Reunited in Saudi---Our New Home

After 17 hours in the most comfortable flight we've ever taken, (business class is definitely the way to fly), we were reunited with Clint here in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.


First impressions:  When entering the airport I thought it was just like so many other airports I've been in. Getting through Customs was a bit different. Seemed like some people were being tested and perhaps intimidated somewhat. I just kept smiling and we were taken out of line and brought to the front ahead of others. After passing through we still had to wait for about half an hour to have my passport returned. Many were waiting MUCH longer. We picked up our bags which were all there and in tact. We were grateful.


Of course when we saw Clint it was all smiles, hugs and kisses.


We stepped out of the airport and immediately felt the heat. It was HOT! Having a long black abiya over our clothes added to the experience.


It took about 35 minutes to get home to our compound. The drive reminded me of Arizona mixed with Las Vegas. The city looks a lot like Phoenix but with many neon signs like Vegas. We passed by a very large university for women. Apparently there are 65,000 Saudi women who attend there.


Our compound is well guarded with high walls with barbed wire fences on top and a huge steal barricade wall and a I don't know what you call it---this sort of wall that comes up from underground. Once inside it is as if you entered a holiday resort.
After putting our bags inside Carli wanted to go for a swim so off we went to the pool at midnight. It is a 4 minute leisurely walk from our front door to the gym and pool. No complaints with that!


Since Saturday Carli and I have been to the gym and pool every morning....early... as it gets too hot to be outside later in the day. Even too hot to sit by the pool!


The heat seems almost unreal. When you walk outside it seems like someone has forgotten to turn off the furnace or something. It is so intense! There is often a nice breeze which makes going outside somewhat bearable.


Everything in the house has a layer of fine dust on it EVERY day. This will be my new favorite household task...dusting! NOT!


We have been out shopping a bit with Clint to pick up household items we need as well as food. Perhaps because of Ramadan and also because of summer heat, the city seems a bit like a ghost town. You see ONLY men driving vehicles of course but it seems they do most of the shopping as well. I've seen a few women while out and about but not many Saudi women.


We have been able to find most foods that we usually eat. The Timimi store is owned by Safeway so we feel blessed to have some familiar products here.


Yesterday we were able to visit Clint's company downtown. This building is new and beautiful, very much like office buildings in Edmonton. We had to get blood taken for our Igama which is our temporary residence visa so we went to Clint's office and were then driven to a very interesting medical office downtown. Let's suffice to say that it was a bit of a walk back in time!!!


Today we are having some renovations done to our villa. The fridge was in the middle of the kitchen blocking the doorway to our dining room and the washing machine was in the kitchen as well. We had them both moved to the maids room adjoining the kitchen,  which we will obviously not be using for a maid! We will buy a dishwasher today and put it where the washing machine was located.


This evening we have been invited to dinner at one of our neighbors. He is Canadian and she is Thai. She has a take out orders restaurant in her home. The menu is spectacular. Can hardly wait to eat with them this evening.


Carli has been given a short term job caring for a cat while the project's lawyer is out of town for a couple of weeks. She has also been very motivated in planning out her own bakery. People are already interested in her goods. She has also been asked to babysit for families on the compound. Besides that she has been swimming laps and working up to her plan of training for a triathlon. We are seeing a very motivated, very positive and forward thinking side of Carli. We are encouraging her to continue and look forward to seeing her results.


All in all we feel very comfortable here....and yes, very safe! We look forward to meeting more neighbors and finding our bearings within the city. We have been able to keep busy and we are adjusting very quickly to the new time zone and new surroundings. I think we are going to really enjoy our experience here.


So other than missing our family and loved ones, life is good and we are happy.


Just one funny event I almost forgot to write about: Out shopping the other day, pushing the cart along and suddenly stopped in my tracks. My abiya got caught in the wheel of the cart. YIKES. What do we do? Don't want to just rip it out. Along comes a sweet Philipino man who tells me to just wait; he can help. Then a man from the store runs and gets a pair of scissors. YIKES again. Don't want to cut it either. The Philipino man says NO NO  just wait.  He patiently pulled the hem of my abiya through the wheel then off the side and back through. No ripping or cutting. All is well. Wonder if he had to do it before????We thanked him very much. He went about his way.
Ten minutes later I am suddenly stopped in my tracks again. Same thing happened AGAIN! This time Clint layed down on the floor of the store and pulled the hem through the wheel and off the side and back through just as he had seen the Philipino man do earlier.
I am now very paranoid about pushing shopping carts while wearing an abiya!


Until next post...
Signing off in Saudi

FAREWELL CANADA ADIEU!

This is my last post from home. We are off to Saudi this evening. Bags are packed and the last of my "To Do" list is being checked off with this post.  


Farewell our dear family and friends. You will all be missed more than you can imagine. We will   stay in touch through this blog as well as Skype (address  mammieandpops) and Face Time.


We will miss OUR TRUE NORTH, STRONG AND FREE!


Until we meet again, farewell.


~~~Clint, Liz and Carli

FLYING ON FRIDAY !

We have our tickets!  We will leave here Friday evening, arrive in London Saturday morning. Two hours later we fly to Saudi. Will arrive there at 10:30 pm Saudi time.  (9 hrs ahead of MST in Edmonton)


Carli and I have been resorting and repacking all afternoon. Our load keeps getting lighter. It's an interesting process to give up almost everything you own. It is freeing and relieving. It also makes me think about what is really important in life and just how little we can live on. There are a number of "nice to haves" but we really are a rich people and perhaps even somewhat spoiled by all that we possess. I wonder if my service might be different now while I don't have as many distractions. Time will tell.


Back to packing.

HALLELUJAH! VISAS HAVE BEEN ISSUED!

Just received word that our visas have been issued.  Travel plans are being made as I write. Will probably fly on Friday.
Today marks 5 months since Clint's departure. So relieved to know I will see him again within the week.


Doing the happy dance!

We're Still Waiting!!!

Because of observing Ramadan, members of the Saudi Embassy are working shorter days. Thus we wait a little longer to receive our visas. It feels a bit like being due to have a baby. You meet some people and they all ask the same question: "Are you still here?"


So yes, we are still here. We are hopeful to receive word tomorrow and make plans to fly out just as soon as we can book our flights.


Yesterday our grandbabies left for a trip away with their Mommy. It was a tearful morning as I said farewell to my precious girls. Perhaps it was a blessing to see them leave from home rather than at the airport as we leave. They will grow so much in the next couple of years. Skype and Face Time will become a vital part of our lives. How grateful I am for modern technology!

WAITING !

On Wednesday our visa applications were submitted to the Saudi Embassy. We hope to receive word on Monday or Tuesday this coming week. As soon as word comes we will be booking our flights with hopes to leave Canada on July 10th.


Today, Carli and I had our first taste of living as a Muslim as we bought an abiya for each of us. We will need to carry them with us to don as we enter the airport in Riyadh.