Monday
May312010
With Love From Riyadh
Monday, May 31, 2010 at 05:50AM
Maybe you already know I'm in the Kingdom. Not Magic, but "of Saudi Arabia." We've been in Riyadh for about a week, and I haven't posted because the Internet here hates me. I think it's because I'm American.
Anyway.
What???!! Saudi Arabia??!!
You may recall that my husband's family lives here and that he grew up here. We'll be leaving for Mecca/Medina in a few days to complete Umrah (like Hajj, but not), too.
I'm sure you have a lot of questions, and I have lots to write. But until I'm assured of the safety of my laptop being plugged into the outlets here, you'll have to wait. My hair dryer has already been martyred to the cause.
In the meantime, here are answers to some questions you may have:
1. Yes, it was a long flight. The kids did fine. Other kids, however, did not do fine. Oh, but my daughter did throw up and my husband made a flight attendant cry because she didn't help me to his satisfaction.
2. No, I am not allowed to drive. Which is a plus because it means I don't have to drive.
3. Yes, I have to wear an abaya when I leave my home. It's the law. But, what these people do not realize is that I look fantastic in black. If they wanted people to not look at me, they should have picked lavender. That's never been a good color for me.
4. No, it's not hot with all that stuff on. And you don't know true liberation until you've left the house to go out to a dinner thrown by your mother in law's friend without having washed your hair for three days.
5. Yes, I've seen the movie Not Without My Daughter.
6. Yes, I have access to my passport. And my kid's passports.
7. Yes, that last question was kind of offensive seeing as how she went to Iran, I am in Saudi and my husband is not a crazy person.
So, I hope that answers at least some of your questions. I have lots more to tell you.
Riyadh, for example, is a stunning city. It's one of the most beautiful and aesthetically pleasing places I've ever seen. Mostly because there's either a palace or a fifty story shopping mall on every corner.
And, oh, there are lots of thoughts in my head that I'm sure will be of interest to you, too.
Anyway, I miss you Internet, and while I'd say "I wish you were here", you sort of are, aren't you?
(I'm also sorry for not being a better commenter of late.)
(And for not using spell check or grammar check on this post).
Anyway.
What???!! Saudi Arabia??!!
You may recall that my husband's family lives here and that he grew up here. We'll be leaving for Mecca/Medina in a few days to complete Umrah (like Hajj, but not), too.
I'm sure you have a lot of questions, and I have lots to write. But until I'm assured of the safety of my laptop being plugged into the outlets here, you'll have to wait. My hair dryer has already been martyred to the cause.
In the meantime, here are answers to some questions you may have:
1. Yes, it was a long flight. The kids did fine. Other kids, however, did not do fine. Oh, but my daughter did throw up and my husband made a flight attendant cry because she didn't help me to his satisfaction.
2. No, I am not allowed to drive. Which is a plus because it means I don't have to drive.
3. Yes, I have to wear an abaya when I leave my home. It's the law. But, what these people do not realize is that I look fantastic in black. If they wanted people to not look at me, they should have picked lavender. That's never been a good color for me.
4. No, it's not hot with all that stuff on. And you don't know true liberation until you've left the house to go out to a dinner thrown by your mother in law's friend without having washed your hair for three days.
5. Yes, I've seen the movie Not Without My Daughter.
6. Yes, I have access to my passport. And my kid's passports.
7. Yes, that last question was kind of offensive seeing as how she went to Iran, I am in Saudi and my husband is not a crazy person.
So, I hope that answers at least some of your questions. I have lots more to tell you.
Riyadh, for example, is a stunning city. It's one of the most beautiful and aesthetically pleasing places I've ever seen. Mostly because there's either a palace or a fifty story shopping mall on every corner.
And, oh, there are lots of thoughts in my head that I'm sure will be of interest to you, too.
Anyway, I miss you Internet, and while I'd say "I wish you were here", you sort of are, aren't you?
(I'm also sorry for not being a better commenter of late.)
(And for not using spell check or grammar check on this post).
Reader Comments (52)
Wait, what? You just up and left for the other side of the globe, or was this a planned visit sort of thing?
(Also: since you're a lot closer now, relatively speaking, any plans to hit the World Cup in South Africa?)
I'm curious to read that you don't seem to find it difficult, being a woman in Saudi Arabia that is, since you were born and raised in the US. What little I know about a woman's life in SA (and confirmed by your post) makes it sound more than inconvenient (which is how it felt reading your post).
"And you don’t know true liberation until you’ve left the house to go out to a dinner thrown by your mother in law’s friend without having washed your hair for three days."
No, no, no. You must go and get a volumizing blow-out at the 'saloon' because it is a special occasion on which your hair will be seen sans shayla. You must wear your best duds, jewels, and hair to any gathering in which there is a chance of being seen without abaya and shayla. Keep the abaya over PJs and unwashed hair under shayla for trips to the market.
Have fun...hope you enjoy your trip, and congrats on your Umrah. May it be rewarding for you.
Congrats on your Umrah!! I will wait until I see you in August to talk about your trip...so many things I wanna know.... :)
Wait - you don't like to drive? You're totally your mother.
You made me laugh! Love your comments, comme d'habitude!
And have a wonderful Umrah journey, mashallah! I'm excited for you! Enjoy family and fun times, too! <3
and finally, only an Orlando person would think "Magic" over "Saudi!" LOL that was classic.
I didn't know you were going to Mecca! Also, I'm not exactly sure what Umrah is - and I could look it up, but it's so much more interesting to hear your explanation. :)
And that question about that Sally Field movie is not insulting because THAT GUY WASN'T CRAZY EITHER!!
But your husband is a US citizen, so there's that. Oh! And! It occured to me a few says ago this was his first time traveling with a US Passport - how exciting!!!!
I kind of wish I knew you better so I had more intelligent questions.
I'll wait til you get back, k?
Wow....just wow. You are one lucky girl. Sounds like your having a lovely time and I look forward to hearing all about your adventures and maybe seeing a few pics.
Great to hear you guys having fun..
I am sure N and Y are being spoiled rotten by the in-laws.
The true liberation comment..Since I started wearing an Abaya some 10 years ago..the pajama underneath..that really is the liberating part. I live in my pjs:-)
I have never heard good stuff about Riyadh. I would love to hear about it from you..take lots of pics..
Have a safe trip back and give our salams to Uncle aunty and Shariq's family.
Love ya..
50 story shopping malls???? Seriously?
Where are the pictures?
Also, will you bring me a rock of some important building? I mean, if you find one. Don't steal something of course. I have a little collection my Dad gave me.
I hope you are taking photos of what you can.
And I hope the Umrah is successful in your expected result.
I miss you when you're farther away.
You are not allowed to tell my wife about fifty story shopping malls. DO YOU HEAR ME!!??
Oh dear.... I am just seeing all kinds of trouble coming...
Have a safe and wonderful time!
1. Mubarak for Umrah!
2. Are you planning a side-jaunt to PK, since you're so close?
3. Numbers 5, 6 & 7 are the bain of my existence. I have permanent resentment against Sally Field.
@SciFi Dad, Yeah, it was a planned trip! I'll be discussing why I'm not in the least bit inconvenienced by life here.
@luckyfatima, Oh, yeah, we did that on day 3, but the dinner mentioned in the post was in a restaurant. So, what I *did* do is put on heavy eye makeup and a long chain to wear outside the abaya. :)
@Robin, I'm looking forward to it, too.
@Avitable, You know what? I\m going to take that as a compliment.
@nancy, Come on, everyone would have totally thought that I was writing from Disney if I hadn't clarified that point...
@Miss Britt, That guy was a U.S. citizen... and the guy was crazy, he totally FLIPPED. One day, he's all cool and being American and the next day he's smacking around his wife. Not cool and verry crazy. I'm *planning* on writing a post about Umrah. So, you're just going to have to wait like the rest of the Internet. I know, you think you're so much better than the rest of us, so you're very offended by that, right? Hehe.
@whall, I'm sure you\ll come up with something.
@J from Ireland, I may even post a video!!
@Sahar, You know, those shoes are very oppresive, though. TO ME. Hahaha...
@Faiqa, Keep telling yourself that... LOL!!!! ;P
@Nanna, Okay, they might be thirty. But, there's are at least 50 different shopping malls with that many stories. Seriously.
@Hockeymandad, OMG. You have no idea how excited I am to bring you back a rock. This is going to be so much fun.
@Poppy, Awww, thanks. I miss everyone, too.
@Faiqa, I'm jumping in. Have you guys read the book? It's a lot clearer about how he wasn't crazy, she was the one that made the decision to go to Iran even though he warned her that he was going to stay. She was afraid that he'd take their daughter there, so she went, knowing they'd be stuck there, because she didn't want to be away from her daughter. So all in all, they were all nuts. The book is a lot more intelligent and interesting than that heinous film, and she comes across as a lot more ambivalent about the whole thing in the book.
@Nancy, I will add that it sucked that he made "the change," but I think it had basically already occurred before they went to Iran.
@RW, It's going to cost you, of course. I need more shopping money and am not averse to blackmail. Not black males. I said BLACKMAIL. Though, I'm not averse to them either. Wait, what?
@B.E. Earl, Thank you. Now. Let me ask you. Would you have said "safe" if I were in, saaaay, Maine? Think about it. ;-)
@TheGoriWife, Hate.that.movie.
@Faiqa, OK, I'll amend my comment to say -
that question isn't insulting because ALL THOSE PLACES ARE THE SAME.
:-P
And, noooooo, I wasn't expecting to get an immediate response about what Umrah is. If I needed to know right away, I'd go look - but I'm waiting because I'd rather hear you tell it.
Although, you know, now I'm curious, so...
@Miss Britt, soooo - I may have just spent an inordinate amount of timing looking at
Google maps pictures of Riyadh - and somehow found a McDonalds
Detailed explanations of Umrah, Hajj, Ihram and miqats (and I think yours would be Qarn al-Manazil?), the Black Stone (which, I hope by some miracle you actually get to kiss or touch) and a whooooollllle bunch of other stuff.
You know what I didn't do?
Make my grocery list.
I blame you.
@Faiqa, No...not Maine. But I honestly would have said it if you mentioned you were going anywhere overseas. Hell, Gia goes to the market (not very often) and I tell her to be safe. But I hear ya. :)
Hmm, a question...
Why do doctor's tie belly buttons close? If we're fed that way before we're born, shouldn't they at least give us that option later in life? Perhaps it's only a temporary knot, so if you have to eat something that doesn't taste good you can just untie and slip it in. What are your thoughts on this?
Also, have a fantastic time!
I found this post similar to one I read a while back from one of my former students who has since become a very traditional, Orthodox Jew living in Israel. She no longer leaves the house without her hair completely covered, and she wears sleeves down to her wrists and skirts to her ankles. While there were some who saw this transformation as restrictive and a step backwards for her sense of feeling liberated, she saw it as more of an opportunity for herself to feel at one with her own body with no sense of judgment from external parties.
Anyway -- Umrah Mubarak! (Did I say that right? Did I just insult your family's livestock? Did I just create an international incident?)
I seriously can't wait for the stories once you get home!!
I'm so glad you addressed these questions that we all probably had!
I also cannot wait to read all of your stories. Be safe, and have fun!
@Clown, My goodness, the way your mind works is scary.
@shiny, You said it right, and, yes, I think many women here probably feel the way your Orthodox friend feels.
@Sybil Law, Hopefully, I'll have some before I get home.
@Jason, Thanks! You were going to ask me about the Sally Fields movie? Really?! You? ;-)
@Faiqa,
PLEASE HOLY CRAP DON'T GET ARRESTED. I don't want to have to go shop for an abaya to come bail you out.
Shoot, girl. I'm not worried about you in Riyadh, KSA. I'm actually worried about Riyadh, KSA and the effect you'll have on the joint. ;)
Much love and have fun!
I would love to visit there, but I'll be really honest and tell you that I don't know if I would be able to dress the way they wanted me to!
wow.
thats a trip i wouldnt mind making some time. its a place that not many of us here will ever get to see, unfortunately.
that planeride might kill me, though.
I can't wait to hear all the fascinating details.
Let me just say....I am soooooo jealous...everyday I go out and wish I could cover myself, mainly because I am bald,fat and possibly ugly and am also sick of being judged by external parties.
If only all men here had to wear an abaya then I wouldn't feel like such a weirdo making that choice of my own accord (i.e.,exercising my freedom)....I miss you and the family a lot!!!
I LOVE YOU!!