Most of you will know already that I have put in my resignation here at KAUST and Garnet and I will be home in time for Christmas. But that is in the future; here is a bit of history before I tell you more about our plans.
Things that fly and crash
Garnet is heavily into radio-controlled cars and helicopters. We have a landing pad on the coffee table for the helicopters and assortment of jumps, ramps, speed bumps and other traffic control structures created with a combination of yards of silver duct-tape, clear Sellotape and cardboard for the cars. There is a ‘road’ built over the carpet so that the cars can get over it without getting high-centered. He and I both have helicopters and I can tell you, he is much more adapt at controlling these magical mechanical mosquitoes and is able to land them where he wants. Mine, well, let’s just say that I have added weight to the thing so that it goes slower and responds a bit more sluggishly so that I can react in time.
Mobile phone
I have been wanting to get a new mobile phone so went into Jeddah after quite a bit of online research. I wanted to get a phone with the Google Android operating system so that I was not so tied to ONE company (Apple) like my KAUST iPhone. So, I decided to get a Sony Erikson 10X. When I got home I found that one of the most important things was ‘missing.’ The store where I purchased it did not tell me that in the Middle East, the online shopping component was not included in the phone. This is like purchasing a car and not getting the axels included! No way to take it back as return policy in this country seems to be as long as you are still inside the store… And I did not want to exchange it for anything else that they had. So I keep it and am waiting for an upgrade that I read ‘might’ have what is missing. I am not holding my breath as I know better, having lived in this region for almost 7 years now. I suspect that even being back in Canada, that the software will ‘know’ the phone from the M.E. and will retain its restrictions as if I was living here.
No Egypt trip!
Well, I never got to Egypt. The airline went bust and repeated attempts to phone, email and text have gone without a response. I have sent what is required on their website to get a refund for the airfare but know that when I leave here that they will have no obligation to pay-up, if they ever do. I guess by law, they have to show a semblance of an attempt to honor their commitments – but that is all. More often than not,’ intention’ to fulfill is not part of the equation in customer service.
Underwater
Tomorrow I go scuba diving again and Garnet will remain at home. I have asked him if he wants to try but he is a cautious boy by nature and snorkeling was enough for him. He would probably be more interested in snorkeling if we went spear-fishing, but since most of this area is a nature preserve and we do not have our own transport, just looking is about as far as it goes. He says he has seen most of what he will see. I must add though, that he did get rather disappointed with snorkeling recently when he forgot that he had his precious IPod in his pocket after being out in the sea for about a half hour. We tried to dry it out, but it was totally filled with rust. Events like that can take the fun out of things!
This added the day after I went scuba diving. NEVER got diving with a headache! Man, I was ill... I think by the end of the day I had consumed over 2400 mg of Ibuprofen and was still in pain. The next day was spent at home recovering and still feeling a bit of pain. Whew!
Creatures in the night
In the middle of the night a few weeks ago – sound asleep in bed -- a half-inch black cockroach ran over my hand! YUCK! My eyes SNAPPED open and my arm reacted like it had a mind of its own as it flung out from me, all on its own. If there is anything that grosses me out more, I do not want to know about it! I now have trails of white ‘Pifpaf’ roach and ant killer sprinkled along the edges of the room. Haven't seen one since.
With the slow progression to cooler evenings Garnet and I have been out fishing a short bike ride from our home. We go out to the south tip of the island to the KAUST Beacon. Garnet found a piece of metal pipe with a fishing line tied to one end, a bolt tied about a foot from the end where a hook was attached. Garnet has great fun catching crabs and with the rod in hand, now has a use for them – he attached them to the hook and low and behold he was the first to catch an edible fish. He says that it is his first fish that he has caught on his own.
Groceries
The grocery store here on campus has free delivery. The majority of us living on campus main mode or transport is by foot or bicycle. We have taken the local KAUST bus a few times but prefer to bike as it takes much less time. The grocery store have a number of delivery times. I have often got the 8 pm one but this time we went out at about 8 pm and I thought that my stuff would be delivered by 10, but by 11 pm it still had not come. I was a bit anxious and thinking that the store must be closed so did not phone and went to bed realizing that I had left the receipt as my delivery note. I drifted off attempting to itemize what I had purchased. I was woken up at 12:45 am by the door bell and the delivery. I have made it a point to shop earlier now!
Things that grow
This summer/fall has had high humidity. I was told that Saudi Arabia has the highest amount of mold in the world with India being second. When you think of the difference in population, this place must really have a productive ‘culture.’ I hear from many people that they have developed asthma problems and other respiratory problems here. The schools sent an email to parents to keep their children at home if they are showing a fever or coughing to reduce the chances of spreading infectious viruses. I suggesting that there might be a larger issue but have not received a response. On a related issue, someone, who I work with found mold growing all over leather belts and purses in her home. Many homes have mold growing on the walls. I heard of this in Dubai, but that was from the air conditioning being shut off over the summer. Here, we have been told to have it running 24x7x365…. I have kept my exhaust fans in all 4 bathrooms as well as the AC running since I move in (1.5 years). I am glad to say that I have been one of the few who have not had mold growth on my walls but DID find it on shoes which I had left in a closet. 8-/
Dubai and Morocco
I will be dropping Garnet off at the airport in Jeddah for him to travel by himself to Dubai while I depart shortly after to meet Donna in Casablanca, Morocco. Garnet will be staying at a friend’s place and getting to Dubai Conventions during the time. Donna and I will be going on a private tour of most of the ‘sights to see’ in the Atlas Mountains -- ancient historical walled castles/towns and staying and dining with the local berber tribes while spending some time wandering the narrow streets in Marrakech. I am looking forward to seeing and photographing the leather tanneries in Marrakech. They tan in open vats with natural dyes and work the leather in these vats by treading on them. I hope to have many excellent photos to share! Donna just sent me a text saying that she was getting excited now that we have a plan for our tour in place. Me too!
