More Saudi stories

On day 2 of this adventure, I finally found 2 familiar things. Firstly, I discovered a dishwasher, which sadly, made me feel quite comforted! My second familiar discovery was a cat. I usually manage to find these creatures wherever I go. I consider this cat to be my first friend here, sad but true. It's amazing what you can tell a cat and what it can tell you! Having dutifully read through the few instructions which were in the flat, I realised that they don't like cats. According to them, cats (or pets in general) destroy furniture and feeding of the 'numerous strays' is not encouraged. They are being gathered up and destroyed in a 'human' way, what a typo on their part! My one question is, in that case, why do they sell cat food in the rather grnadly named supermarket? I admit to getting quite excited when I saw 'supermarket' on the very limited map of the area - yes another sad sign! However, it is really more like a small corner store, and that's being generous. Anyway, back to the cat. I feel that females and cats probably come into the same sort of category of being slightly less than desirable in life. So I will continue my chats with a like minded creature. In fact, to date, the cat is actually the only other breathing living creature I've come across here in our compound area.On day 3 I discovered how to use the washing machine and tumble dryer, great excitement! What I also discovered is that the plumbing for the wasing machine is slightly dubious and as well as washing clothes, the floor gets a very good wash at the same time. I found myself ankle deep in water when going in to check on the progress of the laundry. It would appear that the maintenance department doesn't work very fast as I reported it immediately, but to date (day 5) nobody has been to look at it. So I will continue to wash clothes and the floor at the same time and just avoid the laudry area whilst this is going on.Day 3 also saw us joining the social club. I am led to believe that the social life is very active on campus, but again, it's hard to know where to find such activities when there is no guide and seemingly noone you can ask. The staff in the social club offices were not very forthcoming about things at all and the only things advertised are a trip to Mecca (but not for non-Muslims), the fact that the fitness area seems to be for men only and swimming pool times, oh and bus times for ladies to go shopping, a differnt mall each day. Some days swimming is for ladies, some days for men and some days for families. I must work that one out.Lunch on day 3 was in the family section of the dining area, as opposed to the men's or women's which have compleely seperate entrances. It took me back to the bad old days in South Africa of different entrances for Blacks and Whites, not a welcome thought. The evening of day 3 saw us going out to dinner with the Head of Department, a visiting Professor from America and one of the female staff. On arrival at the restaurant the 2 men were already there and had to be shut behind a curtain until my husband, his female colleague and I arrived and we became a 'family'. All very alien to someone like me. It was a lovely evening, good food (fantastic in fact), great company and the ability to unwind. Prior to going out the dilema had been what to wear. I now realise that I have brought totally inappropriate clothing with me as I really believed we would be on a Western compound and I would have greater freedom in clothing. So I was left with one almost appropriate skirt and a t-shirt, which I would not normally wear for a night out. Neither of us were sure if I would be able to take my abaya off once in the restaurant (I wasn't) and so I had to think of all options of clothing. My abaya is now the most glamourous glitzy thing I own in Saudi Arabia, so at least I wasn't a complete frump!Day 4 saw a lovely invite to lunch with some of the ladies from the Department of Pathology. They were truly warm and welcoming and again I felt able to be at ease. I think my husband must have felt like he was with a harem as there were 4 laides and him - lucky man!In the afternoon of day 4 I decided to go for an adventure on my own. Being someone who is used to simply getting in her car and going where she choses for as long as she choses, it comes as quite a shock to have to arrange transport to where you want to go and to need to specify where you will shop and how long you will be so that you can arrange for hospital transport (the only safe method for a lady to go out on her own here). I wanted to get some stationery for my card making (yes, I've brought stuff with me for that), so had found out where the best shop was. The transport arrived and off we went. The store was like a Staples branch and quite nice, with lots of lovely things to chose from. I had been in there about 10 minutes when they started to turn all the lights off and make announcements in Arabic. I saw lots of people coming down from the upper floor and wondered if it was maybe a fire alarm test. Wrong, it was Prayer time and the shop closes! So I paid for the stuff I had picked up so far and asked when I could get back in. I had 30 minutes to fill and it was far too hot to stay outside in all my Harry Potter outfit and wait, so I wandered down the road. I found a supermarket which said it was open 24 hours, so I thought I would go in there, get a few bits and then go back to my original shop. Wrong again. Although allowed to stay in the shop (with about 3 other people), I realised that I was in fact locked in until after Prayer time had ended. Now if only they had locked me in he stationery store (or the chocolate shop which was between the 2), I would have been quite happy. But to be locked in a small supermarket with limited stock for over 30 minutes is not my idea of fun. It was made worse by the fact that I knew the driver was coming to collect me at 5:30, so I was on a tight deadline. I did, however manage to get most of what I wanted before the driver came to colelct me. I now also know roughly what time Prayers are during the day and so what times to avoid going out! In fact, it feels as if it would be easier just not to go out at all.Today is day 5 and we have been to look at some other hospital housing complexes. I find myself in the difficult situation where I know that for my husband it would be a great career move to come and work here, however, for me I feel that I would lose all personal freedom, religious freedom (or indeed the option to worship at all - Christian worship is strictly forbidden here) and I feel that I would just become a non person. It would lead to a situation where we would live apart for quite a bit of time, as I simply know that I couldn't live here full time and tgis doesn't thrill me. The villas we have been to see are lovely, but that doesn't make all the underlying issues go away. My husband and other people keep telling me how active the social life is and how I could build a great circle of friends, but I'm just not sure about it all. added to this isthe fact that we would have to get rid of our cats (which to me is a big deal - sad as that may sound), as I would only live here for part of the year, so I could netiher look after them in the UK or here adequately. So many things to think about and such a huge decision to be trying to make. Another factor is my parents and the wider family situation back in the UK. I'm just not sure that now is a good time for me to be thinking of this move.On the positive side people are very friendly (well the staff I have met so far) and welcoming. I think the issue is that for professional people, they have their work to keep them occupied, but I can't help feeling that I would have to be friends with the people around me, whether or not we have anything in common, or I will be a total 'Billy No Mates'I'm now very close to tears (again), feeling home sick and miserable, so will sign off for now and go and eat chocolate.More updates to come later.Rxxxagain -sorry about the typos, spell check not working!

A quick update

It would appear that my last post with more sagas didn't appear. I'm not sure why, but I will try and update ASAP. Today will be busy day with family, so not much time, but I will be back with more Saudi stories...

Bye for now.

Rxxx

The Surrey housewife goes to Saudi Arabia

Well, here I am in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia at the start of a one month stay here. Today we finally have internet connection, so I can share the tales of my adventures here.

We arrived very early on Saturday morning after an overnight flight. The flight in itself was an adventure. We left from Terminal 5 at Heathrow, my first time there - it doesn't take much to amuse me. It actually felt quite exciting, although when our luggge disappeared through the tunnel I did wonder if we would ever see it again! However, my fears were in vain as it all arrived safely (and believe me there was a lot of it - I never pack lightly, I probably take more on a day out than the average person takes for a two week holiday!). The flight was quite turbulent which was not that great for some people on board. Unfortunately the man sitting in front of me was taken ill part way through the flight. He really was very poorly. Then came the call 'if there are any medical practitioners on board...' As we were sitting right there my husband was first on hand to help. Thakfully the man soon picked up. I was unaware that there is a medical advisory centre somewhere in the USA which deals with emergency calls from aircraft all over the world and talks the staff through what they need to do - really amazing. As a precaution the man was taken off the flight by paramedics. We were met by a hospital representative and shown to a bus to bring us into the city centre and to our 'home' for the next 4 weeks. As the working week here starts on a Saturday, my husband had to leave almost immediately to go to work. This after a full week at work in the UK and a disrupted night on a plane must have been really hard for him. I have to confess that I slept nearly the whole day! I think that the events of the last year caught up with me and a deep sense of exhaustion washed over me.

Our first day was therefore quiet and in the evneing we had an ealry night to catch up.

The working day here starts at 7:30am! Not good for someone who doesn't do early mornings!
I admit now that on day 2 I had a really rough day. I have never felt so homesick in all my life. I felt as if I wanted to get on the first plane back to the UK. Life here is very different. For starters it is really hot, even at this time of year. The locals as I have discovered call this pleasantly warm! I however declare it to be HOT!!! Now those who know me know that I like hot, sunny weather, but this is different. For starters there is the dress code wich even on the compound where we are is strict. On day 2 I spent a lot of the day in tears. It all felt very alien to me. It is hard to play the game when you have no idea what the rules are. Not wishing to cause offence to anyone by doing the wrong thing made me possibly over cautious and I felt as if I was in prison. My husband went and got me an abaya which is required for anywhere outside the compound. We met for lunch which got me out of the flat for a while. In the evening we had our first adventure.....to the supermarket! This was of course necessary so that we could eat and drink. Whilst we were there we bought a mop for the floors as there wasn't one here. I have to confess that in my abaya (long and black) with a mop, I felt like an extra on a Harry Potter movie set, ready to join in and play Quidditch! Most of the malls are air conditioned which is great, however, the one we went to seemed to be having some technical difficulties with air conditioning. So, on day 2 I tought I might pass out in the supermarket - what a great start. To explian the heat, it was about 8:30 in the evening and probably about 34 degrees. As we all know, black attracts heat, so wouldn't be my first choice of colour for an overgarment, but that is the colour they are. Whilst an abaya is long, it still necessitates wearing other clothes underneath for modesty as it has poppers down the front so is not all encompassing! So, in this heat, with effectively two layers of clothing, I was hot. Add to this menoapusal hot flushes and you have a recipe for disaster! However, we got back safely-not on my broomstick (well, mop actually!) but in a taxi.

End of day 2 and our first adventure.

We are now on day 4, so there is lots more to tell, but my bed is calling me so I can be ready for another early start in the morning.

Watch this space for updates.

Bye for now.

Rxxxx

apologeis for any typos, I can't make the spellcheck work!