Just a short post to apologize for not posting. I intend to collect my thoughts and get to posting again soon. Just enjoyed three weeks of vacation back home and I was reminded why I want to get back home. With just 6 months left here, time will surely fly by... more later...
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
(Mis) adventures in Dining (Our Anniversary Getaway)
Thursday, April 18th, was our 33rd anniversary. Leslie and I have seen and done quite a bit and that adventure is only ongoing over here. Nothing like we thought it would be, but ongoing none the less. What an amazing lady I am married to. Still my best friend, still able to make me laugh and occasionally infuriate me, sometimes all in the same day, sometimes in the same sentence! She is still as much a mystery to me now as she was over 33 years ago when we met. (Think 70s fro, man she had a big fro.) When I think I know her, I don't. When I think I have something figured out, it changes. I guess that's one of the many things that makes it all work, that mystery, that sense of adventure we face with each other and with ourselves. Looking forward to 33 more.
But I digress.
Anyway, we originally intended to travel with some other folks to Taif via the escarpment road to see the baboons and cruise through the mountains but discovered on Wednesday that the escarpment road was closed for repairs. I witness the way they handle road repairs here, and I was actually relieved that the road was closed while under repair. So, we bagged the trip and decided to make it a mellow, relaxing day of doing whatever we felt like. Change of plans number one. Our ride had become a walk.
We like to walk around what we call "the square". It's a walk that starts at the compound to Malek, over to Hira, up to Sultan, over to Batarji and then back toward Malek to the compound. All in all, about a 3 mile trek. Malek is a main North/South highway and serves as a drag strip and wheelie show road for the rich kids on Friday mornings. Crazy stuff. Hira is lined with little local eateries and shops that bulge at the seams with their goods. It's busy, dirty, loud and my favorite street in Jeddah outside of the streets in Al Balad. Sultan has more upscale, Euro and American stores, banks and the like and on the corner of Sultan and Batarji is Iceland, where we play ice hockey. Batarji could best be described as a connector road between Malek and Sultan and it has the usual strip malls, a couple grocery stores and malls and a hospital and not much else. The weather Thursday morning was cool by desert standards, so off we went. Well, we did not make it past the cafeteria on the compound before running into Lue and Kay. Lue had his Expedition for the day and wanted to know if we wanted to do some exploring with them. Change of plans number two. Our walk had become a ride.
We cruised around to a couple different stores and then talked our travel pals into taking a drive down to the Jeddah Fish market near downtown. The market has been there for who knows how long and you see EVERY manner of fish, shrimp, eel and shark. It is where the local grocery stores buy their fish and you see individual fisherman selling fresh fish from baskets right on the floor. Interesting place. Les and I were there about a year ago but Lue and Kay had never seen it before. Something new for them. After a nice visit at the Jeddah Fish Market it was well after lunch time and the mid day prayer, so we decided to hunt for a place to eat. I voted for Yemenese food, Lue and Kay were mostly non-committal and Les voted for Mexican food at an American chain called On the Border. This would be called a dubious decision at best later on.
We had the usual AmeriMex stuff. We all shared some chips and salsa and an appetizer. Lue ordered a sampler, Kay and Les shared a veggie frajita and I ordered a chicken chimichanga. The chimi proved to be a very bad decision.
I will try to walk through this as delicately and tactfully as I can. By early Friday morning I was sick. I mean, VERY sick. Sick to the point where I KNEW something was definitely not right, but I convinced myself that I only had the stomach flu that was going around. So, because I am stupid, I decided to head in to work Saturday anyway. This was in no way a good idea. I managed to eat a tiny bit of food Saturday and thought that I felt better. Nope. Not even close. I thought I was sick Friday morning, but that was only a precursor for Saturday night where I was ludicrously sick. I would not have thought that possible. Saturday night through Sunday morning was a haze. I was dehydrating at an alarming rate, but I really was too sick to notice. I did not even like the taste of water, which did not even matter because even water went through me like a laser beam. I was too sick to care. Sorry, trying to not be too graphic, but it is what it is and you chose to be my friend and subscribe to the blog.
And once again (see comment about being stupid above) I again chose to go to work Sunday. However, before I left the house Leslie made me promise that I would go to the base clinic as soon as I could. She told me later that when I left the house that morning, she texted my coworker Steve to have him be sure to take me to the clinic. When Leslie worries, you know it's bad. The woman simply does not worry. Well, not about important stuff like that. Cool as ice. But when she does, it must be bad. But I digress. I was still too sick to care and at this point, I sounded like dust and was starting to look like that dude from the Mummy movie that had the life sucked from him.
So my very thoughtful coworker Steve took me to the base clinic where I saw our ever smiling friend nurse Kareen and Dr. Samir, who looked at me for all of 10 seconds and sent me straight to the ER at GNP Hospital. I vaguely remember Steve dropping me off at the ER door and I of course told him I was fine (I'm an idiot) and promptly staggered into the ER ward where I spent the next few hours on fluids and antibiotics and had a couple of tests. My Russian doctor determined I had a pretty bad case of food poisoning. (ya think?) I was so dehydrated and had so much bacteria in my system that my kidneys were beginning to malfunction and they were worried I was going to have a heart attack. (That sort of got my attention.) Leslie was there by now. I kind of remember texting her my status and her arriving what seemed like minutes later. She was worried, but I was too sick to care.
That said, after about 5 hours in the ER and a few bags of fluids and antibiotics I was feeling much better ( I cared again) and only then noticed I had been on a gurney that was as soft as 5000 year old granite. My back was really killing me, but at least I was no longer worried about being the wrinkled mummy dude.
They admitted me to the hospital and our anniversary dinner had, two days later, turned into a nice little anniversary get away. Leslie pointed out on Facebook and I have to agree, we at least had a nice private suite with room service, I certainly had plenty of fluids, though they were served up intravenously and we both got plenty of rest.
So, after taking in fourteen 500 ml bags of fluids, 8 bottles of antibiotics, multiple tests, an ECG, an EKG and two days in the hospital, I was cut loose with a clean bill of health. (After one more day of rest at the compound, today, Wednesday the 24th.) I am now fully recovered, the hospital staff was thorough and professional and we are taking a little gift to them tomorrow as a small token of our appreciation. Well, at least the nurses on the third floor...
Al this makes me wonder how we could top that for our 34th next year when we will thankfully be back in Minnesota...
A touch of dysentery? Maybe a little plague? How about some Mad Cow? Salmonella perhaps?
Chalk it up as yet another adventure. (292 days left but who's counting.)
But I digress.
Anyway, we originally intended to travel with some other folks to Taif via the escarpment road to see the baboons and cruise through the mountains but discovered on Wednesday that the escarpment road was closed for repairs. I witness the way they handle road repairs here, and I was actually relieved that the road was closed while under repair. So, we bagged the trip and decided to make it a mellow, relaxing day of doing whatever we felt like. Change of plans number one. Our ride had become a walk.
We like to walk around what we call "the square". It's a walk that starts at the compound to Malek, over to Hira, up to Sultan, over to Batarji and then back toward Malek to the compound. All in all, about a 3 mile trek. Malek is a main North/South highway and serves as a drag strip and wheelie show road for the rich kids on Friday mornings. Crazy stuff. Hira is lined with little local eateries and shops that bulge at the seams with their goods. It's busy, dirty, loud and my favorite street in Jeddah outside of the streets in Al Balad. Sultan has more upscale, Euro and American stores, banks and the like and on the corner of Sultan and Batarji is Iceland, where we play ice hockey. Batarji could best be described as a connector road between Malek and Sultan and it has the usual strip malls, a couple grocery stores and malls and a hospital and not much else. The weather Thursday morning was cool by desert standards, so off we went. Well, we did not make it past the cafeteria on the compound before running into Lue and Kay. Lue had his Expedition for the day and wanted to know if we wanted to do some exploring with them. Change of plans number two. Our walk had become a ride.
We cruised around to a couple different stores and then talked our travel pals into taking a drive down to the Jeddah Fish market near downtown. The market has been there for who knows how long and you see EVERY manner of fish, shrimp, eel and shark. It is where the local grocery stores buy their fish and you see individual fisherman selling fresh fish from baskets right on the floor. Interesting place. Les and I were there about a year ago but Lue and Kay had never seen it before. Something new for them. After a nice visit at the Jeddah Fish Market it was well after lunch time and the mid day prayer, so we decided to hunt for a place to eat. I voted for Yemenese food, Lue and Kay were mostly non-committal and Les voted for Mexican food at an American chain called On the Border. This would be called a dubious decision at best later on.
We had the usual AmeriMex stuff. We all shared some chips and salsa and an appetizer. Lue ordered a sampler, Kay and Les shared a veggie frajita and I ordered a chicken chimichanga. The chimi proved to be a very bad decision.
I will try to walk through this as delicately and tactfully as I can. By early Friday morning I was sick. I mean, VERY sick. Sick to the point where I KNEW something was definitely not right, but I convinced myself that I only had the stomach flu that was going around. So, because I am stupid, I decided to head in to work Saturday anyway. This was in no way a good idea. I managed to eat a tiny bit of food Saturday and thought that I felt better. Nope. Not even close. I thought I was sick Friday morning, but that was only a precursor for Saturday night where I was ludicrously sick. I would not have thought that possible. Saturday night through Sunday morning was a haze. I was dehydrating at an alarming rate, but I really was too sick to notice. I did not even like the taste of water, which did not even matter because even water went through me like a laser beam. I was too sick to care. Sorry, trying to not be too graphic, but it is what it is and you chose to be my friend and subscribe to the blog.
And once again (see comment about being stupid above) I again chose to go to work Sunday. However, before I left the house Leslie made me promise that I would go to the base clinic as soon as I could. She told me later that when I left the house that morning, she texted my coworker Steve to have him be sure to take me to the clinic. When Leslie worries, you know it's bad. The woman simply does not worry. Well, not about important stuff like that. Cool as ice. But when she does, it must be bad. But I digress. I was still too sick to care and at this point, I sounded like dust and was starting to look like that dude from the Mummy movie that had the life sucked from him.
So my very thoughtful coworker Steve took me to the base clinic where I saw our ever smiling friend nurse Kareen and Dr. Samir, who looked at me for all of 10 seconds and sent me straight to the ER at GNP Hospital. I vaguely remember Steve dropping me off at the ER door and I of course told him I was fine (I'm an idiot) and promptly staggered into the ER ward where I spent the next few hours on fluids and antibiotics and had a couple of tests. My Russian doctor determined I had a pretty bad case of food poisoning. (ya think?) I was so dehydrated and had so much bacteria in my system that my kidneys were beginning to malfunction and they were worried I was going to have a heart attack. (That sort of got my attention.) Leslie was there by now. I kind of remember texting her my status and her arriving what seemed like minutes later. She was worried, but I was too sick to care.
That said, after about 5 hours in the ER and a few bags of fluids and antibiotics I was feeling much better ( I cared again) and only then noticed I had been on a gurney that was as soft as 5000 year old granite. My back was really killing me, but at least I was no longer worried about being the wrinkled mummy dude.
They admitted me to the hospital and our anniversary dinner had, two days later, turned into a nice little anniversary get away. Leslie pointed out on Facebook and I have to agree, we at least had a nice private suite with room service, I certainly had plenty of fluids, though they were served up intravenously and we both got plenty of rest.
So, after taking in fourteen 500 ml bags of fluids, 8 bottles of antibiotics, multiple tests, an ECG, an EKG and two days in the hospital, I was cut loose with a clean bill of health. (After one more day of rest at the compound, today, Wednesday the 24th.) I am now fully recovered, the hospital staff was thorough and professional and we are taking a little gift to them tomorrow as a small token of our appreciation. Well, at least the nurses on the third floor...
Al this makes me wonder how we could top that for our 34th next year when we will thankfully be back in Minnesota...
A touch of dysentery? Maybe a little plague? How about some Mad Cow? Salmonella perhaps?
Chalk it up as yet another adventure. (292 days left but who's counting.)
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Less than one year remaining...
It has been just over one year since I arrived here in Jeddah. To be honest, it has been enlightening, entertaining, frustrating, terrifying... the whole spectrum of emotions...
But I miss home. I miss my daughter and son-in-law, church family, my friends and my rural lifestyle. I even miss winter. That said, I would not trade this experience for anything and I have no regrets. This job along with all the experience has forced me to live out of my comfort zone, provide me with some perspective and is affording me the chance to actually be a property owner, not just share it with a bank. That was the real goal and for that I am still grateful.
This is a confusing and contradictory place. I have met people who can be so genuinely thoughtful and caring, and then there's that dark and ever present flip side... I have seen and done many things that not many people get the chance to experience. I have learned many things about myself and about others. I still have much to learn.
Work has eased itself into a manageable routine. I am never comfortable, but there is some semblance of routine. That said, I am really looking forward to vacation in July. We leave here around the 23rd and do not have to be back until mid August. I have already advised my employer I will most likely not be renewing come next February, so my job hunt has already begun. I will ramp it up in July and be in full on job hunt mode come October. It takes a year to find a decent job these days, if you are lucky.
We are planning a trip up North in March to Mada'in Saleh.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mada%27in_Saleh).
Mada'in Saleh has ancient ruins along the lines of Petra in Jordan. We hope to get up there before it starts getting too hot. Going with a group from the school where Les works and a couple of friends from here on the compound. Should be fun.
We are still playing hockey, though more street hockey than ice. We play street every Monday and ice about once a month. I am rehabbing a compressed vertebrae with a bulging disc. No more running outdoors. Too much pounding on the lower back. Hockey, well, I doubt I ever quit that. I have taken a liking to the new arc trainer in the gym. 30 minutes on that and I get a much better workout without the pounding and no back pain. Sucks getting old.
Still enjoying the myriad of little eateries and local dives. My stomach is holding out for the most part. The bakeries here are amazing. I have never had so many varieties of bread. We recently found a place that flame roasts chickens on an open flame, then cuts them in half, flattens them out and browns them a little more. You can get half a chicken, a huge bag of basmati rice and I mean HUGE and a Pepsi for about 14 Saudi Riyal (about 5 bucks U.S. I am amazed I have not put on any weight.
We did have a nice Valentine's Day dinner at the Movenpick. It sits right on the Red Sea. Nice place. Had some kind of sampler platter and while I am pretty sure there was lamb involved, I could not really tell you what else was there. The bread as usual was amazing.
We are going to try out the new beach our company has opened for us. Heading up there Thursday morning with Lou and Kay. Supposed to have 200 meters of beach. Big for here.
Leslie as always is her resilient self. She is still working at the school, learning a lot and helping us reach our goal of true home ownership. Our adopted cat, Jeddah kitty (JK) is adopting to her life in our home. After around 8 months, she is finally warming up to both of us, but mostly to Leslie. We intend to bring her home to Minnesota with us. We shall see how that works out.
Not much else to report right now. Like I said, life has more or less settled into a nice routine. Of course, you have to always remember where you are here... but by and large, routine rules the day. Time is flying. Looking forward to home, but trying to enjoy my remaining time here...
Laila sa'eda wa ahlaam ladida (Good night and sweet dreams.)
Ma’a salama (Goodbye.)
But I miss home. I miss my daughter and son-in-law, church family, my friends and my rural lifestyle. I even miss winter. That said, I would not trade this experience for anything and I have no regrets. This job along with all the experience has forced me to live out of my comfort zone, provide me with some perspective and is affording me the chance to actually be a property owner, not just share it with a bank. That was the real goal and for that I am still grateful.
This is a confusing and contradictory place. I have met people who can be so genuinely thoughtful and caring, and then there's that dark and ever present flip side... I have seen and done many things that not many people get the chance to experience. I have learned many things about myself and about others. I still have much to learn.
 |
| Sunset on the Red Sea |
Work has eased itself into a manageable routine. I am never comfortable, but there is some semblance of routine. That said, I am really looking forward to vacation in July. We leave here around the 23rd and do not have to be back until mid August. I have already advised my employer I will most likely not be renewing come next February, so my job hunt has already begun. I will ramp it up in July and be in full on job hunt mode come October. It takes a year to find a decent job these days, if you are lucky.
We are planning a trip up North in March to Mada'in Saleh.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mada%27in_Saleh).
Mada'in Saleh has ancient ruins along the lines of Petra in Jordan. We hope to get up there before it starts getting too hot. Going with a group from the school where Les works and a couple of friends from here on the compound. Should be fun.
 |
| Courtesy Wikipedia (hope to have some pics of my own soon) |
We are still playing hockey, though more street hockey than ice. We play street every Monday and ice about once a month. I am rehabbing a compressed vertebrae with a bulging disc. No more running outdoors. Too much pounding on the lower back. Hockey, well, I doubt I ever quit that. I have taken a liking to the new arc trainer in the gym. 30 minutes on that and I get a much better workout without the pounding and no back pain. Sucks getting old.
 | |
| Hanging out with my crew at Movenpick |
We did have a nice Valentine's Day dinner at the Movenpick. It sits right on the Red Sea. Nice place. Had some kind of sampler platter and while I am pretty sure there was lamb involved, I could not really tell you what else was there. The bread as usual was amazing.
 |
| Leslie and I hanging out on Valentine's Day at Movenpick |
Leslie as always is her resilient self. She is still working at the school, learning a lot and helping us reach our goal of true home ownership. Our adopted cat, Jeddah kitty (JK) is adopting to her life in our home. After around 8 months, she is finally warming up to both of us, but mostly to Leslie. We intend to bring her home to Minnesota with us. We shall see how that works out.
 | |
| Leslie and Jeddah Kitty |
Laila sa'eda wa ahlaam ladida (Good night and sweet dreams.)
Ma’a salama (Goodbye.)
Friday, January 11, 2013
Great week with our daughter and her husband...
Leslie and I were very much looking forward to and working toward the visit with our daughter Patricia and her husband Josh. They arrived here in Jeddah late Friday evening, navigated their way through the Jeddah Airport and safely back to our compound.
Leslie and I had numerous things to do mapped out for the week. Nothing too strenuous because, well, lets face it, jet lag really sucks. They both felt the lag pretty hard and Josh unfortunately managed to get sick. He was pretty good the first part of the week, but by Friday afternoon (today) he was pretty much down for the count. He's a tough kid and will bounce right back I am sure.
Where to start with what we did... wow... A thanksgiving welcome feast, a marathon UNO game, an awesome tour of Al Balad (Old Jeddah), the Red Sea Mall complete with Saudi Starbucks, the Mall of Arabia, some career counseling for Josh with Raytheon, a driving tour of Taif, a trip to KAUST, some snorkeling in the Red Sea, the Philipino Souk, the Al Shatea Souk, an introduction to schwarma and Turkish coffee, free coffee night, a couple dinners with friends on the compound, Yemeni food, a couple of strolls along Hira Street and much more... What a week.
I really hope this was the trip of of a lifetime for them thus far... Makes me want to go home now, but I know in my heart that the time is not right for either them or us to return to Minnesota early. They are thriving without us, as are we... that does NOT lessen how much we miss them.
Some pics from the week for your entertainment.
Leslie and I had numerous things to do mapped out for the week. Nothing too strenuous because, well, lets face it, jet lag really sucks. They both felt the lag pretty hard and Josh unfortunately managed to get sick. He was pretty good the first part of the week, but by Friday afternoon (today) he was pretty much down for the count. He's a tough kid and will bounce right back I am sure.
Where to start with what we did... wow... A thanksgiving welcome feast, a marathon UNO game, an awesome tour of Al Balad (Old Jeddah), the Red Sea Mall complete with Saudi Starbucks, the Mall of Arabia, some career counseling for Josh with Raytheon, a driving tour of Taif, a trip to KAUST, some snorkeling in the Red Sea, the Philipino Souk, the Al Shatea Souk, an introduction to schwarma and Turkish coffee, free coffee night, a couple dinners with friends on the compound, Yemeni food, a couple of strolls along Hira Street and much more... What a week.
I really hope this was the trip of of a lifetime for them thus far... Makes me want to go home now, but I know in my heart that the time is not right for either them or us to return to Minnesota early. They are thriving without us, as are we... that does NOT lessen how much we miss them.
Some pics from the week for your entertainment.
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| The Welcome Feast |
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| Patty at the Mall of Arabia (love this shot) |
 | |
| A Stroll Along the Red Sea |
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| At Red Sea Mall Starbucks |
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| After Snorkeling in the Red Sea |
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| Clowning Around at KAUST |
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| Roaming Old Jeddah (Al Balad) |
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| Some Wildlife at Taif |
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| My Girls in Taif |
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| Heading Back from Taif, North of Jeddah |
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| Note the Cycle Rider Wheelie Left of the Yellow Car |
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