Blogs from Saudi Arabia, Middle East - page 16

When I first landed in the Dammam airport three weeks ago, I thought I had prepared myself for the cultural shift I was sure to experience. But the immediate effect of seeing a host of men and women at the airport in clothing dating back 3000 yrs was startling. It seems hard for westerners such as me to accept that other cultures have been able to hold on to their traditions over millenniums, in spite of what the rest of the world does. And yet, there is ample evidence of Saudi’s move into the modern world. The contrast between the traditional, ancient culture and the development of modernity can be confusing to the outsider. Take for instance on any day in Dhahran, you will see men dressed in the Saudi traditional Thobes and headdress driving huge ... read more

I’ve survived the very first day of the very first session. There are six sessions in total over a three week period, as well as “coaching days” between the two weekly sessions. Considering how our pre-game preparation went yesterday, today was relatively smooth. So in hindsight, it’s certainly better to have problems before, rather than during the real thing. I did have a wrestling match with a copy machine at the end of the day. All I wanted was to make one copy. Is that too much to ask? Obviously yes. When I put paper in the tray and tried to get it back in the machine, it would have none of that. I pushed and pulled, begged and pleaded, but to very little affect. Perhaps this copy machine only speaks Arabic? Then I managed disengage ... read more

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