Dear Jessica Who Thinks My Email Is Actually Yours,

I've been trying to find you for years after red box receipts, your kids baseball club, etc., have emailed me.  I tried to get Walgreens employees at your local one in Texas to tell you stop putting my email down.  Not only has it been frustrating, it has been downright annoying.  Now I know you are really just mentally challenged as I received your baby pictures from Gaga Photos.  I have created an account with the confirmation code that was sent to MY email.  I'm holding them ransom.  I hope you never see them!!!

Love Always,

The better Jessica

The Positives of Saudi Arabia

Anyone that has been to a less 'desirable' country on holiday or to live knows that it's never as bad as they say it is.  Saudi Arabia has proven this true as well. 

1. The MONEY!!!
This is probably the number one reason everyone will tell you they came to Saudi Arabia.  I've asked many people how they came to be here and the MONEY is always brought up.

2. Vacation time!
Arabic culture is great for vacation time!!  This is especially important having come here from South Korea.

3. Having access to sites that most people in the world won't get to see...
A. Architecture: Believe it or not the architecture in Riyadh is beautiful and many other buildings are being built that are very interesting and beautiful.  
B. The best scuba diving in the world!!!! 
C. Camping in the desert near ruins that are undisturbed.

4. The benefits of being segregated by sex
Here males and females are segregated and as a Western woman I don't see it as much as others.  I hang out with foreigners and I live in an area that allows me to intermingle.  At my school it's a completely different story.  We walk in through curved double door entrances so no one can see inside.  They are creating two completely different worlds and within these worlds jobs that are typically done by men are done by women.  Who fixes my computer and sets it up?  A woman.  Who puts a shelf up in my office?  A woman.  Who goes around putting the five gallon water jugs on the water cooler?  A woman!   And I have to admit in seeing these circumstances my brain twitched and was like "error."  It's empowering!

5. There's always something going on.
Before we came here we met several people that had been here or knew people that had been here.  Most said they loved it.  Some hated it, but the worst complaint we heard was that, "It's boring."  We have now come to believe these people were just boring people.  If you're even slightly sociable here there is tons going on, because no one wants to be bored.  There's a great many foreigners.  We've only been here a few months and we've been to embassy parties, had our own parties, gone to compound parties and concerts and movie showings.  I've been to gatherings with a professional woman's group, joined a dance class put on by a dear friend of mine, visited souqs, and gone on the hash.  I've heard of many other things like the equestrian club, yoga, Spanish classes, Arabic classes, the choral society of Riyadh, camel racing, horse racing...  Yesterday, I went to a women only basketball game to support my students versus a school in Jeddah.  I'm a people watcher as well and new cultures always excite me to watch.

6. Insha'Allah
Time management and productivity is one of the best and worst things about this culture.  I consider myself a proactive, anal person when it comes to some things and this culture has forced me to slow down and I hope this aspect rubs off on me. It's also made me really really irritated, but I love it when it comes to me doing the task.  I don't have to rush.


That's all I have for now.  If I think of anything else, I'll let you know.

Month One...

So far Phillip and I have been her for one month and have had a long weekend and a major holiday for the Hajj break.  We were able to go see his sister for a week in Dubai, which was great as well.  At this point adjusting has only been difficult because getting set up is difficult.  It's difficult to get anyone to work here and basically do what they are paid to do.  As far as I can tell no one here cares to work hard, which is good for me, but bad when I want to get things done. 

I've heard it described as being "impatiently patient."  If you don't nag people and remind them everyday that you need something done, they will not do it.  Sometimes it takes a few weeks for actions to be completed, and every time you talk to them, they'll say "Inshallah," which means "God willing."  I will admit that I've had to bite my tongue a few times when I've heard it.

I need to be more consistent in my blogging.  I'm definitely bored enough.  I've started painting and have been trying to better myself in other ways.  Taking some time to write may help.  I'd also like to help people that plan on traveling to KSA.  Some things I read before I came weren't very helpful and weren't accurate. 

We've definitely had some interesting experiences since I've been here and it's a completely different world without my husband.  I think it's built in just to make me more dependent  upon him, which as a Western woman is difficult to swallow.  I don't go anywhere alone outside of the Diplomatic Quarter and probably never will here unless I'm desperate.  I have a lot of single women friends here that seem to get around OK.  I guess it's just finding good drivers.  I prefer to use them.  They're more expensive than taxis, but more reliable and safer. 

Also, I haven't been able to find sesame seed oil....very disappointing.

Week one...

Today Phillip and I grabbed a taxi from work to a mall near our campuses just to arrive during prayer time, so everything was shut down.  We looked around a bit and ended up buying some stuff from a big department/ grocery store.  We're still trying to stock up on basics.  The only problem is that our apartment has all V110 American plugs and all Saudi appliances, hair dryers, etc., we have found are all British plugs V220.  So I'm sure you can see my dilemma.  If I had known we'd be able to use all American plugs I just would have brought the stuff myself.  I'll ask around tomorrow and see if anyone knows where I can buy V110 things.

Leaving the mall, we managed to check out as the call the prayer was being called.  We were relieved the guy didn't just leave us there in line.  Then we got in a taxi where the driver asked for permission to stop and pray.  Of course we said yes.  Who would say no to someone praying?  We did make sure he wouldn't be running the meter while he prayed.  He said he wouldn't but did anyway, then drove us around the world to get back to our apartment as Phillip gave him a free English lesson.  It was entertaining for a bit, but then they talked about me in the third person and the taxi driver said he hoped I would give Phillip many children.  

We've arrived.

So far everything is really good in Saudi.  I've just completed day three of work and my coworkers are super helpful and friendly.  I just found out my class sizes are going to go up by half, but we're short staffed so I understand even if it's unpleasant.  I've been promised it's only this semester.  I can't complain as I only have 18 teaching hours a week, which is a huge improvement over Korea.  It's so wonderful to be able to plan a lesson. 

The only thing I'm worried about is offending my students.  I hope it never happens, but I'm really not supposed to talk about anything that is forbidden in Islam.  It's more difficult than you think seeing as music and any interaction with a male I've ever had in my life that's not a relative or my husband is taboo. 

Phillip and I haven't ventured out too much.  A bus picks each of us up every day and takes us to our respective jobs.  We finally worked up the nerve last night to finally hop in a taxi.  We just went to a Wal-mart like store called Panda Mart or Market...something like that.  Anyway, I'm still not comfortable with most situations here just because I'm ignorant.  I don't know where to go.  I don't know what entrances or stores are appropriate me for to enter.  So far I haven't had any trouble, but I've only gone to the market.  From what I hear though it's not that bad.  I think our university keeps us pretty sheltered. 

I'll make sure to let you all know if anything more interesting happens.

Life

The visa process for Saudi Arabia has been beyond a pain.  We're supposed to hear something back today about when we fly out.  It could be any time like say tomorrow...who knows?  We've just been packing trying to prepare for our trek into the desert.  It will definitely be different.

Phillip and I will not get the wedding pictures back for another month, and as for the honeymoon pictures, Phillip is making a really cool video.

I really need to start writing blogs more often again so I can talk about one thing at a time.

The honeymoon Phillip and I had was amazing.  We had an epic road trip across America.  Here is a run down of our stops...
Start: Brandon, MS > Orange Beach/ Foley, AL > New Orleans, LA > Austin, TX > San Antonio, TX > Roswell, NM > Albuquerque/ Santa Fe, NM > Taos, NM > Mesa Verde National Park near Durango, CO > Four Corners/ Navajo Nation, AZ > Flagstaff, AZ > Las Vegas, NV > Brandon, MS

A lot of driving, but a lot of fun...

My camera died in the beginning of our journey, but I was able to get a new one along the way.  All in all everything has been going really well.  I just wish we knew exactly when we were leaving.  Fingers crossed that we learn today.  Wish us luck!!

Bridezilla

Panic has struck...18 days...18 DAYS.