An Homage to Dates

I love dates
Not the thing you find on calendars
For here in Saudi I find that they are irrelevant
At least for me
No, I am talking about the fruit
They are fabulous
Soaked in honey
With a nut nestled in the middle
A cashew
Almond
Yummy, heaven on earth
Protein
Fruit
Natural sugar
Healthy
My tongue delights in the new found delicacy
Chewy and crunhcy
Not to sweet
Yet perfectly satisfying
All natural
No preservatives
Just nature at it's best

Oh to share this delicacy with all the world
To convert all to this natural wonder
The new export would not be oil with all it's polluting death
But this life giving wonder
The date
The nut
The nectar

Just as God intended

Me, the runway model!

Just another picture of me and my wondefully fashionable abaya!

Pictures of our new home

These are just some photos of our building and our compound, and yes, our front door :)

Abaya Fashion

My new wardrobe!
Isn't it lovely! And so figure flattering! I have a few other photos that I need to get posted, I need to figure out how to do a slide show on blogger, I took a bunch of photos of the compound and a picture of me standing normally in my abaya. We are about to go to church, my first "Friday" in Saudi, Friday is their Sabbath. So, this is a short one.

Shopping, not just a hobby in Saudi

So, today I decided to meet some of the women on the compound by going on one of their "shopping tours." Here they have buses that take the women to various shopping areas. Being that women can't drive the compound provides transportation so that the women can obtain the various household necessities. For example, our sink backed up last night (I will tell the tale later) and we needed a plunger and drano. Thus, I boarded the little bus with all the black garbed women and off we went. They were all excited to meet the new member. They are very nice women of a myriad of cultures. I was the only american there but all of them spoke rather fluent english. Most of them had darker hair and skin, one lady was from India and had beautiful black eyes and hair, but her son had the most beautiful blue eyes I have ever seen. He was about 2 years old. Most of the women had children, but they were in school. They were all so kind to me and were curious about how I was adjusting and eager to help me in any way they could. In fact, our first stop was kind of a mix of a hardware store and a general store, the bus driver said we would be there 30 minutes so I set my alarm to be 10 minutes early. I walked outside and the bus was gone, but two of the ladies who were sitting next to me on the bus realized that I wasn't on the bus and waited for me to walk with me to the mall which was next door, otherwise I would have been completely lost and would have had to call Adam for help. That is how nice they are, they really look out for each other.

We chatted on the bus, about our pasts, our husbands, life here in Saudi. Like me, they all seem to enjoy it. The thing I like the most is that life here is very peaceful, there is no noise, I can hear myself think. I feel calm, I can hear the breeze in the trees. When I walk around the compound I can think about the things in life that are important, things that I haven't had time to think about with all the hustle and bustle of life in the states, like how much I love my husband and how lucky I am to have him. How much I love my family and how blessed I am to have had 36 years with them before I got married, That is so unusual, I am so surrounded, even here, so far away, by so many people who love me. It doesn't matter that they are on the other side of the world, love knows no boundaries. But all in all, like I said, I love the peace.

Hopefully our shipment will clear customs in a few weeks, I would like to read the Bible for the first time since high school (which didn't really count because I only did it as a competition to beat somebody in seminary, oh, gotta love my competitive streak). I think it will mean even more now that I live in the land where it occurred. I am going to find some books and study Islam and the other religions and the history of the region. I want to learn why this area has become the way it is. I don't understand the hate, I am such a pacifist that it bewilders me how one can hate so much. So, I am going to do some studying

Hopefully some legal contracts will start coming in, I am still pounding the pavement looking for work. One good thing about jet lag is that I wake up around 1 or 3 am and can't sleep because I am still on Utah time. But that is perfect, because Utah is up and I can call them! HA HA! I got some things that our bank screwed up fixed this morning and when Adam woke up he was quite surprised, pleasantly so. He heard me leave the bed but thought I had come back, I did, but not until 5am, the first prayer call. Then we had breakfast together.

One thing I really like is that he works close enough that we can have lunch together. He buys lunch at the cafeteria, enough for both of us, and it is great food and very cheap. He buys enough so we can heat it up for dinner. We don't like eating a heavy dinner. It is nice to be able to see him at lunch. Hopefully my shoulder will heal soon so that we can try some racquetball or tennis. I need to do some research and see when I can play tennis. I don't think racquetball will be feasible anytime soon because I like to roll into the wall when the ball is close to the wall on the right side, plus, I am right handed and you have to swing pretty hard. I don't want to take the chance of doing permanent injury. The pool heater is working yet so I have to wait to start physical therapy in the pool. I have started regular physical therapy to get my motion back, once I got over the pain from picking up heavy objects while traveling I was able to move my arm again. Now it feels much better, thank heavens.

OK, back to Saudi, I hope I haven't lost you. I am not trying to make fun of the women here, maybe they are in great financial situations, but we are trying to save for a down payment for a house in Australia. It seems that all the do is shop. I actually asked on of the ladies on the bus what they do to pass the time, and she flat out said, we go shopping. I laughed. On the ladies calendar it states that they play mahjong every week, I asked if I needed my own set, they said no, that they hope they have enough women and they haven't played in a while. I hope we play tomorrow. Their book club sounds interesting. And, they all had on beautiful Abaya's. I need 2, and Adam said we can get me another, I want one that has some decorations on it, that is permitted. I think it is funny, I get excited about seeing a beautiful Abaya! LOL, oh, how things change.

But, I am happy. It is nice to take a break from work, although I expect to start doing some contract legal research and writing soon, but that isn't the same. I just feel like there has been a weight lifted, and it feels good.

Adam and I are doing wonderfully. We are both very happy together and I think our stay here will be good and he will be much happier now that I am here. That is my goal, to make him happy. I know his job is hard and frustrating, but I am going to try and make it as pleasant here at home so that he can relax and enjoy life here and see that life in Saudi is nice.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you my funny Gunda story. We don't have garbage disposals here, which I didn't find out until the second day. Well, needless to say the sink backed up last night. I got several, "bloody hell Gunda's" and thus, I went to find the remedy, I hope it works. Lol, only me.

I know, this is a long one, but I am trying to stay awake, I want to break the time change cycle. It will take a week or so according to Adam. Church here is on Friday, hopefully by then I will be better so I don't fall asleep in the meetings!

Accomplishments of today

OK, I know this is going to get mundane, but life here is pretty simple and there isn't much else to report on, I imagine the little things are going to become more important! LOL

I am still not feeling hot and woke up at three am and read a book. This morning I planned on walking down to that little mall to browse through that book store, instead I accidentally fell asleep, even slept through my alarm, until it broke through my dreams and that annoying song that kept playing woke me up. By then it was too late for me to go, the morning prayer would start soon and Adam comes home for lunch at noon, so I just went back to sleep (besides, I was still really tired).

After lunch I walked down to the store and to my dismay the bookstore is closed until after four due to the afternoon prayers. If any of you are interested, the following is a link to the January prayer schedule http://www.guidedways.com/prayertimes/prayertimings-country-saudi_arabia-city-Dammam-state-Ash+Sharqiyah-latitude-26.44-longitude-50.1.htm. I have it book marked and as soon as our printer gets here I plan on putting it on the wall. I need to buy a calendar so I can keep track of what day of the week it is. I am losing track of time. I actually have to look at the clock to figure out the date and day of the week, and I have only been here a few days! So, back to the trip to the mall, I went to the grocery store to get some things for dinner, found a few more things that I need around the house.

And then, get this, my mom will love this, I MOPPED THE FLOORS, not with a swiffer or a fancy system, but with the type of mop I haven't used since I worked at McDonald's in High School! LOL! And the dust bunnies when I swept, unbelievable! I hope it is just because Adam forgot to sweep under the furniture. I can't wait for the shipment to get here so I can decorate a little and then figure out what I can do to make this place feel like home. Our address is:

Adam Mattys
Construction Department
SABCO
PO Box 10011
Jubail
31961
Saudi Arabia

So yes, today, I cleaned house, took a little walk about, and feel myself rail a little at being a little too domestic! I WANT MY OLD JOB where I made the money and someone else cleaned for me, lol! Is this what being a mom is like? What would I do with kids thrown in the mix? Then I would have to clean up after others as well and take care of them? How do you fit all that in, especially when you are sick? I feel yucky just walking around? Yes, I am a whiner, but in my defense, that sinus infection that I didn't get treated in the states because I thought it went away, well, it didn't, so tomorrow morning I am walking to the clinic and getting those antibiotics. 4 weeks is took long for green snot, there, how is that for a gross ending! And you thought I was boring, not quite macabre, but still gross! Catch ya on the other side of the world, literally. Hope you are all sleeping well.

Oh, by the bye, this is where we live, you can kind of see it on google map, http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=27.1013,49.5722&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Yesterday, all my troubles were so far away, now I know that they are here to stay, oh I believe, in yesterday

Just kidding, I have always wanted to use that line though, one of my favorite songs.

Yesterday we made a trip to the clinic for my first doctor visit. You see, even though they ran fifty billion tests before I left, they had to run some of the same tests over. So, I was retested for malaria and a few other things. Just when I don't feel well they poke me with a big needle. I have the flu, or maybe just jet lag. Whatever it is I don't feel well, everything hurts. The doc gave me some flu medicine for the body aches and sore throat, vitamin C, all free. She is a real Dr, I think she is from India and she is really nice. I go back next week for my test results and that is when I take her my huge medical file and also start the process of getting all my meds refilled, can't wait tell they see those! LOL!

I also walked to the rec center here on the compound yesterday, I met a man named Ross who is in charge of security here on the compound, his wife volunteers at the school and he said she might have some info on some openings, volunteer or pay, whichever. While we were there some the the compound's "women's club" came by. I have been warned that they might be a little overwhelming, but I am going to give them a chance. They have a book club, coffee club (LOL) and play mahjong (ha, can't wait to beat them, lol).

There are also buses that take groups of women to the different malls, to different grocercy stores, IKEA (yes, they have that here), and shopping districts. Seem like the women do a lot of shopping here. Not really my thing, especially since we are trying to save money. Things I could use, real spices, narcotic pain killers for my shoulder, yes, it is acting up real bad and I don't think they have that kind of medicine here and tylenol doesn't cut it and that is all I can take with my stomach, um, someone to paint my walls, Adam doesn't think we should spend the money on the paint, I think we should, I think I will check on the cost of paint, white is too boring! And, the curtains are straight from the 70's, those kind that have cords on the side and pleats at the top, off white. do you dry clean those??? I think a good cleaning would help. I want to spruce up the place a little. I want to wait for the shipment to get here to see what we need. Too bad we had to take out our curtains, but they wouldn't fit on these rods.

And, jet lag, gotta love waking up at 3 am and falling asleep at 3pm! I can't help it! LOL! I have to sleep because I don't feel well and my body is telling me to get some rest, but I can't just lay in bed and do nothing at 3am either! If Katherine is reading this, yes, "New Moon" is driving me crazy, the next book better be better!

Today I plan on venturing out to the mall down the street again and taking a closer look at the grocery store for spices and substitutes. And, I am going to the book store. I have been told they have a good selection of english books there.

I need to take a good picture of me in my garb and post it on this blog, hopefully someone is following it!

Day two

Oh, the woes of travelling to a new country. Either it is the jet lag, the lack of sleep before the move from nerves, the lack of sleep now, or the new environment, but I now of the flu, or what feels like a nasty case of it. Yuck-o. But, I did unpack my bags today, feels much better, did the laundry and organized things a little. Our shipment should come in few days and I want to be prepared so we can actually move in. Anyone who knows me knows that I never really moved into my last place because I knew I was moving out in 6 months, and that just made things unbearable and disorganized. But, that is neither here nor there.

Today I ventured outside the compound, yes, I know some might be upset, but I went out on my own. Dressed in my black abaya. I walked down the street, not even half a mile, to the mini-mall that has some shops, a book store and a grocery store. I can see it from our balcony, but I made sure to write every street name and landmark on the way there just to make sure I knew how to get back. I can't drive here so I took off on foot. Sure cuts down on the amount of groceries I buy! I mainly needed cold medicine and orange juice. It was a very safe, uneventful trip. The grocery store was much more enjoyable because it was empty, shopping in the daytime is the way to go. When the shipment comes I am going to use my work rolling briefcase to carry groceries!

One funny thing, I was walking on the sidewalk and on several occasions men honked at me. At first I thought it was a taxi cab, then I realized, no, not a taxi, just some pakistani or indian honking at the westerner with "blond" hair.

Tonight Adam still had the rental car so we went into Jubail and got my Abaya fitted and picked up two head scarfs. I will feel more comfortable having a scarf. I won't cover my face, but when I am walking outside I would rather cover my hair so I don't call attention to myself.

I was hoping to see some women on the compound but didn't see any. I only saw the men that work on the compound. It seems like a ghost town. I didn't go over to the rec center or the gym, I will go there tomorrow, maybe I will find some sign of life.

Gunda

First full day in Saudi

It's here and I am finally here! So far, not in the book of Bin Ladens! But, today at the mall I slapped him on the butt without thinking about it and immediately looked around to see if we had been caught. Then, just as we were about to kiss in line at the grocery store I realized where we were and pulled back, saying, "oh yeah, 'I' could get arrested for that here!" It is so interesting to see all the women covered in black, most with only their eyes showing, some with even those covered. Adam said that everyone was staring at me in the grocery store because of my "blond" hair. I didn't even notice, I don't ever notice when people are looking at me, they usually don't so I don't pay attention.
The airport was interesting. I was standing in the customs line with a ton of single men (there were only men there) and a customs man came over and told me to go over to the much shorter family line :). Over here they don't let single men associate with married, or even single, women. Then, while I was over there they opened another line, total chaos ensued, everyone started yelling and rushing, for maybe the first time in my life I actually felt instinctual fear. It was a feeling I have never felt before, an anxious feeling in my gut, I actually was in fear of my safety. I stood behind an Australian man with his wife that I had met before I boarded the plane. Thankfully I was able to move to the front of another line and was out of the room quickly. I don't think I have ever been with that many disorganized, chaotic men in such a small confined space in my life before. I am sure I was safe, it just felt strange.
Things here are very different. In the restaraunts the families sit and order in a different section than the single men, in fact, their are two different sides of the building all together.The men, unless they want to, wear whatever they want, but the women wear the black abaya. Western women don't have to cover their hair or faces. You can't see the stars here because of all the pollution. The sky is lit with a strange orange glow from the oil fields. It must be 5 am now, the first call to prayer just started. "Call to prayer" is through a loud speaker on the compound, in the buildings and I assume outside. When we were in the mall today they closed all the stores and stopped selling things during prayer. It seemed like they last about a half an hour. Men pronounce the prayers, in arabic, I wish I could understand, I am not sure how many times yet.