I'm not in the habit of writing about the same topic twice (special exception for the Princess Souk—Volume III in the near future, I'm sure), but then this happened: Actually, the headline didn't inspire me by itself. I've seen plenty like it and already posted on the topic. Though I confess that the closing line … Continue reading That Old Black Magic II: An End to Sorcery
Category: Blog
Some Things Are Puzzles
A lot of things about Saudi Arabia puzzle me. This sign, for instance. It puzzles me: I thought it might be advertising a new indoor playland (all the malls have them—outdoor parks are rare, hot, and dirty). A friend thought it was a candy store. Those are childish illustrations, so surely SOMETHING for kids, right? … Continue reading Some Things Are Puzzles
Desert Diving
We went on our first desert outing of "the season" yesterday. I calculate "the season" as "not summer." Kinda like the symphony season. The theater and ballet and debutante and ballroom season. You're still wearing long dresses; they're just...simpler. Less colorful. Less flattering. Dustier. And on any given day, smellier. I'll tell you what, though. … Continue reading Desert Diving
Buckle Up, Kids: Driving in Saudi Arabia
I've been putting off this post for some time because I didn't have the sufficient video or photos to do it justice. I've finally concluded I will NEVER have sufficient material to do it justice. The topic? Driving in Saudi Arabia. This is one of those "gotta be there" kinda things. But I have to … Continue reading Buckle Up, Kids: Driving in Saudi Arabia
Say Yes to the Dresses: Report from a Saudi Wedding
Consider the number of times you have told a child "No, you have to eat your dinner before you get dessert." Consider the metaphor you would use to describe the number. Fleas on a dog? Sand in the ocean? The old "If I had a nickel for every time I've said it, I'd be rich?" … Continue reading Say Yes to the Dresses: Report from a Saudi Wedding
Behind the Walls
I got a note last week from a Saudi gentleman who appreciated a post and especially other expats' positive comments about life in Saudi Arabia (his comment will be the last or nearly), and then said, "What I read is all about personal experiences. How about getting in touch with Saudis themselves? How did you … Continue reading Behind the Walls
Saudi News Notes: That Old Black Magic
Baseball players are a notoriously superstitious lot. Lucky socks, rally hats, pre-game rituals, all as much a part of the game as the ball itself. My beloved Colorado Rockies, while on a record-breaking winning streak years ago, were noticed wearing the same dark vests at every game. In an effort to break the streak, an … Continue reading Saudi News Notes: That Old Black Magic
Home Is Where Your Stuff Is
I had a terrible time getting to sleep last night. And it wasn't jet lag. No, it was more like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b95oyhSd5ls And what, pray, could make me that excited? I'm HOME. And by that I don't mean my home-home. That's where I'd just been. No, I was in my now-home. I've been away for … Continue reading Home Is Where Your Stuff Is
Saudi Cheat Sheet
When people learn I live in Saudi Arabia, the first question tends to be, "So what's it like there?" A big question. But given enough time (say, a meal, rather than a cash-register transaction), the conversations generally cover the same ground. Here, then, are the basic answers to the basic questions about what it's like in … Continue reading Saudi Cheat Sheet
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
I'm in the U.S. now, doing what both expats and a lot of Saudis treat as necessary: getting out of Saudi Arabia. I wasted no time beginning my Celebration of Swine: straight off the plane and into a sweet pork Mexican salad, followed by a ham dinner, followed by ham-and-bean soup the next day, followed … Continue reading Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
Margo Catts 