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Published: February 23rd 2009
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Mosque #1
This is the mosque right outside of the gate (but still in Aramco-world). I never noticed the stained glass during the day. It's truly beautiful. End of Assessment Center #5
OK, it’s coming down to the wire now. There is one more two-day assessment center, starting tomorrow. In fact, tomorrow evening, I’ll do any early checkout from my room, since I need to head off to the center at my usual time of 6:00 or so.
Today went well and was uneventful. I was even able to take a brief walk while one of the presentations was going on. It was sunny and warm today, which I’m glad about because yesterday was a sand storm weather.
At the center, there is a large screen TV that always has CNN showing. During a break, I was talking to some of the Participants and CNN was showing the Oscar winners. I mentioned that I had seen and really like Slum Dog Millionaire. I then asked if any of them had seen it too. As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I realized my slip. Movie theatres are illegal here (except for the ones in the Aramco compounds). But they had heard about the movie and did want to know what it was about. So I told them it was about life in
Mosque #2
A closer look the poor section of India and how this guy wins the game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” One guy said “no wonder the Indians are happy about it” because Saudi has many workers from India here.
I also had an interesting conversation with a guy who had gone to gone to college in New Haven, Connecticut. He had never been to the US before (or since) and told me how difficult it was for him to adjust to life in the US, having only experienced Saudi culture. We often think about adjusting to other cultures, but not what it’s like for someone to adjust to our culture. He said that it was difficult because life here is so family-centric, where as life as a college student in the US is very independent. Also, it was hard getting used to unregulated life in the US, especially as someone who is college age. However, he said that the experience really changed him and gave him an understanding of what life is like in the US and American culture.
I had dinner at Tom’s house tonight. He’s an ex-PDI person (out of the London office) who just joined Aramco.
Mosque #3
This is the side of the building. The stain glass is on all sides His wife is Australian and they have a four month old baby. I enjoyed holding Agatha, and she was quite willing to sit on my knee during dinner. That was fun! Sinclair was also there and it was interesting to hear stories of Romania (where he lives) and Tom and Sarah’s travels throughout Europe and Australia.
On the way home, I decided to walk around the Mosque that is just outside of the inner Aramco gate (there are a series of three checkpoints you have to get through). I had taken photos of this mosque in the daytime, but I never realized the beautiful stain glass it has (which isn’t really visible during the day). It was worth the side trip. Please see the attached photos.
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Heather
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The Mosque
The mosque looks like it might be quite striking, Ted. Have you been inside? (Apols if you've already mentioned that somewhere...) I'm thinking that during daylight it might be quite lovely.