Saudi Life: Guest Post #1 "Things I have learned in Saudi"

So, before I start posting about my trip to Budapest, I wanted to get this new addition to my blog started.  
This blog has really helped people who are moving to Saudi and particularly Yanbu.  But, I realized that all the information is coming just from me.  From my perspective.  I've decided to start adding Guest Posts.  I've asked fellow expats to send me stories about living here.  Good or bad.  We aren't going to sugarcoat anything.  We want those people with enough guts to even consider moving here to truly know what is in store.  I find that it will help those families, men, women, etc. to be able to transition better.  
Therefore, I'm happy to post my first Guest Post.  This is a friend of mine who lives in one of the compounds.  She's got some great info on here and I thank her for taking the time to write this up!  

  "I've been meaning to do this for awhile now.  Staci inspired me to write about some of my experiences here (good & bad).  So here's my list.

1.  Have a LOT of patience. Things do happen here, but at a much slower pace than expected.

2.  Everything is imported except for oil, sand and camels.
3.  Diving & snorkeling in the Red Sea is THE best kept secret  – there are world class

reefs here.

4.  Boredom is taken to a whole new level, you have to find ways to occupy your time or you will go crazy.

5.  Translation of the word “inshallah” – means it is Allah’s will.  What it really means to an expat – not likely to happen!

6.  Driving rules of the road are merely suggestive.
7.  Shopping is it’s own adventure.  You are always searching for a particular item, but instead find some familiar treasures and stock up, as you don’t know when you will ever see those items again (think Costco syndrome).

8.  Picture the most ugliest tackiest clothes you can imagine. They are here in Saudi.
9.  Accept the fact that there is no pork or alcohol here.
10.  Stupidity is universal.
11.  Most conversations between expats will involve them talking about their next trip out of kingdom.

12.  Blond people stand out in a crowd.
13.  I have eaten so much chicken here I am ready to start clucking & sprouting feathers (refer to #9).

14.  The sunsets & sunrises here have the most beautiful colors.
15.  Fish watching should be a sport (see #4).
16.  The most important items you own here are your passport and your laptop.
17.  It is a very bad day when your Internet and air conditioning both quit working.
18.  There is nothing like fresh pita bread & hummus.
19.  Few expats know only one language (sadly I am that 1%).
20. Doritos in Saudi taste like……..Doritos.
21. Your schedule revolves around when the next prayer time is, or you will be locked out of whatever store or restaurant you are at.

22.  Thursday & Friday are considered the weekends here. That means Saturday is the new Monday and Friday is the new Sunday.

23.  Everyone owns at least one carpet. 
24.  The locals start wearing winter hats & mitts in October….I’m still wearing my shorts in January (Hey, I’m from Canada – don’t judge me).

25.  You know how many time zones there are between here and your family back home.
26.  Saudis are nocturnal ‘cause it’s usually too hot in the daytime.  That’s why they sleep in the afternoon and are up most of the night. 

27.  Jewelry, shoes & abayas can be tried on easily in stores. Other clothing items? Not so much.

28.  Ramadan. Enough said.
29.  Everyone here understands Facebook, YouTube, Amazon & Apple.
30.  It is a unique adventure that is hard to explain unless you live here.

Feel free to comment or ask questions, we'll be happy to respond back to you! 

Moving to Saudi Tip: Ship It or Store It

Moving to another country is daunting no matter where you're headed.  But, moving to Saudi Arabia takes a bit more planning.
When we found out that we were really going, I remember looking around my house and thinking...OMG...what am I going to bring with me??  We could only ship a total of 500lbs.  For the whole family.  That is nothing when you consider the amount of crap (I mean lovely things) that you have accumulated over the years.
The other thing that made it harder for us is that we were renting our home.  Meaning, whatever didn't get shipped was going into storage...for at least two years.
That being said....it was very hard to know what to bring and what to leave behind.  I tried to have my husband scope out the mall and grocery stores and tell me what was there and what wasn't.  But, honestly, send a man to check out shopping?  Yeah, well.
My biggest point about it all is this:  
Purge the crap out of your house.  I'm talking spring cleaning to the nth degree.  Be vicious about what you have, what you need, (or think you need), and what just needs to go.  
Next, set aside things that you HAVE to take with you.  Your "can't live without" items.  One of mine was my dutch oven.  (in hindsight, wishing another would have been my crock pot since I can't find one here).  Fave spices, books, clothes, etc.  
After that, make a pile of things you don't think you'll need, but after a few months you may wish you hadn't put them in storage.  This is the part I WISH I had thought of before I packed away my life.  
For instance...those killer high heel shoes that I just loved and thought there was no way I would need them in Saudi...yeah, well, now I'm back visiting in Vegas and really wishing I had those shoes.  
My advice is this:  if you don't get to keep the house you're in (and actually even if you do) put some things in boxes and either give them to family or friends or put in a special place in your house...this way, if you want someone to send you something or you want to have access to things that you couldn't bring, you won't be killing yourself for the fact that its stuffed away in some storage hole.  Maybe it's some fave shoes, maybe some cooking items, outfits you'd wear on vacation but not in Saudi, etc.  
If you check out the link I have at the top of the blog called: Moving to Saudi, you can find a list of things that are hard to find here or that they don't have at all.  Some days you can go out and buy, lets say a clothes steamer, and then the next they are gone.  And may not be back for months.  So you never know what the stores will have in stock on a regular basis.  The same goes for the grocery store as well.  


So, take your time...go through whats really important to ship.  Be careful about storing everything else away without keep some stuff out for those moments when you say...if only I had my (fill in the blank)...
best of luck with your move and please don't hesitate to email me if you have questions.  :)  

Moving to Saudi Tip: Home Decor

So I've recently been in touch with some people who will soon be moving my way.  I think one of the most important things I could say to bring are family photos.  For me here in Yanbu, it's hard to find places to print up photos.  Even harder to find frames.  Yes, there is Ikea in Jeddah, but it's 4 hours away!! 
I came up with a great way to make sure we were always surrounded by family.  I didn't want the girls to forget anyone.  I made 24 of these 12x12 scrap pages and then used that special velcro tape to stick them to the walls.  See, almost all the walls here are solid concrete. Good luck getting a nail in.  I also shipped over some canvas prints I had done and my hubby's parents sent this huge map.  We also used those wall appliques to decorate the girls room as well as their wooden name letters.  I brought some of my old teaching posters too.  Alphabets, maps, calendars...to put in the play room.     
So, just my little tip for keeping family close to your hearts and your eyes.  :)
...by the way, the scrap pages are great ideas for anyone, not just us here in Saudi.  ;)