Like I've said before, the Saudis treat us like royalty! We have feasts for every meal. Since being in Jeddah, seafood is a primary staple. Tonight we had a traditional Saudi meal (at least for this region.) It was a lot of fish, calamari, and shrimp. We got to use our hands to literally tear the fish meat off the bone! And though you might be grossed out, you should know that it was all DELICIOUS!!!!!!! (BTW--Every meal is proceeded and concluded with light Arabian coffee made with cardamon and dates--the fruit of the palm tree. They are gooey and sweet, and very tasty. There are many varieties. In fact, there are actually date "factories," as this region produces a lot of them around the oases.)
My favorite drink is a carbonated apple-fruit drink. It's nicknamed "Saudi Champagne." (Keep in mind, Saudis do not drink! It's illegal as it is forbidden by the Koran. I was talking with other my new friend David from Boston about that today. Imagine how the US might be positively different if we had banned alcohol from our inception! Of course there are instances of Saudis secretly having alcohol or visiting nearby countries to drink. However, all I've met are dedicated to following their religion and don't!)
FYI--Only the first two pictures are from tonight. The others show the coffee being served and the little cookies and treats that are served EVERYWHERE we visit (literally!!)
(Saudi Coffee served in a small cup! Shake it if you don't want any more...)
11 comments:
I had to laugh when I saw this post - I was going to ask you about food today! Sounds like you've enjoyed some delicacies. Have you tried any food that you haven't had before? Have you met any Saudi vegetarians? I don't know how prevalent that is in their culture.
Two thoughts on this post: 1) I think it's awesome that you went to a women's school! During my women's studies classes in college we read a lot about women in other cultures - especially Muslim countries. It's very inspiring to know that there are women in Saudi Arabia who are fighting for their right to be educated and share their knowledge with others. 2) I noticed there was a photo of a woman with a cat - do many people there have pets? I have an uninformed, stereotypical assumption that there would be lots of cats there. Not a bad thing, of course :) Zeppelin is sitting next to me on the couch as I type this - he says hi.
Sol-
Hey...sounds like the adventure of a lifetime. I'm excited for you!! A couple more questions:
1. Will you have an opportunity to meet with any Saudis who are of the "lower" class? People who might have different views than those expressed by the more "educated"?
2. Have you encountered any situations where people won't talk to you or are hesitant to have their photo taken?
3. Sounds as if women are making huge strides in SA...which is fantastic...how far have women come in comparison to some of their neighboring countries?
4. What percentage of SA people speak English? Any language barriers?
5. How would you compare average prices in SA to those in the USA? "Average" standard of living?
You're doing a terrific job of keeping us all informed about your travels! Thanks for letting us live vicariously.
YEG
How is the weather in Jedda? Can you smell the sea?
Beautiful fish by the way, "Mr. Demille, I'm ready for my close up," cue psycho theme music.
Hey you...never blogged b4, so I will be short....I feel like I am a student of yours. Very interesting stories. I will keep up with them, safe travels.
Wonderful Sol! It's great to catch up with the unique experiences you've been having! I am amazed by the extensive seafood that you are eating there - Jim is so jealous! We are happy to see that you are enjoying your time there! We look forward to keeping up with all your adventures and seeing you again soon!
I don't have a question this time, I just wanted to tell you that I love that you're doing this-- the play by play is amazing... And we miss you!
Sol, I just logged on to your blog and it looks like you're having quite the experience. I'm sure you'll have even more great pictures to share when you get back. Good luck on the rest of your trip! -TF
St Paul Park - as in Minnesota? Dang I wish I'd found your blog earlier! I'm a Minnesotan living here in Dhahran, KSA. There are a lot of Minnesotans here, and many of them - like you - are teachers. They could have offered you a lot of insights prior to and during your trip, I'm sure. Hope you enjoyed your little foray into our country. If there's anything I can do from this side to help with your teaching about KSA, let me know!
Take care - I heard from my kids that MN is blanketed AGAIN with a late spring coat of snow!
Hey Sol,
Amazing job with the blog - super interesting!
The camel farm looked amazing!
It snowed here last night and is cold this morning, so enjoy your weather.
I will find out tonight if I can manage to meet you next week - I'll shoot you an email.
Have Fun!
Gina
hey.. you have a picture of a round shaped thing (food) what is that???
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