A Birthday in Jeddah

Greetings friends and family,

We are now living in the Marriott with almost 70 of our colleagues, many of whom are working couples where each person will be teaching for KAUST Schools. Quite a few of our faculty have children, at least one couple is pregnant, and some have babies. In some cases, couples are not here yet with their children who are with friends or grandparents until later this month. In another case, a family has one son here, one daughter in college, and one son in boarding school in the U.S. Several families with pets and some members of the administrative team are living in a separate compound where pets are allowed and abayas are not required until you leave the compound. We visited some friends who are living on a compound, sat out by the pool in shorts, swam as a family (which we cannot do at the hotel since the pool is visible from many of the hotel room windows), and ordered pizza for dinner. It was a refreshing change from the hotel. However, living in the hotel gives those us here a real sense of family with our colleagues, I think.

Everyone seemed to know that yesterday was my birthday, and I received many hugs and wishes in the morning when I went down to breakfast. One friend gave me a gift bag and when I opened it I found it filled with lovely soaps, shampoos, lotions, and body washes - all from the hotel! We laughed so much. Another friend gave me a product from the Body Shop - where we had gone shopping for something I needed the day before - for which I had loaned her money to buy. Since mine was the first KAUST School birthday, which I actually share with another Arabic female teacher from Jordan, everyone made it truly a celebration. The entire faculty sang to us in English and then Arabic and every time I got up to participate in the discussion, someone would say, "Let her do what she wants, it's her birthday!" Later, a couple, who is expecting their first baby in February, offered to watch the boys, take them swimming, and take them to dinner, so we could go out to dinner. We took them up on the idea and found a Japanese restaurant to try. Since we often go out to Musashi's for sushi (in Seattle) for my birthday, it seemed perfect. The restaurant turned out to be very formal and stiff, with relatively poor service, expensive food, and mediocre sushi - but we had fun nonetheless being out on the town on a DATE! I guess it's one of the 'most famous Japanese restaurants in Jeddah', but we wouldn't go again. However, as we left, the taxi drove right by a sushi restaurant that looked JUST like the kind of sushi place we - and perhaps you all - might imagine, so we figure we will try that one in a couple of weeks. It's all about exploring and investigating, trying and sometimes failing or succeeding, learning new things, meeting people - an adventure!

When we got back to the hotel, we met our kids in the hotel restaurant and sat down to join them and many other people who were eating dinner. After a bit, David and the waitstaff came out with a beautifully made and decorated chocolate cake and one candle! Everyone sang again, and we shared the cake with all the kids and some adults who wanted some. Rima, the other August 9 birthday person, was sitting right next to us, so she had cake with us too. I like her already! She has two daughters - five and ten - so perhaps our kids will meet and play together.

Though usually a birthday is a simple affair - dinner at a favorite restaurant - yesterday turned out to be very fun and celebratory. I also had brought cards mailed to us early at home from family and I opened those yesterday, as well as reading all the email wishes! Thanks to all.

We will try to post more photos soon. I am just tired of photos of me in black! The woman in the photo above with the veil was so friendly and was hilarious trying to give us directions to a place we were looking for. Her English was excellent and she was very 'jolly.' Thanks for reading, Jennifer