Arabic- Huh???

I am super jealous of people who pick up languages easily. My brain is not wired for it, and I have a very difficult time. Normally I learn a few key words and get by with an elaborate series of hand gestures to get my point across. I took French classes up till junior high school, and basically hated it. Looking back I wish that I had been forced to take it all the way through as maybe my younger brain would have eventually gotten it. Before going to Guatemala last fall I practiced my Spanish- and got to where I could communicate in the most basic way, and trust me that was a challenge. Now that I am in Saudi- I try to speak Arabic, and I think it in Spanish or French. Its the damnedest thing, and super unhelpful. Lucky for me most of my patients speak English to some degree, or have a family member present who does. I'm catching on very very slowly. Inshallah I will learn!!! Maybe some classes are in order.

Man on Man Action

So in Saudi Arabia men and women are not allowed to touch in public. Unrelated men and women are not supposed to be seen talking or in the company of one another. 2 men on the other hand.......is an entirely different story. Cultural norms here are very different, and what would normally be considered homosexual behaviour back home is not so in these parts.

It is not uncommon to see 2 men greet each other by kissing each other's cheeks, and sometimes the forehead. Men here spray each other with cologne, and openly walk hand in hand on the streets, or down the hallway of the hospital. If this were a man and woman it would turn heads- 2 men mafi mushkila (no problemo). Anyways- its amusing to say the least. I laugh all the time thinking what my brother would do if another man tried to hold his hand, or kiss him on the forehead!! Kiss, kiss.......

Bahrain Baby!!!

So after nearly 3 months of being on "lock down" in Saudi Arabia I am officially free to travel. The catch- one must apply for an exit visa and pay to get out of here. So for $50 US dollars and the correct paperwork I had my exit/re-entry visa in hand, and headed to Bahrain. Bahrain is still a middle eastern country, but paradise compared with the restrictions of Saudi Arabia. There are bars, bacon, movie theatres. You don't have to wear an abaya, and you can talk with men who are not your relatives!!! It was easy to forget that we were still in the middle east!! I ate both pork, and bacon. Drank real wine- it was heaven. The malls were amazing- you can actually try clothes on (in Saudi Arabia it is very difficult to actually try things on- mostly you have to buy things, and return them if they don't work).

Oh, and there were colours!!! In Saudi most everything is either black, white, or sand tan. In Bahrain people still dressed in abayas, but many wore western clothing. It was delightful!! It was a cheap and easy weekend away, and anytime I start to feel cooped up or antsy, I know Bahrain will be waiting just a short flight away!! On the travel side of things- I am heading to Budapest next month, and then looking forward to meeting a dear friend in September to travel Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon!!!

Is it all bullshit??

The first week that I was here I met a guy at a party and in speaking about Saudi Arabia he said "this isn't life, this is just an existence." At the time I didn't really get what he meant by it. After being here 10 weeks it sort of got me to thinking.....sometimes being here feels a little like bullshit. Like maybe this isn't real life, that my "real" life is back home. Like whatever I do here has very little relevance on my life back home. It's a very strange feeling- like there are no consequences, and in many ways there are not.

Being here also gives people the chance to reinvent themselves, and time away from the people back home where they can work on themselves; be a better person, exercise, travel, or take on hobbies that their regular lives didn't accommodate for.  The flip side of this is that some people go to the other extreme behaving in ways they never would back home because those they care about will never know.

People are in Saudi Arabia mainly for 1 of 2 reasons. The money or to travel. I guess to some extent we are all here also to escape something back home- whether that is responsibility, normality, strained relationships, debt ect. In the last 10 years I have moved a lot, and its sort of a learned coping mechanism because when things in your life go to shit- it is so much easier to move on then actually deal with things. Break up with a dude: MOVE. Hate your job: MOVE. Hate the weather: MOVE. Coming home after this year will definitely be interesting, as I hope to actually drop some roots- instead of continuing on as a nomad. More later...xoxo

Social Activities

You might be wondering socially what does one do to pass the time in Saudi Arabia?? Before coming here I had heard people say that their social life is more active here than back home. I can now say that I too find this to be true. I could be busy every night of the week if I didn't turn things down for having to work or sleep. There are embassy parties, compound parties/ BBQ's, and dinners for someones birthday or Ma salama (goodbye) party.

Networking is key in this country. No network = no invitations. It's quite a process in terms of getting tickets to anything. Whoever knows the contact person must round up every one's dates of birth, nationality, and passport numbers, and pick-up tickets prior to the event. Some events restrict who can go ie. no Muslims, or no Saudi citizens, while other events are open to anyone. I have only been to the US embassy so far. Apparently being a Canadian does not mean that the Canadian embassy will inform you of any of their events- am still working on a contact for that. Embassy events usually do not allow you to take a phone or camera in for security reasons, and getting in is often similar to North American airport security.

Compounds are a little easier. All that is required is that someone who lives there signs you in. Often this means that your name is given to security, and your ID checked. Often times they take your Igama or passport, and give it back to you when you leave. Other compounds have minimal security- as long as you say the correct name you're in, no ID checked. Still other compounds require you to have a sponsor who must be physically present to sign you on and off. Compound parties are a great time, and a great way to network into other events. Typically they end up being the most random group of people you will ever see in one place; all ages, all nationalities, all different motives!

Saudi Arabia has very diverse food options. I am not a picky eater, and am pretty open to trying anything. I have not really had a bad meal here. I recently tried Lebanese, and Turkish food which are pretty similar. Found an amazingly cheap Indian restaurant the other day called the Al Malaz. Walking in you're pretty sure you're going to get food poisoning, but the food is fabulous, and sooooo cheap!! The decor kinda feels like you're in an Indian truck stop/ cafeteria, but don't let it fool you- its my new favourite place!!! Eating out here for the most part is pretty reasonable- since alcohol isn't on the menu its way cheaper than eating out back home!!

On a weather note: I received an email at work warning that the temperature this week is expected to reach 59C. Is this even possible?? Will I melt?? Soon to find out.......