Saudi Arabia 2006

2006-11-26T14:55:00.000-08:00

My friend Christine sends this fitting benediction to our experience together

Thanks and praise we offer you, our God:
For shining a light into the darkness of our world, illuminating the hidden spaces with beams of hope and promise;
For shouting a word into the wilderness of our lives, filling the silent places with words of expectation and joy,
For coming to us and visiting us this day and every day with your presence, forgiving and renewing us to be your people.
For light instead of darkness,
For silence instead of fury,
For peace instead of strife,
For truth instead of illusion,
For presence instead of nothingness,
Receive our joyous thanks and praise!

2006-11-26T13:16:00.000-08:00

Well folks, I'm thinking this is my final post. We fly from Riyahd to Dammam tomorrow and then off to Amsterdam. After a six hour layover I head to Sea-Tac and then on to PDX in Portland before truckin' back to ol' Newport, OR. I hope you've learned a little about Saudi Arabia, it's people and culture. My understanding of the Kingdom has grown to new levels and my appreciation and love of the common Saudi will remain with me long after I am home. Thanks for joining me virtually and stay in touch. If you want to learn more about Saudi Arabia, oil, and Islam I would love to talk with you more. Or you can do as the first word of the Holy Koran says, "Read".

As I said at the beginning of this BLOG: Three cities, two weeks, and one trip of a lifetime!

Ma'assalama... peace be with you...

2006-11-26T13:10:00.000-08:00

Before this trip to the KSA I must admit that I have never eaten a date. Dates have been absolutely EVERYWHERE we've gone. They are part of the hospitality of Saudi Arabians, and I've got to tell you that I really have acquired a taste for them now! Even though I've seen a million date palms throughout this trip, I hadn't actually seen any growing until today!

2006-11-26T13:08:00.000-08:00

Useful Phrases in Arabic now that the trip is almost over...

Good morning Sabah el khair
(reply) Sabah el noor

Good evening Masa el khair
(reply) Masa el noor

Hello Marhaba

Greetings (formal) Assalaam’alaikoom
(formal reply) ‘alaikoom Assalam

Welcome Ahlan wa-sahlan

Goodbye Ma’assalama

How are you? Kaifa halak

Fine Ana Be-khair

Yes Na’am

No La
Please Min Fadhlak

Thank you Shukran
(reply) Affwan
God willing In’sh'allah

What is your name? Ma Ismuk?

My name is Ismi

Excuse me Lo Samaht

I am sorry Ana Asif

I don’t know La Adri

2006-11-26T12:51:00.001-08:00

Our final dinner was with His Royal Majesty Turki Ibn Sultan Ibn 'Abdual Aziz' Assistant Minister of Culture and Information... kinda fun being next to royalty!

2006-11-26T12:51:00.000-08:00

Our final dinner was with His Royal Majesty Turki Ibn Sultan Ibn 'Abdual Aziz' Assistant Minister of Culture and Information... kinda fun being next to royalty!

2006-11-26T12:45:00.000-08:00

2006-11-26T12:40:00.000-08:00

Tonight we toured the compound that houses many embassies from around the world. We toured an area that seemed very peaceful and "Arabian". Dick Cheney was right here yesterday discussing Iraq with HRH King Abdullah! Condi Rice was here just hours before us... too bad I wasn't invited to join the discussion as I would've given them both an earful...

2006-11-26T12:13:00.000-08:00

An e-mail from my friend Mohamed:

Doug, Pat and Christine

I am amazed at the catalystic reaction that this trip has caused. Not only on your part guys, but on mine as well. I am honored to have crossed paths with all of you. The highlight of my day today (although it's still early morning here) is the phrase that Pat posted "faith in people". From my perspective, I started my life with tons of "faith in people". Since 9/11 (the events themselves) and the changes that followed, that supply has dwindeled down. It was you guys, and your willingness to have "faith in people" that helped restore part of my original supplies.

Thank you
Mohamed

2006-11-26T03:12:00.000-08:00

A question was asked about workers and pay. Most of the menial jobs are done by ex-patriots living in the KSA from other Muslim countries. They don't get equal pay for equal work, but they do get more than the prevailing wage in their home countries. They are men and women who leave their families behind and who have to continue to renew their work visas. Many send money home to help their families have a better life.
Unemployment is seen when people come to the KSA for a pilgrimage and then stay beyond the haij time. They live "underground" in and around Jeddah mostly and have made an industry of begging, because Muslims have an obligation to give alms to the poor. People from Asia and Africa usually come by boat and if caught are shipped back to their homelands.
Overall, the ones I've talked to are happy here, don't experience discrimination, but still have a hard life and look forward to rejoining their families "inshalla" (God willing).

2006-11-26T02:58:00.000-08:00

Here's a few more random shots... henna hands, Americans lining up at the ATM, drive through coffee, rows of dates in a small store, old school and new school potties side by side, and Cuban cigars, as well as cinnamon bark (back) frankencense wood for incense(left) and myrrh resin (right).

2006-11-26T02:42:00.000-08:00

We toured Najd School, another private school that costs about $6000 a year. It is K-12 taught in Arabic, but with a strong English language acquisition component. As you can see, kids are kids the world over! we asked some tough questions regarding education in the KSA, how religion (Islam) was being taught post 9/11, and how kids with special needs were being addressed. Note the paper calling for a boycott of Danish goods after they published the disparaging cartoon of the prophet Mohammed. I passed out salt water taffy from Newport for the younger ones and just about caused a feeding frenzy! I also showed the older boys this BLOG and encouraged them to add their perspectives in the comments if they would like!

2006-11-26T02:40:00.000-08:00

2006-11-26T02:29:00.000-08:00

Saturday night we took the one hour flight from the west coast city of Jeddah to Riyahd the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia! It is rainy and mild here, so I am reminded of home on the Oregon coast. Alot more traffic, honking horns, and uniformed police with sub-machine guns. A rapidly growing city, but orderly in most respects. The two distinctive buildings are the Al Faisaliah Hotel (pyramid shaped with globe restaurant where we are staying) and the Four Seasons Hotel that looks like a big bottle opener!

2006-11-26T02:25:00.000-08:00

2006-11-26T02:15:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more shots in and around the Jeddah souk!

2006-11-26T01:29:00.000-08:00

My apologies to you that are following the BLOG for the double posts, shots that seem out of order, occasional duplicate pictures. Some are my error (duplicate pics)but sometimes it says "error" so I post a second time (Mecca shots)and suddenly the first post shows up! I can't really go back and "clean it up" because of limitations with this free service, so I appreciate your understanding.

2006-11-25T21:16:00.000-08:00

We had a chance to shop in the Jeddah souk (Bazaar)for cashmire scarfs, brass work, gold, clothing... here are the faces of some that I bought from!

2006-11-25T21:03:00.000-08:00

Jeddah is the gateway to the holy city of Mecca (Mekkah) where the prophet Mohammed destroyed idol worship and taught that there was but one God. The Grand Mosque was built up around the Kabaa which was an alter built by the prophet Abraham (Ibrihim) and his son Ishmel. It is pretty humbling that more than a billion people turn toward this city to pray to Allah five times a day and that I was as close to it as an infidel can get. In January more than 2 million people will perform a pilgrimage (Haij) to this place as it is one of the five pillars of Islam that every Muslim is to perform!

2006-11-25T20:31:00.000-08:00

While in Jeddah we came the closest to the two holy cities of Medina, where the prophet Mohammed is buried, and Mecca (or Makkah) where the Grand Mosque is located. To think that more than a billion people turn towards this city and pray five times daily really makes you think about dedication to a religion. Inside the Grand Mosque is the Kabaa where once Abraham built an alter with his son Ishmel. Mohammed later destroyed all the idols that people were worshiping and declared that there is one God. To be a pilgrim to Mecca is one of the five pillars of Islam, and this year the Haij is in January. More than 2 milllion people will be coming together for three days to worship...

2006-11-25T15:19:00.000-08:00

It's 2:30am and I am dead tired, but I am in a hotel that has fast Interntet connectivity so I am posting pictures like crazy. I'm just about to shut down for the night and up pops this e-mail that I just had to post because it captures what this trip is all about. Thanks Pat, and I hope your boss doesn't "bust you" for surfing during work!

Okay, so I see this link posted by Christine (who I don't even know), which was posted on cyberscribes. I decide to take a quick look at the calligraphy/art on this blog by some guy named Doug (who I don't know) from his travels in Saudi (which I will probably never see), and I click on the link. Doug, you take some awesome photographs. The architecture is beautiful, the Red Sea captivating, and obviously the people very hospitable. I recognize artistic patterns similar to those in a clip art book I've had for years. But these patterns are in windows and in concrete. Wow! And even though I tried to skim through the pictures pretty fast (because I was supposed to be working), I also read some of the comments, especially the one from Mohamed. And all of a sudden, it seems like the world is a little smaller, and I have a little more faith in people and the ability to get along. Something magical is happening here, don't you think?

Safe travels as your trip winds down!
Pat in Kentucky
(and thanks, Christine!)

2006-11-25T14:48:00.000-08:00

Friday night we went to a dinner and had an excellent dialog with the editor in chief of The Arab News newspaper and had an excellent dialog about how the media distorts the Arabs. We asked him tough questions and he answered them with honesty and intelligence. Afterward we had a little dinner with many leaders of Jeddah... wow...

2006-11-25T14:37:00.000-08:00

2006-11-25T14:23:00.000-08:00

2006-11-25T14:09:00.000-08:00

We visited the home of Dr. Sami Angawi in downtown Jeddah. He is doing projects internationally, but focusing on Mecca's historic buildings. He has built an amazing home that these photos do not do justice. His wife is an interior designer and his son just graduated from the states and does product design. Quite a family that think progressively, but are devoutly Muslim and he incorporates his beliefs into his designs.

2006-11-25T13:39:00.000-08:00

2006-11-25T13:23:00.000-08:00

My new e-friend wrote the following...

Doug,
This is Mohamed (from the US to make it a little more specific). I was deeply touched by your post. It made me miss home (I haven't been there in about 2 years). As I read your eloquent description, I could almost feel the warm humid breeze of Jeddah against my face. I could see the faces of family and friends. But most of all, I felt that -at least from the perspective of one more person- Saudis are no more stripped of their humanity.

Doug, thank you my friend...for understanding.

Mohamed, these shots of the Red Sea are for you!

2006-11-25T13:19:00.000-08:00

2006-11-25T13:14:00.000-08:00

Here come some more shots that I tried to upload last night but due to shabby connectivity it didn't happen.... the last shot is of a Turkish "squatty potty", fortunately I really haven't had to use one...

2006-11-24T03:25:00.000-08:00

More random shots. The book is of course the Holy Koran, placed in every hotel room by the equivalent to the Gideons of the Muslim world. The arrow pointing towards Mecca can be found in every hotel room as well!

2006-11-24T01:52:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving evening (and well into the night...) we were treated to a huge outdoor "bar-b-que". Yes, I did eat camel!! Afterward we retired to couches on rugs and listened to the Hejazi folkloric group who played Saudi music and taught us some dance steps. It was a lot of fun and laughter.

You know how things get after midnight.. so I had to try the sheesha (fruit soaked tobacco) out of the "hubbly bubbly" pipe... it would have been disrespectful not to! Don't worry though, because just like Bill Clinton, "I didn't inhale

2006-11-24T01:32:00.000-08:00

2006-11-23T23:15:00.000-08:00

This is the International Medical Center in Jeddah. State of the art private hospital with very cool architectural design. Their mission is to treat the mind, body, and soul. Since all are Muslim, there is no problem in intergrating the spiritial aspect of healing in their practice.

2006-11-23T22:58:00.000-08:00

2006-11-23T22:45:00.000-08:00

2006-11-23T21:54:00.000-08:00

2006-11-23T21:26:00.000-08:00

2006-11-23T20:42:00.000-08:00

OK, here's a little ditty on Arab art and custom. The Arab people descended from the Bedouin nomads of the desert. As a result, their art forms needed to be portable and practical. Jewelry, head dresses, and embroidery were examples. The coffee pot was always available because hospitality in the desert was very important to a family's honor. The coffee itself was brewed with the spice cardamom. A guest would always accept at least three small cups and eat some dates. They would sit in the tent cross-legged because showing the bottom of your feet to another was considered rude.
After the prophet Mohammed, blessed be his name (as they in the Muslim world) said that Allah did not want images made (it think because they promoted idol worship), the Arabs turned their calligraphy into an art form. The black cloth in a frame with gold embroidery is actually a piece that hung on the Kabaa in Mecca! They change it each year, and them being a new one with verses from the holy Koran.
As time has gone on, sculptures and paintings are being made, but care not to turn the images into idols is important. You'll see that mosaics are another form of art that the Arab world has perfected

2006-11-23T08:55:00.000-08:00

Last night we had the honor and privelage to hear from a famous Saudi TV broadcaster Huessein Shobokshi. He had just done an exclusive interview with Bill Gates on his daily news show and here I was sitting directly across from him at dinner and dialoging with him about all aspects of world affairs! Not too shabby! He spoke about the need for Americans and Arabs to critically examine issues about each other and not follow the stereotypes that are presented in the media. He gave many examples of how both sides go for the hype rather than attempting to really solve important issues. he is the gentleman on the right in the picture of the three Saudis laughing together. I even gave him a bag of salt water taffy from Aunt Belinda's and we happily munched candy together! And of course, the sheesha pipes were close by (but we didn't imbibe in the fruit soaked tobacco)although many Saudi men and women fire up a pipe full after dinner.

2006-11-23T08:44:00.000-08:00

Doug & Marwan chillin' on the Red Sea

2006-11-23T08:23:00.000-08:00

The Red Sea on the west side of the Saudi Arabian peninsula!

2006-11-23T07:53:00.000-08:00

2006-11-23T05:53:00.000-08:00

2006-11-23T05:40:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more shots of the city of Jeddah on the Red Sea. This ancient seaport predates Mohammed and the rise of the Muslim religion. As a matter of fact, Islamic tradition has it that this is the city where Eve was buried!

2006-11-23T05:30:00.000-08:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all my family and friends stateside! I may not be eating turkey and pumpkin pie, watching football and taking a triptifan induced nap on the couch, but there is no place that I would rather be today then where I am (just wish that my family could be with me!). I am thankful for all the blessings that God is bestowing on each of us. Since Jeddah is a seaport city, here is a sample of my Thanksgiving fare!

2006-11-22T20:44:00.000-08:00

Jeddah is a well planned city with wide road, green spaces, building rapidly being built, crazy drivers, and people doing business other than oil. The smoke stacks are from the desalinization plant.

2006-11-22T20:38:00.000-08:00

By the way, these women didn't mind me taking their pictures. They are really fine with wearing the abyeas because that is their culture here. Progressive and modernization changes don't have to be a change to become "western". They want it both: hold onto the past while moving into the future... makes sense to me!

2006-11-22T20:20:00.000-08:00

"Jeddah is Different" is the theme of this city. People wanted us to know that this is a cosmopoltian city because it is the "gateway to Mecca" for world travelers going on the Haij. The Haij is the pilgramage to Mecca that every Muslim wants to fulfill before they die because it is one of the five pillars of Islam. Because of the international influence that pilgrams (and in the past, traders) bring, Jeddah is a very progressive city.
We were so very impressed when we went to the College of Business Administration and listened to some dynamic and well educated young women who will be the pioneers of women joing the workforce here in Saudi. We also met the first two women that have been elected to Jeddah's Chamber of Commerce. They allvwanted us to know that there is a difference between what Islam requires of women and the Saudi traditions that have grown up over the years. They want change, but they are working to bring it about when people are ready for the change (with undertones that they are ready now... it felt like I was back in the 70's Women's Movement!). I truely think I was talking with the pioneers of Saudi Arabia's future.

2006-11-21T20:22:00.000-08:00

This is a shout out to Chris and Jo! Send me your e-addy as I have some stuff to tell you

2006-11-21T20:18:00.000-08:00

2006-11-21T20:13:00.000-08:00

2006-11-21T20:06:00.000-08:00

Here are some random pictures!

2006-11-21T19:21:00.001-08:00

My new friend Mohammed who is a Saudi living in the USA asks,
I am anxious to know what your impression is of the people, the culture, and the country in general. I know it's a huge cultural leap, but I want to hear about it from the perspective of an American whose first trip outside the states was to KSA. Are you still thinking about your left-handedness? :)

I am pleased to know that you are listening to the point of views over there. Although I am sure not all people share the exact same point of view, you can still develop a general understanding of what the public sentiment is regarding different political issues.

When I lived in KSA, there was a noticeable difference in the quality of driving between the eastern province and the western province, allowing me to arrive at the conclusion that driving skills in KSA deteriorate as you travel west.

Have fun in Jeddah, and hope to hear from you soon.

To answer in generalities, I am impressed with the people I meet. Here's some impressions:
As a westerner, when I see the Saudi's in their thobes and gutras (white robes and checkered head pieces, they seem very reserved with a stern countenance, but the second you say "hi" or "marhaba" they just open up and smile broadly and then begin to talk. The culture promotes a quiet respect that Americans might mistake for aloofness. They are not aloof though. The women don't seem to mind wearing the abyeas and veils because it stems from a long tradition of modesty and the Saudi interpretation of the Koran. You cannot understand the people unless you understand the religion of Islam because it is central to everyone's lives. They do not seem to resent the obligations that the five pillars of Islam imposes on their lives, but embrace them openly and completely. An example was at the airport. We heard the beautiful call to prayer over the loudspeaker as I happened to be in the restroom. Within minutes there were many men coming in to wash their face, hands and feet in ablution before going out and praying together in a screened off area. There is definitely a bond when people pray together. The Filipinos, Napales, Bangladesh, Saudies, Sudanese, and Indians praying side by side all equal under Allah. It is pretty amazing. And it is not like you "have to" do these things at a certain time... you do it when you can, but you do it!
The above groups are expatriate and do the menial jobs, but are treated with dignity (however there is a "class system" feeling. They may not be paid equal, but they are paid more than they were getting in their homelands and many stay long enough to make a better life for their families back home.
Family is key. Nuclear and extended. These people WANT to be with their in-laws, cousins, uncles, and grand parents. That is also why you hear about feuds and revenge. A man's honor and family's honor is at stake.
I have yet to see a "homeless" person. No alcohol in counry means a lot less social problems. Americans are kidding themselves that alcohol is different than drugs... it drains lives and societies. These people look out for each other. I saw an elderly gentleman stopped at a light. He was obviously lost and looking for directions. He got out of his car at a red light and asked the guy behind him (I could tell by the pointing) The light turns green and not a car behind those two honked even though we were on a busy downtown street... think that would happen in the USA? Me either! It is more important to let that stuff slide than to be "on time" to your next spot. Saudi's think of time much like Latin Americans. It is cyclical rather than linear. If something doesn't get done right now, no problem! It will get done eventually "in shalla" (God willing). Man, to be able to have societal permission to "live in the moment" and stop to smell the roses or help out a friend... that seems like a pretty good trade off to being late for the next event.
The Kingdom is a "closed" country and it makes us wonder why, but the message I am getting is that they are working on opening it, but they don't want the corruption of values that they are seeing in other neighborlike Bahrain and Dubai.
They have a long way to go (just like any society) but they are not fanatical terrorists. Islam really does teach peace and charity and it is only the fringe that are into jihad against the west. I'm not ready to convert by any means because their religion is based on "works" with Allah having a scale in the end to see if your good outweighs your bad. In that way, Christianity and Islam will never meet. Christians believe that Jesus is God incarnate that took our sin penalty, while Muslims see him as a great prophet like Mohammed and Abraham. They cannot fathom God as a trinity or as becoming man to save the world.
So, you cannot talk about Saudi's without talking religion. That aside though, I think we Americans and the Saudis have much in common... just like we have commonality with all people! They laugh, cry, want a better life for their children, live a healthy life and love their country... and so do we.
And that's what I want to say to my friend Mohammed.

2006-11-21T15:40:00.000-08:00

The reason that I am flooding you with photos is that we have now flown to Jeddah, so now I've gone "westside". I'm in a little place call the Jeddah Hilton and my room is over looking the Red Sea. It's 2:45am so right now it looks like the Black Sea, but I'll post sme more pictures when the sun comes up.

2006-11-21T15:24:00.000-08:00

Here's some shots of Dhahran in the Eastern Province. You are looking out over the Persain Gulf (called the Arabian Gulf here in the kingdom)towards the country of Bahrain which is 25 kilometers away over the King Fahad Causeway. They have every fast food you want here (but I've eaten none of it!!)
The weather actually rained some the last two days so it has not been hot here at all... "perfect" seems to be the best way to describe it (I hear you all have had a little wind and rain while I've been gone... snicker snicker)

2006-11-21T15:16:00.000-08:00

You may have seen a fetal pig in biology, but have you ever seen a fetal camel?
Here's a shot of my new "homies". Mohammed ("You can call me Mo") and Faisal. The map shows "The Occupied Land" as they do not recoginize the country of Israel in the Saudi Arabian Kingdom!

2006-11-21T15:10:00.000-08:00

Here's a private school for Saudi students. Boys on one side of the building and girls on the other!

2006-11-21T15:04:00.000-08:00

Let's talk about food! I am not going hungry....

2006-11-20T12:57:00.000-08:00

After the castle, we visited a museum of Archeology and Ethnology, saw a date farm, and toured the fourth largest dairy in the Saudi Arabian Kingdom. Finally we went to the camel market where people were bidding on camels for purchase as racing camels and pack camels. Before I bought one, I thought it would be a good idea to take a test drive!

2006-11-20T11:58:00.000-08:00

Here's a few things we saw along our way to the oasis...

2006-11-20T11:11:00.000-08:00

A few more shots of Ibrahim's Castle

2006-11-20T10:54:00.000-08:00

Today took us an hour south to a very large oasis at Al-Hasa where the Ottoman Turks set up a Ibrahim's Castle to govern the locals. I loved the ancient architecture!

2006-11-20T10:01:00.000-08:00

I gotta tell you folks, this has been a challenge to post for a few reasons. Then Internet in this hotel is incredibly slooowwwww...., I can't see the pictures that I am posting, and time is very very short due to the early morning to late night schedule that we're on. I'm not complaining or giving up though because I can see from the comments that some of you are following along! (Chris and Jo, please tell me your last name and where do I know you from!?! Your comments are so fun!)
Here are the ladies in my group wearing their abyeas. Many women wear full face veils, but ours don't because it is not required. Here's a shot of the "salad" we've had at most meals with humus on the right and eggplant goo on the left. More to come!

2006-11-19T11:17:00.000-08:00

We went shopping in the ARAMCO Commissary today. Note the differences between what can be purchased in Saudi Arabia versus the USA. One thing's for certain though no matter what country you travel to... you can always get Fresh Doug!

2006-11-18T20:09:00.001-08:00

2006-11-18T20:09:00.000-08:00

2006-11-18T19:33:00.000-08:00

Connectivity is pretty sketchy over here and I lost my post from yesterday, but Saturday we went to the ARAMCO compound and visited the main offices after going through some high level securuty checkpoints. I even went into the master control room where they control the flow and transportation of 25% of the world's oil resources. I was tempted to start pushing buttons to see if I could crash the computer and cause a world wide oil crisis... but I didn't want to have to say, "oops, my bad". We learned about the "upstream" technology to bring the oil out of the ground as well as the "downstream" technologies of storage, refinement, distribution, and transportation. We ate two fancy meals, lunch and dinner, with top officials and their families. It was a great opportunity to ask lots of questions. Some dialog were pretty pointed regarding how Saudi Arabia "really is" and I felt we were given honest and open answers of the world perspective from a Saudi point of view.
We also visited an OMSI type interactive museum on all aspects of the process and prodects that hydrocarbons produces. Saudi Arabia actually extracts five different grades of crude oil from heavy to extra light. Did you know that wherever oil is, there is natural gas and water that are pumped out as bi-products too? Fascinating how they use technology, from diamond drill bits to PC clusters of computers. We also visited the ARAMCO training schools. One for college bound students, one for voc-tech, and one for girls only. They will sponsor kids right out of high school throughout the kid's education in return for a commitment to ARAMCO employment for at least five years. Many of these kids work for the company throughout their lives because ARAMCO is Saudi Oil (the only game in town) and they are seen as good employers.

2006-11-18T12:52:00.000-08:00

2006-11-17T17:44:00.000-08:00

Today, (which was really yesterday because we have flown through so many time zones) was spent flying from Houston across the United States, up over Newfoundland then across the Atlantic. We flew over Ireland and Scotland then finally landed in Amsterdam, The Netherlands (Holland). We flew on a Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) 747 and the service was astounding... but it is still hard on a person to be in the air for nine hours. This is the first time in Europe for me, so I was pretty psyched. The last leg from Amsterdam to Dhahran was on a KLM 767 like the one pictured here. We flew across Europe then over Turkey and Iraq. I can honestly say I was within 30,000 feet of Bagdad (because we flew right over it)! Over the Persian Gulf I could see flames of the off-shore oil wells burning off the natural gas before landing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the Dammam International Airport just south of Dhahran. We were breezed through customs after being greeted by our Saudi ARAMCO host Wael Al-Mulla and got to our Holiday Inn hotel at midnight. I am posting this at 4:45am because my body is still on Houston time zone. The connection is extremely slow so I hope this posts OK. Wow, I crossed the Prime Meridian and am in the Eastern Hemisphere in a "closed" country... the adventure continues!

2006-11-15T19:58:00.000-08:00

ARAMCO Headquarters, Houston, Texas

2006-11-15T05:23:00.000-08:00

As you can see from the Lone Star State flag, I have arrived in Houston! Warm winds and a beautiful city! We spend today at ARAMCO headquarters meeting the people who are sponsoring our trip. We have a great group of people to travel with and a nice orientation dinner last night. If you look on a map you can see that we're traveling first to Dharahn on the Persian Gulf side then over to Jeddah on the Red Sea and finally to Riyahd!

2006-11-14T05:37:00.000-08:00

Leaving the Pacific coast of Oregon today on the first leg of the adventure. Next stop Houston, Texas for a two day orientation to Saudi Arabia. I'll be joining 24 other media specialists and social studies teachers from across the USA, and together we'll be learning the "do's" and "don't's" of Saudi culture.

2006-11-12T22:31:00.000-08:00

I just learned not to underestimate the power of the press in the
21st Century! I submitted a press release to my local weekly
newspaper and was excited to see that it was printed today's
Community section. Wasn't I surprised when that very afternoon I received an e-mail
from a Saudi gentleman living in Chicago who had read my article
after surfing Yahoo.com News! Sure enough, there was a hot
link "Lincoln County teacher Doug Hoffman takes trip to Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia" that brought him to my local paper's on-line edition

Local news can become international with the power of the Web. With communication comes the opportunity for increased understanding. Just read the e-mail he's given me permission to post below:

Dear Sir,
In my daily browsing of the yahoo news related to my country, I
was thrilled to learn of the "Educators to Saudi Arabia" program
organized by Aramco, in which you are participating. I, obviously,
am from Saudi Arabia and am currently a Ph.D. student in Chicago
hoping to get my degree in Computer Science. My B.Sc. degree was
from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in
Dhahran (probably one of your stops there...it's separated from
Aramco by a fence).
The reason for my enthusiasm is that considering that I've been in
the US for almost 1/3 of my life, I have seen the image of my
country suffer immense misrepresentation either ignorantly or
intentionally in the US media since the tragic events on 9/11. It
was about time that someone took action to present the true image to
the world. I will not try to claim that we are not different in many
ways, or even try to claim that Saudi Arabia does not have many
problems to address. However, the stereotype that is popular of
Saudis in the US today is awfully degrading, and awfully wrong. I
hope your trip to my home country will help you understand what I
mean.
I would like to offer my "email" assistance in helping you
understand any questions that you may have about the Saudi society
during or after your trip.

Have a safe trip, and enjoy your visit to my beloved country. M.T.

2006-11-09T22:22:00.000-08:00

Many Oregonians can recognize this animal no "question" about it! (not too many have seen them climbing trees though!) How many Saudis have ever seen a banana slug? Are there even slugs on the entire Arabian Peninsula?

I can hardly wait to compare the flora and fauna to what I am used to on the Oregon coast. How many Oregonians could identify an Arabian Oryx? Take a minute and look one up.

2006-11-08T22:49:00.000-08:00

I'm finding out that having a BLOG is like gardening... You've got to tend it regularly! I'm motivated because it is less than a week until we fly to Houston for our two day orientation, and then it is off to Saudi Arabia via Amsterdam, The Netherlands! This will be my first time to be in a European country (even if it is just the airport), and my first time past the Prime Meridian and into the Eastern Hemisphere!
Because this is an experience designed to promote understanding I sent out a press release to local and regional media with some interesting results. When I return I am slated to do a half hour talk show on a local radio station, and I've been asked to submit an article to the state-wide teacher's association magazine. One newspaper is going to keep this BLOG link on their on-line edition so that readers can follow the trip. Another paper published my article locally, but also published on-line where it was picked up by Yahoo News.
http://www.newportnewstimes.com/articles/2006/11/08/community/community11.txt
I received an e-mail from a Saudi gentleman who hopes that I gain a greater understanding of his country which has been the subject of derogatory stereotypes since 9/11 in the American media. I pledge to travel with an open-mind and the intention to promote peace.

2006-10-07T20:14:00.000-07:00

Saudi Arabia

Basics

Formal Name:
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Nationality: Saudi
Population: 23,513,330
*includes 5,360,526 non-nationals
Ethnic groups:
Arab 90%
Afro-Asian 10%
Religion:
Muslim 100%
Language:
Arabic

2006-10-05T14:16:00.000-07:00

Pre-Reading/Pre-Surfing

Anytime you go on a trip, it is fun to "read up" on where you're going! The ARAMCO people sent us packets to read on "travel tips", "phrases", and related information. They also gave us the book, The History of Saudi Arabia by James Wynbrandt (2004) which has been a great overview. In addition, this fall I have read:
The Sword of the Prophet (1979) by Robert Goldston gave an in-depth history of the foundation and spread of Islam. It examined the contributions of the Arab culture as well as the roots of conflict between Arabs and others.
Inside the Kingdom: My Life in Saudi Arabia (2004) by Carmen Bin Ladin detailed her life before, during, and after being married to Osma's half-brother Islam. The reader gets a sense of what women must face in Saudi society, the modernization of the country, and what it means to carry the Bin Ladin name both before and after 9/11/2001.
House of Bush House of Saud (2004) by Craig Unger closely details the relationship between the ruling Saudis and the Bush dynasty and how it has shaped foreign diplomacy with that country and the region of the middle east.

Secrets of the Kingdom (2005) by Gerald Posner is subtitled "the inside story of the Saudi-US connection. It too goes into the politics, machinations, and personalities of those who shape foreign policy.

The Kite Runner (2003) by Khaled Hosseini was a side trip I took through Afghanistan learning about muslim life under the king, the soviets, the Taliban, and after. A powerful piece of fiction that touched on the conflict between Sh'ite and Sunni muslims, rich and poor, as well as ethnicity by focusing on the life of one young man and the people closest to him.

Websites

The following websites contain information on the Middle East and Saudi Arabia. Some are portals with extensive links to other sites. As with all information on the internet, please evaluate these sites critically and determine how to best utilize the information you find on Saudi Arabia.

African and Middle Eastern Division, Library of Congress
http://www.loc.gov/rr/amed/

Al-Balagh Bookstore
http://www.albalagh.net/bookstore/

Al-Jazeera (English language site for the controversial Arabic news channel)
http://english.aljazeera.net/HomePage

Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (“The Middle East” - International Arabic/English paper)
http://www.asharq-e.com/

Arab-American Cultural Institute
http://www.aaci-us.org/

Arab-American National Museum
http://www.theaanm.org/home.asp?area_0=pages/logo&area_1=pages/trans

Arabic K-12 Network
http://www.arabick12.org/index.html

Arabic Literature (Cornell University Middle East and Islamic Studies Collection)
http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/arablit.htm

Arab News (English language paper)
http://www.arabnews.com/

Arab World and Islamic Resources (AWAIR)
http://www.awaironline.org/index.html

BBC News: Saudi Arabia Country Profile
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/country_profiles/791936.stm

Center for Muslim Christian Understanding (Georgetown University)
http://cmcu.georgetown.edu/

The Daily Star (English language paper)
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/

International Constitutional Law Project: Saudi Arabia Index (Institute for Common Law, University of Bern)
http://www.verfassungsgeschichte.ch/

Islam America (sponsored by Dar al Islam)
http://www.islamamerica.org/index.cfm

Library of Congress Internet Resources Page
http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/amed/saudiarabia/saudiarabia.html

Middle East Network Information Center (University of Texas, Austin)
http://menic.utexas.edu/menic/Countries_and_Regions/Saudi_Arabia/

Middle East Information Network
http://www.mideastinfo.com/

Middle East Institute
http://www.mideasti.org/index.html

Middle East Policy Council Saudi Page
http://www.mepc.org/resources_links/Saudi.asp

Ministry of Education for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
http://www.moe.gov.sa/openshare/englishcon/

Official Website for the City of Riyadh
http://www.arriyadh.com/En/index.asp

Project Look Sharp: “Media Construction of the Middle East” Curriculum Page
http://www.ithaca.edu/looksharp/teaching_middleeast.php

Saudi Arabia Information Resource (Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information)
http://www.saudinf.com/

Saudi Arabian Cooking
http://www.inmamaskitchen.com/FOOD_IS_ART/mideast/saudi_cooking.html

Saudi Aramco World
http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200604/

The Saudi Gazette (English language paper)
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/

United Nations Development Programme in Saudi Arabia
http://www.undp.org.sa/

University of Southern California Compendium of Muslim Texts
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/

Article by Rachel Brons the author of Thicker than Oil: America's Uneasy Relationship with Saudi Arabia. It is titled The Kingdom's Clock and it appeared in Foreign Policy Sept./Oct. 2006. http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3558(this link provided by a travel colleague)

2006-09-24T22:29:00.000-07:00

I'm going to Saudi Arabia! Three cities, two weeks, and one lifetime experience...

Timeline:
June 8th 2006 received an e-mail with a link
June 14th 2006 applied to the Aramco Educators to Saudi Arabia Program http://www.iie.org/programs/aramco/
August 15th 2006 Received a "Congratulations!" FedEx
August 17th 2006 Returned Acceptance Forms and surrendered passport for visa to the Kingdom
August 29th 2006 Physical with Doctor's OK to travel to Saudi Arabia
August 30th 2006 Yahoo User Group established for networking among the 25 participants
November 14th 2006 Houston Texas for two day orientation to the Kingdom
November 16th 2006 Arrive in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
November 28th 2006 Return from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia