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.

27 Days and Counting....

My wedding is in twenty-seven days.  There are so many things to worry about with a wedding, so many little details that now I see why people get married on the beach.  They are probably just as stressed though. What about those people that do it all themselves???  I have a venue that provides the food, decorations for reception and everything, and I still feel stressed when that cut out a great deal of planning.  I would assume anyway.

Luckily most of the big stuff was done while I was overseas by my lovely mother.  I don't think I could have done it without here.  There is nothing online about planning a wedding from overseas.  Apparently, people planning weddings from overseas that are not destination weddings is not a common thing. My top advice at this point is....

1.  The internet and email are your best friends.  That's how I corresponded with my caterer, which is great because you still have it all on record.  I used the internet to buy my favors and many other things for the wedding that no one things about like chair sashes.  My parents would send me pictures of venues they visited and other things they found for the wedding.  It was nice to see pictures of the places that weren't on their website.

2. Have a friend or family member you trust taste wise and is willing to go to venues for you and check them out, see cake bakers and taste the cakes, get your sample favors in the mail and tell you about their quality and look, accept all the packages of stuff you're buying for the wedding, and more.  My mother worked best for this, but I still felt bad about all the stuff she was doing and how obsessive I've gotten over small details.  My parents even had to send out my invites seeing as I just got back into town last week.

3. Give yourself some time in the area if you are able.  I came home for two weeks at Christmas last year and found my dress and my schedule was packed the whole time running around.  The band was nice enough to meet with me the day before Christmas Eve.  I arrived here a little over a month before my wedding and I'm still running around trying to tie up all the loose ends.  I had logos put on our champagne glasses with our names on them, made flower girl baskets because those things are expensive, got my dress altered, met with the venue (which I will do at least two more times before the wedding), got our wedding rings because gold and diamonds are cheaper here at the moment.  There's tons of stuff to do for a wedding, I never would have believed it before.

4. If you're planning from overseas, you have to give up control of the little details or even the big ones.  I've always been pretty laid back, but my wedding has made me into super crazy woman.  I would call myself a bridezilla, but I've seen that show and I'm not near as bad as them...At least I hope not.  I know I've made my mother hang-up on me.

5. Relax.  The number one piece of advice for any bride.  Weddings are supposed to be fun.  I've been freaking out about small things that no one will even remember about my wedding, and I probably won't even remember.  Take some time to take care of yourself.  Luckily, I have a cousin that's a massage therapist.  She keeps her table in her car.  I love you, Kristen!!  MWAH!

Reverse Culture Shock

To me, reverse culture shock is so much worse than initial culture shock.  When I come back to America I see myself watching people I don't want to watch and listening to people I don't want to listen to.  A friend of my once described it as "too much input."  It's true. I'm now with a lot of people that look like me and speak the same language as me.  Jet lag is horrible, and all I'm doing is running around making wedding plans.  I should fit in here, right?

Happy Father's Day by the way.

My last few weeks in Korea

Phillip and I had a great time the last few weeks and Korea and I just wanted to put up some of my favorite pictures from the experience...

I miss my boys!

Sinnam, South Korea

Sinnam, South Korea

Busan, South Korea

Busan Tower, Busan, South Korea

We left our mark at Busan Tower.

Temple, Busan, South Korea

Sang-ju, Namhae-do, South Korea

Seoul Grand Park, Seoul, South Korea

It's called a pig turtle or something.  I thought it was adorable. 

BBH: Big Beautiful Hippo

My love! 

Sinnam, South Korea

Good Byes....

Phillip and I have been traveling around for the past week or so and enjoying not have to work.  It's been lovely.  I'll post pictures later. 

We came back to Seoul to see some of our friends we've made over the years here and say good bye.  Good Byes are always awkward and best kept short, so we'll miss you guys.  Love you all!  I hope we meet again in the future.

Busy, Busy

Seven work days left....

My work has me running around with my head chopped off.  All final grades have to be in by next Thursday, I worked this past Saturday and had to go in for a work lunch yesterday.  Plus, the million and one things you have to do before leaving a country.  The fun part is that Phillip and I are going to travel around Korea for a week or so before we leave, I can't wait for the day when I wake up and don't have to go to work...oh, sweet, sweetness. 

In the meantime we're just trying to spend some quality time with friends before we leave.  I'm just hoping for some lay-out time....oh laying out.  I think I've just switched to dreaming about relaxation methods.  Maybe Phillip was right, maybe I should sleep more. 

Anyway, I've been having a particularly large number of days where I just feel like an idiot lately.  Google was no help in finding the cause.  I think it's just a popular phrase.  Some groups popped up talking about meeting people that feel like idiots too, but that just sounds boring. 

RIP Tim

A good friend of mine and coworker, Tim Croese, passed away on May 10, 2011.  This past weekend some friends of his and I got together for a memorial at one of his favorite places on the Han River in Seoul.  We all loved you, Tim.

Guilt

Why does eating a normal sized candy bar make me feel like a fatty, but eating ten or so of the little ones doesn't??  For teacher appreciate day, one of my students gave me a bag with four full sized candy bars in it.  I want it.  I guess I'll be feeling like a fatty at random points this week.  My reasoning is if I eat them all this week, next week I won't have to worry about eating a candy bar.  Done and Done.

I've still got it...

Phillip and I have been in relationship going on three years now.  In that time, we've been inseparable which I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.  Anyway, this past weekend he needed me basically to leave him alone so he could finish up his final projects.  One of my best friends had invited us to go to Songtan for Mexican and another friend's wedding was this past weekend.  It's weird.  I've always been the super confident go-getter, but I was a bit nervous traveling on my own.  I used to do it all the time no problem, but recently I've felt a lack of courage venturing out without Phillip.  I made a plan, packed a bag, and off I went.  It was great!  I think I seriously needed this reboot.  I got hit on my two creepy guys in the first few hours.  They probably would have hit on a garden post, but it's just nice to know that you still look decent.  I had normal conversations with people without Phillip and I was clever and witty (at least I like to think so) and made friends.  I got to see Stu and She and had well...pretty good Mexican.  Something you also have to understand is that Mexican food is in the top ten of things missed, seriously up there with family, when overseas.  

My margarita was terrible.  They were nice enough to take it off of my tab though.

I had to take a picture of the spread.  This isn't even all the food that we ordered.  We kind of went crazy.  My cheese enchiladas were amazing.  The best thing on the menu.

Stu could have at least smiled.  The happy newly weds!!  I love you both!

After this delightful afternoon, I road the subway until I found a train station to take me to Daegu for Steve and Minjeong's wedding.  I thought I'd been to traditional Korean weddings.  I thought all Korean weddings consisted of Disney princess palaces, a light show and a fake cake that only the bride and groom got to eat in front of everyone.  I was so wrong.  There wedding was beautiful and screamed Confusionism!  It consisted of extreme bowing, and then, they were married!

This is the entrance to where Steve and Minjeong got married.

Steve and Minjeong are to be carried to the aisle.

Did I mention that the guys in the above photo carried both of them and dropped both of them with a thud at the end of the aisle.  Poor Minjeong, but it did make it more entertaining.

Extreme bowing

I now pronounce you man and wife.

The families bow.  I could not believe how much Steve looks like his mother.

Super happy.

Family shot.

I love Troy's expression in the back.  

It was a great weekend until the train ride back to Seoul.  I had to get a standing car on the slow train, so I had to stand for almost four hours on the way back to Seoul.  I should have listened to a guy at the wedding that was talking about already having his ticket.  Anyway, I'm still sore, but I did get through about 75% of Saughterhouse Five on my kindle, restored some confidence, and learned that I don't need Phillip to hold my hand, at least not with all things.

One Month Left....

I have one month left at my hagwon.  Most of the students know I'm leaving by now.  It's been sad.  I know I'm going to be crying all through May.  I've had a few that have decided to leave for various reasons this month.  One boy that came to my school a while ago wrote me the sweetest message and drew a beautiful picture for me.  He didn't have an English name when he came to me so I named him Ian.  Ian is super cute, a hard worker, and a great artist.  During the first semester I ever had him for debate, our topic was opening Korea's borders to immigrants, and some how we got on the topic of how mixed children were accepted in Korea.  He was in a pretty low level class and to clarify he raised his hand and said, "Like Mudbloods, Teacher?"  Yes, they're obsessed with Harry Potter here as well. 

I took pictures of the drawing and the letter he wrote me.  The letter made me cry. 

He's so sweet. I should use this as a recommendation letter.

He meant "for" Jessica.

Also, the bottom floor of my apartment building is being completely renovated.  It shakes the whole building and wakes me up super early.  They are banging as we speak.  I want to kill them.

New Things

I'm getting excited and sad as my time comes to an end in Korea.  I have spent about three years of my life here and never managed to eat dog.  I'm happy about that one, but the other day I tried chicken feet.  It wasn't too bad.  It was like eating spicy cartilage.  Every time something seems to be coming to an end with me, I think, "I must do everything I can before I go!"  I still need to do a few more sauna trips and bare it all with Korean women, as Uncle Shan says.  I've still never taken the ferry to Japan!!!  When am I doing that?? 

There's so much of the world to see and so little time.  Phillip's sister kind of put that into perspective for me.  She said that there are old people trips and young people trips.  The cruise to Alaska I wanted to include in our All Around America Adventure honeymoon is one of the old people trips (and expensive), so save it for when I'm old and decrepit.  It makes sense, but I'm still sad about not going.  I was even picturing us being surrounded by old people and we're all dancing with our significant others.  They're giving us worldly and knowledgeable advice about our future together then asking our plans and telling us how great we are, as old people do. 

But now there is just a black cloud over our future plans.  I'm excited about them and Phillip is as well, but we've recently gotten job offers from a university in Saudi Arabia.  When that country is mentioned in the West, so many negative things come to people's minds.  Granted, I haven't been there yet, but I've done enough research and met enough people from there to be excited at the job offer.  It's just people to share in the excitement are few and far between, and now at my wedding when family from all over the continental US are coming in, we will probably have to spend a great deal of time explaining ourselves or answering questions.  Geez...that's a downer.  I've thought about making an informative video to show family and friends, but I figure what's the point.  No matter where we live overseas I don't think they'll be happy.  Here there is the threat of North Korea, blah, blah, blah.  Some will not be happy until I am sitting and working in Mississippi.  If any of my family reads this, I'm sure you know which ones I'm talking about.  I love you all and appreciate all the support you give me whether you agree with my life decisions or not.   I know it's only because you love me.

Anyway, back to new and exciting, much happier things.  Phillip is about to finish his first semester of his masters.  The wedding is pretty much planned, just a few tiny details left to hammer out.  We intentionally picked a venue that would do the decorations for us.  Lovely!  We still have to get the wedding rings, but I think that's better put to when we are in the States.  That doesn't mean I can't look around for fun and to see what's available.  We have our flights home from Korea.  We leave on June 12th and arrive 40 minutes after we left.  Going back in time is always fun, just jet-lag isn't.  I'm mainly excited about the twelve days in Korea with no work!!!!  We'll be able to explore.  Maybe we'll get to take that ferry to Japan after all...

Spring Continued...

I took these last night on my bike ride home.  I get off at 10pm, so I just took some night photos of the flowers. 

Under a street lamp...

I'm loving the flowers at night.

Cherry Blossom at night...they're looking gorgeous.  The petals are starting to fall.  It looks like snow and they are all over the place.

Stress, Weddings, and Relief

Lately, I have been so busy looking for a job and planning a wedding.  Have you ever tried to plan a wedding in your hometown from the other side of the world??  I have and there is no helpful articles in Bride, etc.  There are tons on planning a destination wedding and on how to deal with relatives, but none on planning your wedding from overseas.  Maybe, I should lead the frontier of weddings planned this way and start writing articles to contribute to these magazines.  Nah...no one wants to read what I write anyway, except for Uncle Shan (*Shout Out*).

Anyway, the wedding plans are coming to an end, I hope.  Luckily, my mother has been a saint as far as running around to venues, but secretly I know she enjoys finally marrying off one of her daughters.  I'm happy I got the first wedding.  I don't know if she'll be so gung-ho with the next one, and with my slight disadvantage, that would be horrible.

Phillip and I are taking the summer off, which is a much needed relief, but that means finding a job with an August or September start.  I'm a ball of stress and Phillip is always calm and collected.  I had to pick the one profession where everyone is so laid back and last minute.  I'm a planner with a hint of OCD in certain moods.  I need to know I'll have a job in a few months!!!  I need it!!

So to avoid such stress, I've started sketching and this blog.  I pulled my camera out and dusted it off.  I'm going to remain calm and learn patience if it's the last thing I do.  Also, the weather is getting warmer.  That means more bike rides, more late nights sitting outside convenience stores, and I'm hoping some swimming soon and maybe a trip to some islands around Korea.

Romanticism at its Best

Yesterday, Phillip and I went on a romantic date, where we found surprisingly decent burritos in an underground food court.

Choi's Tacos & Burgers

You should check it's down the escalators across from Megabox near Omokgyo.  We will definitely be returning.    

Anniversaries/Spring in Seoul

Today is my mother's birthday and tax day in the States, which is the only reason Phillip and I are able to remember the day that he proposed.  Tomorrow it will be a year.  Yesterday, we went and hung out at the park where he forced me to go on a picnic last year on a Saturday, when I was in a seriously pouty mood.  He had to read so I played with my camera and attempted other artistic endeavors. 

The cherry blossoms are blooming...Spring is finally in Seoul.

 

I've been playing with the panoramic setting on my camera.  Where the swings are now is where Phillip proposed. 

It was a busy day in the park

Cute children everywhere!

The father and daughter ran in front of my picture, but I just love the expression that it captured on the father's face.

I think half the children in the park were terrified of that brown dog just running everywhere.

Tons of people where out collecting plants as well.  This mother was teaching her sons which plants are good to eat.  Many women were carrying bags of plant matter and gathering different weeds.  I think it's amazing that they can tell you what is edible that comes out of the sidewalk.

I also love the free work out equipment everywhere.  Ellipticals are so much fun!