On 11/25, my study-tour group visited the College Preparatory Program at Saudi Aramco. The purpose of the program is to prepare select Saudi Arabian high school graduates for admission to universities and to help them succeed in their post-secondary schools. This is a very generous program because Saudi Aramco pays the students' tuition, and as long as the student graduates from university the student has a guaranteed position with Saudi Aramco!
The College Prep. Program lasts 9 to 10 months, and the students are expected to speak English at all times while in the program. The students are enrolled in the following classes: computer, science lab, library skills, time management, critical thinking and problem solving, and community service. There are approximately 300 students in the program; 75% are male, 25% are female. 23% of the students plan to enter a business program, while the remaining 77% are engineering program prospects.
18 December 2007
14 December 2007
Q & A
12/14: Man, I have been the world's biggest slacker! Lot's of you emailed me with questions and I know that answered some of them, but not all, so here it goes.
Does Saudi Arabia have sports,movie theaters,and do they go to the beaches and oceans?
Yes, Richard, Saudi Arabia has sports and they go to the beaches, but there are no movie theaters here. The major sport in Saudi Arabia is soccer! Our first day in KSA we went to Ras Tanura for rest and relaxation, and while we were there, some younger Saudi boys played soccer with a couple of the men in the study-tour group. Later in the day we walked along the beach and we could see several organized games of soccer being played. Also, people were flying kites and building sand structures on the beach. At the community building men, women and children were bowling. Later in the trip, I saw male college students playing ping pong, pool, and foosball. The Saudis also go to the beaches. Some women wore their abayas and hijabs while others wore conservative bathing suits. People rode on jet skis and boats, snorkeled, scuba dived, and fished.
Are there any American soldiers in KSA?
No, there are no American soldiers in KSA. We saw soldiers, security guards and police officers but no American soldiers. They are not based in KSA.
What is their perception of privacy?
Brian, I should have asked for clarification on this question, but I am going to answer it as best as I can. People are very generous and hospitable, but we are not shown the grittier aspects of Saudi culture or society, so we don't have a whole picture. Also, many people are reserved in their speech - it is difficult to find criticism against the government (the royal family). Privacy seems to be a prized quality here...for example, there are very few urinals in the men's restrooms; there tends to be more toilet stalls, and many of them are enclosed from floor to ceiling. I wonder if that is because they use hoses to clean their backsides? In Old Jeddah we were informed about the roshan - it is a cantilevered wooden bay window that is carved and allows sunlight and air to enter a house but maintain privacy. I hope this answers your question!
Ms. Zincone asked about the presence art programs in KSA and if art is taught at all grade levels.
Yes, there are art programs in the schools in KSA. Unfortunately, on most of my school tours I was not fortunate enough to visit an art room. At the Disabled Children's Center in Jeddah I was able to observe students making art. There were students there of all ages, and one of the students, Hansan, made a butterfly with sequins for me! I witnessed several students painting on canvas, and they had beautiful paintings. A student artwork display contained paintings, pottery, drawings, and a rug that one of the students had made. Based on what I saw, I believe that they have art instruction at all levels.
Does Saudi Arabia have sports,movie theaters,and do they go to the beaches and oceans?
Yes, Richard, Saudi Arabia has sports and they go to the beaches, but there are no movie theaters here. The major sport in Saudi Arabia is soccer! Our first day in KSA we went to Ras Tanura for rest and relaxation, and while we were there, some younger Saudi boys played soccer with a couple of the men in the study-tour group. Later in the day we walked along the beach and we could see several organized games of soccer being played. Also, people were flying kites and building sand structures on the beach. At the community building men, women and children were bowling. Later in the trip, I saw male college students playing ping pong, pool, and foosball. The Saudis also go to the beaches. Some women wore their abayas and hijabs while others wore conservative bathing suits. People rode on jet skis and boats, snorkeled, scuba dived, and fished.
Are there any American soldiers in KSA?
No, there are no American soldiers in KSA. We saw soldiers, security guards and police officers but no American soldiers. They are not based in KSA.
What is their perception of privacy?
Brian, I should have asked for clarification on this question, but I am going to answer it as best as I can. People are very generous and hospitable, but we are not shown the grittier aspects of Saudi culture or society, so we don't have a whole picture. Also, many people are reserved in their speech - it is difficult to find criticism against the government (the royal family). Privacy seems to be a prized quality here...for example, there are very few urinals in the men's restrooms; there tends to be more toilet stalls, and many of them are enclosed from floor to ceiling. I wonder if that is because they use hoses to clean their backsides? In Old Jeddah we were informed about the roshan - it is a cantilevered wooden bay window that is carved and allows sunlight and air to enter a house but maintain privacy. I hope this answers your question!
Ms. Zincone asked about the presence art programs in KSA and if art is taught at all grade levels.
Yes, there are art programs in the schools in KSA. Unfortunately, on most of my school tours I was not fortunate enough to visit an art room. At the Disabled Children's Center in Jeddah I was able to observe students making art. There were students there of all ages, and one of the students, Hansan, made a butterfly with sequins for me! I witnessed several students painting on canvas, and they had beautiful paintings. A student artwork display contained paintings, pottery, drawings, and a rug that one of the students had made. Based on what I saw, I believe that they have art instruction at all levels.
06 December 2007
Back to School...Time to Start Fillin' the Gaps
12/5, 5:45 PM EST: I returned to school today, and my students were excited to see me! I drove to school in jeans and button down shirt, but when I got into my classroom I pulled on my thobe, igal and gutra...the traditional Saudi garb was a big hit with students and teachers alike.
Now that I've been home for almost 48 hours, I need to start filling in the gaps of my trip. It was difficult to maintain the blog because we were constantly on the go, and I tried to upload pictures when I had the time after answering emails and Skypeing my students at school. I took over 2300 pictures, so I've been trying to narrow them down to the very best pictures for the blog and to show in a presentation.
The focus of our trip was to learn about the culture, education system, industry, and the history of KSA. I feel that my posts didn't follow any sort of order, but then again, that's okay. As a group we did so many different things in a day, it was hard to stick to one major topic. So let me start with education...
While we were in KSA, we visited several schools. The schools that we visited were private schools; we did not visit any public schools, and it would have been nice to have seen how a public school operates. We were informed that the private schools abide by the same regulations and curriculum requirements for the public schools. Many students begin learning a foreign language by the age of 7, and typically that language is English. It was interesting to sit in a classroom at the Dhahran Aliyyah school where the teacher and students conversed and wrote in English. English is a very important language for students because many of them want to attend American or European universities.
KSA has modernized in 75 years, and that's due to the discovery of oil. The country has modernized in several generations...often I heard the same story: my parents didn't have a high school education, and I graduated from college with a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, and a doctorate degree. Can you imagine the drive and determination required to make that giant leap in educational levels in just one generation?
The events of 9/11 have detrimentally affected the relationship between the United States and the KSA in regards to education. I am not an expert on terrorism nor do I have great insights into the mind and thoughts of Osama Bin Laden, but it would seem that he or his executive officers carefully decided that 15 of the 19 terrorists were Saudi. If that is the case, then it would seem that that decision has had its desired effect. Today, Saudis and Americans are finding it difficult to obtain visas, whereas in the past it was relatively easy to get a visa. Many Saudi college students in the United States cannot return home due to the tightening of visa restrictions in America and the KSA. American business interests in KSA are failing and are being replaced by Chinese and Indian business enterprises.
I am encouraged that many foreigners, like Saudis, want to receive their college educations in the US. This speaks volumes in regards to post-secondary education system. Unfortunately, our public education system is not held in the same regard. The students that I met our trip know much more about the US and the world than American students do. I would even be so bold to guess that Saudi students know more about American history than many of our students!
I've not exhausted this topic so I am posting this for now and return to it later.
Now that I've been home for almost 48 hours, I need to start filling in the gaps of my trip. It was difficult to maintain the blog because we were constantly on the go, and I tried to upload pictures when I had the time after answering emails and Skypeing my students at school. I took over 2300 pictures, so I've been trying to narrow them down to the very best pictures for the blog and to show in a presentation.
The focus of our trip was to learn about the culture, education system, industry, and the history of KSA. I feel that my posts didn't follow any sort of order, but then again, that's okay. As a group we did so many different things in a day, it was hard to stick to one major topic. So let me start with education...
While we were in KSA, we visited several schools. The schools that we visited were private schools; we did not visit any public schools, and it would have been nice to have seen how a public school operates. We were informed that the private schools abide by the same regulations and curriculum requirements for the public schools. Many students begin learning a foreign language by the age of 7, and typically that language is English. It was interesting to sit in a classroom at the Dhahran Aliyyah school where the teacher and students conversed and wrote in English. English is a very important language for students because many of them want to attend American or European universities.
KSA has modernized in 75 years, and that's due to the discovery of oil. The country has modernized in several generations...often I heard the same story: my parents didn't have a high school education, and I graduated from college with a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, and a doctorate degree. Can you imagine the drive and determination required to make that giant leap in educational levels in just one generation?
The events of 9/11 have detrimentally affected the relationship between the United States and the KSA in regards to education. I am not an expert on terrorism nor do I have great insights into the mind and thoughts of Osama Bin Laden, but it would seem that he or his executive officers carefully decided that 15 of the 19 terrorists were Saudi. If that is the case, then it would seem that that decision has had its desired effect. Today, Saudis and Americans are finding it difficult to obtain visas, whereas in the past it was relatively easy to get a visa. Many Saudi college students in the United States cannot return home due to the tightening of visa restrictions in America and the KSA. American business interests in KSA are failing and are being replaced by Chinese and Indian business enterprises.
I am encouraged that many foreigners, like Saudis, want to receive their college educations in the US. This speaks volumes in regards to post-secondary education system. Unfortunately, our public education system is not held in the same regard. The students that I met our trip know much more about the US and the world than American students do. I would even be so bold to guess that Saudi students know more about American history than many of our students!
I've not exhausted this topic so I am posting this for now and return to it later.
05 December 2007
Home at last!
12/5, 5:40 AM EST: Home at last! Sorry everyone that I haven't been on Skype or on the blog recently. Once we left Dhahran and the Saudi Aramco Compound, it was difficult to post to the blog or photographs just because we were constantly on the go! One night in Jeddah I had worked on updating the blog for about 2 hours, but then my Internet time had expired, so it wiped out all my work when I tried to post it! My last day I had time for Internet access was Thursday!
We left Riyadh on Sunday afternoon after meeting with Prince Faisal ibn Turkey, which was an interesting experience. We had just had yet another big lunch, and then we went to meet the prince, and the room we sat in was extremely warm...we were all trying to stay awake! It was funny to watch my group members seated around a big conference table with smiles plastered on their faces and their eyes cranked open so they wouldn't fall asleep...I wish I could have taken a picture of them because they were just plain funny to watch.
We flew from Riyadh to Dammam, and there we parted ways with Hanadi...she was a wonderful guide and great conversationalist. We caught a bus from Dammam to Bahrain, again jumping through all the bureaucratic hoops to pass through the border of KSA and Bahrain. At the airport we told Tariq masalaama...yet another tough goodbye!
Upon arriving in Frankfurt, our group started to go its separate ways to catch flights back to the US. We all made friends, and it's not easy to tell people goodbye, knowing that you may never see them again. I almost didn't get to leave Frankfurt at my scheduled time because for whatever reason because Lufthansa did not have me in their system...they had an Angus Simmons, but no Daniel Simmons. By this point I was tired and just wanted to get home; I would have gladly changed my name to Angus just to have boarded the plane! Fortunately the lady at the Lufthansa desk was able to book me a seat, and off we went.
Landed at Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C. at 3:20 PM on Monday, and then had to get through Immigration and Customs. My flight was supposed to have left at 5:30 PM, but it was delayed until 7:38 PM because of high winds in Washington, D.C. I landed at RDU around 8:50 or so, and it was great to see my wife for the first time in two weeks!
Debating whether or not to go to work as I'm really tired, but I haven't adjusted to the time here yet. My body is thinking it's 2 in the afternoon, and I've been awake since 4 am EST.
We left Riyadh on Sunday afternoon after meeting with Prince Faisal ibn Turkey, which was an interesting experience. We had just had yet another big lunch, and then we went to meet the prince, and the room we sat in was extremely warm...we were all trying to stay awake! It was funny to watch my group members seated around a big conference table with smiles plastered on their faces and their eyes cranked open so they wouldn't fall asleep...I wish I could have taken a picture of them because they were just plain funny to watch.
We flew from Riyadh to Dammam, and there we parted ways with Hanadi...she was a wonderful guide and great conversationalist. We caught a bus from Dammam to Bahrain, again jumping through all the bureaucratic hoops to pass through the border of KSA and Bahrain. At the airport we told Tariq masalaama...yet another tough goodbye!
Upon arriving in Frankfurt, our group started to go its separate ways to catch flights back to the US. We all made friends, and it's not easy to tell people goodbye, knowing that you may never see them again. I almost didn't get to leave Frankfurt at my scheduled time because for whatever reason because Lufthansa did not have me in their system...they had an Angus Simmons, but no Daniel Simmons. By this point I was tired and just wanted to get home; I would have gladly changed my name to Angus just to have boarded the plane! Fortunately the lady at the Lufthansa desk was able to book me a seat, and off we went.
Landed at Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C. at 3:20 PM on Monday, and then had to get through Immigration and Customs. My flight was supposed to have left at 5:30 PM, but it was delayed until 7:38 PM because of high winds in Washington, D.C. I landed at RDU around 8:50 or so, and it was great to see my wife for the first time in two weeks!
Debating whether or not to go to work as I'm really tired, but I haven't adjusted to the time here yet. My body is thinking it's 2 in the afternoon, and I've been awake since 4 am EST.
28 November 2007
NOOOOOOOOO!
11/28, 1:11 am KSA: AWWWW!! I just spent 2 hours typing my blog and posting photos to the website when the Internet failed and wiped out all my work that hadn't been saved!! I'm not re-typing this tonight because I need sleep. Fortunately I did not lose any photos, so those will be up and running, but the blog...nuts.
Today upon returning to our hotel, a lady in our group tripped down the bus steps and fractured her tibia and fibula in her left leg. She has a cast and decided to stay for the entire visit.
I am going to bed. I will re-type this thing tomorrow!
Today upon returning to our hotel, a lady in our group tripped down the bus steps and fractured her tibia and fibula in her left leg. She has a cast and decided to stay for the entire visit.
I am going to bed. I will re-type this thing tomorrow!
26 November 2007
I'm flying!
11/26, 6:51 pm KSA: Sorry this is going to be another short one, but we're running late and we have to leave for the airport in 39 minutes. I will try to write more when we get to the hotel...
Quick update: we will be in Jeddah for the next few days, and it sounds like we're going to have an awesome time!
Quick update: we will be in Jeddah for the next few days, and it sounds like we're going to have an awesome time!
25 November 2007
How do you spell Saudi Arabia?
11/25, 12:49 am: Hey, everyone, I just returned to the hotel. We were taken to a resort this evening for dinner, and we had a special treat in store...camels, Bedouin tents, Persian rugs, and a traditional Saudi entertainment troupe! And, no, I am not bringing back camel poo as a souvenir! We had a great time and great traditional Saudi food for our meal!
Sorry, but this blog is going to be short. It's late and I need to get some sleep...I am averaging four hours a night since we arrived in KSA, and tomorrow is going to be a long day because in the evening we will be flying to Jeddah. This portion of our trip is drawing to a close.
So, how do you spell Saudi Arabia? O-H-I-O of course! Today we went to the Dhahran Ahliyyah School for Boys for a tour and to observe a class. While we were there, I had four of the students line up and make arm gestures to represent my proud state in KSA! Unfortunately the picture is on my friend Aaron's camera, so I will have to get it from him later. And later in the day I met a Saudi Aramco education coordinator who was an OSU almumnus. Yazid, one of his students, had lived in Dayton, OH while his father attended Wright State University, my alma mater!
Alright, ya'll, you keep writing the questions and I'll find the answers for you! G'night!
Sorry, but this blog is going to be short. It's late and I need to get some sleep...I am averaging four hours a night since we arrived in KSA, and tomorrow is going to be a long day because in the evening we will be flying to Jeddah. This portion of our trip is drawing to a close.
So, how do you spell Saudi Arabia? O-H-I-O of course! Today we went to the Dhahran Ahliyyah School for Boys for a tour and to observe a class. While we were there, I had four of the students line up and make arm gestures to represent my proud state in KSA! Unfortunately the picture is on my friend Aaron's camera, so I will have to get it from him later. And later in the day I met a Saudi Aramco education coordinator who was an OSU almumnus. Yazid, one of his students, had lived in Dayton, OH while his father attended Wright State University, my alma mater!
Alright, ya'll, you keep writing the questions and I'll find the answers for you! G'night!
24 November 2007
The HISTORY ROCKS! KSA Tour begins
11/24, 5:06 pm KSA:
Marhaba! Last night was a good night...I was able to speak to my wife on the phone; it was so good to hear her voice because I miss her. I also slept about 5 hours so I am feeling gung-ho and ready to start the HISTORY ROCKS! 2007-2008 Tour in the KSA!
Unfortunately, this won't make much sense to if you are not one of my students. At the beginning of the year, on the Internet I found a drawing of Uncle Sam playing the electric guitar, so I copied the picture and created fake rock posters inviting students to the HISTORY ROCKS! 2007-2008 Tour. I will post a picture of my rock poster when I return to the States.
Today, I had breakfast in the dining hall, which consisted of cereal, orange juice, scrambled eggs, beef sausage and hashbrowns. I was going to have a traditional Saudi breakfast, but the line was too long to wait because we had to leave by 7:45 for our tours today.
Before, I get any farther in this blog, you need to know that Saudi Arabia does not allow tourism. So we are not considered tourists; rather, we are viewed as an American education delegation, and so we are treated accordingly. While we stay within the Saudi Aramco Compounds and Camps, we do not need security escorts. Our female travellers are not required to wear the abaya and hijab within the compounds or camps. The compound is not considered to be a conservative place in KSA. Jeddah, the city to where we will be traveling next, is more liberal than the compound, but Riyadh, the capital and our last destination city, is more conservative.
We rode by tour bus to the Saudi Aramco Exhibit Center, where we were greeted on the steps by executives and our tour guides. We were ushered into a large room where we were seated in couches and stuffed chairs and offered dates and cardamom coffee, which tastes like buttered coffee; it's very good. After our refreshments, we moved to a small auditorium and learned about the company.
The presentation was given by a woman, Hanadi Al-Falih, and this presentation is the same that is given to heads of state and executives in major companies. We learned that in 1932, KSA signed a contract with Standard Oil Company to begin field-testing to find oil, and when oil was found in 1938, the Arabian and American Oil Company, or Aramco, was created. Until 1973, KSA had no control over Aramco. By 1980, they had finished completely buying out the company, and changed the name to Saudi Aramco. This oil company is an industry leader, and is a major player in world oil supplies. It spurred modernization and growth in KSA, and gives much back to KSA. Saudi Aramco trains many professionals, and its 53-56,000 employees are teachers, doctors, lawyers, geologists, engineers, and the list goes on. We have been told, and witnessed, that Saudi Aramco's employees are its treasures.
We then toured the exhibition center, and I would have enjoyed spending more time there because there were so many hands-on activities and items to explore. There were elementary school boys there with their teachers, and they were excited and liked the exhibits.
After leaving the exhibition center, we traveled to Saudi Aramco's Exploration and Petroleum Engineering Center (EXPEC). The presentation was very technical and explained how Saudi Aramco explored for oil. The system is highly-complicated and highly-exacting as it is able to have real-time data while they are drilling for oil and can make adjustments in real-time as well. When I picture someone drilling for oil, I have an image in mind of an oil rig that drills vertically into the ground. That is not the case as Saudi Aramco can drill vertically and horizontally in multiple-directions. They use 3D computer modeling systems to better locate and pump more oil than was previously impossible. I also learned that KSA has the largest oil and gas fields in the world.
We were then led into the supercomputer room, where there were so many supercomputers that it was very noisy from the whirring. Very few people ever get to enter the room as it is a security risk, and it was awesome to discover the information technology capabilities of the company.
We had lunch with Mustafa Al-Jalali, Vice President of Saudi Aramco Affairs. We had a salad, fish, a grilled tortilla, bread and hummus, chicken and rice, an eggplant dish, and four different types of dessert. We were also served "Saudi champagne"...sparkling cider. KSA is an Islamic country and alcohol is forbidden.
After lunch we were given a tour of the compound. They just recently converted their 27-hole desert golf course into an 18-hole green grass golf course. The desert course had no grass, but rather they used an oil-soaked sande for the fairways and the greens, but in this case we would have to call them blacks because of the color of the oil!
I am sorry there are no pictures for the day...my camera has been acting funny all day. It's not broken, but it keeps acting like the batteries are dead, so I will have to try replacing them. I borrowed my friend Aaron's camera to take photographs, and I will post the photos ASAP.
I feel very fortunate to have been accepted for this program. I am traveling with a great group of teachers; they have great ideas for lessons and how to teach their students. It is very cool to be traveling overseas for the first time in my life. I have gained a greater appreciation for my own country, and at the same time, watched as the world has shrunk before my eyes. Even though there differences in faith and beliefs, I am finding that people around the world have more in common than they have differences.
Tariq mentioned that government-to-government diplomacy does not work well. People-to-people diplomacy does work, and I am witnessing it first-hand with my own senses, and I can make my own opinions based on my observations. I enjoy sitting down and speaking with Tariq and the other people we have encountered and to listen to their opinions about September 11, or what they believe is right and wrong.
So, until next time on the same blog channel, remember to send me your emails with your questions!
Marhaba! Last night was a good night...I was able to speak to my wife on the phone; it was so good to hear her voice because I miss her. I also slept about 5 hours so I am feeling gung-ho and ready to start the HISTORY ROCKS! 2007-2008 Tour in the KSA!
Unfortunately, this won't make much sense to if you are not one of my students. At the beginning of the year, on the Internet I found a drawing of Uncle Sam playing the electric guitar, so I copied the picture and created fake rock posters inviting students to the HISTORY ROCKS! 2007-2008 Tour. I will post a picture of my rock poster when I return to the States.
Today, I had breakfast in the dining hall, which consisted of cereal, orange juice, scrambled eggs, beef sausage and hashbrowns. I was going to have a traditional Saudi breakfast, but the line was too long to wait because we had to leave by 7:45 for our tours today.
Before, I get any farther in this blog, you need to know that Saudi Arabia does not allow tourism. So we are not considered tourists; rather, we are viewed as an American education delegation, and so we are treated accordingly. While we stay within the Saudi Aramco Compounds and Camps, we do not need security escorts. Our female travellers are not required to wear the abaya and hijab within the compounds or camps. The compound is not considered to be a conservative place in KSA. Jeddah, the city to where we will be traveling next, is more liberal than the compound, but Riyadh, the capital and our last destination city, is more conservative.
We rode by tour bus to the Saudi Aramco Exhibit Center, where we were greeted on the steps by executives and our tour guides. We were ushered into a large room where we were seated in couches and stuffed chairs and offered dates and cardamom coffee, which tastes like buttered coffee; it's very good. After our refreshments, we moved to a small auditorium and learned about the company.
The presentation was given by a woman, Hanadi Al-Falih, and this presentation is the same that is given to heads of state and executives in major companies. We learned that in 1932, KSA signed a contract with Standard Oil Company to begin field-testing to find oil, and when oil was found in 1938, the Arabian and American Oil Company, or Aramco, was created. Until 1973, KSA had no control over Aramco. By 1980, they had finished completely buying out the company, and changed the name to Saudi Aramco. This oil company is an industry leader, and is a major player in world oil supplies. It spurred modernization and growth in KSA, and gives much back to KSA. Saudi Aramco trains many professionals, and its 53-56,000 employees are teachers, doctors, lawyers, geologists, engineers, and the list goes on. We have been told, and witnessed, that Saudi Aramco's employees are its treasures.
We then toured the exhibition center, and I would have enjoyed spending more time there because there were so many hands-on activities and items to explore. There were elementary school boys there with their teachers, and they were excited and liked the exhibits.
After leaving the exhibition center, we traveled to Saudi Aramco's Exploration and Petroleum Engineering Center (EXPEC). The presentation was very technical and explained how Saudi Aramco explored for oil. The system is highly-complicated and highly-exacting as it is able to have real-time data while they are drilling for oil and can make adjustments in real-time as well. When I picture someone drilling for oil, I have an image in mind of an oil rig that drills vertically into the ground. That is not the case as Saudi Aramco can drill vertically and horizontally in multiple-directions. They use 3D computer modeling systems to better locate and pump more oil than was previously impossible. I also learned that KSA has the largest oil and gas fields in the world.
We were then led into the supercomputer room, where there were so many supercomputers that it was very noisy from the whirring. Very few people ever get to enter the room as it is a security risk, and it was awesome to discover the information technology capabilities of the company.
We had lunch with Mustafa Al-Jalali, Vice President of Saudi Aramco Affairs. We had a salad, fish, a grilled tortilla, bread and hummus, chicken and rice, an eggplant dish, and four different types of dessert. We were also served "Saudi champagne"...sparkling cider. KSA is an Islamic country and alcohol is forbidden.
After lunch we were given a tour of the compound. They just recently converted their 27-hole desert golf course into an 18-hole green grass golf course. The desert course had no grass, but rather they used an oil-soaked sande for the fairways and the greens, but in this case we would have to call them blacks because of the color of the oil!
I am sorry there are no pictures for the day...my camera has been acting funny all day. It's not broken, but it keeps acting like the batteries are dead, so I will have to try replacing them. I borrowed my friend Aaron's camera to take photographs, and I will post the photos ASAP.
I feel very fortunate to have been accepted for this program. I am traveling with a great group of teachers; they have great ideas for lessons and how to teach their students. It is very cool to be traveling overseas for the first time in my life. I have gained a greater appreciation for my own country, and at the same time, watched as the world has shrunk before my eyes. Even though there differences in faith and beliefs, I am finding that people around the world have more in common than they have differences.
Tariq mentioned that government-to-government diplomacy does not work well. People-to-people diplomacy does work, and I am witnessing it first-hand with my own senses, and I can make my own opinions based on my observations. I enjoy sitting down and speaking with Tariq and the other people we have encountered and to listen to their opinions about September 11, or what they believe is right and wrong.
So, until next time on the same blog channel, remember to send me your emails with your questions!
23 November 2007
Goin on 72 hours!!
11/23, 9:37 pm KSA: Well, I only slept two hours last nights, so I've had 2 hours sleep in the last 72. I'm hoping to rectify this sitchy-ation by getting some good shut-eye tonight! I haven't been sleepy at all until this evening, so I'm starting wind down.
I went to bed at 5 am this morning...I was trying to find a way to make a call to my wife to let her know I had arrived safe and sound, but my international phone was, and still is, not working properly, so I had to go out and buy one today from the compound's commissary. I got up at 7 to shower and to eat at the compound's dining hall.
Let me explain about where I am staying for the first few days of our trip. We are staying at the Saudi Aramco Compound in Dhahran. In many ways, the compound reminds of Hilton Head Island or planned communities in Florida. There are many condos here for the Saudi Aramco employees and their families; there is a lot of greenery and landscaping here. When you leave the compound, you are promptly met by the tans and grays of the desert. The compound has security gates with guards wearing blue flak jackets and kevlar helmets, and they have substantial barricades to prevent people from driving straight into the security gates. We eat breakfast at the dining hall, and this morning I had a chocolate-frosted doughnut, scrambled eggs, chicken sausage and hashbrowns. You can also get pancakes, waffles, beef sausage, bacon made either from beef or turkey, and who knows what else. Tomorrow I will try more traditional Saudi fare for breakfast. The dining hall also offers amazing fresh fruit and various juices that taste really good. The orange juice here tastes better here; and they had a great banana punch (basically a smoothie).
After breakfast, I walked over to the commissary to look around and buy a few items. I took some pictures and I will post them later. I was able to pay with American money; my $20 bill was the equivalent of 72 Saudi Arabian Riyals (SAR), and received my change in SAR. I came back to the compound's hotel to send off my laundry to be cleaned and to have my laptop configured so I could use the hotel's wireless internet system.
The group met in the lobby at 11 am to go to Ras Tanura, the world's largest oil refinery. We got on a tour bus, and no, it wasn't a Mercedes Benz, and had our first views of the country by daylight. The trip lasted about 30 minutes, and I noted at a couple of checkpoints that there were trucks "hidden" behind steel bar structures with heavy caliber machine guns mounted in the beds. We didn't go to this Saudi Aramco compound and refinery for a tour. Today was a rest and relaxation day because we need a little time to decompress from the long flights, and an environment where we can meet Saudis in a more relaxed environment. So today, we were allowed to wear shorts and t-shirts because we were at the company's beach!
We waded in the waters of the Arabian (Persian) Gulf, played volleyball and frisbee football on the beach, and had lunch on the patio of the community center. We walked down the beach and met Saudis. Here in Saudi Arabia, the weekend is not Saturday and Sunday, but rather their weekend consists of Thursday and Friday, and they were enjoying the beach and the community center.
The men are friendly, and respect you for attempting to speak simple Arabic phrases. Some wear pants and shirts, while others wear the thobe, guthra and igal. A thobe is a cross between a dress shirt and a robe that flows down their ankles. A guthra is the headcovering men wear on their heads; Saudi men wear either red-and-white checked or white cloth guthras. The igal is like a cord that encircles the head to keep the guthra from falling off. The men wear their guthras in different styles, and you can catch them adjusting and fixing like a teenage girl plays with her hair.
The women are expected to wear the abaya, which is like a long robe, and the hijab, the cloth that covers their hair. Some women will wear a veil, so that all you can see of them is their eyes. It is interesting to note that Saudi women are making strides for women's rights, and many of the younger women are making the abaya their own through the use of pastel colors, elaborate embroidery, and even in a few instances, tropical floral prints under sheer material.
We also met one of the engineers whom will be meeting with tomorrow. He introduced himself to us, and then introduced his child, and when he did this, his wife lightly slapped his arm as if to say, "You dope, you didn't introduce me" and he quickly introduced us to his wife! They were very nice, and their children laughed and played with Tom, a tall thin man in our group.
At 5 o'clock we had supper in the community center's entertainment room on the upper floor. We had a Saudi Arabian thanksgiving, complete with turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and several local vegetable salads. For dessert we had strong coffee and pumpkin and pecan pies.
On the ride back to the compound, several of us spent time speaking with our host, Tariq. Tariq is a Sauid Aramco employee; he is 40 years old, is married and has 5 children and is expecting a sixth. Tariq is married to only one woman, and I've learned that the practice of having multiple wives is highly uncommon here because it is very expensive to have more than one wife. Another reason for having only one wife is because a Saudi family consists of a husband and wife, their children, and their parents. Saudi couples have on the average about 8 children, so you can imagine how large a house would need to be if a man had multiple wives!
Tariq is glad to be a host for this program, because he said that he enjoys the person-to-person diplomacy because it is much more effective than government-to-government diplomacy. I asked him about his reaction to September 11, 2001 and he geniunely expressed sadness for the innocent lives that were lost that day. I did not ask him to give his reaction to the fact that 15 of the 19 terrorists were Saudis; I am saving that question for another time when I have to ask him about his viewpoint regarding the situation in the Middle East.
Before I sign off for the day, I would like you to know when you are viewing the photos in the slideshow, you can click on them to open them up in a new window so that they will be enlarged. You can also see read the captions describing the photos if you do this.
Good night!
I went to bed at 5 am this morning...I was trying to find a way to make a call to my wife to let her know I had arrived safe and sound, but my international phone was, and still is, not working properly, so I had to go out and buy one today from the compound's commissary. I got up at 7 to shower and to eat at the compound's dining hall.
Let me explain about where I am staying for the first few days of our trip. We are staying at the Saudi Aramco Compound in Dhahran. In many ways, the compound reminds of Hilton Head Island or planned communities in Florida. There are many condos here for the Saudi Aramco employees and their families; there is a lot of greenery and landscaping here. When you leave the compound, you are promptly met by the tans and grays of the desert. The compound has security gates with guards wearing blue flak jackets and kevlar helmets, and they have substantial barricades to prevent people from driving straight into the security gates. We eat breakfast at the dining hall, and this morning I had a chocolate-frosted doughnut, scrambled eggs, chicken sausage and hashbrowns. You can also get pancakes, waffles, beef sausage, bacon made either from beef or turkey, and who knows what else. Tomorrow I will try more traditional Saudi fare for breakfast. The dining hall also offers amazing fresh fruit and various juices that taste really good. The orange juice here tastes better here; and they had a great banana punch (basically a smoothie).
After breakfast, I walked over to the commissary to look around and buy a few items. I took some pictures and I will post them later. I was able to pay with American money; my $20 bill was the equivalent of 72 Saudi Arabian Riyals (SAR), and received my change in SAR. I came back to the compound's hotel to send off my laundry to be cleaned and to have my laptop configured so I could use the hotel's wireless internet system.
The group met in the lobby at 11 am to go to Ras Tanura, the world's largest oil refinery. We got on a tour bus, and no, it wasn't a Mercedes Benz, and had our first views of the country by daylight. The trip lasted about 30 minutes, and I noted at a couple of checkpoints that there were trucks "hidden" behind steel bar structures with heavy caliber machine guns mounted in the beds. We didn't go to this Saudi Aramco compound and refinery for a tour. Today was a rest and relaxation day because we need a little time to decompress from the long flights, and an environment where we can meet Saudis in a more relaxed environment. So today, we were allowed to wear shorts and t-shirts because we were at the company's beach!
We waded in the waters of the Arabian (Persian) Gulf, played volleyball and frisbee football on the beach, and had lunch on the patio of the community center. We walked down the beach and met Saudis. Here in Saudi Arabia, the weekend is not Saturday and Sunday, but rather their weekend consists of Thursday and Friday, and they were enjoying the beach and the community center.
The men are friendly, and respect you for attempting to speak simple Arabic phrases. Some wear pants and shirts, while others wear the thobe, guthra and igal. A thobe is a cross between a dress shirt and a robe that flows down their ankles. A guthra is the headcovering men wear on their heads; Saudi men wear either red-and-white checked or white cloth guthras. The igal is like a cord that encircles the head to keep the guthra from falling off. The men wear their guthras in different styles, and you can catch them adjusting and fixing like a teenage girl plays with her hair.
The women are expected to wear the abaya, which is like a long robe, and the hijab, the cloth that covers their hair. Some women will wear a veil, so that all you can see of them is their eyes. It is interesting to note that Saudi women are making strides for women's rights, and many of the younger women are making the abaya their own through the use of pastel colors, elaborate embroidery, and even in a few instances, tropical floral prints under sheer material.
We also met one of the engineers whom will be meeting with tomorrow. He introduced himself to us, and then introduced his child, and when he did this, his wife lightly slapped his arm as if to say, "You dope, you didn't introduce me" and he quickly introduced us to his wife! They were very nice, and their children laughed and played with Tom, a tall thin man in our group.
At 5 o'clock we had supper in the community center's entertainment room on the upper floor. We had a Saudi Arabian thanksgiving, complete with turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and several local vegetable salads. For dessert we had strong coffee and pumpkin and pecan pies.
On the ride back to the compound, several of us spent time speaking with our host, Tariq. Tariq is a Sauid Aramco employee; he is 40 years old, is married and has 5 children and is expecting a sixth. Tariq is married to only one woman, and I've learned that the practice of having multiple wives is highly uncommon here because it is very expensive to have more than one wife. Another reason for having only one wife is because a Saudi family consists of a husband and wife, their children, and their parents. Saudi couples have on the average about 8 children, so you can imagine how large a house would need to be if a man had multiple wives!
Tariq is glad to be a host for this program, because he said that he enjoys the person-to-person diplomacy because it is much more effective than government-to-government diplomacy. I asked him about his reaction to September 11, 2001 and he geniunely expressed sadness for the innocent lives that were lost that day. I did not ask him to give his reaction to the fact that 15 of the 19 terrorists were Saudis; I am saving that question for another time when I have to ask him about his viewpoint regarding the situation in the Middle East.
Before I sign off for the day, I would like you to know when you are viewing the photos in the slideshow, you can click on them to open them up in a new window so that they will be enlarged. You can also see read the captions describing the photos if you do this.
Good night!
22 November 2007
Goin' on 48 hours!
11/23: Happy Thanksgiving! It is 2:46 am on Friday and I am on the other side of the world while you are eating your lovely Thanksgiving feast. EST should be 6:46 pm on Thursday. I need to let you know upfront that I am going on 48 hours without sleep, so please don't mind the typos!
Secondly, I have had a bear of a time getting phone and internet access. Unfortunately, my international phone card will not work at the hotel where I am staying for the next few days, so I have to purchase yet another card to make my first card work! So, I haven't been able to call my wife or my family to let them I have arrived safely here in KSA. Then our laptops won't work on the wireless network until the hotel's internet guru can come in on Friday to help us create a configuration so we can access the wireless network. Fortunately, there is a desktop computer that our hosts have generously allowed to use and provided us with Internet access.
We left Houston approximately around 5:30 pm Wednesday and landed in Frankfurt, Germany 9:30 am Thursday morning. The plane ride was fairly smooth, yet I couldn't sleep! I think I have been so excited knowing that I am leaving my home country and will be visiting other countries. It was cool to fly over the United Kingdom and know that it is the home of my ancestors, and it gave me a greater appreciation for the long voyages they undertook to create a new life in a new and strange country.
Germany was cloudy and cool and our layover was only four hours so we didn't have time to do a little exploring. We left Germany at 12:50 and flew over Germany, Italy, the Balkans, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia. Our plane landed in the island Kingdom of Bahrain at 8:30. We landed there because it is the closest airport to Dhahran, our first city which we will be visiting.
While standing in the visa line in Bahrain, I was struck by the fact that the lobby was decorated with Christmas trees and pine garland! How odd to find a Christmas tree in a Muslim country, so I snapped several pictures. After receiving a 24 hour transit visa, we were met by our first host, Tariq, and he herded us out to a Merceded Benz tour bus.
Now, I have never seen a Merceded Benz bus, period, so I decided to take a picture of it. In fact, I took two pictures of it. After putting my camera in my bag, I started walking toward the bus to board, when I noticed a soldier with a M14 machine gun move toward me. He stopped me and asked me what I had taken a photo of. I told him that I had photographed the bus because we didn't have Mercedes Benz tour buses in American. He proceeded to tell me that I was not take pictures of the airport because of security concerns, and I told him I understood and that I had not taken a picture of the airport. Then he asked if I had taken pictures of airport inside...oops! I hedged on the answer; I didn't take pictures of the airport, just a Christmas tree. He then questioned me quickly about my name and what group I was with. I told him honestly, and then told him thank you in Arabic for his help, and then told him Ma'assalama, or goodbye. He was friendly and he let me get on the busy with a smile.
Bahrain and KSA are connected by a 25 kilometer causeway spanning over the Arabian Gulf (as the Persian Gulf is known as here) so on the bus ride, Tariq answered many of our questions and introduced us to Saudi music; he would not welcome us to Saudi Arabia until we reached the border crossing located on a small island between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Our bus had to stop several times for checkpoints. Our first stop was to have our passport stamped by the Bahrain border guards. On the second stop at another checkpoint, Tariq disembarked the bus to collect KSA Entry Cards for us to sign. While at this checkpoint, I took a picture of a sign indicating that this stop was a passport control for females only. Tariq returned with cards, and we signed them. Near the top of the card, in RED BOLD ENGLISH LETTERS reads the following statement: DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKER I'm not saying this the answer to illicit drug use in America, but I'm certain it would be a major deterrant!
After we signed the cards, and before we could enter KSA, the bus pulled forward and over what looked like an oil pit at a Jiffy Lube. We had to disembark, and the bus was searched inside and out, and underneath the bus for drugs, weapons and bombs.
Now, I know this sounds like this 25 kilometer trip only lasted about an hour. WRONG! We got out of the airport by 9:20 or so, and we didn't reach the compound's hotel until approximately 12:30. Our last stop was actually, and this also was a shock, at a McDonald's...but it wasn't to eat! We and our luggage switched buses that was part of our security detail.
It is surreal to be here. We, as Americans, don't experience this in our land of the free. Sure, we are incovenienced at the airport or sporting events by security regulations, but when do we ever have to pull over and have our vehicles searched for drugs, weapons and bombs just to drive down a road? 'Tis something to ponder...
At the same time, I do feel safe here. But this comes from my point of view, a male perspective. I wonder how my female colleagues will feel about the treatement they receive while they are here in a highly male-dominant society.
Thanks to those of you who have been emailing me questions. I was asked by several of you if we would meet with children or adults who are visually impaired, and yes, we will be going to a center for disability services, so I hope to provide you with some awesome information and answers to your questions.
Well, it's 3:30 am here, and I'm not tired, but I do need to go to bed. Enjoy your thanksgiving with your family and friends!
Secondly, I have had a bear of a time getting phone and internet access. Unfortunately, my international phone card will not work at the hotel where I am staying for the next few days, so I have to purchase yet another card to make my first card work! So, I haven't been able to call my wife or my family to let them I have arrived safely here in KSA. Then our laptops won't work on the wireless network until the hotel's internet guru can come in on Friday to help us create a configuration so we can access the wireless network. Fortunately, there is a desktop computer that our hosts have generously allowed to use and provided us with Internet access.
We left Houston approximately around 5:30 pm Wednesday and landed in Frankfurt, Germany 9:30 am Thursday morning. The plane ride was fairly smooth, yet I couldn't sleep! I think I have been so excited knowing that I am leaving my home country and will be visiting other countries. It was cool to fly over the United Kingdom and know that it is the home of my ancestors, and it gave me a greater appreciation for the long voyages they undertook to create a new life in a new and strange country.
Germany was cloudy and cool and our layover was only four hours so we didn't have time to do a little exploring. We left Germany at 12:50 and flew over Germany, Italy, the Balkans, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia. Our plane landed in the island Kingdom of Bahrain at 8:30. We landed there because it is the closest airport to Dhahran, our first city which we will be visiting.
While standing in the visa line in Bahrain, I was struck by the fact that the lobby was decorated with Christmas trees and pine garland! How odd to find a Christmas tree in a Muslim country, so I snapped several pictures. After receiving a 24 hour transit visa, we were met by our first host, Tariq, and he herded us out to a Merceded Benz tour bus.
Now, I have never seen a Merceded Benz bus, period, so I decided to take a picture of it. In fact, I took two pictures of it. After putting my camera in my bag, I started walking toward the bus to board, when I noticed a soldier with a M14 machine gun move toward me. He stopped me and asked me what I had taken a photo of. I told him that I had photographed the bus because we didn't have Mercedes Benz tour buses in American. He proceeded to tell me that I was not take pictures of the airport because of security concerns, and I told him I understood and that I had not taken a picture of the airport. Then he asked if I had taken pictures of airport inside...oops! I hedged on the answer; I didn't take pictures of the airport, just a Christmas tree. He then questioned me quickly about my name and what group I was with. I told him honestly, and then told him thank you in Arabic for his help, and then told him Ma'assalama, or goodbye. He was friendly and he let me get on the busy with a smile.
Bahrain and KSA are connected by a 25 kilometer causeway spanning over the Arabian Gulf (as the Persian Gulf is known as here) so on the bus ride, Tariq answered many of our questions and introduced us to Saudi music; he would not welcome us to Saudi Arabia until we reached the border crossing located on a small island between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Our bus had to stop several times for checkpoints. Our first stop was to have our passport stamped by the Bahrain border guards. On the second stop at another checkpoint, Tariq disembarked the bus to collect KSA Entry Cards for us to sign. While at this checkpoint, I took a picture of a sign indicating that this stop was a passport control for females only. Tariq returned with cards, and we signed them. Near the top of the card, in RED BOLD ENGLISH LETTERS reads the following statement: DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKER I'm not saying this the answer to illicit drug use in America, but I'm certain it would be a major deterrant!
After we signed the cards, and before we could enter KSA, the bus pulled forward and over what looked like an oil pit at a Jiffy Lube. We had to disembark, and the bus was searched inside and out, and underneath the bus for drugs, weapons and bombs.
Now, I know this sounds like this 25 kilometer trip only lasted about an hour. WRONG! We got out of the airport by 9:20 or so, and we didn't reach the compound's hotel until approximately 12:30. Our last stop was actually, and this also was a shock, at a McDonald's...but it wasn't to eat! We and our luggage switched buses that was part of our security detail.
It is surreal to be here. We, as Americans, don't experience this in our land of the free. Sure, we are incovenienced at the airport or sporting events by security regulations, but when do we ever have to pull over and have our vehicles searched for drugs, weapons and bombs just to drive down a road? 'Tis something to ponder...
At the same time, I do feel safe here. But this comes from my point of view, a male perspective. I wonder how my female colleagues will feel about the treatement they receive while they are here in a highly male-dominant society.
Thanks to those of you who have been emailing me questions. I was asked by several of you if we would meet with children or adults who are visually impaired, and yes, we will be going to a center for disability services, so I hope to provide you with some awesome information and answers to your questions.
Well, it's 3:30 am here, and I'm not tired, but I do need to go to bed. Enjoy your thanksgiving with your family and friends!
111/21: Assalam 'alaikoom! At the moment I am sitting at the gate waiting for our departure to Saudi Arabia. It has been a long wait...we arrived at the airport at 11:30 hoping to beat the holiday crush. Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, there was no holiday crush so we had a long time to kill because our flight was supposed to leave at 4:30 pm. We just had a thunderstorm that delayed the flight, and we've just been called to begin boarding the plane.
A quick recap of the morning...we had breakfast at the hotel and then a program alumnus gave a presentation about Saudi culture and the types of artifacts we can expect to bring back to the U.S. I learned today that Barbie was outlawed by the Saudi government in 2003 because she was a bad influence. Surprise, surpise, a toy company named New Boy, created Fulla, a doll for Muslim girls. Fulla comes with pretty dress clothes and of course her abaya and hijab. And no girls' doll would be complete without a house and friends!
Well, I have to go. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving! I will write as soon as I have access to the Internet.
A quick recap of the morning...we had breakfast at the hotel and then a program alumnus gave a presentation about Saudi culture and the types of artifacts we can expect to bring back to the U.S. I learned today that Barbie was outlawed by the Saudi government in 2003 because she was a bad influence. Surprise, surpise, a toy company named New Boy, created Fulla, a doll for Muslim girls. Fulla comes with pretty dress clothes and of course her abaya and hijab. And no girls' doll would be complete without a house and friends!
Well, I have to go. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving! I will write as soon as I have access to the Internet.
20 November 2007
11/20: The Stars and Stripes are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas! Hey, ya'll, it's Your Friendly Neighborhood History Teacher (Y.F.N.H.T.), and I'm just updating the ol' bloggerooski.
Last night I met the other social studies teachers and library media specialists whom I am traveling with. There are 25 of us altogether, and everyone seems to be very nice and extremely motivated and enthusiastic about teaching and the trip! I currently have a roommate while we are in Houston, and he hails from Mean-E-So-Ta. Once we are overseas we will have our own rooms.
We were told last night that the Institute of International Education and Aramco Services Company received approximately 200 applications for this trip, so I am pleased to know that I was selected. Apparently, and I could be wrong, that the entire bill for the trip - including air travel, lodging, food, visa fees and other sundry items - totals in the neighborhood of $25,000! I'm glad I'm not footing the bill!
Today after waking up and getting dressed our group was bussed to Aramco Services Company for breakfast and briefing. I was very impressed with our speakers, as they were alumni of the program. They had lots of great tips and suggestions for us...speaking of which, if you have any questions that you would like asked while I am in Saudi Arabia, email me at southernyankee1978@gmail.com So, family, friends and students, send me your questions!
We had lunch at ASC in their executive lunch room, and one of the executives of the company sat at our table and spoke with us and answered our questions. For lunch we had a marinated chicken breast, garlic mashed potatoes, steamed veg-e-tables, and for dessert a super-rich chocolate cake that I couldn't finish.
After lunch we had an Arabic language lesson, so it was funny trying to make sounds that we don't have in English...one sound that is made is almost like trying to clear your throat!
So here's the Arabic language lesson for the day:
Marhaba: Hello
Sabah el khair: Good morning. This is a fun one because you pronounce it as Sabah elk hair (the "k" pronounced softly)
Assalam 'alaikoom: Greetings, peace be with you. 'alaikoom is pronounced wah-lake-um
Welcome: Ahlan wa-sahlan
Shukran: Thank you
Tomorrow we will have our last briefing and then we will leave for the George H.W. Bush International Airport at 11:30 am. Our flight leaves at 4:10 for Frankfurt, Germany, but because of the holiday crush we're going to be there early. We will arrive there at 9:50 am Thursday, then fly to Bahrain. From Bahrain we will take a 25 km causeway from the island country of Bahrain to Dhahran.
This trip is definitely going to be eye- and mind-opening. I hope that I will learn about the culture and to find the commonalities between Americans and Saudis. I want to find out for myself about the people, and I hope that I find that not everyone is evil, and for the most part, people are good at heart. I want to return from this trip forming my own opinions and hopefully it counteracts what we hear in the press. I hope that I can interview some students and find that they want to know about American students as much as my students want to know about them.
I won't be able to update tomorrow as we are flying, but I will try to get on Thursday night or early Friday.
Alright, I'm going now. I miss you, my lovely wife, family, friends, and students. Have a wonderful thanksgiving! Ma'assalama!
Last night I met the other social studies teachers and library media specialists whom I am traveling with. There are 25 of us altogether, and everyone seems to be very nice and extremely motivated and enthusiastic about teaching and the trip! I currently have a roommate while we are in Houston, and he hails from Mean-E-So-Ta. Once we are overseas we will have our own rooms.
We were told last night that the Institute of International Education and Aramco Services Company received approximately 200 applications for this trip, so I am pleased to know that I was selected. Apparently, and I could be wrong, that the entire bill for the trip - including air travel, lodging, food, visa fees and other sundry items - totals in the neighborhood of $25,000! I'm glad I'm not footing the bill!
Today after waking up and getting dressed our group was bussed to Aramco Services Company for breakfast and briefing. I was very impressed with our speakers, as they were alumni of the program. They had lots of great tips and suggestions for us...speaking of which, if you have any questions that you would like asked while I am in Saudi Arabia, email me at southernyankee1978@gmail.com So, family, friends and students, send me your questions!
We had lunch at ASC in their executive lunch room, and one of the executives of the company sat at our table and spoke with us and answered our questions. For lunch we had a marinated chicken breast, garlic mashed potatoes, steamed veg-e-tables, and for dessert a super-rich chocolate cake that I couldn't finish.
After lunch we had an Arabic language lesson, so it was funny trying to make sounds that we don't have in English...one sound that is made is almost like trying to clear your throat!
So here's the Arabic language lesson for the day:
Marhaba: Hello
Sabah el khair: Good morning. This is a fun one because you pronounce it as Sabah elk hair (the "k" pronounced softly)
Assalam 'alaikoom: Greetings, peace be with you. 'alaikoom is pronounced wah-lake-um
Welcome: Ahlan wa-sahlan
Shukran: Thank you
Tomorrow we will have our last briefing and then we will leave for the George H.W. Bush International Airport at 11:30 am. Our flight leaves at 4:10 for Frankfurt, Germany, but because of the holiday crush we're going to be there early. We will arrive there at 9:50 am Thursday, then fly to Bahrain. From Bahrain we will take a 25 km causeway from the island country of Bahrain to Dhahran.
This trip is definitely going to be eye- and mind-opening. I hope that I will learn about the culture and to find the commonalities between Americans and Saudis. I want to find out for myself about the people, and I hope that I find that not everyone is evil, and for the most part, people are good at heart. I want to return from this trip forming my own opinions and hopefully it counteracts what we hear in the press. I hope that I can interview some students and find that they want to know about American students as much as my students want to know about them.
I won't be able to update tomorrow as we are flying, but I will try to get on Thursday night or early Friday.
Alright, I'm going now. I miss you, my lovely wife, family, friends, and students. Have a wonderful thanksgiving! Ma'assalama!
19 November 2007
I'm leavin' on a jet plane...
11/19: So for those of you not hip and in tune to the wonderful world of me, I am participating in an educational trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Today, I left home, my lovely wife, and affectionate dog, for two weeks. As I'm writing this I am stretched out a double bed in the swanky 5-Star hotel, InterContinental, in Houston, Texas. (I'll let you know later if everything truly is bigger in Texas) I, with 24 other educators from all around the States, will be here until Wednesday. While we are here we will be briefed about the customs and language before we fly out Wednesday evening. It looks like we are flying to Frankfurt, Germany and then Bahrain. The flight from Houston to Frankfurt is a 9 hour flight, and then the flight from Frankfurt to Bahrain lasts about 7 hours. I wonder if the flight to Bahrain is longer because of "the war" in Iraq. I will try to update the blog as often as I can...keep my group in your prayers while we travel!
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