Would you say "It's Sanding Out"? It’s been great interacting with the Participants because I’ve never talked to a Saudi before. I had a pretty long discussion today with a guy who is a helicopter pilot for Aramco. Ironically, he was in Grand Forks, ND during 9/11 and his mother was worried about him (she didn’t know that Grand Forks isn’t anywhere near NY)! Of course my mother is worried about me being here, so perhaps mothers are the same the world over. Today was a sand-storm and the sky turned a beautiful golden color. Everyone from here laughed at me when I got excited about the sandstorm, but then the consultants came out and were equally impressed so I didn’t feel as much like as much of a dork. It’s not like a snowstorm made ... read more

Coaching Day My friend eve knows what the weird bird is that I photographed! It’s called a Hoopoe. According to Wikepedia, “The Hoopoe is widespread in Europe, Asia, and North Africa, as well as Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. It migrates from all but the southernmost part of its range to the tropics in winter. Hoopoes were considered sacred in Ancient Egypt and symbols of virtue in Persia, but were thought of as thieves across much of Europe and harbingers of war in Scandinavia.” Today was the last day in the cycle. In between Assessment Centers, there is one day for coaches to meet people that went through the process previously. It’s a much easier day for me because there are no assessments done. I gave a presentation to the client staff, and then did mostly ... read more

First day with Saudi Participants I didn’t have time to scout out the route to the Assessment Center last night because Esbjorn and I went to Khobar and it was dark when we got back. So of course, it was even harder to find it this morning - in the dark. Wait, there’s more. So I walk down the three flights of stairs from my room, go outside, and it’s raining! What the heck? It’s Saudi Arabia, for crying out loud. Fortunately, being a good prepared Minnesotan, I had packed a umbrella. (I did leave my snow boots at home, however.) Fortunately, I went back because it took four times as long to get there as it should. I kept thinking of that stupid Family Circus cartoon where the kid goes all over the place to ... read more

Ba ba ba, ba ba Dhahan - Beach Boys The Aramco compound, in Dhahran is about 30 in-land from Al Khobar. This evening I took the bus with another consultant to Al Khobar because two of the consultants are staying there (because of a shortage of apartments here). Al Khobar is a much larger town than Dhahran. It was great to get into the "real" Saudi Arabia, but it's disconcerting to see Applebees in Arabic (it is also in English; otherwise I would have no idea, of course). Applebees in Saudi Arabia is just wrong! They also have Chili's here, but I suppose that you won't see ads on TV for "baby back, baby back, baby back ribs." (Pork is not legal.) It's very disconcerting to see Applebees and men and women in flowing robes walking ... read more

Amsterdam I’ve arrived in Amsterdam. It’s a little disconcerting because all the signs at the airport are in English, but I’m actually hearing people speak Dutch. I only have an hour before I board, so I can’t “go Dutch” but I took photos of tulips and wooden shoes in the gift shop. My parents bought my sister and me wooden shoes when they went to Europe many years ago. Let me tell you, there aren’t many places a ten-year old boy can wear wooden shoes in New York, but I was the only kid on the block with wooden shoes! However, I do remember that my mother would always wear them when she was gardening (good for mud). But I digress… I fly to Bahrain, which is an island country off the coast of Saudi Arabia. ... read more