Saudi Staycation

Happy New Year!  We decided to save a little money (ok, a lot of money-- every time we leave the Kingdom it means 3 international plane tickets plus everything else...serious cash) by having a Staycation.  I worked some on curriculum development but mostly hung out with the fam. 

In order to entice foreigners to come to Saudi, they make the living conditions on the compounds pretty sweet-- we have a huge movie theater, a private beach, swimming pools, golf course, restaurants.  It's a whole other world.  That being said, it's a world behind huge barbed wire fences with no alcohol unless you secretly make it yourself, so cabin fever can set in despite the luxuries.  

We had a good time but are counting down the days to our family vacation to southern India in April.  All I want is a cold Kingfisher!


Checking out the new floating toys at our beach

Lucia's first movie in the theater!!

We had 6 guest doggies staying with us for the holiday.  Walking them at night was an experience!

Oh you know, just some necklaces I wear around the house while the servants feed me grapes...

Lucia loving Santa's special trampoline delivery and her dress up costumes




Comments

  1. Thanks for letting us peek into your world. I find it so fascinating. Your daughter is loving her costume changes on the trampoline! Thanks for sharing and Happy New Year!

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  2. It was fun to have found your website. I taught in Saudi (Dhahran) for 3 years about 20 years ago! Am back in the ME (Dubai) this time with a husband and my 8yo. I am also teaching at an international school here. Looking forward to following your blog and a happy 2012 to you and your family.

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  3. @mary: thanks so much for reading-- yep, there is never a dull moment with my crazy kid. :) happy new year to you!

    @shar-- so you survived 3 years in saudi, huh? ;) are you loving Dubai? lots of teachers here (generally the young single ones) hop over there on the weekends for some fun. thanks for reading!

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  4. I too love seeing your awesome world! You might get cabin fever there, but believe me we get it in New England with the cold. It's been unseasonably warm though this year. The no alchohal thing is strange though. I don't drink very often but if someone told me I couldn't that's all I'd want to do! I have always been like that, which makes it very easy for anyone to get me to do something, just use reverse phsycology.

    Your daughter is soooooooooooo adorable. And what a husband, walking all those dogs! He must love travel as well. Just imagine all the experiences your daughter will have. I can't imagine how hard it must be, but it is so good for her.

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  5. @APG: thanks for reading! yep, i know what you're saying, tell me i can't do something and all of a sudden it's the only thing i want to do. i swear that's what made me quit smoking five years ago-- someone told me I would never be able to quit, so i did.

    thanks so much for your kind words about lucia, never a dull moment with that child. my husband does love to travel as well, and southern india is one place that we both haven't seen, so that will be fun to all experience it all for the first time as a family. i can hear the bollywood music and smell the cow dung already...i love the madness! especially with a cold beer.

    hope all is well with your precious little stella as well, she's getting big!

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  6. Kristin, It's such a small world. Our music teacher was out and his room is right across the hallway from mine. The sub came wandering in asking about the classes etc. I gave her the low down as best and professionally as I could then we got to talking. She said she taught abroad at the International School of Phnom Penh her name was Deidre Roberts. I immediately thought of YOU! Later in the conversation I realized that she was talking about you Princess Arty Pants Kristin! How amazing is that! She ended up having a good day from what I can gather. It was my most craziest busiest day of the week so I couldn't talk hardly at all but isn't that AMAZING?

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    Replies
    1. @APG sooooooo crazy! yep, i taught with her for 4 years and she's a good friend!! that is just amazing, very small world.

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