Back in the USA

As you can see, I made it home in time for Christmas with my family. I am proudly wearing my gold camel pendant I bought in the market of Jeddah. I have so many great memories of my trip, and hope you have enjoyed sharing them with me. If you are new to the blog, or just need to catch up, remember to start at the bottom or go to the blog archive. If anyone has any questions, or just wants to get in touch, my school email is rheas1@k12tn.net.

Thanks Aramco, and thanks IIE.

Going home

Our departure was quite surreal, as we left not on our Aramco bus, but in a caravan of SUVs to cross the border into Bahrain. We obtained temporary visas (another stamp in my passport book), and had dinner in the new country. The rules across the lines were definetley relaxed, as we were allowed to remove our abayas. After a couple of hours of 70's and 80's disco music, a saloon- type atmosphere, and smelling of smoke, we boarded our plane to head home. Amy and I held up fairly well for the long evening, as our flight was at 2:30 am.

Even more wonderful people...

The gentleman in the first picture is Amr M. Khashoggi, and we had a wonderful conversation about name meanings. Since his last name means "spoonmaker", he became the recipient of a TN collectors spoon I had brought to give as a gift. He said the meaning of my name translates to Rahma. Emad Mugharbel is leaning towards me across the table, as we had a conversation about his daughter's propensity for art. It was a great pleasure to hear from Dr. Suhair H. Al-Qurashi, President of Dar Al-Hekma College. She is friends with Rita, a teacher who went last year, and with whom I will be presenting with in Nashville in March. (The world becomes smaller and smaller...). Raeid A. Al Mejmaj was another wonderful Aramco host, who took great care of us during our stay. There are so many more people I could mention, as I met soooooooo many!

Some of the wonderful people I met and had great conversations with...

Sara was the only female representative from Aramco that served as one of our hosts. She did a wonderful job, and I think I speak for all the gals on the trip that she was a nice addition. The three gentlemen in the picture include: Ahmad Al-Otaibi, who was in charge of our food for the entire trip (great job!), Moh'd Al-Horaish, and Salim Al-Saffar, who were both very gracious hosts while we were in Riyadh. Yousef Abushaera was a wonderful gentleman that I met at the Intercontinental Hotel. He had great suggestions of activities for us, and always was interested in what we were doing as well. I also enjoyed lunch with Khaled Al-Maeena, the editor of the Arab News, one of the English newspapers published in the Kingdom. Google his newspaper online: very, very, eye-opening. It was very interesting to discuss his point of view on American-Saudi relations. The young lady I am standing with (Kholoud Attar) is a very bright and successful young Saudi woman, as she has started her own magazine in Jeddah called Design.

Playing around with some great new friends...

Amy Kesler, Ellen Georgi, and I had a fun (but odd time in our abayas) at a nearby playground. Mr. Daniel Jocz is playing around with me in front of a beautiful red ferrari we found after dinner. Mr. Kim Bliss and I are mugging for the camera in front of the Red Sea.

Ash-Shurah Council (Saudi Consultative Counci) and the U.S. Embassy

This was an extraordinary opportunity for us to participate in. We were allowed to ask the Council about how laws are made, and about how women are represented. Notice the sign I am holding: it is my name written in Arabic for the roundtable discussion. I got to stand behind the podium where the King makes his yearly speech (sort-of like our State of the Union Address). We were received where all visiting dignataries and Presidents are received. Notice there are no pictures of the U.S. Embassy (inside or out). This is the only place in the Kingdom where we weren't allowed to take pictures!!! Ali asked us why our own country place would not allow pictures. Good question, because I don't know and they didn't tell.

Ali giving us directions on how to make Arabic coffee

You now have the directions to try and make this coffee for yourself!