Quad-Biking Outside Riyadh - Yee-Haw!

This morning before the break of dawn we drug the kids out of bed and threw them on a bus heading for the Red Sands near Al Musahmiyah. Some new South African friends had invited us to join them for quad-biking on the dunes. What a blast! Check out some of our photos. Ellen proved to be a real speed demon. Elijah tried out his own bike but preferred to sit with his dad. Jeff managed to stay upright. Thank you, God! Even Benjamin and I gave it a go!

The color of the sand reminds me of the Great Sand Dunes of Colorado.

Other shots from the journey. What a beautiful drive through the Tuwaiq Escarpment! As you drive out of Riyadh the land appears flat as far as the eye can see. Suddenly, the land drops away on either side as you cross through the Escarpment. Quite Stunning!

The Dirah Souq

Today I took the kids to the Dirah Souq, a market where scarves, carpets, jewelry, and trinkets are sold. Most of the goods are imported from India, Pakistan, Afganistan, Central Asia, etc. However, local  artifcats can be found. In fact, I came home with a couple of beautifully embroidered clothes, stitched together locally (or so the vender told me). It was fun to walk around and see what was on display! I'm sorry I haven't got brave enough to pull out my camera in places like this, but here's some of my treasures.

The vendors spoke very good English and were polite. Not at all pushy. One of the salesmen even brought me a cup of coffee after I made my purchase. He told me repeatedly that he liked America and that he was giving me a good discount:) 

I got several questions about Benjamin - he certainly is a curiousity here. When I tell people that he is my son, they usually look confused and I believe assume that I have had several husbands. I always try to immediately correct them, saying that Benjamin's parents couldn't take care of him, so we took him into our family. Adoption does not happen in Saudi Arabia, but I believe it is considered a virtue to care for orphans. 

The Dirah Souq has two interesting attractions. One is a small castle, which apparently is sometimes open. I have yet to figure out when things are open or closed around here! The other attraction is "Chop-Chop Square." Though my first thought was that I was entering a livestock butching zone, I was informed by a friend that this is where crimial executions used to take place - beheadings! Wow! Hard to imagine! Sometimes it feels almost normal here...and then Chop-Chop Square!

A Lovely Neighborhood

The Diplomatic Quarter is surprisingly green and colorful. One of our chief concerns coming here was that we might be starved for beauty. Over the course of the last four years in Virginia, we had grown to love its many parks and trails, having favorite groves and riverside haunts. So what kind of beauty is there in the middle of Arabia? Well, we are determined to find out over the next few years! But starting close to home, the DQ is lovely. 

I'll try to learn what I can about the vegetation here - I thought it may be similar in some ways to NM, although I've seen some very different plants from the American SW. We have a date tree in our front yard, certainly a predominant tree of the city, not just the DQ. We thought they were just palm trees, until one day Benjamin brought us one of their seeds, saying "Cookie." Also, there are many varieties of Acacia trees, some with the cutest little yellow pom-pom flowers. If you see anything you recognize in the photographs, let me know what it is!

More on playgrounds another day...

Settling in

We've spent much of the past weeks settling into our home.  Lots of trips to stores for food and stuff around the house. It's a mixture of excitement and tedium. We've been reminded of how we're created with a deep instinct for making order out of disorder and putting down roots.  At a few moments, the trips have been lessons that heaven is the heart's deepest longing and our true home. (As an aside, if you want to read a good book on heaven, try Peter Kreeft's Heaven, The heart's deepest longing.)

J

Salam Park

Today we went to the biggest park in Riyadh.  We live in a compound that is a insulated from much of Saudi culture, so it was terrifice to see lots of normal folks enjoying themselves in a park like people do anywhere on the globe.  To boot, there was a lake, which is the first body of water I've seen since we arrived.  The park was full of people picnicking and enjoying time with their kids.  Elijah, Ellen, and Elijah loved the chance to run around.

J

Buying an Abaya

During my initial week in In Riyadh I had my first taste of life as a Saudi expat-woman; I wandered endless rows of black robes in search of the perfect Abaya. Racks and racks of black - some with no color, some with a hint of color on a sleeve or hem, some pushing the boundaries with lace or rhinestones. Those of you that know me well, know that I am all but paralized by these kinds of seemingly unimportant decisions. So many internal voices to satisfy..."to look beautiful, not too rich, not too ordinary, modest, stylish, tasteful, etc." After my gracious host took me to six stores and returned me to three others, I finally found what I was looking for. Beautiful, stylish, simple and yes very black. M

Shipping out

The trip to KSA was long, but full of small mercies. We had an 8 hour layover in Germany and had to get re-checked in, while 50% of us were sick.  Nonetheless, we found food and sleep.  Benjamin's usual unbridled will to move was subdued for the trip.  We were given grace to be patient.  Our kids were wonderful during a few bumpy moments.

J