Ras Tanura Beach

We had the day off because the King came back to Saudi Arabia.  He had been out receiving medical treatment.  It was an unexpected surprise!

      We took the opportunity to go to Ras Tanura.  It is another compound about an hour from us.  They have a very nice beach!  We spent the day playing, shelling and just hanging out.  We ate lunch at the golf course which was nice and even ran into our neighbors which was fun.  It was a fantastic day!

We took the scooters to ride on the pathways.

 I want one of these houses! 

 I found a star fish! 

 Here is the refinery.  It is why Ras Tanura exists.

Lily crashed on the way home.  Here are some of the more usual shells I found!

Soap Box Derby Here We Come

Thomas scout troop is doing a soap box derby next week.  We took Thomas to the practice time so he could try it out.  It should be fun to watch the races!

 The inners.  Learning how everything works. 

 Getting ready to go!

 The Ride Back!

Lily's Reading!

Lily is learning to read and LOVES to do so!  Here she is reading to Grandma & Grandpa via Skype!

No Training Wheels!

Lily has been asking to take her training wheels off her bike.  We finally did and she just whizzed right on down the road!  She acts like she has been riding for years!  She has circled the block with her friends a ton today!

 

 

 

Misconceptions & Realizations

Here are my realizations so far on Saudi Arabia.  Some of the ideas I had coming that have since been shattered and things I have learned.  That said you should know that I didn’t do much research prior to coming.  We just leapt in feet first.  It was a quick move and there was too much to do with work, getting things ready for the move and life to worry about researching every detail.  I took the attitude of I have traveled all over the world.  I have been in parts that most people should never have been and other than when the cops messed with me in the Congo and Angola I have never felt unsafe.  So why not give it a try.  So here is my list:

• Saudi Arabia is a desert and a giant pile of sand!  There won’t be any rocks for Sammy to chew on so we seriously packed some!  While we have found a few true sand dunes most of the area we are in is rocky and hilly.  They have huge limestone rock cropping called jebels which are fun to climb.  The only area that has large sand dunes like you think of being Saudi is by the beach.  Everywhere else is this rock ground with thin layers of sand.   There is also a lot of palm trees and grass which surprised me.
• Saudi Arabia is hot all the time!  I almost didn’t pack my winter clothes but finally decided I might need them for Europe.  Okay it is winter here and nothing like winter there but it is cold for Saudi.  It has been in the 50’s and the highs have been the 70’s.  Not exactly really cold weather but cold enough for pants and long sleeves.  Especially since I am almost always cold! 
• It’s a desert and doesn’t rain!  We have had a ton of rain and I don’t mean like Portland where it just drizzles all day.  I mean like Texas where it comes in hard for a day then goes away. 
• There won’t be as many items available.  After spending a lot of time in West Africa I was under the opinion that food and household items would be hard to come by.  That is not the case.  You can find anything here that you can find in the States.  The main difference is you might not be able to find it when you want it.  They tend to get things in batches so just because it is here this week doesn’t mean it will be here next week.  We spent the first month looking for Cheerios and Miracle Whip.  Finally decided I wouldn’t be able to get them here then one day they were here.  When you see things you want you just have to stock up and hope when you start to run low you can find it again.  I should also note they have all the major food chains here.

Things to Get use to:

• \ Nannies- It seems like everyone has a nanny.  Now the majority of women over here do not work yet they still have a nanny.  I don’t understand it.  I get having a house keeper but I full time live in nanny is not something I was expecting.   These houses are not big enough that I would want someone living with me . It seems like everyone we know has a nanny and they are who you always see with the kids.  They pick them up from school and take them to the parks.  It is an interesting set up. 
• Shopping and eating out based on when prayer time is- This has been an adjustment.  As Americans we are use to just going out and doing whatever whenever we feel like it.  Not the case here.  Everywhere closes for prayer.  So if it is some place like the IKEA you can go in just know you will be locked in till after prayer time.  If it is like they grocery store they will kick you out till it is over.  They are about 20 minutes long so you learn to look up the schedule since it changes daily and plan accordingly. 
• Letting them run wild-  Growing up we use to go all over and our parents rarely knew exactly where we were.  My kids are adopting this attitude.  It has been a big change from Katy where we never let them out of our site.  They were not even allowed to play in the front yard without us out there.  Here they get their friends and just go.  They are out at all the different parks, swings, and tree houses.  Luckily I don’t think they have ventured more than half a mile from us so far.  Let’s hope it stays like that for a while.  It is nice to feel comfortable letting them roam.  I guess that is an advantage to having everyone clear background checks and such harsh punishment!
• Kids just walking in the house-  I have looked up numerous times now to see one of Thomas’ friends standing there.  They have quit ringing the door bell and are just letting themselves in.  They don’t even necessarily use the front door.  I have seen them come through the back gate and even the dog door!  

Dogs Go to Scout Meeting!

We took the dogs to Thomas' scout meeting.  We were in charge of leading it and they were learning about pets.  They had to each learn how to meet a strange dog.  Taylor is scared of dogs so it was nice to see him become comfortable with them by the end of the meeting.  Both Bud and Sammy did great!

Zipline

Thomas has been asking when he would be able to go on a zipline.  We had told him not for a while.  We went over to some friends house Friday and they had built their own zipline in the backyard.  The kids were both so excited and had so much fun!  They have the best backyard for kids! Zipline, treehouse, and rope swings!  I only wish I had a real camera and not just my iphone!

 

Landforms

Thomas' class has been working on making landforms.  They learned what each different type was and then brought a parent to school with them.  I was able to go and help Thomas make landforms out of clay.  We had to make the clay and then ten landforms.  Once they were dry Thomas painted them.  He has really enjoyed this project!

Friendship Day

Valentines Day has been renamed to Friendship Day.  The kids celebrated it on the 16th at school.  I was able to go to Lily's party to help out.  She has a wonderful teacher and classmates!  Lily made her own cards and Thomas told me two days before they were due that he needed cards.  So I made him some and then he also made some.

 Lily's cards

 Thomas' cards

 Lily & Dalia

 Lily & Kenleigh                  Lily & Jayda

Lily & Jayda

  Lily & Dalia                         Lina & Lily

 Lily & Izzah

Lily's Teachers Ms. B & Miss Koenig