I had only an air shipment and have not used my sea allotment. Some of the other people here had better ideas than me and purchased some inexpensive suitcases and put things into them and they then were shipped. Me, I just said “take that stuff from that closet and this stuff in this pile over here.” What I got delivered, was that stuff and that pile, all in one pile… with my clothes used as packing material to fill in the spaces! I have some of my cloths in the closet hanging in the off-chance that they will relax and I will not need to iron everything. Some of you might have caught my comment on Face Book about my ironing marathon; I did 13 shirts in one stretch! Mind you, Donna might not have passed a few of them if I was still at home doing them, but here…. Hey! Who will know? 8-)
Talking about all things domestic,
I am witness to a number of attempts to metamorphosis to domestic technician. ‘Us’ bachelors are comparing notes on how to use a top load washing machine, commenting on the black marks that the dryers are putting on our white shirts, and wondering if laundry detergent will also work in the dish washer (that one was not from me!).
You know that duvet cover that I got? I should have spent a few sessions watching the house cleaning staff at the hotel work with them. Each day, they would take the duvet cover off and put on a new one. Man! How do you get that HUGE flat pillow thing into that bag? Pushing does not work… pulling not much better. I thought of climbing inside the thing and wiggling down to the end to sit cross legged and pull it in but thought better of it since I would probably pull it all back out on my attempt to exit the small hole at the bottom of the thing. I finally worked out that if I sort of push a corner almost inside out and grab the corresponding corner of the duvet that I could pull it in and then do the same with the other. Then with a whole lot of shack’n go’n on, I could get it moderately distributed in the bag. Then I had to tackle the buttons on the pillow cases that were half the size of the pillows themselves. I guess I can choose from mostly packed-hard small pillows and loose over-soft normal pillows now – 4 of them on my bed.
A KAUST Picnic
Mohamed's family has arrived and they have moved onto campus. They called me up the other night and invited me out to a family picnic. The food was run of the mill sort of corporate fair but the company was more interesting. There were the obligatory bouncy castles – very large ones at that, 3 horse and carriage rides that were brought in from Medina (at great expense I heard…) and for the adults, an invitation to try out the security’s Segway bikes. They are really very fun to be on! They respond to how you lean and it takes a bit of trust at first, but once you get the hang of it, it is like an extension of your body – an odd but interesting feeling, that!
On the way home I passed the fire trucks and emergency vehicles that were parked at the edge of the central park where the picnic was taking place. The Fire Department sponsored the event. There was a young local boy in the police vehicle and he was playing with the siren. The emergency people did not know how to get this youngster out of the truck and to stop him holding down the siren button… this went on for close to 15 minutes. 8-/ I am sure that the people in the houses around the park were not too pleased.
Funny thing, the day after the picnic a news item was circulated saying that guests will be much more controlled on campus from now on. It seems as though when the local Jeddah-ians (?) learned that there was free food, that the picnic was rather more popular than they had anticipated and a whole lot more ‘visitors’ arrived. We are getting daily emails now about using the ‘Main’ entrance to the campus and also hearing that security has tightened up significantly since the grand opening. I think this article might shine some light on the issue: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/10/04/world/international-uk-saudi-education.html
Keeping Time
I am not sure if I mentioned the clock that I purchased when I went out to the Al Balad district of Jeddah. I was told that it was much better than the other ones that this store owner had because it was made in Japan and the other ones were made in China. I sure am glad that I got the Japanese one, because the one I got only lasted one night! To replace it, I got a free one which came with a set of Duracell batteries. Didn’t much like its look – with these old fashioned looking clangor bells on the top but thought that it would do in a pinch. When I got it home, I realized that the bells on the top were plastic and just for looks. So, not liking them much, the clock is now less two bells and a small fake hammer! Job done and the thing has worked like a charm since.
Maintenance
It is not like we really need alarm clocks here much as the door bells ring at any time. We were told quite emphatically that the phone number 959, used to log issues for maintenance worked 24/7. Arandam was talking to an electrician who came to his house and he mentioned that ‘Americans stay up late and sleep in late’ so it is easy to get work done… Well, I can tell you, Indians and Canadians go to sleep early and get up early! In one night, I had maintenance arrive at 10:30 (had to get dressed fast and down stairs to open the door and hang around while they did their work – but glad for it), they rang Arindam’s bell at 12:45 (wrong house…) and then turned up at Mohamed’s place at 2:30 am. for something or other that I can not remember but he let them work at it while they were there.
I found out that my stove was not grounded correctly. I had attempted a second time to cook at home. I had purchased a single box of Kraft Dinner (look-alike) to see if it actually tasted like ‘KD’. I had put the water in the pot and then the macaroni and had picked up a mettle spoon to stur the contents when I got a good buzz. I wad barefoot and holding the spoon in the water. I guess I made a better ground than the electrical wire connected to the mains! I called 959 and later that night the doorbell rang and a very polite electrician went though the system with a fine tooth (he had a single screw driver… so I lent him a few tools). I guess the people who had hard wired my stove had put the ground wire to the wrong connection and the rest of the electrical wires were just twisted and wrapped with electrical tape that tends to get moisture from the humidity on it and ‘leaks.’ RIGHT! OK, so I have been a bit hesitant to repeat the cooking attempt but can tell you that since then, I have tapped the elements and not got any feedback so think that everything is OK now.
The Driving Exam
I have discovered one of Saudi Arabia’s exclusive domain’s of men... getting a driving license – not a women to be seen in this busy place. I had been told that it was not too hard for people with Western drivers licenses but unlike the UAE, everyone has to have a driving exam. So, a load of us traveled in separate vehicles arrived at the driving exam center. I was one of the first to get in and wished that I could have taken a video of the whole event but it passed too quickly and I was not permitted back in the examination area again after I had had my test. 8-/
I got into car with one of the grumpiest examiners that I have ever witnessed. This guy knew no English and was very brusque. An American man was motioned over and told to get in the back seat. I put my seat belt on, and caught out of the corner of my eye, a flick of the hand of the instructor as if he was telling me to not bother – I did it anyway. I started up the car (standard) and moved ahead about 5 feet and then stalled it. Took it out of gear and upon starting, successfully moved about another 15 feet around a short corner and told to stop and get out of the car. ‘Go, Go’ was all he told me. So I got out and watched the American climb into the drivers seat. He was told to reverse the car back to where I had started – another 20 feet movement. He was commanded to get out too. We went over to a guy sitting under a palm tree and he stamped my form. I took it that I had passed with flying colors! Of group of 10 or so stalwart drivers only one failed. Upon discussion we were not sure if he was the ‘token’ failure for our group or if he actually did not know how to drive. We were herded into the main building and sat an waited while the KAUST government ‘agent’ went around and got our forms stamped. I think we counted 12 stamps on our forms – meaning 12 different individuals and line-ups he needed to go to for this process. I guess this promotes employment?
I can now drive in Saudi Arabia. Do I WANT to? That is another question entirely.
The Shopping Bus:
3 guys with 4 hours to blow... Man but time can drag slow.
I went with Mohamed and Arindam to be some help while they purchased bicycles in Jeddah. I believe neither of them have had a ‘geared’ bike before so they wanted some advice on knowing what to look for and now to size it for their height. We went to the Mall of Arabia. Every night there are ‘shopping busses’ that leave from the campus and return ‘about’ 5 hours later. We left at 4 in the afternoon on Thursday (our weekend here) and were back home by 10:30. Well, I can tell you, I am not sure if I want to do that again. I believe I can talk for most men when I say that we go to GET things not necessarily to look around. We ‘looked’ around to ‘find’ the sports store. Our timing was not quite right as it was closing for prayer time when we arrived. So Arindam and I waited outside the store in the mall main-area with everyone else who did not go to pray. A half hour later, the gates where opened and in we went. We purchased the bikes. By the time we had finished the bike selection the next prayer time had arrived and again we were herded out of the store. Shopping is not a man’s sport so we mainly did NOTHING till 9:20 when the bus arrived.
This and That
Kannen, made a comment about Garnet’s name when I said that his name comes from the name of a kind of stone – but also is known as a kind of sand paper. He said, Oh! That is good -- he is precious yet utilitarian!
Kannen often comes up with little witticisms. This one was mentioned when we were talking about the possible problems we might face in getting our drivers licenses: Never trouble trouble until trouble trouble us.
I will write about ‘work’ next week, now that things are starting to settle down.
Talking about all things domestic,
I am witness to a number of attempts to metamorphosis to domestic technician. ‘Us’ bachelors are comparing notes on how to use a top load washing machine, commenting on the black marks that the dryers are putting on our white shirts, and wondering if laundry detergent will also work in the dish washer (that one was not from me!).
You know that duvet cover that I got? I should have spent a few sessions watching the house cleaning staff at the hotel work with them. Each day, they would take the duvet cover off and put on a new one. Man! How do you get that HUGE flat pillow thing into that bag? Pushing does not work… pulling not much better. I thought of climbing inside the thing and wiggling down to the end to sit cross legged and pull it in but thought better of it since I would probably pull it all back out on my attempt to exit the small hole at the bottom of the thing. I finally worked out that if I sort of push a corner almost inside out and grab the corresponding corner of the duvet that I could pull it in and then do the same with the other. Then with a whole lot of shack’n go’n on, I could get it moderately distributed in the bag. Then I had to tackle the buttons on the pillow cases that were half the size of the pillows themselves. I guess I can choose from mostly packed-hard small pillows and loose over-soft normal pillows now – 4 of them on my bed.
A KAUST Picnic
Mohamed's family has arrived and they have moved onto campus. They called me up the other night and invited me out to a family picnic. The food was run of the mill sort of corporate fair but the company was more interesting. There were the obligatory bouncy castles – very large ones at that, 3 horse and carriage rides that were brought in from Medina (at great expense I heard…) and for the adults, an invitation to try out the security’s Segway bikes. They are really very fun to be on! They respond to how you lean and it takes a bit of trust at first, but once you get the hang of it, it is like an extension of your body – an odd but interesting feeling, that!
On the way home I passed the fire trucks and emergency vehicles that were parked at the edge of the central park where the picnic was taking place. The Fire Department sponsored the event. There was a young local boy in the police vehicle and he was playing with the siren. The emergency people did not know how to get this youngster out of the truck and to stop him holding down the siren button… this went on for close to 15 minutes. 8-/ I am sure that the people in the houses around the park were not too pleased.
Funny thing, the day after the picnic a news item was circulated saying that guests will be much more controlled on campus from now on. It seems as though when the local Jeddah-ians (?) learned that there was free food, that the picnic was rather more popular than they had anticipated and a whole lot more ‘visitors’ arrived. We are getting daily emails now about using the ‘Main’ entrance to the campus and also hearing that security has tightened up significantly since the grand opening. I think this article might shine some light on the issue: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/10/04/world/international-uk-saudi-education.html
Keeping Time
I am not sure if I mentioned the clock that I purchased when I went out to the Al Balad district of Jeddah. I was told that it was much better than the other ones that this store owner had because it was made in Japan and the other ones were made in China. I sure am glad that I got the Japanese one, because the one I got only lasted one night! To replace it, I got a free one which came with a set of Duracell batteries. Didn’t much like its look – with these old fashioned looking clangor bells on the top but thought that it would do in a pinch. When I got it home, I realized that the bells on the top were plastic and just for looks. So, not liking them much, the clock is now less two bells and a small fake hammer! Job done and the thing has worked like a charm since.
Maintenance
It is not like we really need alarm clocks here much as the door bells ring at any time. We were told quite emphatically that the phone number 959, used to log issues for maintenance worked 24/7. Arandam was talking to an electrician who came to his house and he mentioned that ‘Americans stay up late and sleep in late’ so it is easy to get work done… Well, I can tell you, Indians and Canadians go to sleep early and get up early! In one night, I had maintenance arrive at 10:30 (had to get dressed fast and down stairs to open the door and hang around while they did their work – but glad for it), they rang Arindam’s bell at 12:45 (wrong house…) and then turned up at Mohamed’s place at 2:30 am. for something or other that I can not remember but he let them work at it while they were there.
I found out that my stove was not grounded correctly. I had attempted a second time to cook at home. I had purchased a single box of Kraft Dinner (look-alike) to see if it actually tasted like ‘KD’. I had put the water in the pot and then the macaroni and had picked up a mettle spoon to stur the contents when I got a good buzz. I wad barefoot and holding the spoon in the water. I guess I made a better ground than the electrical wire connected to the mains! I called 959 and later that night the doorbell rang and a very polite electrician went though the system with a fine tooth (he had a single screw driver… so I lent him a few tools). I guess the people who had hard wired my stove had put the ground wire to the wrong connection and the rest of the electrical wires were just twisted and wrapped with electrical tape that tends to get moisture from the humidity on it and ‘leaks.’ RIGHT! OK, so I have been a bit hesitant to repeat the cooking attempt but can tell you that since then, I have tapped the elements and not got any feedback so think that everything is OK now.
The Driving Exam
I have discovered one of Saudi Arabia’s exclusive domain’s of men... getting a driving license – not a women to be seen in this busy place. I had been told that it was not too hard for people with Western drivers licenses but unlike the UAE, everyone has to have a driving exam. So, a load of us traveled in separate vehicles arrived at the driving exam center. I was one of the first to get in and wished that I could have taken a video of the whole event but it passed too quickly and I was not permitted back in the examination area again after I had had my test. 8-/
I got into car with one of the grumpiest examiners that I have ever witnessed. This guy knew no English and was very brusque. An American man was motioned over and told to get in the back seat. I put my seat belt on, and caught out of the corner of my eye, a flick of the hand of the instructor as if he was telling me to not bother – I did it anyway. I started up the car (standard) and moved ahead about 5 feet and then stalled it. Took it out of gear and upon starting, successfully moved about another 15 feet around a short corner and told to stop and get out of the car. ‘Go, Go’ was all he told me. So I got out and watched the American climb into the drivers seat. He was told to reverse the car back to where I had started – another 20 feet movement. He was commanded to get out too. We went over to a guy sitting under a palm tree and he stamped my form. I took it that I had passed with flying colors! Of group of 10 or so stalwart drivers only one failed. Upon discussion we were not sure if he was the ‘token’ failure for our group or if he actually did not know how to drive. We were herded into the main building and sat an waited while the KAUST government ‘agent’ went around and got our forms stamped. I think we counted 12 stamps on our forms – meaning 12 different individuals and line-ups he needed to go to for this process. I guess this promotes employment?
I can now drive in Saudi Arabia. Do I WANT to? That is another question entirely.
The Shopping Bus:
3 guys with 4 hours to blow... Man but time can drag slow.
I went with Mohamed and Arindam to be some help while they purchased bicycles in Jeddah. I believe neither of them have had a ‘geared’ bike before so they wanted some advice on knowing what to look for and now to size it for their height. We went to the Mall of Arabia. Every night there are ‘shopping busses’ that leave from the campus and return ‘about’ 5 hours later. We left at 4 in the afternoon on Thursday (our weekend here) and were back home by 10:30. Well, I can tell you, I am not sure if I want to do that again. I believe I can talk for most men when I say that we go to GET things not necessarily to look around. We ‘looked’ around to ‘find’ the sports store. Our timing was not quite right as it was closing for prayer time when we arrived. So Arindam and I waited outside the store in the mall main-area with everyone else who did not go to pray. A half hour later, the gates where opened and in we went. We purchased the bikes. By the time we had finished the bike selection the next prayer time had arrived and again we were herded out of the store. Shopping is not a man’s sport so we mainly did NOTHING till 9:20 when the bus arrived.
This and That
Kannen, made a comment about Garnet’s name when I said that his name comes from the name of a kind of stone – but also is known as a kind of sand paper. He said, Oh! That is good -- he is precious yet utilitarian!
Kannen often comes up with little witticisms. This one was mentioned when we were talking about the possible problems we might face in getting our drivers licenses: Never trouble trouble until trouble trouble us.
I will write about ‘work’ next week, now that things are starting to settle down.
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