authentic Saudi ice cream. You walk up two levels of marble stairs and find the family seating area. Our waiter could not believe that we were from America, and kept saying “America very great country, I like it alot” I cannot say enough about this place, but it's the gentlemen that we met in the coffee shop that is the most memorable.

We were searching for a shoe store, and none of the clerks at the coffee shop could speak English well enough to give us adequate directions. An older gentleman spoke up quickly and began to give us directions. After learning that we were in a cab he offered to drive us to the shoe store. When that shoe store did not have my husband size he proceeds to drive us around town to another store. He even bargains with the store owner in an attempt to get us a good deal. I noticed when we were heading back to the car; that my husband and Saud had begun to hold hands. It amused me how quickly my husband was picking up on traditional Saudi customs (it would have been rude for him not to have held hands). I secretly smiled!

The words of Saud stayed on my mind. When my husband told him how nice everyone in the city was and how thankful we were to be surrounded by welcoming people, Saud stated the following: “We are all just people speaking a different language". How true these words are, but how often we forget. The kindness that he showed us, made my night.

On my Way

Yesterday we got Orbit Showtime cable installed. I was super excited; if nothing else I will have some background noise in the house with me. It's a pretty decent package with 75 channels. The first night I found myself watching all Arabic television. It fascinated me to watch the programs and try to figure out the drama unfolding. I also enjoyed listening to the Arabic television programming. Some of my friends are envisioning me now, shaking those hips and moving my arms to the beat.  I am on my way to some luxuries of home.

Life here is fun but I am having a hard time adjusting to my role as a woman here. Being an independent woman it's very hard for me not to work, or enjoy the many freedoms that I am accustomed to. I was well  aware of my limited independence before arriving here, but I don't think it sinks in until you are actually here living the life. I can't go to the grocery store, I can't shop, and I can't conduct most of my own personal business. Yes, I do have options for going shopping but sometimes I would like to drive myself, and driving on the compound doesn't always fulfill that need. These four walls grow larger every day. I am used to mindless chatter with people, whether I know them or not; no mindless chatter here. My husband calls my home my dollhouse. Funny, but true it really is my little dollhouse, all perfect but existence is mostly limited to it.

I found out this week that someone I knew passed away, it has sadden me deeply. A.G. I hope that you are in a better place, and you have the wonderful life that every human being deserves. I cared about you!

Healthcare

Living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia I have firsthand experience with free healthcare. I know in the states that we have been very up in arms about the proposal of healthcare reform. This post is simply my observations on healthcare here, and is not an attempt to sway you on either side of healthcare reform.

On the compound we have a hospital/clinic that is easy to get to from any point in camp. The hospital reminds me very much of the Veterans Administration in the States, in fact it's even ran that way. Specialty clinics are at our fellow Dhahran camp. I prefer to make all my appointments online, you can phone in but usually the language barrier is a problem. Believe it or not I have been three times since I arrived here. The first time was for blood work for my Iquama (national proof of residency). The second time has been for a stabbing pain in my heel. It was at this visit I met the doctor that I had chosen. I believe the nurses told me he was Australian and European. Either way, he was great. The doctor's office and examination room is all combined. The doctor even calls the patient to the room. It's very weird for me to walk in and sit at a desk first and then go to the examine table. He was so nice, and took time with me. I thought wow, this isn't so bad.

I was given a prescription for ibuprophen, and heel pads plus physical rehab. The pharmacy was set up just like the V.A. I gave the pharmacy a slip of paper, and I waited for my number to called. The best part of all of this was that no money came out of my pockets. It was wonderful and weird all at the same time.

Yesterday I had a knot to start swelling on my leg; my first thought was of my grandmother having varicose veins and them bursting. Freaked me out a little. I didn't have an appointment so I went to E.R. The gentleman at E.R. was rude to me, and told me I had no business in E.R. I then had to go to unscheduled patients. The physician looked at my leg, and states “it’s not fracture". Did I say it was!! Then he hops on the computer, and gives me ibuprophen. What?!! Also, let me tell you, ibuprophen here is a huge pill that reminds me of the shape and size of Mentos.

All of this leg and feet problems are coming from me constantly hitting the pavement everywhere I go. We are waiting for my husband’s driver’s license and then we will have a vehicle. Meantime, it’s walk, bike, or sit at home.

Just goes to show the doctor not the healthcare is what makes the difference.

Prayer Time

I know that today is Sunday, so in the states many of you are worshiping. I found this only fitting to elaborate a little more about prayer time here in Saudi Arabia. It's the essence of what Saudi Arabia's culture is made up of and it intrigues me.  I don't think that I can adequately give a realistic view of how significant prayer is here. Imagine you are shopping at Wal-Mart, your favorite mall and you suddenly here voices and chant like singing coming over the intercom and you are ask to leave the store. You wait outside for some time before your shopping can continue, that is Saudi Arabia. The whole economy shuts down and lights go dim. I have seen some kiosk workers of other nationalities try to hold out to get that last purchase, but the guard will walk up and make them shut down. Islamic law dictates prayer five times a day. I carry a prayer schedule with me, so that I have some time to get to the register before the call is made. It has become a difficult concept for me to grasp. All over the city you hear the call for prayer over the loud speakers, it's nothing that you can simply ignore, and I have begun to tune it out some. There are a few men that I actually enjoy hearing them issue the call, it's somewhat relaxing and soothing to me. People state that when you first arrive here that it will take some adjustment to not wake up when the call is given. I must be one heck of a sleeper, because I haven't heard the call once while sleeping.


Mosques are everywhere in the city. There isn't anywhere that you may be, that a mosque isn't within walking distance. I got out the map of the compound and counted six. I am always amazed by the amount of shoes outside the mosque in the mall. Shoes are not permitted in the mosques, and women and men pray separately. Hundreds of shoes! When I was in the clinic this week, the waiting room had a prayer rug. The rugs are used to make for sure that the area is clean. The rug has an arch on top so that you point the arch toward Mecca. I saw one young lady turn the arch the wrong way, and someone quickly got up to help her aim correctly. Each lady went one by one, publicly in the middle of the waiting room, down on their knees. How many of us in the states would do this? There is a sense of faithfulness here that causes you to examine the role of religion in your own life and question if you are giving hundred percent.

Weekends

The weekend here starts on Wednesday and ends on Friday. It has taken some getting use to not having Saturday and Sunday off. It just doesn't feel right. The past couple of weekends I have talked my husband into taking the shopper's bus that makes stop in Al-Khobar. The downside of this is that you are stuck at the location you choose for about 4 hours. Great for me, but not so great for him. 

The malls here in Dharahan and Al-Khobar are awesome. The Rashid mall is very upscale with five levels, but I enjoy the mall of Dhahran because it has Macoroni Grill, Tony Roma's, and more American chains. It is also a little more relaxing to be on one level. I think I have gotten some anxiety since being here. I enjoyed eating brunch yesterday at the cutest French restrauanat. The strawberry tart was so wonderful I wanted to eat three, but my recent weight gain reminded me not to get carried away.  The unusual has always been my thing,  I love dressing in ethnic prints so a store called Zara had wonderful long cotton tops that I could pair with leggings.  Sadly, I had to get men's leggings because they did not carry anything above a small and the shopkeeper kept saying I was too tall.  I have a hard time adjusting to prayer time. During prayer time all operartions cease, so if you are inside a store they ask you to leave and everyone shuts down their storefronts. Prayer typically last  thrity minutes. I always try to be a coffee shop so I can enjoy a break during this time and get served before the call.  Midday prayers start somewhere between 11:30-12:30, but sometimes stores don't open up again untill 4:00. However the malls always open back up.  Sunset prayers between 5:30-6:30.  Ishna, (dinner time)  7:00pm and 8:00pm.  The time differs slightly everyday and it  definetly takes some getting use to, but having a Ikea within driving distance makes up for all the hassle.

     

Life on the Compound

Many of my friends at home have asked me what it's like living on a compound. I can only describe it by using one word "different". They have done everything imaginable to make life comfortable for Westerners and to keep some of Saudi Arabia's core beliefs intact.  When you enter into the compound you must show a identification badge, this has been hard for me to get use to. No matter where you travel in the kingdom, even on the interstate there are checkpoints that you have to stop at and show your identification to be able to move along. Losing my identification means that until the matter is settled I would not be able to enter into the compound to get to my home. Armed guards stand at the entrance with machine guns checking every automobile and bus that enters.  It may be a hassle but it makes me feel secure.

The compound has all the amenities of home that are easily accessible. Ironically, most people use golf carts to navigate around the compound.I will list a few facilities here so that you can get a real glimpse of the ammenties here:

Commissary
Beauty Salon/Barber/Massages
Coffee House
Restraunants
Florist
Private Owned Day Cares
Hospital-with specialists-Free Healthcare
Game Room, one just for kids,one shared by kids and adults
Bowling Alley
Theater( Only on American/Amarco Compounds, Theatres are banned from the kingdom)
Post Office
Travel Office
Golf Course and Mintaure Golf
Yacht Club
Horse Farm
Tennis Courts
Squash Courts
Running Tracks
Workout Facilities
Self Directed Groups

Coffee House

Commissary

My New Adventure

My adventure began on April 29 when we boarded a plane and headed to Saudi Arabia.  I guess I should go back a few months because it really started in Feb. when my husband went to interview with the petroleum giant Saudi Aramco.  When he received a job offer the next week I was a little apprehensive, but could not imagine  being here in three months.  On April 29 we left Nashville and endured a long plane trip from Philly, Germany and our final destination here in the Kingdom.  The night we landed in the Kingdom I had so many feelings, ranging from excitement to fear.  The immigration line upon our arrival took  us two hours to get through, I heard from others that they waited 4 hours so I can't complain.  It was intimidating to see everyone in black except for us few Westerns.  There was very little talking, and the persons working the immigration line was very forceful.After immigration we went to luggage to proceed to the customs line and then the nightmare began. Out of six pieces of luggage we had nothing. Not a single bag! I looked at my husband and in our hearts we knew it was not there but we proceed to check. Unlike some Aramcons ( people who work for Aramco) we made the choice to take cash in lieu of the shipping, so these bags held our only possessions from home.

In the middle of the night we were transported from the airport to our new home. I must say I was impressed with my accommodations. We qualified for a two bedroom, bonus room, study, 2.5 bath home two story townhouse.  Just enough room and then some. Luckily, Aramco furnishes your apartment for the first three months and then you have the option of buying, waiting for your shipment to arrive, or renting their furniture for a small fee.  We live on the compound of Ras Tanura and it is a beautiful beach compound in the city of Najimah.  This compound sits on the gulf of the Arabian ocean. What a long way this moonbaby has traveled.