Christmas in Saudi Arabia

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  My parents were here visiting and it was awesome to see them.  Their flights were long but smooth, and they had no (major) troubles with their visitor visas.  We loved showing them firsthand all the things we try to explain to them on Skype.  It was extremely hard to say goodbye again...but at least it is only until June!

Building the tree

While they were here we had a "staycation" and toured everything even slightly interesting in the area. Saudi Arabia, of course, does not allow tourism, so there are not very many interesting or well-marked tourist attractions.  With the help of Rob's new GPS from Santa, we visited several cultural sites which will be described in future posts.

The finished product

Even though it is technically illegal to celebrate Christmas here, many of the workers on our compound and at stores wished us a "happy Christmas".  We were able to find a surprising amount of Christmas-related candy and some awesome hand-painted ornaments on which Santa is riding a camel.  Other decorations I bought in Germany or were donated by T.G.W.G.S.

The preparations for Christmas included making a snowman, assembling our smuggled tree, and making a gingerbread house...

Grandpa had to take over the gingerbread construction
after the houses collapsed.

One sprinkle on the house, one in my mouth

Decorating with Triniti and Tammy
(daughter and wife of T.G.W.G.S.)

Our gingerbread house

We had our traditional meal of meatballs and mashed potatoes on Christmas Eve, and the Bialiks (T.G.W.G.S. and family) came over.  Then on Christmas we had turkey at their house.  Almost everyone else has gone home or on vacations (to India, Sri Lanka, Romania, Germany...) so the compound was pretty empty.  To round out the holiday, we were able to skype or call several other family members.  Jack loved the gifts sent by our family - a book from Uncle Jason, a remote control truck from the Garretts, Aunt Sue's caramels (okay, I ate those all myself!), and recordable books from Gamma Nancy and Gampa Steve.

Christmas Dinner - yes, Rob is wearing a Bangladeshi skirt he got for Christmas.

Jack got two of his favorite snacks in his stocking - raisins and apple juice.

New toys

Grandpa's new hat of the Saudi flag.  Probably the only one in Brantwood!

Grandpa's new hookah

A new trike from Santa

Working off Christmas dinner with a game of soccer

Some things don't change...

Happy Holidays

New Phone Number

Great News! Santa brought Jack a Vonage Phone.

So feel free to give us a call-the number is (651) 294 9308.  Keep in mind we are 9 hours ahead and our weekends are on Thursday and Friday-so Saturday and Sunday mornings usually work the best.

Westside!  Jack's first gang sign.

Give us a call!  We would love to hear your questions, comments and opinions regarding:

1.  Mid-east peace relations.

2.  The role of Islam in the digital information age.

3.  Tips on milking camels. Tip #1: Stick to females (www.instantrimshot.com)

4.  101 uses for crude oil: It's as versatile as duct tape and it's made out of dinosaurs!

5.  sand.

Making our own White Christmas...

My parents arrived this week!!!  Jack is in heaven.  I wasn't sure if he would understand that the Grandma and Grandpa we talk to on the computer are the same one here, but he definitely does.

I asked them to pack a suitcase full of snow, but it didn't work...so we had to make our own snow.  Of course, the credit all goes to T.G.W.G.S., who dropped off the makings for a styrofoam snowman at our house.  Here are the steps for making a Saudi snowman:

 Step 1: T.G.W.G.S. drops off three styrofoam cubes of different sizes.

Step 2: Get Grandpa to cut off the corners of each cube.

Step 3: Invite neighbor kids over to help.  Give them all forks to rough up the sides and round the corners.

Step 4: Push a broom handle through the cubes.  If you need help, Jack is always willing, and very strong.

Step 5:  Try on all the possible snowman clothing.

Step 6: Dress the snowman and put him in the yard! Don't worry, T.G.W.G.S. already brought over real coal for the eyes and buttons.

Step 7: Now that the house is full of "snow"....

Santa Visits Saudi Arabia

Santa made an appearance at An Naseem Village last week.  He brought Jack a set of plastic tools, and Jack was pretty excited. He was one of the few youngsters who didn't cry at the sight of the big guy, and even sat on his lap.

Jack: "Reindeer shiny nose"

Jack with his friends Elodie and WIlliam

Jack and Elodie sharing "Pigs in a blanket"--actually "turkey dogs in a blanket"

The teenaged boys on the compound acted as Santa's helpers

Just a reminder of Jack's last encounter with Santa...

November Reflections

Yup, just like we ordered.  

The title of this post sounds like a high school yearbook theme.

Other options:  November: World Here we Come!, November: Cheers and Tears, November:  Footprints on the Sands of Time, November: Growing Wings.

It has been an eventful month-Laura went to Berlin, we bought a car, I grew a mustache and Jack learned lots of new words - 99% of which were not "boner"-sorry mom :(.

Our car purchase was as smooth as anything else in Saudi.  Two weeks and eight trips to the dealer and we scored a brand new black Ford Explorer.

Ghost ride the whip.  

Junk in the trunk

Last night we went to an 80's mustache party.  Teachers from the British school have been strongly promoting "Movember".  Many of the teachers (male teachers) grew mustaches to raise awareness for prostate cancer.  There were two buckets on the bar "shave the mo" and "keep the mo"-whichever bucket had more money at the end of the night decided our fate.

Blue Eye Shadow: Check

Village People: Check

Mauve Turtle Neck: Check

Leg Warmers: Check