tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404413598402604022023-11-26T10:01:36.153+03:00In a Maze of BeigeTales from Saudi Arabia
Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.comBlogger197125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-87789433825778847192020-08-20T20:39:00.004+03:002020-08-20T20:39:59.693+03:00A Note <p> Please note that I wrote this blog while living in Saudi Arabia between 2012-2013. My experiences were written as I lived them. Since my last entry in 2014, I have been living in New York. Saudi Arabia is a dynamic country and many things have changed over the years since I left the country. Women's rights in particular have changed and expanded. When reading my blog, keep in mind that the information is outdated. If you are looking for information about the country as it is now, please look for more current and relevant sources. As such, it behooves the reader to read this as a historical document that was told from the perspective of a white American woman. People can have a plethora of experiences and they will vary from how my family lived in Saudi Arabia. </p>Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-24087356054584349642016-08-09T18:25:00.000+03:002016-08-09T18:25:13.271+03:00KSA Memorabilia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I came across some Saudi Arabian pieces of memorabilia I had tucked away in a box. I quickly snapped photos of the items and then posted them on Instagram with brief commentary. Here are some screenshots of those posts.<br />
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Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-51732562930258602992014-01-02T20:47:00.002+03:002014-01-02T20:47:14.410+03:00A Book Recommendation for Everyone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I just recently finished the book, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Global-Mom-Countries-Addresses-Languages-ebook/dp/B00E3Z3F78/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388684643&sr=1-1&keywords=global+mom">Global Mom: Eight Countries, Sixteen Addresses, Five Languages, One Family</a> </i>by Melissa Dalton-Bradford</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">This is not an ordinary memoir of a globe-trotting family. Perhaps because of the tragedy the family faces, this memoir achieves a depth and weightiness that sets it apart from other titles in the genre. As a former globe-trotting mother myself, I felt a kinship with Dalton-Bradford. She is warm and personable, making you feel you could dash off an email to her in response to a passage and have a meaningful conversation about it.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Melissa Dalton-Bradford does an admirable job of distilling years of experiences into a few pages covering critical ex-pat experiences like daycare, international and local schools, culture clashes, language acquisition, bureaucracy, navigating medical systems and pharmacies, food, giving birth, friendship, job transfers, etc. She writes of these things with small anecdotes, often hilarious, but always insightful and cohesive.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Dalton-Bradford articulates far more deftly than I have ever been able to express the wonder and privilege of such a globe-trotting lifestyle. She does not, however, gloss over the real costs of the same lifestyle--the rootlessness, the relentless loss, and the curious experience of feeling a stranger in one's own country.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Perhaps the greatest feat of the book is how the heaviest and most painful of topics-the death of the Bradford's eldest son just days after beginning university-is integrated into the narrative without being choppy or derailing the book. Indeed the candor and dignity with which Dalton-Bradford expresses her grief and the struggle to move forward in such a painful landscape (almost like an entirely new country) was deeply and profoundly moving.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I found the typos in the original edition distracting and frustrating--though I think a new edition has been printed and I believe that it has been better proof-read. While Bradford's prose is beautiful and elegant, I found it distracting at times-causing me to lose track of the story. I loved the foreign phrases which were scattered throughout the text, but they weren't always translated which made me feel like an outsider and missing critical parts of the text. Many of the chapter titles were foreign phrases and I think a translation should have been provided as well underneath the title. I also wish the chapters about Singapore and Asia had been expanded. That section of the book felt too cursory and brief.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Who should read this book? People who want to travel or have ever wondered what it is like to actually live in a foreign country. People who are preparing for an international move. Expat families who are looking for sources to help validate their experiences. Anyone who is coping with grief would also benefit from this book. I will be sharing this book with my family to help them gain a deeper understanding of my own experiences living in three different foreign countries for 7 years.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Melissa Dalton-Bradford writes a wonderful blog called <a href="http://melissadaltonbradford.wordpress.com/">Melissa Writes of Passage</a> where she writes wonderful essays about a variety of topics relevant to expat families. I've enjoyed reading and commenting on her blog. She often responds so it is very possible to have some great conversations with her. </span></div>
Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-56637080092470685992013-09-30T03:50:00.001+03:002013-09-30T04:00:24.642+03:00On the Independence of Women Within the Kingdom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In the past week, I read this <a href="http://english.alarabiya.net/en/variety/2013/09/28/Driving-affects-ovary-and-pelvis-Saudi-sheikh-warns-women.html">gem of an article explaining why women in Saudi Arabia cannot and should not drive.</a> As a mother to five children, with a sixth on the way, who also happens to drive, I suppose this explains why I don't have 10 children after 15 years of marriage. It does not however explain the situation of my friend who has 9 children. Maybe if she had allowed her husband to drive, she might have had twins more than once. (Just as an aside, I think this sheik holds the opinion of the minority, not the majority.)<br />
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But I digress. A friend of mine currently living in Riyadh posted the following on her Facebook wall.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">"In August, I went to mobily and was not allowed to enter the store to pay my bill as my husband was not with me. On Thursday, I went to mobily and was welcomed into the store as I was chaperoned..... By my SIX YEAR OLD SON. thanks son, I guess I am supposed to take direction from you from now on..... Mmmm... Only in Saudi!"</span><br />
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Mobily is a cell phone provider. </div>
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These two incidents contrasted with my own return to the United States have highlighted a very important aspect of my identity and experience as a woman. In the United States, I have the full atonomy and independence to perform the duties necessary in my role as a mother and wife. In the past three months alone, I have logged hundreds of miles taking my children to doctors and dentists, ensuring their continued health and well-being through these visits. I have been able to do so on my time-frame without relying on taxi drivers or my husband, who is very busy with his job. I have met with school officials and been able to arrange for the academic needs of my children. I have been able to manage finances and other family matters without having to rely on others to help me. In other words, I have been able to arrange my schedule to suit the needs of all the members of our family. My husband and I arrange our schedules, responsibilities, and work for the benefit of all. As such, I feel like we are fully equal partners working together toward a common goal to benefit our family. </div>
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While living in Saudi Arabia, the burdens my husband carried trying to meet these needs of constantly driving, doing all the financial and business transactions, even a bulk of the shopping, in addition to working full-time were enormously stressful. I couldn't alleviate those burdens by sharing in the responsibilities. It was frustrating for both of us. </div>
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There are hundreds of compelling reasons why women should be allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, not the least that it is immoral and unethical to deny them such a right because they are human beings, not a sub-class of mindless children unable to think or make decisions for themselves. </div>
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Within the context of Saudi culture, where families are paramount, it makes sense to me to appeal to the importance of families and especially of the importance of women to be able to act as matriarchs, leading and serving their families. I believe their ability to do so fully is hampered by the many restrictions on women to act with intelligence, decision, and independence. </div>
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* Fortunately, there are some people who are really addressing the issue with intelligence and good sense. Such as this <a href="http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2013/09/22/Saudi-women-must-drive-more-than-just-cars-.html">article</a>.</div>
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Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-34048004405577537092013-09-27T03:25:00.000+03:002015-11-19T03:23:19.909+03:00Time, Places, and Change<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My oldest son was recognized for his outstanding work in Student council at the end of the 2012-2013 school year at his international school. It was one of those moments that makes you feel a little dizzy as you realize how much life can change in a few years.<br />
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Ten years ago, this boy was three and we lived in Sweden. Our days were filled with going outside, playing in the cold weather, reading stories, and making lots of messes. Ten years later, we were in Saudi Arabia, while my youngest, who is now three, sat on my lap. My youngest plays in the dirt, makes messes, and enjoys the pool.<br />
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Where will be in ten years? The mind boggles at the thought. I never imagined living in Saudi Arabia and yet we did and had a grand adventure. Nor did I ever anticipate living in Sweden. What surprises my life has held. </div>
Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-8732776673430017572013-09-26T08:00:00.000+03:002013-09-26T08:00:12.002+03:00Grocery Stores and Prayer Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There a few things you should know about shopping in KSA.<br />
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1) There are grocery stores in most malls. Kingdom mall doesn't have a grocery store, so don't plan on grabbing milk or any other essentials while you are there.<br />
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2) Prayer time happens five times a day and when it starts, everything, and I mean <i>EVERYTHING </i>stops. A few minutes before prayer time, lights go off in the stores and gates come down. There are a few stores which allow you to continue shopping, while others shoo you out the door. They will announce the closing before they close.<br />
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When in Carrefour during that time, it was amusing to watch the mad dash the customers made to the checkout stand to purchase their food. If you time it right, you can get in just before they close, shop in peace and quiet (except get your vegetables weighed) and then finish just as the doors open.<br />
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The stores I shopped at most were Carrefour, Danube, and Tamimi. Carrefour was a French grocery store. Tamimi falls under the American Safeway brand. I assumed that Danube might be Austrian, but I can't find info about it. There are other stores of course, but these three were my favorites. Tamimi usually carries a good selection of American products at import prices. So if you are looking for an American fix, you should go there first. Carrefour usually satisfied my craving for European foods. I also got a kick out of reading the labels as they reminded me of reading labels in Sweden. Danube was always very clean and well-kept. They also had a good selection of quality dark chocolate.<br />
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One of my favorite things to get at the grocery store is cheese pizza, baked in a wood oven. Yummy!<br />
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Shopping in KSA was actually pretty painless, unless you were insistent about getting a certain ingredient. I personally learned to just go with the flow of it. I would buy the best looking produce, supplement with a little meat, mostly chicken, and make do. I guess knowing how to substitute ingredients and cook without recipes is really essential.<br />
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There are outdoor markets that you can visit. We often saw little stands on the back of trucks on the side of the road selling fresh produce and always watermelons.<br />
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Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-69219867802473414842013-09-25T21:21:00.001+03:002013-09-30T02:37:45.402+03:00What I Wish I Had Said During the Podcast<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yesterday, I was one of the guests on the <a href="http://www.paperclipping.com/">Paperclipping Roundtable Podcast</a>. PRT is a wonderful podcast that discusses scrapbooking. They have a great following of listeners around the world. Noell and Izzy Hyman do a great job of creating a consistently interesting podcast that really does educate, entertain, and inspire me.<br />
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The podcast I participated was called <a href="http://www.paperclipping.com/prt177-rootless/">"Rootless"</a>. We discussed the concept of <a href="http://tckid.com/what-is-a-tck.html">Third Culture Kids (TCK)</a> and how scrapbooking can help highly mobile and transient families deal with the challenges of the lifestyle.<br />
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Here are some thoughts I had that I wanted to share.<br />
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1) Highly transient families families often experience loss with possessions as their lifestyle doesn't always allow for these things to be carried with them everywhere. Scrapbooking has become a way for me to preserve memories and experiences that I have no other tangible link to.<br />
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(Visiting an ancient Roman ampitheatre in Ceaseara, Israel)<br />
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I have given away, sold, or thrown away couches, tables, beds, knicknacks, toys, clothes, shoes, heirlooms, kitchen equipment, bikes, bike trailers, strollers, etc. When we moved to Sweden, we pared down our belongings to what could fit into a few suitcases. (I did burden my parents with several boxes of books that have spent many years in storage. I still can't bear to let them go, but I'm realistic enough to realize that may have to discarded at some point.) While living in Sweden, we knew that we would be moving ourselves back to the United States. There would not be a moving company to pack up our belongings to our new home. We did not accumulate things. I didn't buy paintings, decorations, or souvenirs. My memories of our life in Sweden are recorded in our pictures and documented with my scrapbooks. When we lived in Israel, I couldn't afford to buy hardly anything. We did purchase a Christmas Creche made out of olive wood. But otherwise, our pictures and scrapbooks are the only physical link we have to our amazing experiences.<br />
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(The view of Riyadh from a hotel room. This picture inspired<br />
the name for this blog.)<br />
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Granted I can't lug my scrapbooks around. They often go in storage during our travels. But they are precious enough that I keep them.<br />
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2) Scrapbooking often provides much needed perspective to process both the good and bad experiences of expat life.<br />
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I scrapped my last year living in Sweden a few years after it had occurred. There is a difference in that scrapbook versus the pages I made while living there. I was much more humble about our experiences. I found I was able to ascribe meaning that I simply couldn't process at the time the events occurred. I imagine I will need a little time and distance to process my Riyadh experiences.<br />
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(I am still coming to terms with wearing an abaya for 18 months on a daily basis. It was a necessary part of my experience, but one I still don't have the words to fully describe what it was like. It wasn't totally awful, but neither was it totally awesome.)<br />
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3) Scrapbooking allows family memories of grand adventures to be preserved. My kids can look back in the albums and remember what their snowsuits looked like in Sweden. They can remember the playgrounds they explored in Israel. They can remember the grocery stores in Saudi Arabia and the color of the desert sand.<br />
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4) Creating scrapbook pages helps me deal with the loss of treasured friends as we leave behind friends or are left behind.<br />
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5) Scrapbooking helps me emphasize our family stability. Even though we don't always have stability of place, we always have one another.<br />
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6) Scrapbooking helps me approach my life as an expat with gratitude, curiousity, wonder, and an open mind. I am so grateful for the experiences and life I lead. I would never trade any of our adventures for a different life. It is MY life and I own it, good and bad.<br />
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Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-35491639483514269282013-09-05T22:22:00.001+03:002013-09-05T22:22:13.411+03:00The Luxury of Never Substituting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I stood in the baking aisle, scanning the shelves for Andes mint chips. Finally, I turned to a woman standing beside me and asked, "Have you ever seen mint chocolate chips here?" The woman said she had and proceeded to help me look. After several minutes of carefully looking, it became clear that there were no mint chips to be found. As I considered alternatives, the woman held a bag of walnuts in her hand and asked, "Do you think I could use pecans in place of walnuts in my banana bread?" I assured her that the substitution was fine, when she continued, "You see, I never substitute ingredients in recipes, ever."<br />
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Her remark literally stopped me in my tracks. The last several years have been one culinary experiment after another as I have tried to approximate beloved recipes in different countries. In Sweden, we had to make up our own baking powder, because the Swedish baking powder had such a terrible aftertaste. We chopped chocolate in place of chocolate chips. I used creme frache in place of sour cream. I learned to make my own cream soups and bases in lieu of cream of crap canned soup. In Saudi Arabia, I couldn't use pork products, so my beloved Sweet and Sour Pork became Sweet and Sour Chicken for 18 months. Whenever I made scones, I used plain yogurt instead of the sour cream called for in the recipe. I rarely cooked or prepared salads with fresh spinach as it was hard to find.<br />
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Living in a foreign country often feels like an endless series of adaptations and substitutions. Sometimes we try and recreate pieces of home with recipes or celebrations. Of course, the flavor is never quite as authentic as we wish. But we still try. And other times, we bend to the inevitable, accept the alternative and make new recipes. My cooking creativity always feels enhanced when living abroad as I learn to adapt to the available ingredients.<br />
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And then we bring flavors from our adopted countries home. I can never quite recreate the beautiful food and cuisine centered around the pear so beloved in Sweden. I desperately miss the flavor of Danish chocolate. Sometimes I dream about an authentic Israeli falafel that literally makes me drool. My kids talk about shawarma longingly. I was at a shawarma shop in Boulder, Colorado a couple of weeks ago and shocked the chef when I asked if they put french fries in their shawarma. I miss the delicious flavors of India my friends shared with me. Or the fresh flavors of Korean fare that another friend introduced me to.<br />
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It's always a give and take, isn't it? We are always leaving behind something we love and appreciate wherever we may go.<br />
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So while I envy the lady in the grocery store the luxury of never having to subsitute ingredients, I feel a little sorry for her as well. She's missed out on some grand culinary adventures. </div>
Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-44482730952638403522013-09-04T19:41:00.000+03:002013-09-04T19:41:00.030+03:00The Camel Beauty Contest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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During the month of December thousands of camels and their
owners from all over the Middle East gather in the desert about 310 km north of
Riyadh for a month-long auction and Camel Beauty Festival. My husband, our five
children, two of our friends, and I drove three and a half hours to explore the
auction and festival. When we saw thousands of tents pitched in the desert and
camels everywhere, we knew we had found the right spot.</div>
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Before checking out the camel beauty contest, we first
explored the camel auction and souk. The souk was set up on both sides of the
desert track and had many tents filled with camel equipment such as saddles,
blankets, bridles, herding crops, and bells. There were stalls with necessities
like food, water, fuel, and stacks of firewood. Along with the necessities
there were stalls with carpets, fur-lined coats and vests, and other typical
things you would expect to see at bazaars. </div>
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After driving through the souk, we entered the area where
camels were penned in and auctions were taking place. I did not need to understand
Arabic to recognize the rhythm of an auctioneer calling bids and selling
camels. Along the wide desert track, cars full of young men raced along with
windows rolled down, playing loud music and shouting welcome at us. Camels were
everywhere, penned in makeshift corrals of barbed wire. Some camels were
hobbled on the ground. And then there were the herds of camels crossing the
road. Some were hobbled on one side so they could not run, while others were
free to roam at will. One mammoth white camel was separated from his group by
our car. He looked irritated as he tried to poke his head into our open car
window. I was amazed at how the camels ignored the chaos of noise, cars, and
people with perfect disdain. </div>
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At one point we stopped to see if we could at least touch a camel. Before long, we found ourselves surrounded by young men eager to show us camels and talk to us. Our friend was invited to get on a very cranky camel. Then the camel herder wanted to put my kids on the camel, but they were scared of the hissing, cranky camel. To show us the camel was docile, the herder jumped on its back and stood up while the camel also stood up from the kneeling position. It was amazing! We were as interesting to the group gathered as the camels were to us. They all wanted pictures of us, especially my youngest son with his blonde hair and blue eyes. One cheerful man with yellowed teeth gave my daughter a kiss on the cheek, which made her cry. At the point, I shoved the kids in the car, away from the crowd, and we drove off.</div>
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After a short drive, we entered the camel beauty contest
where we watched a herding show. A group of white camels would enter the arena
following their herder on a black camel. The herder would take the group
through their paces, showing the judges how the camels could follow a pattern
and work together as a group. We saw three different herds on display. It was
interesting and brought to mind cattle shows and rodeos I grew up with in
Wyoming.</div>
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We joined a large group for lunch and more activities at a
large outdoor camping area set up with a large tent with the sand covered with
rugs. My kids rode camels while we snacked on different types of dried fruits
and buns filled with chocolate. We watched a demonstration of dogs resembling
greyhounds that chased a kangaroo rat. My boys’ favorite part of the day was
seeing the beautiful peregrine falcon. Falconry in Saudi Arabia is a
centuries-old sport and exists to this day. The falcon was graceful, elegant,
and poised, tolerating the crowds of people clamoring to touch him. Our day
ended with a delicious meal of Saudi traditional dishes eaten outside on a
carpet we shared with other families. It was an adventure not to be missed and
will rank high on our favorite things we have done in Saudi Arabia. </div>
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Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-69158450312940371482013-09-03T19:25:00.002+03:002013-09-03T19:25:37.189+03:00Catching Up and Moving On<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I haven't written in months as our family transitioned from expats living in Saudi Arabia back to living in the United States. Since June I have endured the challenges of the first trimester of pregnancy, moving, closing on a house, unpacking, traveling across the United States to visit family in the west, and driving back to the East Coast to get settled in. My head spins with appointments, schedules, boxes, cooking, home ownership, bills (I have to grapple with those again!), and life in general. It is all good but many times overwhelming.<br />
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In trying to transition back to the USA, I haven't thought much about our time in Saudi Arabia. It is a bit of a coping mechanism, but I see gaps in my narrative on my blog--crucial stories that need to be told. So as I wrap up my life in Saudi Arabia and say farewell to my experiences there, I'll be trying to complete those stories to the best of my ability.<br />
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I'm so glad we lived in Riyadh. It was challenging but rewarding. Stick with me a bit longer, please, and I will try and share more stories and experiences.<br />
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Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-42848297104815132452013-06-14T19:08:00.001+03:002013-06-14T19:08:02.604+03:00Stereotypes and Living in the Middle EastMany people were worried about us when we announced our plans to move to Saudi Arabia. They feared for our safety and were deeply concerned about us living in a Muslim country. Islam and its faithful followers, Muslims, unfortunately have a bad reputation in the west, especially in the United States.<div><br></div><div>For the most part, people's concerns turned out to be unfounded. I have felt very safe, other than when driving on the crazy and chaotic streets of Riyadh. The stereotypes about Muslims have also proven to be without foundation. We've met unfailingly kind and generous Muslims in Riyadh. They have shared their religious beliefs with great devotion, but without fanaticism. I have come to deeply respect most tenants of Islam and those who strive to faithfully abide by their beliefs. </div><div><br></div><div>My oldest son has a Saudi friend who attends school with him. This boy is intelligent, thoughtful, kind and decent. As the boys were saying their goodbyes, my son's friend said to him, "Please tell your American friends that not all Arabs or Muslims are terrorists." My heart broke just a little upon hearing that. This young teenager already carries a burden that he will be perceived as a terrorist by people who should understand that fanatics should not define an entire group of people.</div><div><br></div><div>Yesterday afternoon while chatting with the father of another son's friend, who happens to be a Pakistani Muslim. He related the following story. While living in a community in Dubai where their family was the only Muslim family in their neighborhood, his son came home and asked, "Dad, are we Muslims?" His father said they were and his son asked, "Are we bad then?"</div><div><br></div><div>Again, I felt so sad. So I ask you today to challenge the stereotypes you hold dear and consider how they harm others. Remember that are plenty of bad people who do awful things in the name of religion. </div><div>Americans have shot up classrooms, movie theaters, and malls. Priests have molested children. My point is that there are many people who have done terrible things, regardless of their religious affiliation. Please remember that good people in a religion outnumber the bad. </div><div><br></div><div> Remember that the next time you see a woman covering her hair with a hijab. Instead of condemning her, why not admire her devotion to her faith. Get to know your Muslim neighbors, ask them about their customs and traditions. You may just discover you have more in common than you think.</div>Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-16070746961831444232013-05-31T16:05:00.002+03:002013-05-31T16:05:23.589+03:00Packing and Moving<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I find it a great irony in my life that our lives are pretty mobile and yet I really stink at packing. In fact, I despise packing. What tends to happen is that I panic about the amount of stuff we have accumulated and I dream of chucking it all in the bin and live out of a backpack. Which is neither practical or really fun. Ok, maybe it is sort of practical.<br />
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Here are some things I've learned about packing.<br />
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1) Stuff is just stuff. You can chuck most stuff in the bin and never even miss it. In fact, I think that stuff just weighs us down. We don't need as much as we accumulate. It is easier to keep things clean and organized without so much stuff.<br />
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2) I tend to WAY over-buy clothes. My kids have more clothes than they could ever wear. I need to curb this tendency to buy so many clothes. Also, my children have grown a lot this year. I'm trying to hold out on buying new clothes for a couple more months. Unfortunately, my oldest son looks like he wearing capris (or manpries?) when he puts on his pants. He'll live and so will I.<br />
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3) Making memories and spending time with friends is more important than sorting through everything. We're making sure to get our goodbyes in.<br />
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4) My house is a disaster and I'm learning to accept it and let go. I can't do everything I need to and keep it all clean. I'm very grateful for my helper who cleans three times a week.<br />
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5) Moving is stressful no matter how much you prepare for it.<br />
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<i>How do you feel about packing and moving? </i></div>
Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-76507126748394710302013-05-07T12:24:00.000+03:002013-05-07T12:24:00.716+03:00Links and Posts about Traveling<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here are some worthwhile reads about traveling with kids.<br /><br />I wrote this post a few years back about vacationing on a budget with kids. It's definitely worth reading.<br />
<br /><a href="http://tiffanyswedemomisraeltrip.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/vacations-on-a-budget/">Vacation on a Budget</a><br />
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My friend at Handsfullmom has nine children under the age of 15. She wrote this great post about traveling with kids.<br />
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<a href="http://handsfullmom.blogspot.com/2008/02/successful-traveling-with-kids-because.html">Successful Traveling with Kids</a><br />
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Enjoy. If you have read articles dealing with this subject, please link to them in the comments section.<br />
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Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-44429360307439885332013-05-06T11:39:00.000+03:002013-05-06T11:39:07.413+03:00Travel with Kids<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In my post about <a href="http://beigemaze.blogspot.com/2013/04/life-is-either-daring-adventure-or.html">life being a daring adventure</a>, my friend commented about my bravery traveling with my kids. I responded with a lengthy comment which never got saved or posted. Clearly I had a lot to say, so I thought I'd turn it into a full length blog post.<br />
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Traveling with kids hasn't been so much an act of bravery as much as it has been a matter of necessity. I rarely have the luxury of family to take my kids. And so they tag along wherever we may go. Here are my best tips about travel with kids.<br />
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1) Plan your itinerary with your children in mind.<br />
Kids have different tastes about interesting activities and they certainly have much shorter attention spans. When going to a special place, make sure you include outings that will interest your children. Accept that you won't be able to spend hours and hours staring at a special painting in a museum. Enjoy the energy and enthusiasm kids bring to exploring new sights. You'll appreciate the perspective they bring to the experience. Six years ago I went through a section of the Louvre Museum in Paris with my three-year old son. I let him take the camera and will never forget the perspective he had of the art. I could see how the museum looked through his eyes.<br />
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2) Inoculate your kids to travel through shorter expeditions.<br />
I trained my kids to enjoy and behave in museums with short, frequent trips to a small museum in Sweden. This museum had it all with rats in barrels (showing the ship trade in Sweden), the creepiest skeleton of a giant crab, suits of authentic medieval armor,a technical museum that included lots of machines and cannon balls. Trips to this museum were inexpensive and were always a welcome outing when the rain drove us inside one too many days. Something to consider is that many museums today are designed to be more interactive and appealing to kids. Many museums offer a kids trail that includes a fun booklet and worksheet. At the Westminster Abbey, our kids had to find different things in the building, including graffiti marks on the coronation chair. We learned a lot from completing the activity and the kids were thrilled to earn a chocolate gold coin when they successfully completed the treasure hunt. Let your kids get really involved with the different exhibits.<br />
If you like hiking and camping, take your kids on shorter outings so they'll be more prepared to cope with longer stretches of camping. Make sure that you emphasize the adventure and togetherness of the outing.<br />
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3) Prep your kids with information and context so they will understand what they are seeing and enjoy it more.<br />
Before a trip to Philadelphia and Washington D.C. my kids watched an animated series produced by PBS called <i>Liberty Kids</i> portraying the events leading up to and during the Revolutionary War. My kids understood the significance of the Liberty Bell and loved Benjamin Franklin's printing press because they had context to the events which provided meaning to them.<br />
Before our trip to Egypt, my boys read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the%20kane%20chronicles&sprefix=the+ka%2Cstripbooks&rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3Athe%20kane%20chronicles&sepatfbtf=true&tc=1367828105537">the Kane Chronicles</a> by Rick Riordan which cleverly teaches Ancient Egyptian history and mythology through a modern fast-paced storyline that is relevant and interesting. My boys were able to understand the meaning of some of the pictures on the walls of the tombs in the Valley of the Kings. They had so much to discuss and offer as we toured those ancient sites.<br />
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4) Plan food and rest stops carefully.<br />
Nothing ruins a trip like tired, cranky, whiny kids. To avoid this, make sure you get as much as rest as possible. Pack lots of good snacks along the way. Research local restaurants so that you have plenty of options when the crew is ready to eat.<br />
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5) Enjoy the special time you have as a family to explore together.<br />
Kids grow up and move away. You won't have many years to travel with them. So enjoy it while you have it. I'll never forget standing in an olive grove in Jerusalem with my young son as we talked about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I'll never forget the excitement of riding camels with my kids in the shadow of the Giza Pyramids. I'll never forget being surrounded by a crowd of Egyptian kids eager to take my daughter's picture. I'll never forget riding bikes with my boys on the Island of Ven between Sweden and Denmark. I have some wonderful memories to treasure exploring interesting places with my children.<br />
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<i>What are your best tips about traveling with kids? What keeps you from traveling with your kids?</i><br />
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Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-28511312476967841382013-05-05T23:15:00.002+03:002013-05-05T23:15:28.616+03:00Comparisons: Medical Care<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In an effort to finish documenting my life here in Saudi Arabia before we move back to New York (in less than two months!- Gasp!) I thought I'd write a few posts dealing with the differences between our Saudi lifestyle and our New York lifestyle.<br />
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Medical Care in New York<br />
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Scenario: Two of the five children have fevers and sore throats.<br />
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I call our pediatrician's office and they schedule an appointment, usually that day. Office hours are between 9 and 6 p.m. If after hours, I can call the doctor and they will make a suggestion whether to visit urgent care or the E.R or wait it out till the next day. I drive the kids to the appointment where they wait in the waiting room for a few minutes and then see a doctor. The doctor who knows all of our family by our first names, examines the kids, runs some tests, and then gives me a diagnosis. If necessary we are given a prescription. I drive to the local pharmacy to fill the prescription. We go home and dose the children and wait. Children get better and all is well.<br />
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Medical Care in Saudi Arabia<br />
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Scenario: Two of the five children have fevers and sore throats.<br />
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Husband and I debate back and forth the merits of going to the doctor. Toddler is out of his mind cranky and screaming. We have to wait for the right hours to go to the doctor. This means from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Then we have to wait until after 4 p.m. The ER is available if needed. Husband battles traffic for a long while. We arrive at clinic. It is closed. We finally find the ER entrance. We fill out paperwork and then sit and wait. And we wait. Finally, the doctor calls us back and briefly examines the children. The doctor says the illness is not serious and sends us home. Another day of constant tears from the toddler. This time doctor says the child is worse and does some tests. A prescription is written and filled at the pharmacy. Husband drives home the family and feels exhausted by the traffic.<br />
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Saudi Arabia does have good health care at times. It's just that it can be uncertain. I never quite know what I'm going to get when we go to the doctor. Also, my husband has to drive us or we have to arrange for the compound taxi service to get us there. And then there's that whole "closed for prayer" thing that really messes with your schedule. And this is why we avoid going to the doctor if possible.<br />
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Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-4703074357773834912013-04-24T23:17:00.002+03:002013-04-24T23:17:41.386+03:00Missing in Action<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I haven't been around lately because of two trip to the United States in the past few weeks. It's been insane, fun, wonderful, and exhausting. My beautiful younger sister got married. I was so happy that I could attend her wedding. It was a privilege to witness her marriage to a really good man. I'm sure they will be wonderfully happy.<br />
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Sadly, I neglected to get a picture with the two of us. ?But I did manage to get a nice picture with my Mom, whom I absolutely adore.<br />
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Then I popped back to Saudi Arabia to hug and kiss my kids and spend a few days with my family. We farmed our four older children out to friends while my husband, youngest son, and I went to New York for a house-hunting trip. We lived in NY for four years before moving to Saudi Arabia. My husband's company sent us to Saudi Arabia and now want us to return to the USA .<br />
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Because of our wonderful expat package we were able to save a lot of money, allowing us to finally be in a position to buy a home. And in a few days, that's what we did. We haven't closed, but things are progressing well and we should be in our home (OUR HOME!) in a couple of months.<br />
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We've lived a nomadic existence for many years and have never been in a position to buy a home. It feels so adult to make this big step. We've saved and prepared for this and are thrilled that it has finally happened for our family.<br />
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The next two months I will concentrate on finishing up entries for this blog, trying to pack in all our amazing Saudi experiences. </div>
Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-6485785292331551732013-04-17T16:38:00.001+03:002013-04-17T16:38:07.914+03:00Sword Dancing and a Bit about Wedding and Marriage Customs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sword Dancing is a unique and interesting aspect of Saudi culture and is only performed by men. I thought this <a href="http://english.nuqudy.com/Gulf/Saudis_Dance_the_Ni-5208">article </a>with its brief video clip gave a good overview of the practice and place in Saudi society. I've been told that these sword dances are performed at weddings. Which brings me to another interesting aspect of Saudi culture--not necessarily unique to Saudis as other countries in the Middle East follow the same custom.<br />
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The wedding reception is held for men and women separately. The men have their party with the bridegroom and the women have their party with the bride. At some point, the bridegroom comes and takes his bride away and the parties end.<br />
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Many Saudi marriages are semi-arranged, with the parents vetting and choosing a selection of potential mates for their children. Family alliances and tribal connections are carefully considered. The bride or groom do have a say in whom they wish to marry and can veto selections from their parents. When a couple is married, the woman still maintains absolute control over any assets and money she brings to the marriage. Divorce is allowed--though I believe it is easier for a man to obtain a divorce than for a woman. If a woman divorces, she returns to her family. She still has the possibility of marrying again without stigma.<br />
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Please check out the <a href="http://english.nuqudy.com/Gulf/Saudis_Dance_the_Ni-5208">article and video clip</a>. It is a brief interesting read about a fascinating cultural practice.</div>
Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-33149788277012992662013-04-16T19:54:00.003+03:002013-04-16T19:54:47.697+03:00Life Is a Either a Daring Adventure or Nothing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I recently discovered this quote featured on a scrapbook page. It struck me as the thread that pulls together my life. The full quote is from Helen Keller and says,</div>
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"<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 19px;">Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure." </span></div>
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Isn't that brilliant and true? Today I pulled out some pictures of our trip to Egypt and starting creating a scrapbook album. I realized that I was starting to sound redundant describing some trips I've taken in the last 10 years as "<i>the </i>trip of a lifetime". And yet so many of my trips have felt that way. When I visit a place I try to experience it as if I will never travel there again. Even if I have been there several times, I still approach it that way. It is such a satisfying way to explore and travel--adding a piquancy and urgency to the experience. </div>
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I don't want to go someplace and feel regret for what I couldn't or didn't see. I want to feel content and full with what I have done. I think I've succeeded. </div>
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(My kids have a sense of humor when they take pictures, like this one at Karnak Temple in Luxor.)</div>
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How do you live life with a daring sense of adventure? I think you need to approach life with a relentless and insatiable curiosity. You must have an openness to ask questions and a willingness to experience new things. I personally feel completely invigorated and renewed. </div>
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Must you reserve this adventure for foreign climes? Hardly. I was recently in Kentucky attending my sister's wedding. We were in a part of Kentucky I knew little about and I discovered there was so much to do. I'm sad I couldn't explore more because of the wedding, but it is now on my list of places to explore. Yes, I put a small town in Kentucky on my list of destinations. That's the beauty of our world--we have such diversity and history that there are very few places that don't warrant a little time spent exploring and reflecting on what they have to offer. </div>
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<i>How do you approach life with a daring sense of adventure? If you don't feel that sense of adventure, what holds you back? Tell me about a dream destination and why it is a place you want to visit.</i></div>
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Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-37112182982169069362013-04-10T12:22:00.000+03:002013-04-10T12:22:13.510+03:00Janadriyah Culture Festival<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Janadriyah Culture Festival is held once a year and celebrates the heritage and culture of all the provinces of Saudi Arabia. We attended last year in February and had a fabulous time. If it is possible, we enjoyed ourselves even more this time.<br />
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This is the food aisle with fast food options. Exploring the province areas yielded more authentic and interesting food options.<br />
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We all found the military tent very interesting. This very friendly soldier spoke to us and demonstrated these robots. He was very engaging and wanted to really interact with people.<br />
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There was a shooting booth with a pistol shooting rubber bullets. The soldiers helped each of my children shoot at a target. Imagine my surprise when they invited me to take a turn. I wonder if they let Saudi women shoot.<br />
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This man was carving stone into designs and pictures. He was using another stone to do the work. This was a section demonstrating traditional Saudi handicrafts.<br />
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Even though Riyadh is a modern city, the culture is never far from its roots as a desert people. Livestock and farming were important means to feed people.<br />
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This was a fun booth showing traditional wooden toys.<br />
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This man was making different types of sling shots. My kids now own slingshots of their own. I couldn't resist.<br />
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This tent shows a traditional desert campsite. The rugs and cushions make it very comfortable.<br />
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You can't see it very well from this picture, but there is a very lean hunting dog, a saddle, and two falcons tied to their perches.<br />
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This man was playing this wailing instrument. He moved the bow across the strings to make an interesting sound.<br />
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This cow was drinking milk from its own udder. I had no idea that it was even possible, but this cow was extremely flexible and determined. The picture doesn't show it very well, but I promise I saw the cow sucking on its own teats.<br />
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I love the colorful saddles and blankets for the camels.<br />
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The muttawa were out in force patrolling the area like never before. I ran into more muttawa in 3 hours than I have in the entirety of my stay in Riyadh. Each time they asked my husband to make me cover. Lovely, right?? I ended up covering my hair for much of the time. I asked a Saudi lady to help me do it as it is kind of tricky. She was sweet, laughing as she helped me. It isn't my favorite look, but certainly something different and unique to the area.<br />
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We were lucky to catch a performance of sword dancing. These men marked the time with their feet and swords to a drum beat and some music. There were two lines of men facing one another. My son informed me that it was a military dance intended to hype the men up before battle. It also is formal and has controlled movements.<br />
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Here are some of the dancers taking a break. Saudi men wear white thobes and these checked head coverings in every day life. In the winter they wear heavier robes in grey and brown . Some men wear white shawls, but I think the red-checked coverings are more common.<br />
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Another obligatory camel picture. . .<br />
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My eldest and youngest are too cute for words. Notice the wall pattern. Cool, right?<br />
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Just a picture of the market.<br />
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Not the best picture, I know, but here is a display of some traditional handicrafts.<br />
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A typical room with a fireplace, coffee karafes, rugs, and cushions. The bread in the foreground is baked on coals. It is hollow in the middle and filled with a sweet filling like cinnamon or honey.<br />
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This was a freestyle sword dance. The men leaped around the stage and were much more animated. After the dance I was walking away smiling when a Saudi lady called to me and said, "You look happy. You like it here?" I replied that I was happy and enjoying the cultural festival very much. We spoke to many people, both men and women. My daughter and youngest son practiced saying "Ana ismy ______" which means "My name is _____________" in Arabic. This charmed many people. I'm just glad my kids are willing to be open and talk to people.<br />
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A boat exhibit at the marketplace.<br />
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This was in the Mecca section. I'd really like to get a metal tea set with the tiny cups.<br />
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I just liked this scene with this man and the tea/coffee karafes and the bread. My husband calls the sandals "Jesus" sandals. Most of the men wear these when it is warm.<br />
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I had some henna art done by a lady walking around doing art on the spot. My daughter also had some done. It is very pretty. The kids found swords and daggers and begged to buy them. It was hilarious to see my daughter wearing an abaya (I found a cute one to buy her) with a fake dagger wrapped around her waist. At any moment she'd whip out the dagger and attack. This is what happens when you have four brothers!</div>
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Despite the muttawa, we had a really lovely time. I love interacting with the Saudis. They answered our questions, smiled at our children, and welcomed us to their country. </div>
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If you have a chance, make sure you go to the festival. It closes on April 17th.</div>
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Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-78957304949391371892013-04-07T18:08:00.001+03:002013-04-17T22:46:58.800+03:00Blasting About in Bahrain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We like to get away to Bahrain occasionally. It's a four-hour drive North East through the desert from Riyadh. Once you get to the border, you are never sure how long it will actually take to get through all the checkpoints. There is nothing ominous about the checkpoints, it just takes time and waiting in line, or not as the case may be. We are talking about Saudi drivers here and Saudis for that matter. Saudis neither like waiting in lines, nor driving in lanes, so you can imagine that the "lines" are rather chaotic. I'm convinced if you unleashed a group of ladies from New York and New Jersey in Riyadh for a month or two, they would take care of the problem with line-jumpers and crashers in Riyadh. Never cut in line in New Jersey or New York, not if you value your life.<br />
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Speaking of lines and traffic, Bahrain traffic is actually pretty decent. It can be heavy, but you never really fear for your life. People actually do drive in lanes and there isn't insane lane cutting and they don't turn from the wrong lanes. I'm speculating that the reason that it is more sane is that women drive in the country. And you know we women folk tend to have a civilizing influence on men. Whatever the reason, it is refreshing to drive there. Not that I actually drive. But its nice knowing I could.<br />
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So back to Bahrain. We drive four hours through the desert to get there. I'm not going to put a Pollyanna spin on the drive. My kids are frequently awful and fight. The scenery is boring. You could count the trash on the side of the road, but no one can really count that high. We live in deadly fear of having to stop and use the restroom. Gas station restrooms are awful in any country, but are particularly awful in this country. I simply refuse to go and so only drink sparingly. I'm the mean mom who keeps her kids on the edge of dehydration to avoid the bathrooms. We've tried to stop on the side of the road before, but that only ended badly when we got stuck in the sand. Fortunately, someone pulled us out, but now we try to avoid stopping in any form. </div>
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As for the bathrooms, my husband put it this way. "If you were rating bathrooms from 1 to 10 with 1 being the worst and 10 being the worst, Saudi bathrooms would rate a - 10." I would rate a bathroom we encountered in Germany a 10 where you pushed a button and the bathroom cleans itself totally ready for the next user. </div>
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In Bahrain, we eschew culture and artistic experiences in favor of shopping, eating bacon, and relaxing. We stay in a nice hotel apartment suite with two bedrooms and a living room and relax.<br />
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The most important component of our vacation is procuring real pork bacon-not beef or turkey bacon, real pork bacon in all its salty, fatty goodness. Then we gorge ourselves on said breakfast meat, consuming a pound each morning. (Don't judge me. Consider how you would do in a country where pork products are outlawed, and then we'll talk.)<br />
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After an extremely leisurely morning lounging around our hotel, we may or may not take a jaunt around the Al Seef Mall where we shop, play at the amusement park, or just enjoy the sights. I personally revel in the feeling of freedom from wearing my abaya. Love it!!!!!!!! It is also delightful to see men and women eating together.<br />
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We also like to catch a movie or two at the cinema. This weekend we watched the Jack the Giant Slayer, which was enjoyed by everyone in the family. We like to eat at cool places. This weekend we dined on burgers, slurped thick malts, and danced to old tunes at Johnny Rockets. Good thing the muttawa doesn't reside in Bahrain, because I would have been picked up for unseemly behavior dancing to "Brown-Eyed Girl" with my little girl. Granted, the locals did a fair bit of staring at me but they didn't seem shocked or concerned.<br />
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We like to go to Wahoo and zoom down the waterslides, splash in the toddler-zone, try surfing, and race each other down the slides.<br />
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Because we can't get enough of swimming, we also hit the hotel swimming pool.<br />
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If we happen to be in Bahrain on a Friday, we like to attend church at the local LDS church in Bahrain. Bahrain's constitution guarantees freedom of religion which means that a variety of religions can and do meet in the country. Another cool thing about Bahrain is that the Bahraini ambassador to the U.S. is a Jewish woman. Bahrain even has a small Jewish community.<br />
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After all this fun and relaxing time, we return to Riyadh, refreshed and renewed, ready for the particular challenges of life there.<br />
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Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-3816370008463688962013-04-03T22:30:00.002+03:002013-04-03T22:31:32.657+03:00On Learning Arabic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I found an Arabic teacher quite by accident and so I've begun a crash course in the language. I'm embarrassed to say that up to this point, I haven't put any effort into learning the language for a few reasons. Firstly, going outside of the compound sadly affords little opportunity to speak Arabic. Many of the shopkeepers are not Saudi and so you tend to speak English in those situations anyhow. Secondly, Saudi culture isn't generally a mixing culture. From the walled villas to very private people it can be hard to develop relationships in which to actually use Arabic. That doesn't mean it is impossible of course. And I've found that there are opportunities to practice if you are outgoing. Saudi are also very friendly outside of Riyadh. It's like the city casts a pall of shyness over everyone. Once you get out in the desert things change, which is nice. I do believe that in other Arabic speaking countries, it is probably easier to learn and speak Arabic as you tend not to be as isolated and do mix more with locals. But Saudi Arabia is, as always, a very different ball of wax.<br />
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All of my excuses aside, I've been mentally uncomfortable with my lack of motivation. I learned Swedish, albeit not perfectly, nor even very well. But I did study for a few years, slogged my way through grammar, vocabulary, and textbooks. I wrote a few papers in Swedish and while I surely managed to butcher the beautiful Swedish language, I tried. Learning Swedish really enhanced my experience of living in Sweden. I think that learning the language allows you to interact more deeply and meaningfully with your host culture. Learning a different language often gives you insights into the ways a society and culture think and approach life.<br />
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Anyhow, despite all my failures in language acquisition, I'm enjoying my classes. My teacher is a friend from my compound who was born and raised in Egypt. She's fluent in French and English, so she understands second-language acquisition. I'm also learning how to read and write which is really fun. It takes some time to wrap my brain around the characters but so far there is logic and order in the characters.<br />
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<i>Have you ever learned another language? Do you speak Arabic? What were some challenges you faced in learning another language? How did learning another language change your perspective?</i></div>
Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-36713900919902607602013-04-02T13:23:00.002+03:002013-04-02T13:23:23.539+03:00Going Local<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-76832921619166578272013-04-01T20:16:00.003+03:002013-04-01T20:16:53.861+03:00Views from the Road<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Driving in Riyadh is notoriously awful. If you ever want to spend a few hours in absolute horror, go over to youtube and search for <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=saudi+arabia+drifting&oq=saudi+arabia+drifting&gs_l=youtube.3..0l10.3739.13155.0.13925.39.28.6.5.5.2.345.3593.13j13j1j1.28.0...0.0...1ac.1.QjHTWOa8L6w">"Saudi Arabia Drifting"</a>. A favorite past-time of young Saudi men, drifting is scary and dangerous.<br />
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People disregard traffic rules. They turn a 5 lane into a 10 lane road. Turns are made from anywhere the driver wants to be. It is insane. I've stopped watching the road, because it just scares me. My poor husband says that he will never be stressed by U.S. traffic again, including driving in NYC.<br />
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Since women can't drive, I've seen a number of boys who look younger than my 13-year old son driving their mothers around. There is something really wrong with a society that lets a 12-year old drive because he is a male but restricts that adult mother.<br />
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Traffic fatalities in Saudi Arabia are really high because of the disregard for safety rules, aggressive driving, seat belts not being used, and kids bouncing around freely in the cars.<br />
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And that brings me to my next bout of road horror. . . seeing kids hanging out windows, bouncing around on the seats, and babies sitting on fathers' laps at the steering wheel. Sadly the attitude of many people in an accident was that it was Allah's will, which makes combating the road conditions and terrible safety attitude very difficult.<br />
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The only good thing about the roads? Seeing camels strapped in the back of trucks being transported somewhere. I don't know why, but it makes me smile every time.<br />
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Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-48684091922800053842013-03-30T21:39:00.000+03:002013-03-29T21:55:45.985+03:00I have quiet days and weeks too!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been re-reading my regular emails I send to my family back home. Sometimes I am just exhausted after reading them. We've got a lot going on from school, piano lessons, piano teaching, parties, social events, as well as exploring Riyadh. All of it is stuff we love. But not all weeks are like that. Lest you think that my life is a never-ending whirlwind, I'm here to reassure you that I have slow weeks that aren't exciting at all.<br />
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So this week I:<br />
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taught several piano lessons<br />
helped kids with homework<br />
cooked several meals<br />
made beds<br />
cleaned up messes<br />
went on walks with my toddler<br />
took my toddler swimming<br />
took my toddler to the park and indoor playground<br />
swept floors<br />
wiped off dirty counters<br />
studied Arabic<br />
washed laundry<br />
put away laundry<br />
exercised<br />
brushed my daughter's hair<br />
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And this brings to an important point. I like living abroad with my kids. I even like traveling with my kids. I'm glad that we didn't delay these experiences because of our kids. Living abroad with my kids gives me built in structure. I can never ever say I'm bored because I am too busy making sure my household functions smoothly. Its hard to feel lonely when you've got five kids running around making a lot of noise and big messes. I wish I had more time to explore, but having my kids also opens doors that would otherwise be closed to me here. When I go out in Riyadh with my toddler who has blonde and blue eyes, people stop and talk to me. Saudi women admire my cute little boy and we can chat about mutual experiences of motherhood.<br />
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Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-9190165385755844142013-03-29T20:52:00.000+03:002013-03-29T20:52:00.522+03:00A Tour of the Majlis Al-Shura Council<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It is an oft-heard complaint that in Riyadh there is little
to do. When the excitement of shopping dims, what are one’s options? I’ve found
<a href="http://www.hayatour.com/public_html/">Haya Tours</a> to offer some interesting tours for exploring the sites and culture
of Riyadh. One of the more unusual tours I have taken is a trip to the Majlis
Al-Shura Council, the consultative assembly in Saudi Arabia. </div>
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Saudi Arabia is classified as an absolute monarchy which
means that King Abdullah has the supreme authority over the country but must
comply with Sharia law as well as the Qur’an. The Majlis Al-Shura Councils operates as a
consultative council to the king. For most expats, this form of government is
very different from the governments of their home countries. I found it very
enlightening to tour the Majlis Al-Shura Council and learn more how this
council operates and functions within the government. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblhxz13ftIP3WTfp6kWOu9x5DT59edj9iFMfLc-LUmzy1HPzzldj_piut6Hx4JBfbQJqJ-Ypy05Y-5nhQg42aTSchH267-CpQta6BuGOGFMN_yyDGnvsQtgfiKblrud0UxS8VU6hT6dM/s1600/DSCF2199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblhxz13ftIP3WTfp6kWOu9x5DT59edj9iFMfLc-LUmzy1HPzzldj_piut6Hx4JBfbQJqJ-Ypy05Y-5nhQg42aTSchH267-CpQta6BuGOGFMN_yyDGnvsQtgfiKblrud0UxS8VU6hT6dM/s320/DSCF2199.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We went to the Al Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, a beautiful and
lavishly decorated building where we were met by one of the women working in
the building. She ushered us to a comfortable room where we watched a video
about the Majlis Al-Shura Council. We were shown around the building, allowed
to take pictures in some of the rooms, and even sat in the desks reserved for
council members. I enjoyed a walk through a long corridor chronicling the
history of the Majlis Al-Shura Council since its beginning in 1927. There were
several interesting photographs spanning the 90 years of history, along with
documents written in flowing Arabic. We toured a beautiful library filled with
thousands of volumes of books devoted to law, science, and history. The last
stop of the tour took us to glass-partitioned balcony where we watched a
portion of the council proceedings and our presence was acknowledged by the
council members. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNq85rYM2zNp7sz1Bds24CTfAuw6ReBLU77M_55wNNpperOYK18exhYw81yccJDNttqacFkeNy8Bx_hFQFiPVMgGy1YRjBdSAX14SFfhpSfq_Vx-WRiMEuWxf-NWV9HOZoGSbb-3NVBk/s1600/DSCF2201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNq85rYM2zNp7sz1Bds24CTfAuw6ReBLU77M_55wNNpperOYK18exhYw81yccJDNttqacFkeNy8Bx_hFQFiPVMgGy1YRjBdSAX14SFfhpSfq_Vx-WRiMEuWxf-NWV9HOZoGSbb-3NVBk/s320/DSCF2201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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While the Majlis Al-Shura Council cannot pass laws it can
and does suggest laws to the king, has the authority to interpret laws, and
examines annual reports. King Abdullah appoints members to the council and
chooses men from around Saudi Arabia who represent three major groups, business,
religious, and bureaucracy. Council
members are well-educated and well-respected in their communities both inside
and outside the Kingdom. Currently 70% of the 150 council members hold PhDs.
When selected by the king council members must serve one term of four years and
a maximum of three terms, with the option to decline further service after their
first term. During their service on the council, members are expected to attend
council sessions twice a week with additional meetings for any of the twelve
committees on which they sit. Council members are paid half their salary from
their outside employment while the government provides the other half.</div>
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A new term has begun and with it a big
change. In 2011 King Abdullah announced that women may be included in the
council. Thirty well-educated women have been called fill thirty council seats. This is an historic occasion worthy of note and thought. This presents an interesting development in Saudi Arabia’s history
and will surely have an impact on the larger Saudi culture. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If
you are looking for a unique Riyadh outing where you can actually witness the
proceedings of a government very different from your own, then you should
definitely consider going on a tour of Majlis Al-Shura Council. It definitely
presents an interesting opportunity to learn more about Saudi government, which
is a chance that few outsiders have the privilege of experiencing. </span></div>
Tiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com0