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
Category: People
Endlessly interesting humanity
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?
Modest Is…Oh, Come On
There can be mixed messages in Saudi Arabia about what is and isn't appropriate: That shot comes from my TV, where we're watching a show through our local satellite provider called "Wine-Quest," and yes, those are Arabic subtitles. In a country where alcohol is illegal. So illegal, in fact, that you can get a hefty … Continue reading Modest Is…Oh, Come On
Funny to You, Maybe
Every culture has its own taste in comedy. This may have come from an American movie, but Americans have never cared much for it. Instead, the French find Jerry Lewis HILARIOUS. A comedic genius! Americans are baffled. As they are at Japanese game shows: Lest you think I imagine Americans are above it all, let's … Continue reading Funny to You, Maybe
Saudi News Notes: The Twitter Tease
You know how doctors are figuring out how to use your own genetic material in therapies that target your specific ailment? Or horror movies where some weird power taps into your psyche to design the ultimate adversary for you? Here's my weakness: I have a hard time letting great stuff disappear into the ether. Check … Continue reading Saudi News Notes: The Twitter Tease
Coins in the Fountain
A slope beyond the back fence of my home in Denver has housed, for many years, a family of foxes. (Literal foxes, not pretty girls from the 1970s.) Or at least, that's my best guess of what was going on. Foxes all look alike to me, so I don't know whether the place was available … Continue reading Coins in the Fountain
Margo Catts 