Some Interesting Facts about Saudi Arabia- Each house on the compound is equipped with a "sweet water" faucet in the kitchen, this is our drinking water. We use the other water wish is salt water for everything else, like showering, laundry and watering trees.
- There is NO cold water here in Saudi Arabia, which makes filling pools outside fun because I don't need to add hot water so the kids don't freeze, not that they can here!
- We DO get thunderstorms and rain here, we've had a few since we have arrived. They are really cool! We don't get a lot of rain, just sprinkles but the lightning was really spectacular!
- Instead of snow storms we get
Shamals, which are sand/dust storms. We have not seen one yet, but apparently they are a pain. Sand gets into everything! The winds pick up and blow sand everywhere, sometimes you have to sweep off your vehicle! Good thing we packed our ice scrapper!
- One of the first things we discovered here is that in public bathrooms (which are relatively disgusting...always carry wipes and toilet paper ladies!!) there are Western toilets and Eastern toilets. What is the difference you ask? Well the western toilet is the one you want, it is an actual toilet, the eastern toilet on the other hand is just a hole in the floor...Yum!
- We haven't seen any camels yet, but I'm pretty sure we have eaten them. I seem to be addicted to the "all beef" hot dogs here. I don't want to know if a camel is counted as beef, but there is something in the hot dogs here that tastes amazing. The less I know the better
- Did you know that when you read Arabic it is read from right to left? Very neat!
- Here all the stores are run by men, including
LaSenza...BUT in the stores there are NO change rooms, so you better know you're size. Some of the gals buy an outfit and try it on in the bathrooms, and then return in if it doesn't fit. I'm guessing my size because I am NOT putting my clothes on the ground in those bathrooms...seriously they are really gross!
The money we use here is called a Saudi Riyal (
SAR) $1.00 CAN = 3.75
SAR (approximately). We have noticed there are a lot of things that are cheaper here than in Canada, like groceries! People you don't have to give up your first born for fruit and veggies here! The one thing that is really expensive is sunscreen! Wow about $20 CAN a bottle and it isn't a big
bottle!
Rules and Myths about Saudi Arabia
Myth #1 - Are women allowed to drive off the compound?
Women can NOT drive off the compound, believe me ladies you don't want to! However we can drive wherever we want on the compound, which suits me just fine because known traffic laws
DO NOT apply here, for instance:
- What are those white dotted lines? I don't know lets drive over them.
- Can you pass on the shoulder? Sure you can.
- What's the speed limit? We haven't officially seen a posted speed limit sign, so the faster the better, which we like to call back home a speed track
- Signal lights are strictly a fashion statement.
- U turns can be done ANYWHERE at ANYTIME, even on a red light during rush hour traffic...yes we've been a part of that numerous times.
Seat belts and car seats are optional, make sure to check the taxi you are getting into because a lot of them take the seat belts completely out! Yes we've encountered that one numerous times too!
- The last but not least driving quirk: Did you know that single lane exit ramps can fit three cars across? Why yes they can!
Seriously it is very easy as a female to leave camp, there are plenty of taxi's and bus services to get you where you need to go. You can also hire drivers that will take you wherever you want to go, they wait for you outside of malls and grocery stores.
Myth #2 - What do you wear?
- When we are on the compound we wear whatever we want, like shorts, tank tops whatever. When we go to the clinics and hospital (Core area) I will wear a t-shirt and
capris. When we are off the compound women do have to be covered to their wrists and ankles. We DO NOT have to wear a head dress, you can purchase an
Abya (which is a long black dress that you can wear over your clothes, surprisingly they are quite comfortable). Off camp the men need to dress conservatively. Golf shirt and long pants.
Myth #3 - Is it true that women have to walk behind the men?
- No, that is totally untrue. What we have learned here is the people are very kind, they love children. As long as you respect them they will respect you.
Myth #4 - How come there are not a lot of pictures of buildings?
- Here we need to be careful what we take pictures of, there are a lot of restricted criteria of what can be captured on film. A lot of it has to do with respect and privacy.
Well that's all for now, until our next post! Stay warm and we'll try to stay cool! We are loving our new adventure and new home, but we miss you all like crazy! Hope you enjoyed the blog!
Until next time......
Love,
The Richards Family
XOXOXOXO.......
This is the skate park, there is also a BMX track too. I love how all the parks and pools are covered from the sun here on the compound.
This is called a Jebel, which mean mountain or hill
Yes there is a golf course here on the camp, we have not yet played a round yet, but it looks beautiful. It is lit at night so that you can play in the evening when its slightly cooler. 
The girls love how they trim all the trees around here.
