Well...we got yelled at!

My friend, Moni, and I were at the Tamimi market waiting for prayer to be over when we noticed we were standing across the street from the Faisaliya Tower.  It was beautifully lit up and the moon was shining so big in the sky next to it!  We pulled out our cameras, took a picture, the a policeman started yelling very loudly at us NO PICTURE NO PICTURE!!!!  An Arab man walked over to the policeman and explained he had overheard us saying how beautiful it was and didn't see the harm in a picture.  The policeman said "If everyone sees how beautiful it is then they all will want to come here...and we have enough trouble".  The Arab man said the police were stupid.  I'm sure he was just doing his job.  Moni and I had quickly put our cameras away anyway (and I DID get a picture but the moon isn't in it :(  It was very sweet that we were so nobily defended however :)

Tamimi market is great!!  I bought tons of fresh fruits and vegetables!  We sauteed some squash tonight and had it with our little steaks we bought.  It tasted so heavenly!!!  Moni and I both suffer a bit with the negativity imposed on us by others ie: people complaining about being here.  Good grief, people!  We came to THEIR country so you need to adjust...and not expect them to adjust to you!  Moni is a kindred spirit and we have had the best times together!  I expect we will have many more adventures!

I feel good (dadadadadada) like I knew that I would (dadadadadada)!!!!!!

I didn't particularly feel jet lagged like some of the others did but I guess I was a little.  Now I am back to waking up sans alarm clock at 0530 and I feel great!!!  Moni, Diane and I are going shopping today for more "creature comforts".  It is nice to be out in the city early in the morning!

I started working on my unit this week.  I get 10 days of floor orientation and then I am out there on my own.  Really the only thing I need to get familiar with is their paperwork.  The hospital is working on moving toward a computerized system but they haven't achieved it yet.  Many nurses from some areas have never worked with computers so the process is slow going.  We all had to be assessed for computer literacy and after two moves they decided I knew enough I didn't need any further training.  Many of the Filipino and East Indian nurses have never used a computer so they are being taught.

The unit is a little different from what I expected.  Many of the patients are chronic.  It is a 20 bed unit and three or four of the patients have been there for about three YEARS!  We take care of VIP's and members of the royal family.  Apparently if the family doesn't want them moved they supplicate to the king and he tells us to keep them there.  The work is not nearly as frantic as CCMH was.  In fact it is pretty relaxed!  We get 30 minute tea breaks morning and afternoon and an hour for lunch!  This is in a shift that goes from 0700 till 1930.  My critical care clinical instructor tells me I may get bored so after I finish orientation in MICU-C I can orient to the surgical ward to get some variety.  They do many open hearts here and I will be able to get some experience with LVADS and ECHMOS.  The issue is most of the patients are PEDIATRIC!  Well....it will be an experience for sure.  I keep trying to slow down as far as my nursing career but I guess I am so addicted to the adrenaline rush I can't do it!

A note about the VIP's and Royal Family....the members of the Royal Family I have encountered have been lovely!  They have been very appreciative, kind and supportive, very gracious.  The VIP's however are what I have always referred to as "the fringe people", people who THINK they are someone because they are associated with the Royal Family in some way (not really related to them).  These people are the rudest, most demanding people!!  It's funny because these are the people who get rotated among the nurses so you don't have to take care of them for more than one day at a time!  Just smile.....deep breathe....and know ;)..........

Anyway I'm off to have more adventures today!!

Christine xx

An Observation

I was at the grocery store.  The call to prayer was announced and everything shut down while the workers went to pray.  While we were waiting the 20-30 minutes children were playing and laughing,  They were playing the same kind of games American children play including the energy and giggling.  I noticed the women in their abayas and veils.  What struck me was how ornate some of the abayas were and some were embellished with pins and other ornamentation.  The experience showed me that children are children no matter where you go, and women are women even if they are limited to wearing black in public they will find a way to make it more beautiful!

We met a Muslim woman from Holland.  She is not required to veil while there.  She veils here because she says it makes her feel safe.  Americans apply their own opinions and prejudices regarding Arab culture but the women here do not feel they are oppressed or diminished.  I spoke with several educated Saudi women who feel a bit threatened by Westernization of their culture.  As it is I have observed sons being very respectful and helpful to their mothers and husbands (while they cannot openly show affection) showing their wives great affection and respect by the way they look at and regard their wives in public.  It was explained to me by some Saudi women that women run the home.  That is a true observation I made at the Panda store..poppa deferring to momma when it came to buying groceries and such.  Is there abuse in the home?  I am sure there is some just as there are in some American homes.  Our news media makes sure we get all the bad stuff.  I do not profess to be an expert in Arab culture after spending only three weeks here.  I am learning a lot however which was part of the purpose in coming here.  I am on a steep learning curve!!

I start working in my unit tomorrow.  It will not be as different as I thought...which is a good thing.  My favorite Arab word at the moment is mushkala which means problem.  I like words that sound like what they mean!

Christine xx

Room with a View

This is the view from my bedroom window.  The little white and black cat below is one I call Sparklette since she likes to drink the pool water while I swim.

Pictures from the Kingdom Tower Sky Walk

Kingdom Tower and Batha Souks

The Kingdom Tower was great!!  One of my friends described it as a giant razor blade.  Really it is a very tall, modern structure.  It's the tallest in Riyadh!  It is a very large mall with very expensive shops and some moderately priced ones.  The third level is "The Women's Kingdom" where we can remove our scarfs and abayas (but who wants to carry them around) and the women who veil may remove them.  No men are allowed!!  It has very nice clothing, makeup and jewelry stores!!  We had lunch at a very nice place where they had couches and upholstered chairs . They served very dainty sandwiches and finger foods and drinks in fancy glasses and cups!  We then went to the top of the building.  Now the upper levels of this building contain fancy hotels ($1000 US and UP/night) and verrrry expensive restaurants.  On the 99th floor, which is the top,there is a sky walk where you can go and see the entire city of Riyadh!!  Everything is the color of the desert so it looks like a city that just appears from the desert and then melts into it again...no rough edges.  It was magical!!  We plan to go again at night to set that view!!

The Batha souks were another story.  It was sort of the bowels of Riyadh.  We found the beautiful India shops where they sell gorgeous material and clothing.  It is a very dirty place and there were too many young men standing around. We had been told we can get really good deals on some items there but I felt very uncomfortable.  I especially felt that way when I realized we were the only women on the streets!!  I told my friends we needed to get a taxi NOW and leave.  I was very glad they agreed!  My brother gave me this advice before I left home...if you get this feeling you are in the wrong place you probably are and need to leave immediately!  Good advice!!  If I were to go back it would be in the morning and never alone!

So it was a day of contrasts.  We were exhausted when we arrived home.  I was able to get some "creature comforts" ie: some pillows. makeup, clothes and chocolate.  I am very comfortable here and seem to be settling in nicely.  I get to be "mother" to some younger nurses who are really homesick...I just encourage and support them...give them a place to hang out if they need to.  I'm learning to cook on an electric stove (I hate them).  Enjoying a quiet Muslim Sabbath today gearing up for another busy week!

Christine xx

A New Friend!

I have a new friend!  His name is Yasser and he was born in Mekkah but was raised in Riyadh.  He is a brand new nurse!  Many of the young Saudi men and women are taking nurses training so they can eventually run their own hospital.  Yasser was impressed by the number of certifications I had and asked about each one.  He just graduated this year and this is his first job.  He is so excited and eager to do well in his new career.  He has asked for my friendship and help as he learns how to be the best nurse he can be.  I have to say he is pretty cute and has quite the engaging smile.  Reminds me of my sons.  I hope I can be helpful to him and encourage him in his new profession.

TGIF we say on Wednesdays around these  parts! We are going to the Kingdom Tower and the Batha Batha souks tomorrow.  If there is time we will also go to Dirrah.  I passed my med test...100% on calculations!.  Next week is the EKG test.  It has been many years since I have been a new employee.  I didn't realize there were so many tests!!!  Hope to have some pictures to post after tomorrow..IF I can figure out this camera thingy!

Christine xx

Arabian Nights

I made application for my igama today.  .Another chore I can check off the list!  I've been invited to the Irish party along with a bunch of Australians I have fallen in with.  Many of the Australian nurses live in D Complex as well so we see each  other at the pool nearly every evening.  We have lots of laughs and lots of fun!!

Our pool is heated so after dark Diane (my room-mate) and I went and had a swim.  It felt wonderful!!  I turned on my back and just floated looking at a black sky filled with very bright stars and thought to myself "look where you are girl!".

Med test on Wednesday, Thursday we are going to the Kingdom Tower, Friday is our day of rest, and Saturday we finally get to see our unit!  Hurray!!!!!

Christine xx

Long Orientation!

I swear I am a zombie by three in the afternoon!  From 0800 till 1700 every day we are in orientation!  I know that is good but we really need to move around a little!  It was OK today. I finally got my medical clearance so now I can apply for my igama (work permit). We were measured for our uniforms a couple of days ago and today we got them.  Now it is off to the tailors so we still don't actually have them!  Possibly Tuesday we will but for sure we need them for Saturday because that is when we finally get to see our unit!!  I am very excited about that!  I am ready to get to work!!

Over the last few days my little group has ventured out into the city.  We are getting braver and braver!  We found a store called Hyper Panda that is just like being in Wal-Mart (which everyone who knows me knows I'd rather have a sharp stick in the eye than go to Wal-Mart!)  Everyone was in there it seemed and if my friends and I became separated it was because we all look alike wearing black and our heads covered!  We had a very difficult time finding each other and we would sometimes think we were with our friends only to find we had followed the wrong person!  I wonder how the nuns do it? When we are away from the hospital we have to put on everything but a veil.  The Mutaween are about :)

Well I'm tired so headed to bed.  Just a short update tonight!

Christine xx

I'm Here!!!! Hello from Riyadh!!

The trip from Lawton was very very long.  It took me just over 24 hours to get here.  It rained in Oklahoma City just as we were leaving and it was snowing in Denver!  The flight from Denver was delayed because they had to de-ice the wings! I hadn't met anyone else going with me on to Riyadh but I met a nice nurse who was half Croatian and half Arab who was on her way home to visit family.  The flight from Denver was 10 hours to Frankfurt.  They had a screen you could watch that showed you the progress of your flight.  It was a little sad and bittersweet to watch as the plane moved from the US out over the ocean.  It was night so you couldn't really see anything out of the window but still...it was a closing of one chapter and opening another.  Of course the plane was late to Frankfurt because of the delay and as things always seem to work where I landed was exactly opposite from where I needed to be!  I had to go through two security  checkpoints to get there (weather in Frankfurt was sunny and clear)!!  At Frankfurt I met three other nurses from the same agency and we have become fast friends.  I was a little concerned when they took us to the cargo plane area to catch the plane to Riyadh.  It was not as nice a plane as the one I crossed the ocean in but it was OK.  I sat next to a stinky Algerian (smelled like he hadn't bathed in days) who was also drunk!  AND...he continued to drink the entire 6 hour flight!! (On Lufthansa flights the alcohol flows for those of you who need to know this)  I began to wonder how he would get off the plane as in Saudi Arabia you could be arrested if you even smell like you have been  drinking!  I didn't see what happened to him but I guess he made it OK.

At the airport we found the people there very warm and welcoming.  We were standing in line to get through customs when all of a sudden we were being moved very hurriedly from one area to another and then another!  Then I saw him..a Mutawa.  He had his cane and he had walked into the airport while we were standing there.  No one besides me had an abaya but we were instructed to keep a long scarf handy in case we needed to put it on.  Everyone at the airport was working really hard to keep us out of sight!  They never even opened our bags!  Seemed like we were out of there in 15 or so minutes!   It was around ( at night when we got there.  As we drove through the city toward the hospital it reminded my of Las Vegas with all the brightly colored lights!  We drove past the Kingdom Tower which is quite impressive even in the dark!  It was nice to finally collapse into a nice clean (queen sized) bed!  No time for jet lag as we started orientation the very next day!

My apartment is very nice!  The complex has a Moorish design and I can see the beautiful swimming pool just outside my bedroom window!  There is a gym in the complex with treadmills and ellipticals and weights.  My complex (Complex D) is the farthest from the hospital and walking back and forth has been a great work out as well!  The bedrooms are large and we each have a large nice bathroom with a deep tub!  I share my apartment with a woman from Los Angeles who is a neurophysiology technician (EEG tech).

This hospital is HUGE!  There are 8 ICU's with two more planned!  The main corridor through the hospital is one kilometer long!  There are lots of metabolic disorders and genetic issues.  It is very beautiful and there is a lot of construction going on!  We are 100 new nurses, the most they have ever had at one time!  The nurses are British, Scots, Irish, Kiwi, South African, Phillipino, Swedish, Canadian, French Canadian and of course..American!  It is fun to listen to all of the different accents..sort of tickles the ears!  I don't mind at all wearing the abaya..it is not hot or uncomfortable to do so  though I do sort of trip over it sometimes.  I have learned how to wear the scarf (thank you Hayat) and it is starting to look nice now instead of mangled on my head.

We have managed to make it all the way downtown.  It is a beautiful city with very modern glass and metal buildings (sort of reminds me of Dallas) with beautiful old mosques in between.  The Saudi people I have met have been very warm and welcoming!  There are a few things that get lost in translation sometimes but I am learning to take it in stride and find the humor in it rather than get frustrated as some of my companions do.  For example:  tomorrow tomorrow actually means day after tomorrow..not emphatically telling you to come back tomorrow.  My brother shared some good advice when he said do not act upset or the process will take longer...as some have found out!

I LOVE it here!  The men are very handsome and the women are very beautiful and very graceful.  Life is a slower pace which I hope to embrace as well.  I have decided it is a good thing to be reminded to pray 5 times a day.

Pictures will be forthcoming.  We have to be careful taking pictures here and I haven't learnd all of the rules yet.

Take care!

Christine xx

Saying "Goodbye" Oklahoma and "Hello" Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Leaving tomorrow morning.  I've said my goodbyes (maasalamas) and I'm looking forward to the hellos " ( al salaamu aleikum).  I'm looking forward to getting there but getting on the plane feels like the start.  It is exciting and a little bittersweet.  I'm leaving everything I have known for a very long time and venturing into a great unknown.  I have prepared all I can so now it's time.  I guess all those little last minute annoyances were preparing me to learn patience and how to handle new things with grace.  They gave me a headache sometimes but when I recovered I learned from the experience.  I am expecting many more learning experiences.

I spent last evening with my sons and Matt's family.  I was able to put on the abaya and show the g-kids what it looks like.  We found the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the map and through the wonders of the internet I could show them where I will be working and where I will be living. We talked a little about the history, the culture. We talked about some of the changes I know I will experience ie: no driving a vehicle, no riding a bicycle, wearing the abaya whenever I am off hospital grounds, following a new set of rules and sharing an apartment.  Calista made me a wonderful going away card that I am taking with me to put on my wall.  I have the picture taken of me and the twins at the grandparent's day breakfast.

I hope now for trouble free flights, my only MINOR anxiety since I haven't been across the pond in many many many years.

Love to you all!

Christine xx

getting ready to go

I have my tickets in hand!  I am so excited!!  Cleaning up things in town has been a bit of a challenge however!  I HATE the automated directors!  I spend 30 minutes at a time just trying to get to the person that MAY be able to help me settle up before I leave.  I'm glad I thought to talk to my bank before I left for SA.  There was more information I needed before I could transfer funds from an Arab bank.  I have spent all day at this but I know all the headaches now will be worth it when the end result finally arrives.  It just makes the rewards sweeter!

Wish things were going better for my brother. I feel I have seen him for the last time.........

Christine x