Rain.
You don't realize how much you miss it until you live somewhere where it almost never rains.
In Jeddah, rain now is synonymous with death, destruction, and frustration and causes widespread panic. In November 2009, floods devastated the city, killing more than 120 and stranding thousands. The government was slow to react, but the people of Jeddah filled that void with a volunteer effort that has birthed an entire movement here and throughout Saudi Arabia. I've met lots of volunteers, and every conversation references the floods of 2009. The tragedy was something of a turning point, and it's quite amazing to see what has come out of such a dark period.
Last Wednesday, I watched from my office as the sky darkened. Distant rumblings of thunder grew closer. And then, all of a sudden, down came the rain. This wasn't the five minutes of a few droplets we had a few weeks ago. This was a true downpour and thunderstorm. My colleagues and I were giddy, rushing to the windows and doors to feel the rain and take pictures.
Within a few minutes, though, the flat landscape became waterlogged. One of our entrances was blocked by flooding. Parents started receiving calls that schools were closing. The traffic sounds became more frantic, and more people got on the roads to try and get home. We received word of leaks in our events hall and had to cancel an afternoon event. In the excitement, a colleague and I decided to go out for lunch. We drove, as we thought we'd go a bit farther afield. We ended up literally across the street; the streets were flooded and jammed, and it was easier to stay close. In some places it was just a couple inches of water on the road, but there were people wading through with water up to their mid-calf. After just 30 minutes of rain.
Getting back to work was a nightmare. It took us 80 minutes. I heard similar stories from other colleagues who ventured out. It's all relative. In Thailand, during monsoon season, the roads occasionally flooded up to the car doors, but we always kept driving. While people canoed past us. But here, with rain barely over the bottom rim of the tire, the panic and phobia caused massive traffic jams.
Driving home several hours later was better, but the roads were still saturated. And with predictions of another storm with up to an inch of precipitation the next day, people were visibly shaken. Parking lots had turned into lakes. Side streets were canals. Swimming pools were now filled with brown water.
Things were better by the time we went out to dinner that night. But people still seemed freaked. As I walked home from the shuttle stop, lightning flashed in the distance.
I woke up on Thursday to winds lashing my windows. I opened the curtains to see driving rain and another thunderstorm. I settled in for a gray day at home. The rain didn't last as long as predicted, and it cleared up by mid-afternoon. I ventured out after the last prayer Thursday night to try to pay my internet bill. The first two branches were closed, presumably due to weather. The third was open, but packed. The roads were still flooded, impassable in some places. Cars were stuck in a number of places. It was quite a sight. Even after a full day of dry weather, the roads didn't drain all that much, as I noted Friday night. Last night, while at the Consulate, I passed by Hattie's burial site. I was a little worried it would be flooded, but luckily it is on slightly higher ground.
One local news outlet, Arab News, has a couple of good reads in English, complete with pictures here and here. There's also an interesting editorial here.
Luckily I don't have the same worries about flooding that most of the city's residents have, but I sympathize with their plight after seeing how bad things could get only after just a little rain. Definitely a cultural learning experience...
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Friday, December 31, 2010
State Department Blog RoundUp
On the last day of 2010, it's only fitting to reflect on the year that was and look forward to 2011. Here's wishing that, wherever you are in the world, you're celebrating the new year with family and friends.
Here’s a look at how the Foreign Service Blogosphere is ringing in the new year...
I’ll start it off with my own post. 2010 had its ups and downs, but I’m so happy to be where I am, and I am excited for a new year of (mis?)adventures!
Just US is taking full advantage of living in Israel and getting more in touch with her spirituality.
Pulling Stakes, with her usual dose of wit and wisdom, tells her family’s 2010 story in numbers. Kate, you deserve some new shoes after a year of barf!
Pulling Stakes, with her usual dose of wit and wisdom, tells her family’s 2010 story in numbers. Kate, you deserve some new shoes after a year of barf!
Small Bits has had a tumultuous 2010 but is excited about savoring each moment of the next year. (She is also doing a very ambitious RoundUp in a couple of weeks - don't forget to submit and check back!)
Beyond the Cornfields has a poignant reflection not just on 2010 but on her family’s journey in the Foreign Service. She has some great advice for those of you just starting this adventure.
Sass and Sweet is savoring a holiday at home with family, before heading to Beirut and a more complicated trip home for the holidays.
Crafty Foreign Service is hosting the second-annual Foreign Service Swap. (Information and instructions on her page.) I’ve already signed up, and you should too! What a great way to meet new people and learn about a new place.
You Can’t Get There From Here shows us the hilarious highlights of Rosetta Stone. The commentary is genius; I’m still laughing out loud.
Four Globetrotters has a New Years Resolution based on past experience – triathlons should
only be undertaken after careful consideration. Oh, and training.
Two Crabs is famous! Check out their post to find out how.
Linsey at Rambles and Ruminations, who is hosting next week’s Round-Up, made a beautiful photo tribute to 2010. Her family had awesome adventures on three continents!
Wife-Mommy-Woman also did a wonderful photo tribute. Next year will include another face in the photos!
Four Globetrotters has a New Years Resolution based on past experience – triathlons should
only be undertaken after careful consideration. Oh, and training.
Two Crabs is famous! Check out their post to find out how.
Linsey at Rambles and Ruminations, who is hosting next week’s Round-Up, made a beautiful photo tribute to 2010. Her family had awesome adventures on three continents!
Wife-Mommy-Woman also did a wonderful photo tribute. Next year will include another face in the photos!
Life in the Land of the Long White Cloud reflects on his and his family’s many life events in 2010. As usual, his way with words and beautiful tributes to the people in his life make it a great read.
The Dinoia Family had a furry houseguest this week, and the whole family agrees puppies are a whole lot of work!
Global Geraghtys had an exciting 2010 and are eagerly anticipating the adventures to come in 2011.
Kim at Scrivners has many reasons to be excited about 2011 (and continues to be ever-poetic and a wonderful photographer).
Life in Jerusalem finally made it to the beach after having to spend an extra day at home playing video games because of the snow.
Bfiles, who starts A-100 next week, quickly learned that flexibility is key, after a blizzard canceled her packout! Good luck Bfiles, it sounds like you have things well under control.
What Were We Thinking? celebrated their first Christmas in Tijuana; Lisa managed to keep her husband’s present a surprise for several weeks and several thousand miles – impressive!
Kitty Non Grata has a new work Blackberry; she’s a little uncertain about what this means for her free time.
Looking for Geckos proves that a picture (or two) is truly worth a thousand words.
Don’t forget to submit a post for next week’s RoundUp at Rambles and Ruminations, and sign up to host a week at A Daring Adventure. (It’s painless and fun, I promise!)
And with that, Happy New Year!!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The Times, They Are a-Changin'
I am hosting the State Department Blog RoundUp this week, with the predictable theme of reflecting on 2010 and looking ahead to 2011. I am not big on making New Years resolutions, but I am very good at reflecting and pondering.
This year has been a roller-coaster of emotions, with some wonderful highs and tragic lows, interspersed with less dramatic ebbs and flows.
Now that I think about it, the weather I've experienced this year has also had highs, lows, and weird in betweens. I was in DC for two blizzards (and two wonderful weeks of several days with no work) and then in Saudi Arabia for August and September. With a few weeks of NH winter and months of DC summer thrown in for fun. Today, it rained for about 30 minutes, and the city came to a complete standstill. It took me 80 minutes to drive (well, ride) a block and a half.
In June, we celebrated my grandmother's 90th birthday with a huge family reunion and party. It was three days of laughter and great food and lots of hugs and story-telling. Grandma became a great-great-grandmother a few weeks later, which I consider pretty awesome. To have five generations of family living at the same time is quite an impressive feat.
In July, we bid farewell to my other grandmother. As devastating as her death was, I am thankful I was able to say goodbye and support my father during that difficult time.
August was a tough month. I moved to Saudi Arabia and immediately, and tragically, lost my beloved Hattie. I know I mention it a lot, but my life changed so dramatically and needlessly at that time that it's a vivid punctuation in the year. Two weeks later I welcomed two beautiful kittens into my life. It may have been too soon, emotionally, but they've become an important (and cuddly!) part of my life. They're perfect.
This was the year that I truly began my dream career, as a diplomat. I spent much of 2009 in training, but nothing compares to actually being overseas and knowing I'm serving my country. It's a source of pride for me, and sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure it's not a dream. I absolutely, truly love my job, even at its low points. Not everyone can say that.
I've met many amazing people this year. The Foreign Service family is truly a global community, and it's nice to have that network and support system. Plus my job enables me to meet fascinating people on a daily basis. And I have a place to stay in some pretty awesome places on every continent... (I promise to reciprocate when I'm posted somewhere with a vibrant tourism industry.)
After a few years of not traveling much, I finally got back into the swing of things. I had a great time in WA with my mom and brother in April, my first time to the Pacific Northwest. I'll be back, definitely. I visited two new countries (Saudi Arabia, Egypt), in a region that's totally new to me. I look forward to exploring it more in the next two years. Mom and I had an awesome musical journey to Forth Worth, TX and started a new tradition, following Lyle Lovett around the country. Not to mention the many trips up and down the I-95 corridor and out to WV, and a pleasant winter weekend in VA Beach.
So what will 2011 bring? Lots more travel, starting with a January trip to Israel to meet some beautiful babies and see some awesome people :-). At least a couple family weddings, where we'll (officially) welcome some pretty awesome people into the clan. New challenges, opportunities, and experiences at work. I'm trying not to look too far ahead, but I get to bid again next summer, so the anticipation is building. I fall in love with a new potential post every month or so. (Today's find: Asmara. Look it up.)
The last few days of the year are always filled with a frisson of anticipation for the new year. I'll ring in 2011 with friends and colleagues (and then maybe wake up early the next morning to skype-celebrate it with my family as well).
One thing's for certain: I will continue to torture my cats for my own entertainment. Right now they're wearing ruffled collars with jingle bells. Because the box of Christmas presents I ordered them (myself?) just arrived. To be fair, I used to dress Hattie up in ridiculous things as well. That's a tradition that will never change. And sometimes, it's good to have some stability. Especially in a career/lifestyle that's so dependent on frequent and drastic change.
And on that poignant thought, I'll end.
Happy New Year!
(Please continue to submit your posts for the RoundUp!)
This year has been a roller-coaster of emotions, with some wonderful highs and tragic lows, interspersed with less dramatic ebbs and flows.
Now that I think about it, the weather I've experienced this year has also had highs, lows, and weird in betweens. I was in DC for two blizzards (and two wonderful weeks of several days with no work) and then in Saudi Arabia for August and September. With a few weeks of NH winter and months of DC summer thrown in for fun. Today, it rained for about 30 minutes, and the city came to a complete standstill. It took me 80 minutes to drive (well, ride) a block and a half.
In June, we celebrated my grandmother's 90th birthday with a huge family reunion and party. It was three days of laughter and great food and lots of hugs and story-telling. Grandma became a great-great-grandmother a few weeks later, which I consider pretty awesome. To have five generations of family living at the same time is quite an impressive feat.
In July, we bid farewell to my other grandmother. As devastating as her death was, I am thankful I was able to say goodbye and support my father during that difficult time.
August was a tough month. I moved to Saudi Arabia and immediately, and tragically, lost my beloved Hattie. I know I mention it a lot, but my life changed so dramatically and needlessly at that time that it's a vivid punctuation in the year. Two weeks later I welcomed two beautiful kittens into my life. It may have been too soon, emotionally, but they've become an important (and cuddly!) part of my life. They're perfect.
This was the year that I truly began my dream career, as a diplomat. I spent much of 2009 in training, but nothing compares to actually being overseas and knowing I'm serving my country. It's a source of pride for me, and sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure it's not a dream. I absolutely, truly love my job, even at its low points. Not everyone can say that.
I've met many amazing people this year. The Foreign Service family is truly a global community, and it's nice to have that network and support system. Plus my job enables me to meet fascinating people on a daily basis. And I have a place to stay in some pretty awesome places on every continent... (I promise to reciprocate when I'm posted somewhere with a vibrant tourism industry.)
After a few years of not traveling much, I finally got back into the swing of things. I had a great time in WA with my mom and brother in April, my first time to the Pacific Northwest. I'll be back, definitely. I visited two new countries (Saudi Arabia, Egypt), in a region that's totally new to me. I look forward to exploring it more in the next two years. Mom and I had an awesome musical journey to Forth Worth, TX and started a new tradition, following Lyle Lovett around the country. Not to mention the many trips up and down the I-95 corridor and out to WV, and a pleasant winter weekend in VA Beach.
So what will 2011 bring? Lots more travel, starting with a January trip to Israel to meet some beautiful babies and see some awesome people :-). At least a couple family weddings, where we'll (officially) welcome some pretty awesome people into the clan. New challenges, opportunities, and experiences at work. I'm trying not to look too far ahead, but I get to bid again next summer, so the anticipation is building. I fall in love with a new potential post every month or so. (Today's find: Asmara. Look it up.)
The last few days of the year are always filled with a frisson of anticipation for the new year. I'll ring in 2011 with friends and colleagues (and then maybe wake up early the next morning to skype-celebrate it with my family as well).
One thing's for certain: I will continue to torture my cats for my own entertainment. Right now they're wearing ruffled collars with jingle bells. Because the box of Christmas presents I ordered them (myself?) just arrived. To be fair, I used to dress Hattie up in ridiculous things as well. That's a tradition that will never change. And sometimes, it's good to have some stability. Especially in a career/lifestyle that's so dependent on frequent and drastic change.
And on that poignant thought, I'll end.
Happy New Year!
(Please continue to submit your posts for the RoundUp!)
Saturday, December 25, 2010
State Department Blog RoundUp: Call for Submissions
I suppose it's time to stop procrastinating and actually write the announcement for next week's State Department Blog RoundUp, since Small Bits and A Daring Adventure are both (rightfully) linking here :-).
So here goes! I am hosting the final State Department Blog RoundUp of 2010, which, predictably, calls for reflections on this year and looking ahead to 2011. Here are some ideas for posts, though feel free to create your own!
Happy blogging!
(And Merry Christmas!)
So here goes! I am hosting the final State Department Blog RoundUp of 2010, which, predictably, calls for reflections on this year and looking ahead to 2011. Here are some ideas for posts, though feel free to create your own!
- Reflections on 2010
- Looking ahead to 2011
- I wish I'd known on 12/31/2009 that...
- The most embarrassing moment of 2010
- 2010: The year of the...
- Resolutions
- Predictions
Happy blogging!
(And Merry Christmas!)
Merry Christmas, Louie Dog
(The continuation of this story...)
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Dear Diary,
My boy came home last night! It was such a surprise. I was sleeping in front of the fire. (I was really tired because I was out running around all day while Grandma and Grandpa were at work. I found a great swimming pool toy in the next door neighbor's garage and played with it in the middle of the road. What a great chew toy) Anyway, Grandma came in and had my boy with her! We rolled and hugged and kissed for about an hour! I am so happy! I had to stay up late, though, because my boy was up really late cleaning up our room, vacuuming up my decorations, and trying to fix the door I made into a half door. My boy didn't have to work today, so we just hung out together and I waited in the car when he went skiing this afternoon. What a wonderful day.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Dear Diary,
My boy went to work today and I stayed home with Grandpa. He took me with him in the truck to go get my Christmas present. I got a new collar. It is shiny and bright. They call it a choke collar and I think I look pretty good in it, if I do say so myself. But my BIG Christmas present said, Canine Home Training System on it. I like it a lot. Grandma and Grandpa call the "The Final Resolution." The picture is below.
I think this is going to be my last diary entry for a while.
Merry Christmas.
Louie Dog
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Dear Diary,
My boy came home last night! It was such a surprise. I was sleeping in front of the fire. (I was really tired because I was out running around all day while Grandma and Grandpa were at work. I found a great swimming pool toy in the next door neighbor's garage and played with it in the middle of the road. What a great chew toy) Anyway, Grandma came in and had my boy with her! We rolled and hugged and kissed for about an hour! I am so happy! I had to stay up late, though, because my boy was up really late cleaning up our room, vacuuming up my decorations, and trying to fix the door I made into a half door. My boy didn't have to work today, so we just hung out together and I waited in the car when he went skiing this afternoon. What a wonderful day.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Dear Diary,
My boy went to work today and I stayed home with Grandpa. He took me with him in the truck to go get my Christmas present. I got a new collar. It is shiny and bright. They call it a choke collar and I think I look pretty good in it, if I do say so myself. But my BIG Christmas present said, Canine Home Training System on it. I like it a lot. Grandma and Grandpa call the "The Final Resolution." The picture is below.
I think this is going to be my last diary entry for a while.
Merry Christmas.
Louie Dog
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Louie Dog's Diary
This absolutely hilarious post is entirely thanks to my mother. My youngest brother went away for a week and left my parents with his year old, 110lb Bernese Mountain Dog/Red Fox Labrador puppy, Louie Dog. Louie is a very sweet, obedient, and lovely dog... when Dylan is around. But whenever Dylan is gone, Louie Dog turns into an anxious, destructive, Marley-like basket-case.
This is the email I received when I got to work this morning. I proceeded to laugh so hard I almost fell out of my chair and my colleagues came running to see what was wrong. Then there was the follow-up entry from later in the day that started the laughing all over again. (Sorry Mom and Dad - it's really funny when you're not living it!)
Happy reading... and be glad it's not your house!
Tuesday
My boy left me today. Grandma locked me in my boy's bedroom with a nice blanket to lay on, a full bowl of water, some dog cookies, and a nice bone filled with peanut butter and frozen. It was nice. I got a little bored and shredded up some paper for variety. Grandma and Grandpa gave me good lovings, belly rubs, stretches, food, and I got to sit on Grandma's lap for about an hour.Wednesday
Same ol', same ol'. Grandma set me in up my boy's room again and locked me in with all my goodies. I was good but was more bored today, so I chewed up some stuff on my boy's bed, like one of his slippers and a package of plastic cookie cutters and gnawed on his business portfolio a little. Grandma and Grandpa were still really good to me when they got home and we had a good night.
Thursday
Locked up in the room again with all the usual goodies. This time, I watched. When I got bored, I figured out how to unlatch the door from the inside. I had so much fun! Found the roll of toilet paper and decorated the whole house with it until it ran out. Then, I ate the Christmas wreath on the door, ate Dylan's other slipper, sorted through the trash, ate three baseball caps. Grandpa was really mad when he got home.
Friday
Even though they moved the nail, it didn't slow me down a bit. After I finished my treats, I opened up the door and - Freedom! Checked out the trash again. The bathroom door was closed so I couldn't decorate the house with the toilet paper, but did find some mail to chew on. It looked so pretty afterwards. I did find where they'd put the remainder of the slippers and the baseball caps from yesterday, so I was able to finish them off. Ate some yummy cookies from the gingerbread christmas tree Grandma had made. Grandma and Grandpa did not want to give me belly rubs tonight.
Saturday
Grandma was at work again but I hung out with Grandpa for half the day. Then Grandpa had to go to town so he put me in the room again after resetting the latch. He made a lot of noise with the hammer. Ha! No problem. I found a great box of kleenex that was really fun to rip apart. I tried to check out a cast iron skillet on the stove, but it was clean. I guess I must have turned on the burner under it because Grandpa was really scared when he got home. He said something about trying to burn down the house and how lucky it was that he got home when he did. Found a few other items -- random shoes and gloves to chew. No sitting on Grandma's lap tonight.
Sunday
Grandpa was home almost all day today. He put a new latch on the outside of the door, so I was stuck when he went to town again. I found a nice tie to eat and was just starting on a new hoodie when he came home. I spent a lot of time outside tonight...and they won't decorate the tree until someone is home all the time. It looks stupid there in the living room with nothing on it. Where is their Christmas spirit? No one would talk to me tonight.
Monday
Grandma gave me FOUR bones today. Two were stuffed with peanut butter and frozen. Two had little doggie cookies stuffed into them. It took me a long time to work those out. I couldn't figure out how to get out of the room with the new latch on the outside of the door. So, I took the door apart and jumped through the nice big hole I made. I had to completely chew up the Jamaican towel to get it all done. Tried to get the toilet paper again, but I couldn't find the end, so I just chewed it up in place. That box of Kleenex was out so I ate bunches of that. Pulled down a little lamp next to Grandpa's chair but that was no good for chewing and had no decorative value. I checked out the sink and thought I'd found something good, but it was just coffee grounds so I left it on the rug. Perhaps I could get out the barn door! But there are lots of coats hanging there. I ate the grey jacket because it had stuffing in it. Grandpa's Columbia jacket had a nice lining that felt so good in my mouth. Finally got all four jackets down, but that darned barn door wouldn't budge. Just then Grandma came home from work. I've been outside for a very long time now. I heard Grandma and Grandpa talking about a chicken coop tomorrow. I hope it is something that is fun to chew!! I hope they feed me tonight. They just seem so grouchy all the time. I guess it's because they are so old...
I'll write more tomorrow when I can talk about all the fun I had in that chicken coop!
Louie Dog
Another Louie Dog diary entry:
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Grandpa spent a lot of time last night, going to the store to get a slide bolt (whatever that is…can’t eat it, but the package was good), spreading hay around and buttoning up the chicken coop. He put me in it this morning before he went to work. Boring!!! I greeted Grandma when she was getting in her car to go to work. The door and screen were no match for me. Grandma muttered a lot (what am I going to do now? There is no place to lock you up…the dog catcher will get you if I let you stay out but I can’t keep you in the house)…mostly blah, blah, blah. She gave me two big peanut butter bones and put me back in the coop with a heavy table propped against the door. Ha! I’ll figure this out too. I wonder if I can find that dog catcher she keeps talking about? Won’t Grandpa be surprised when he comes home from work to find me in the road waiting for him??
****
Some pictures of Louie Dog - the first two from November; the next three from last April, when he was a (relatively) tiny little puppy.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Cultural Faux Pas, in a Red Velvet Bag
I have awesome colleagues. There's no doubt about it. I enjoy going to work, and they've quickly become a surrogate family and support system. The locally engaged staff are also really great about guiding me in Saudi culture and society (even though none of them are Saudi). So I was thinking of ideas for a nice, non-Christmas-y seasonal celebration. And I found one. Something that is a New England tradition and that I remember doing at least a few times growing up. (Am I right, Mom?) I bought my kit from the Vermont Country Store, purveyors of oddities and other wonderful goods. It arrived yesterday. I convened a staff meeting today to discuss door decorating for the Consulate's contest and to share my holiday treat. About that time my boss remarked, jokingly, that it was an odd choice for the Saudi context. And then, for the very first time, I realized how culturally inappropriate my idea might be.
I had brought in a peppermint pig.
Now the peppermint pig is a tradition begun in upstate NY in the 1880s. After a holiday meal, families would pass around the peppermint pig in a velvet bag. Every person would discuss some of their good fortune for the year and then tap the pig with a hammer. At the end, the broken pieces could be consumed, and there would be good fortune for the new year.
But a pig. Really, Sadie? I turned bright red, could barely speak, and couldn't stop apologizing. (About half our office is Muslim.) But everyone took it in stride, laughed at my obvious embarrassment, and took turns talking about good fortune and hammering the pig. I cannot believe it never occurred to me to think about the religious aspect of the pig. The good news is, I was so obviously flabbergasted by my own faux pas that everyone knew it was truly a mistake. And everyone did enjoy using the hammer!
The other great thing about my colleagues is that they'll tell me the truth. So when I apologized to people individually later on, they told me that they knew I was just sharing a tradition and not trying to offend anyone. And laughed at me again.
*sigh*
I still feel bad.
I had brought in a peppermint pig.
Now the peppermint pig is a tradition begun in upstate NY in the 1880s. After a holiday meal, families would pass around the peppermint pig in a velvet bag. Every person would discuss some of their good fortune for the year and then tap the pig with a hammer. At the end, the broken pieces could be consumed, and there would be good fortune for the new year.
But a pig. Really, Sadie? I turned bright red, could barely speak, and couldn't stop apologizing. (About half our office is Muslim.) But everyone took it in stride, laughed at my obvious embarrassment, and took turns talking about good fortune and hammering the pig. I cannot believe it never occurred to me to think about the religious aspect of the pig. The good news is, I was so obviously flabbergasted by my own faux pas that everyone knew it was truly a mistake. And everyone did enjoy using the hammer!
The other great thing about my colleagues is that they'll tell me the truth. So when I apologized to people individually later on, they told me that they knew I was just sharing a tradition and not trying to offend anyone. And laughed at me again.
*sigh*
I still feel bad.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Now With Video Goodness!
It only took a week, but I was finally able to post videos on my previous "Christmas Spectacles" post!
So check it out here.
(Each video took approximately 90 minutes to upload on my ridiculously slow internet connection.)
So check it out here.
(Each video took approximately 90 minutes to upload on my ridiculously slow internet connection.)
Monday, December 13, 2010
Underwhelming Weird Weather
I'm a little jealous that a great number of my friends and family members have had weird weather patterns this week, from the U.S. to the Middle East. As much as I hate snow (which is a lot), I enjoyed the novelty of the giant snowstorms in DC last winter. Or rather I enjoyed the paid week and a half off... Anyway.
Weather in Jeddah has been unique this week, but, truly, it's nothing to write home about. Despite that, I will.
Last Thursday (virtual Saturday), the skies were grey, and the sun wasn't shining - for the first time since I arrived at post. Then, there was a thunder clap! And a few drops of rain! I immediately grabbed my cats and took them on the balcony to feel rain. Which they didn't like. So I grabbed my camera and took a few photos. That worked better. See below. The rain lasted all of three minutes and only amounted to the few drops you can see. The thunder and lightning persisted a bit longer. All in all, exciting, but not nearly as exciting as a Metrodome collapse, snow in Cairo, or ferocious winds in Amman.
(Note: I only allowed tree climbing for the first minute, for photographic purposes. Since then, it's a quick squirt with the water gun.)
Weather in Jeddah has been unique this week, but, truly, it's nothing to write home about. Despite that, I will.
Last Thursday (virtual Saturday), the skies were grey, and the sun wasn't shining - for the first time since I arrived at post. Then, there was a thunder clap! And a few drops of rain! I immediately grabbed my cats and took them on the balcony to feel rain. Which they didn't like. So I grabbed my camera and took a few photos. That worked better. See below. The rain lasted all of three minutes and only amounted to the few drops you can see. The thunder and lightning persisted a bit longer. All in all, exciting, but not nearly as exciting as a Metrodome collapse, snow in Cairo, or ferocious winds in Amman.
In other news, a few pictures of the cats and the tree... Only one broken ornament and several others knocked off. It's early days, though...
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