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!