Day to Day

Once you settle into a new place, life is life, and people are people. Living on a compound here really does give me comfort and convenience for day to day things like working out, getting groceries, and doing laundry. All of those things are a short walk away from my villa.

The work week is Sunday through Thursday (recently changed from the previous Saturday through Wednesday work week). This still adheres to the Islamic calendar, while giving more opportunities to businesses that operate internationally. Not much work gets done between different time zones if the shared work week is only a couple days.

During the week it's nice to have set times to go to and leave work. That way, when I'm home, I'm free to do extra class prep if I want, but otherwise I just relax and get things done around the house. On weekends it's nice to go out and shop, eat and spend time with people.

Me and Mom out on the town!

Shaorma - chicken, french fries, sauce, and a pickle wrapped in Arabic bread. Delicious.

Spices being sold at the markets in town. Those are cinnamon sticks on the right!!

I'm a rebel. Therefore the loose fitting, non-black scarf. Only women from other countries wear colors other than black. I've been told that this obsession with black isn't technically a rule; it's just the cultural expectation. 99% of Saudi women (at least where I live) cover their faces in public, and at least half of them veil even their eyes. The only place that's an exception to that would be the more multicultural city of Jeddah. Most western women just wear an abaya (the robe) and bring a scarf along in case the religious police make a fuss, but I usually feel more comfortable and more respectful of the culture and of the other women if I cover my head. So it's a personal decision - it's not enforced for non-Saudi women in most parts of KSA.

I'm really grateful to be working hard, but also enjoying this whole new world! There is so much more I could write about, but trust me that this life is equally challenging and rewarding.

- Courtney