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Published: February 17th 2009
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Another Day, Another Riyahl
I think I’m actually catching on to what I’m supposed to be doing here. Well, most of the time.
Pat stopped me in the hall and said that Esbjorn was having trouble with the Excel Workbook that we are piloting. I went to the coaches room to see if I could figure out what was going on. I’ve never touched a Mac and it’s a bit like driving a stick if you’ve only driven an automatic. It didn’t have left and right mouse buttons and the controls were different than your basic (Microsoft) PC. It’s kind of like in Star Trek when they are at the controls of an alien spacecraft (but the geek in me digresses).
So I finally figure out how to work the controls and then I notice that all the menus are in Swedish! So they expect me to trouble shoot an Excel spreadsheet problem on hardware I’ve never touched and do it in Swedish? There are limits and I reached mine! So when Esbjorn returned I had him use the Mac while I used a duplicate on my PC. Mine worked and his didn’t. I had him switch back
to his old laptop. The only menu option I know in Swedish is Uff-da, but I didn’t see that! (Actually Esbjorn says there is no such word. And he calls himself Swedish?)
I forgot to mention something I thought was odd at the Thai restaurant last night. Instead of napkins, they have a box of tissues on the table. Manir says that’s normal for Saudi restaurants. I guess that explains the lack of barbeque places. I can’t imagine ribs with tissues. Of course, pork is illegal here, so I guess they are in good shape after all.
Our SAC program had our first woman today, Reem. She is working for Aramco in Houston and is a university counselor. I asked her if she was born in the US because she seemed so American (despite her black Abaya - the robe women wear). I think her stay in the US is rubbing off on her.
I’m attaching photos of coasters that Anthea brought in. You will probably need to double click them to read the translation of the Australian. She’s an Aramco employee from Australia.
Today I tried out my first Arabic phrase with the Participants. I
might as well have spoken Klingon. They had totally blank faces. I think that will be my last attempt. So later in the presentation, I said "Buenos Dias, my amigos y amiga. Como esta usted? More people understood that then my Arabic! However, the Aramco people now were looking at me as if I was insane. When one of the participants left tonight, he said "Buenos Noches, my amigo. Hasta manana." Sabe? I think I'm onto something.
P.S. I just reached 1000 hits to my blog!
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A Tower of Babble?
Between your Swedish, your Aussie, your Spanish and your Arabic, I'll be surprised if you can speak American anymore when you return. I found the Aussie sayings absolutely baffling, even with translation! Of course, it made a little more sense when I realized a "Dummy" (as in "Don't Spit the Dummy") was a pacifier. I'm thoroughly enjoying your travel blog -- you know there may be a future for you in travel blogging. Wouldn't THAT be fun!