Blogs from Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Middle East - page 3

I was told before leaving that there would be no need to drive in Saudi. All my transportation would be provided, and besides -getting a drivers license would take an act of Congress (or should I say an edict from the King). And while I am looking for the best in the country I am visiting, in the area of automobile safety, Saudi has much work to do. I had a two-day workshop in Jabail, 65 miles North of Dhahran. Leaving at 6:00 am in the morning, we would drive a three lane stretch of highway that had deep 6-12 inch shoulder drop offs. I noticed cars whizzing by my cab on the shoulder and then swerve back into the lanes when clear. Many times cars would straddle lanes trying to get past a car. ... read more

It is Easter Sunday, and I am beginning a four-day workshop on the shores of the Arabian Gulf(Persian Gulf to Westerners). This afternoon after one of the workshops, I fly out 75 miles over the Arabian Gulf to the border between Saudi and Iranian waters to spend the night on the largest sea platform in the world. My new friend Fahad was in my class, and is hosting me on the trip to the oil platform. We arrived at the heli-port, and he bought me a coffee and box of chocolates -I have learned not to refuse Arabic hospitality-it is useless! He was able to breeze me through the tight security at the helicopter pad—having been a 28 yr veteran employee. He told me it was “Wasta”; Arabic word that loosely translated means “Who you know”. ... read more

4/1/09 It is time to head for the airport with my wife Susan and daughter Abigail. On the way, we prayed for each other (primarily that I would not loose my passport—a very real concern of my wife, as she has witnessed me over the years misplacing everything from camera’s to car keys to wallets). The time of prayer was foreshadowing. I was already checking in when my daughter frantically ran up to me to retrieve the car keys I had walked away with before I took them half-way around the world. An omen of things to come? We shall only see, “In-shallah”. Check in was easy, and the Lufthansa personnel were exceptionally pleasant, and looking very sharp in their black outfits with golden scarves and accessories. I couldn’t help feeling a little guilty passing all ... read more

The Days are Getting Normal For perhaps the first time, today just seemed routine and “normal.” Not boring, but normal. Partly this is because we’re coming off of a three day weekend, partly it’s because this is the fifth assessment center and I finally have my routine down, and partly it’s because I am habituating to the environment. It’s an interesting thing when that happens. I didn’t even take any photos today, and that’s a first. After work tonight, the Aramco people took us to a nice Italian restaurant in downtown Khobar. Mike was there with his son and wife. Tom (who used to work for PDI, but now works for Aramco) was there with his wife. Anthea (the ultra-Aussie) was there and of course the the seven of us PDI'ers. It felt like a large ... read more

The Start of the Three Day Weekend Let me start by saying that I’m still having trouble with the concept that we have a Saturday holiday. I think the concept of Saturday and Sunday being the weekend is so ingrained in our heads that it’s hard to conceive that it could be different somewhere else. There is so much that we take for granted as “normal” without realizing that it’s normal for us but not for others. Alternate states of normal is something very hard for most Americans and no doubt this is the source of many misunderstandings we have. I was able to talk a bit with Reem (the first woman at the SAC center since I’ve been here). She’s working out of Aramco’s Houston office. She works with Saudi college students who study abroad. ... read more