2014 Saudi Events

January 8, 2014, was Rachael's birthday.  It was the day we flew back to Saudi and her sisters flew back home fom Paris.  We were glad she was with her sisters for her birthday. But of course she had to have a small party with friends on the compound.

Hannah takes tennis lessons on our compound every Tuesday night with a group of teens.  I have also been taking tennis lessons once a week with 3 other ladies.  I have enjoyed learning the correct techniques and skills.  I think I  have actually gotten a little better.  

January 29, 2014 was an International Day Parade at DEMS.  Students were to wear a national costume or the colors of their country's flag. The kids gathered by countries to parade before parents and visitors with a flag from their country leading each group.  Each country greeted the audience in their native language.  There were 48 countries represented!  Durning lunch the kids shared food from their country with their class.

USA

 

Venezuela
 
Rachael and her friend Emma representing cowgirls in USA
Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas

Turkey, Tunisia, The Netherlands, Thailand, and Syria

Saudi Arabia

USA

Rachael's Class

Feb. 2, 2014, I went to Desert Design store for a  Book Signing.  Halla Bint Khalid is a Saudi Artist, Author and Illustrator of Children's Books. I bought a few of her books in Arabic and the same books in English.  It was very interesting to hear her story.  

On Feb. 14, 2014, we took a trip to dig for dessert roses.  Hannah and Rachael really didn't want to go but I had been wanting to go dig for desert roses.  We went with a group from Jubail.  There were 11 or 12 Limosuana SUV's.  Hannah and Rachael both said that this trip was so much fun, after we got stuck and had to get out of the vehicle to dig sand out from around the tires, and then push the truck.  It was really fun to do this as a big group.  It was like the movie Holes. Lol

 

Can you find the lizard?

Desert roses or Sand roses are Gypsum crystals formed in parts of the desert where moisture becomes temporarily trapped in pockets. As the water evaporates, minerals and sand crystallize into petal formations, creating sand colored roses.

On Feb. 20, 2014, was Family Movie Night at DEMS.  The Movie is shown outside on the soccer field.  We were told to bring blankets, pillows or chairs to enjoy watching the movie.  There was also concessions, Shwarmas, hotdogs, popcorn, chips, candy, and drinks.  It was a neat experience, reminds me of drive in movies.

DESPICABLE ME 2!

We were so grateful that Rachael had the opportunity to play soccer. It was a co-ed team that met only on Saturdays.  Each week for 8 weeks the coaches would teach the kids a skill and practice for about 30- 45 minutes and then they would play a game.

Rachael and her friend Josh Collins waiting for their ride back home. They were on opposite teams.  Rachael was on the Red team and Josh was on the Blue team.  

Rachael attends ballet, tap and pointe classes at Al Zahra Dance classes at Oasis Gardens Compound which is about 5 minutes from our compound. Her teacher, Mrs. Tanya Kot is from Australia and is a very nice lady. Rachael is the only student that is learning pointe.  We really appreciate her teacher spending extra time with Rachael to teach her pointe.  There is this really cool Arabic wall near the dance class that made a really neat background for a few pictures. 

Rachael and Mrs. Tanya 

Willy Wonka Play at DEMS school.  Rachael was Mrs. Beauegard, Violet's mother and she had great stage presence.  The play was a pretty big production and all the kids did a great job.  March 2-3 were matinees and March 4-5 were evening performances.

 

Back Stage!

 

March 18, 2014, Dow spouses were invited to Aramco Compound to visit a Saudi Museum.  First we arrived at the home of a Saudi women named Munira.  We were served Arabic coffee with dates and other arabic treats.  Munira gave us a tour of her home and explained some of the Arabic traditions and some of the artifacts that she has collected for her home.  We were then served an Arabic breakfast which was very delicious.  Finally we toured the Museum which was connected to her house.  Mrs. Munira does charitable work for the needy in Saudi Arabia.  We were given the opportunity to donate and it was given to Joud Women's Center.  It was very kind of her to open her home to us.

Marty was invited by his friend Anwar to attend a wedding celebration for Anwar's brother on March 19, 2014. It is much different from the wedding celebrations in the U.S. because the celebrations for men and women are segregated, no intermingling. 

Marty and Anwar

Marty and Sfouq

Marty and Suliman

Mixed Feed Cracker co-workers from Saudi Arabia, Cuba, USA, Netherlands, and Malaysia.

The groom is dressed in black

Marty and his friend Abdullelah

Enjoying conversation, tea, coffee, and dates.

Pouring coffee is a talent.  They start with the cup close to the spout then quickly lower the cup and bring it back up!  I would spill coffee everywhere!

Now it was time for dinner.

No tables, chairs or utensils!  We ate with our fingers from the same platter.  We had rice and lamb and it was very good!

The groom

Marty and Farhan

March 26, 2014, DEMS Talent Show.  Rachael and her friend Emma sang "Our Song" by Taylor Swift.  They did a great job.  There are some very talented students that attend this international school.  I was really impressed with the talent of the children from different parts of the world.

Hannah made the softball team at school.  Dhahran High School had 2 teams.  Hannah was chosen to be the team captain for the B team. April 24-25, 2014 was the Aramco softball tournament.  Hannah played pitcher, 2nd base and catcher.  Hannah's team won 1st place!

Watching Team A play

Team captain planning

Pitcher

Catcher

April 25, 2014, Dow Spouses Trip to Shaybah.  This was a rare opportunity to get insight into the Saudi culture and Aramco's Shaybah operation.  There was transportation on an Aramco private plane from Dammam airport.  Never thought I would take a flight on a private plane to have dinner, watch the sun set and return.  Such a cool experience.  

Saudi Aramco's Private Plane

Henna

 Falcon show and Rababa (traditional music)

Tea & coffee Makers with Traditional Sweets

Khubuz Maker (Arabic Bread Tanoor)

Fakhr (Handicraft)

Kharraz (traditional Cobbler)

The sand is so red in this part of Saudi

They rolled out the red carpet for the ladies!

Dinner

Beautiful Sunset!

May 3, 2014, was the first time Rachael got to do jumping durning her horse back riding lesson.  She did great!

 Rachael's first time falling off her horse! Lol. Thankfully, she wasn't hurt and she got right back on!

Rachael loves every minute that she gets to spend at the stables with the horses. When she is done riding she has to take the saddle and bridle off the horse.  Then wash and brush the horse.  Walk it around, showing it love by talking to it and giving it kisses.  Then she puts her in her stall.  Mr. Adnan lets her help do this with as many of the horses as she wants.  She likes to take care of the horses as much as she likes riding them.  She could stay at the stables for hours.

May 11, 2014, there was a Mother's Day celebration on the Compound.  It was a brunch with lots of delicious food.

Stefanie Jens made this beautiful cake and as a gift to each Mom she gave a special decorated cupcake beautifully boxed.

They surprised the Mom's with a slideshow of pictures of our children. Many tears started falling.  This is the picture Marty sent for them to use for the slideshow.  It says, "Mom, Our love for you is taller than the Eiffel Tower!"

May 16, 2014, we took an introduction lesson to Scuba diving in our compound lap pool.  We were taught everything about preparing our equipment for the dive.  Then we were taught how to communicate underwater.  Marty, Hannah, and Rachael did really good.  I on the other hand was not so brave.  For some reason once I was in the water I was scared to stay underwater.  It's just not natural to breath underwater.  Sylvia was really patient with me.  Eventually I was able to stay underwater longer and even move around a little. Marty and I plan to continue taking lessons. Marty would like to become a certified diver.

Rachael and her friend, Gabriella, ready to attend Elanoud Audah's Masquerade birthday party. 

It's officially summer in Saudi.  June 12, 2013 Rachael opened her Snow Cone business with her friends.  With the temperature reaching 110 - 120 degrees a snow ball is a refreshing treat.  All the kids worked together so well and each had specific jobs.  It was fun to watch how excited they were about doing this. Rachael pays her "staff" with snow balls.

Business is booming.  Everone is working!

Rachael and her friend Yara who is from the Netherlands serving snow balls from the window.

With limited flavors available here, Rachael makes her own flavors by mixing different syrup's and ingredients.

Now one last thing!  Saudi Durapau family leaving for the summer to spend a little time with family and friends back home.  

Ma al-salamah for now...