- Saudi women are typically pear shaped
- I can't take a man, wearing a long white dress, sandals and a tea towel on his head seriously (but Gandhi seemed to pull it off)
- Inshallah should mean "If I can be arsed" not "God Willing"
- Riding a bicycle with no lights on a major road (4 lanes wide) its deemed a safe mode of transport
- So is riding on a moped with no helmet on the aforementioned road
- There are no buses in Riyadh (public transport)
- The muttawa are still a pain in the arse
- True Muslims don't have tattoos (it won't allow them to enter heaven when they die if they have them)
- Eid is a bit like our Christmas...they give money and present, eat nice food and party
- Riyadh is built on a 600m (above sea level) rocky plateau
Thursday 8 August 2013
10 further observations
Final Countdown
I woke really early this morning so thought I'd take the opportunity to get the blog as up to date as possible before I go home. I have decided to continue it for a while also when I get home as I am sure there will be things that happen to me within the first month and maybe beyond that are a consequence of me spending the last five months in Saudi Arabia.
I am not quite sure what I am feeling this morning, in fact I am not sure I am feeling anything at all. I would say I am not really an emotional person, I don't cry a lot, I don't tend to get excited over things or too sad about things. This is not to say that I don't have a heart or don't care but it's just how I am we all show our feelings differently. So this morning I am searching to find what my feelings are about leaving Riyadh and I can't really find any. If you ask me what my head is saying, it is telling me "Come on girl, You are going home, get excited, jump up and down on the bed, play loud music, dance around in your underwear" but all it's saying to me is "Your going home" As I said in my last blog I have been doing a bit of reflecting about my time here in Riyadh and as much it may all look like it has been difficult and not a great experience this is not the case. Yes, there has been many things that have happened that wouldn't happen in England but there are also things that happen in England that would never happen here. The lack of rules within the spa made things difficult as I know that the Spa Manager made them up as she went along and one rule for one was never the same for another and even though this didn't affect me directly, it did affect me when it upset the rest of the girls that worked in the team. Being English made me high up on the list of "don't treat her like shit" I know the country is very different to what I am used to but again, it's just rules and if you are prepared to live by them and just go with the flow, they are easy to get used to (except them closing the shops all the time for prayer...that is a pain in the arse!)and some of the rules they have should be implemented in many other countries.....I am talking mainly about crime, murder etc here. When the fear of being executed in public hangs over you if you commit a serious crime then I guess it makes you think twice about committing one as appose to getting to spend the rest of your life with many home comforts and being looked after by the state..they have definitely got this one right (in my opinion!!!) I have not watched TV or read a newspaper whilst being here, no need as Facebook keeps me up to date on public opinion of what is happening in the world (well, mainly sporting event results and more recently the death of the poor little boy called Daniel...I am not going to go on here about what should happen to the mother and step father but again, in my opinion, I wished they were living in Saudi Arabia and it was Execution Day!!!)
So what has been happening in the spa this week? Lore has left for England. She has a course to attend and then she is heading over to Norway to stay with family before heading back to Saudi Arabia in September. For now, she has taken the job in Al Khobar with a view to returning to Riyadh possibly in January to take a fitness position with a gym called NuYu. We have all started packing and it seemed I had done quite well and was the only one going home with the same amount of bags that I came with, albeit it feeling 10 times heavier than when I arrived. The other girls however, have been a little less conservative on their retail therapy and gift buying. Kedi has paid for a carton (cargo) with a 45kg allowance (450 riyals...just under £80) to be shipped to South Africa as it is cheaper than taking it with her on the plane. Valentina has bought an extra suitcase and will pay around £50 to British Airways. Lore, went home with just the one suitcase but has left 3 boxes, one suitcase a mini oven and numerous other bits and pieces at a friend's house in Riyadh which she will collect when she returns in September. May Ann is not going home to the Philippines but is hoping to take a holiday in Dammam and visit friends.
I have been paid and other than flight deductions I have been given everything that I am owed up until the 7th August. Kedi, Val and May have not been paid from 25th July to 7th August but have been told they will receive this in the September pay run. I was paid up to date as I am the only one that has said I am not coming back. We have all been given our passports back and Dindo has been informed of the times he needs to take everyone to the airport. I am the first one to leave tonight on and Val and Kedi leave tomorrow evening.
I am going to close here for now and as I said earlier, I am going to continue with my blog for a while when I get home.......So for now, I am going to do something out of the ordinary for me......jump up and down on the bed, in my underwear singing "She's coming home. She's coming home.....(thanks for that one Andrea Smith!!) and this time in 24 hours I will be home with Steven, My Girls, My Family, My Babies (cat, rabbit, guinea pig) and My Friends...but, and there is always a but, I will be leaving behind some wonderful friends that I have made but I will be taking away some wonderful memories....so thank you May Ann, Valentina, Kedi, Lore, Mysti and everyone else that I have had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with for making my experience a memorable one and I hope that I get chance to meet you all again...Inshallah
I am not quite sure what I am feeling this morning, in fact I am not sure I am feeling anything at all. I would say I am not really an emotional person, I don't cry a lot, I don't tend to get excited over things or too sad about things. This is not to say that I don't have a heart or don't care but it's just how I am we all show our feelings differently. So this morning I am searching to find what my feelings are about leaving Riyadh and I can't really find any. If you ask me what my head is saying, it is telling me "Come on girl, You are going home, get excited, jump up and down on the bed, play loud music, dance around in your underwear" but all it's saying to me is "Your going home" As I said in my last blog I have been doing a bit of reflecting about my time here in Riyadh and as much it may all look like it has been difficult and not a great experience this is not the case. Yes, there has been many things that have happened that wouldn't happen in England but there are also things that happen in England that would never happen here. The lack of rules within the spa made things difficult as I know that the Spa Manager made them up as she went along and one rule for one was never the same for another and even though this didn't affect me directly, it did affect me when it upset the rest of the girls that worked in the team. Being English made me high up on the list of "don't treat her like shit" I know the country is very different to what I am used to but again, it's just rules and if you are prepared to live by them and just go with the flow, they are easy to get used to (except them closing the shops all the time for prayer...that is a pain in the arse!)and some of the rules they have should be implemented in many other countries.....I am talking mainly about crime, murder etc here. When the fear of being executed in public hangs over you if you commit a serious crime then I guess it makes you think twice about committing one as appose to getting to spend the rest of your life with many home comforts and being looked after by the state..they have definitely got this one right (in my opinion!!!) I have not watched TV or read a newspaper whilst being here, no need as Facebook keeps me up to date on public opinion of what is happening in the world (well, mainly sporting event results and more recently the death of the poor little boy called Daniel...I am not going to go on here about what should happen to the mother and step father but again, in my opinion, I wished they were living in Saudi Arabia and it was Execution Day!!!)
So what has been happening in the spa this week? Lore has left for England. She has a course to attend and then she is heading over to Norway to stay with family before heading back to Saudi Arabia in September. For now, she has taken the job in Al Khobar with a view to returning to Riyadh possibly in January to take a fitness position with a gym called NuYu. We have all started packing and it seemed I had done quite well and was the only one going home with the same amount of bags that I came with, albeit it feeling 10 times heavier than when I arrived. The other girls however, have been a little less conservative on their retail therapy and gift buying. Kedi has paid for a carton (cargo) with a 45kg allowance (450 riyals...just under £80) to be shipped to South Africa as it is cheaper than taking it with her on the plane. Valentina has bought an extra suitcase and will pay around £50 to British Airways. Lore, went home with just the one suitcase but has left 3 boxes, one suitcase a mini oven and numerous other bits and pieces at a friend's house in Riyadh which she will collect when she returns in September. May Ann is not going home to the Philippines but is hoping to take a holiday in Dammam and visit friends.
I have been paid and other than flight deductions I have been given everything that I am owed up until the 7th August. Kedi, Val and May have not been paid from 25th July to 7th August but have been told they will receive this in the September pay run. I was paid up to date as I am the only one that has said I am not coming back. We have all been given our passports back and Dindo has been informed of the times he needs to take everyone to the airport. I am the first one to leave tonight on and Val and Kedi leave tomorrow evening.
I am going to close here for now and as I said earlier, I am going to continue with my blog for a while when I get home.......So for now, I am going to do something out of the ordinary for me......jump up and down on the bed, in my underwear singing "She's coming home. She's coming home.....(thanks for that one Andrea Smith!!) and this time in 24 hours I will be home with Steven, My Girls, My Family, My Babies (cat, rabbit, guinea pig) and My Friends...but, and there is always a but, I will be leaving behind some wonderful friends that I have made but I will be taking away some wonderful memories....so thank you May Ann, Valentina, Kedi, Lore, Mysti and everyone else that I have had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with for making my experience a memorable one and I hope that I get chance to meet you all again...Inshallah
Friday 2 August 2013
All Quiet and Reflection
Things with Hanan have been quiet during Ramadan. She has started the Iqama process for Kedi and Val and other than that we have not seen her (pay day is looming so I am sure there will be some upset in someone's pay packet) she only comes in for a few hours between 12pm and 3pm. The gym is very quiet during the first shift. We usually see the same three ladies and they only usually want to do Pilates, so that means Kedi draws the short straw. I have taught pump a few times but when clients are fasting with no water it's not the best choice.
It is proving quite difficult to get out for groceries....only because I can't be bothered to go during our long break as I have got into a little routine of one hour by the pool and then I spend the rest of the time just catching up with people at home, getting my work at home in place, eating and generally relaxing....I have just felt so tired during Ramadan and as I have said before I am struggling to get out of bed at 11am to get ready for work. We have a small supermarket across the street so anything I need I either go at 1am after work or I wait till Friday evening and go the bigger supermarket.....highlight of the week, a walk around the supermarket and retail therapy!!!!
I've started preparing for my return home...... and with regards to my work schedule at home, I almost feel like I have a new lease of life "A change is as good as a rest" My massage clinic days and times have been sent to my clients. I have sourced venues to start my fitness pilates classes in the community, I have considered and declined requests to teach in the gyms I worked in before, my new bike has arrived and Steven and I are going cycling to the Pyrenees in September (OMG....talk about run before I can walk!) and I have a trip planned with Charlotte, Hannah and my mum six days after I get home. Steven is taking some time off when I get back so we can have some quality time together (it feels like we are starting again).....I feel raring to go. Maybe I should work away for five months every year if it does this to me.
Reflection
You know when you make a decision to do something and even though it seems like the right one? doubts still keep creeping in to make you question the decision you have made? Well today has felt a little like that. Even though everything is falling almost too perfectly into place at home. I still question it so let's weigh it up:
I have a beautiful family, my girls and Steven
I have a lovely home
I have work in place to support me
I have lovely friends
I am free to chose what I do and when I do it (no abaya, even though I actually quite like it)
I have my health
I can run, cycle, jump, skip all outdoors without melting in the heat or being arrested and much much more that will take to long to list......so why am I even questioning my decision?
What I have here:
Sunshine everyday (albeit a little too hot)
Tax free salary (nice)
Shared accommodation (not as bad as you think)
I get to sit by a beautiful pool all to myself on a Friday (this is the bit that I think I'm wanting to keep)
I have lovely friends (I do at home as well)
I only have to worry about waking up, eating and working (I think I'm being a bit selfish here!)
I have to work 48 hours a week over 6 days (too much)
I get one holiday a year, all thirty days have to be taken in August (not ideal!!) as I don't get home for Christmas or anything else that doesn't happen in August for that matter
The more I write the more I know even questioning my decision is wrong. I am just hoping that it doesn't take me too long to settle when I get home and who knows? I may come back to visit the friends I have made (if I can get a sponsor, as you can't enter the country without one). I do feel happy with what I have and I feel privileged to have been able to do something different. No doubt I will want to experience something else that takes me out of my comfort zone.......at least I will have story to tell my grandchildren, when/if I get any.
It is proving quite difficult to get out for groceries....only because I can't be bothered to go during our long break as I have got into a little routine of one hour by the pool and then I spend the rest of the time just catching up with people at home, getting my work at home in place, eating and generally relaxing....I have just felt so tired during Ramadan and as I have said before I am struggling to get out of bed at 11am to get ready for work. We have a small supermarket across the street so anything I need I either go at 1am after work or I wait till Friday evening and go the bigger supermarket.....highlight of the week, a walk around the supermarket and retail therapy!!!!
I've started preparing for my return home...... and with regards to my work schedule at home, I almost feel like I have a new lease of life "A change is as good as a rest" My massage clinic days and times have been sent to my clients. I have sourced venues to start my fitness pilates classes in the community, I have considered and declined requests to teach in the gyms I worked in before, my new bike has arrived and Steven and I are going cycling to the Pyrenees in September (OMG....talk about run before I can walk!) and I have a trip planned with Charlotte, Hannah and my mum six days after I get home. Steven is taking some time off when I get back so we can have some quality time together (it feels like we are starting again).....I feel raring to go. Maybe I should work away for five months every year if it does this to me.
Reflection
You know when you make a decision to do something and even though it seems like the right one? doubts still keep creeping in to make you question the decision you have made? Well today has felt a little like that. Even though everything is falling almost too perfectly into place at home. I still question it so let's weigh it up:
I have a beautiful family, my girls and Steven
I have a lovely home
I have work in place to support me
I have lovely friends
I am free to chose what I do and when I do it (no abaya, even though I actually quite like it)
I have my health
I can run, cycle, jump, skip all outdoors without melting in the heat or being arrested and much much more that will take to long to list......so why am I even questioning my decision?
What I have here:
Sunshine everyday (albeit a little too hot)
Tax free salary (nice)
Shared accommodation (not as bad as you think)
I get to sit by a beautiful pool all to myself on a Friday (this is the bit that I think I'm wanting to keep)
I have lovely friends (I do at home as well)
I only have to worry about waking up, eating and working (I think I'm being a bit selfish here!)
I have to work 48 hours a week over 6 days (too much)
I get one holiday a year, all thirty days have to be taken in August (not ideal!!) as I don't get home for Christmas or anything else that doesn't happen in August for that matter
The more I write the more I know even questioning my decision is wrong. I am just hoping that it doesn't take me too long to settle when I get home and who knows? I may come back to visit the friends I have made (if I can get a sponsor, as you can't enter the country without one). I do feel happy with what I have and I feel privileged to have been able to do something different. No doubt I will want to experience something else that takes me out of my comfort zone.......at least I will have story to tell my grandchildren, when/if I get any.
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