Things I don't understand about Saudi Arabia

I went to the Mall of Dhahran again this weekend, with a new friend who happens to be from Minneapolis!  I posted about the mall before, but just imagine if you took the Mall of America, put all three floors onto one level, and put no maps or signs up.  There is no way to know what stores are in the mall or where they are.  The good part about not driving is that I don't have to make it back to the same entrance that I started at--whenever I'm done shopping I can just call a driver and have him pick me up at whichever gate I'm near.  


This shopping trip, while enjoyable, left me shaking my head about a few things that just don't make sense here.  


1) In the Midwest, it is hard to find swimsuits or sunscreen or other summer items in the fall and winter, for obvious reasons.   I'm sure that the stores there are getting rid of their summer stuff and are now fully stocked with fall items.  But why is it like that here?  I've asked at several baby stores and sporting goods stores about swimsuits for Jack, and looked everywhere for good sunscreen.  No, no, they say, no swimsuits now.  Only in the summer.  But it is 100 degrees out!  How is that not "summer"?!  Oh, but if I want to buy Jack a puffy down coat and winter hat, no problem.


2) The easiest time to go out shopping is at night.  I personally am not a night person, but I have spent several late nights at the mall or grocery store since we've been here.  This was especially true during Ramadan, while no food was allowed during the day, but the night culture continues all year round.  I suppose it is because it is so hot out, and there are also five prayer times a day when every store has to close.  The last prayer is usually over by 8pm so that is a safe time to go out and not have to leave a store in the middle of your shopping to wait for prayer to finish.  Okay, I get all this.
What I do not get is why the malls are filled with screaming toddlers at midnight.  I know why the toddlers are screaming, I just don't know why they are there!  There are also tons of kids on rollerblades or skateboards, pushing each other in shopping carts...yes, through the mall.  And yes, they are with their parents (and often the nanny...who could have kept the kids at home while the parents go shopping!).  It is crazy.


Rob's additions to the list of nonsensical things in Saudi:


3) There are both 220V and 100V outlets in our house, and you can buy both types of appliances.  But there is no standard plug!  One thing has a 220 plug with 3 prongs, the next has two, the next is 110 but with round plugs or one flat and one round plug...it is crazy.  In some places we have three adapters plugged in--a convertor to change from 110 to 220, then an adapter to make it round plugs, then one to change it to three prongs.....one day I spent half an hour sorting through the adapter aisle at the Hyper Panda grocery store, and still didn't find the right combination of inputs and outputs.


4)  All the pop cans have those pull off tabs that make the opening really sharp, and then you have to put that tab in your pocket or something.  I have no idea why Coke and Lipton don't make the kind of cans like in the States, and it drives my Coke-loving husband crazy.


I am sure that as we continue on our adventure, we will have many more things to add to this list!  But all this is what makes the adventure, right?




On another note:

Last night we went to the US Consulate for Country Western night. Our school is on the same grounds as the Consulate, but they are separated by a wall and have different entrances so we've never been over there.  Our school and compound both have strict security, so we are used to having to show IDs and have the car or bus checked over thoroughly before entering.  But this was crazy security!  You need to be on the list, and know a secret password, and then go through several metal detectors and bag inspections, and then take a bus to the party so you can't wander around! No pictures allowed, but the grounds were very nice.  They have real beer and lots of marines who love Country music!


Finally, a Jack update: He loves to pretend.  It is adorable!  The other day, he made a stuffed panda stand on the table (like he does) and he shook his finger and told the panda "no, no, no" (apparently like I do). he also likes to put all the animals to sleep, and he kisses each one and says "ni ni" to them.  I snapped a photo of him feeding bread to a rabbit in his highchair the other day...

What a sweetie.  Thanks for reading...