As usual, as I sit down to write a blog here, I realize that I have way to much to say for one blog. I will do my best. Anyways, since my last blog I have traveled across the world and back, reunited and reparted with loved ones, met knew people, tried knew things, and hopefully learned something along the way.
My flight from Saudi Arabia to the United states went smoothly, despite my idiotic attempt to carry a knife onto the plane. I had bought a souvenir knife while I was in Jordan as a present for my brother. It wasn’t sharp, but it was still a knife, and without thinking I accidently threw that in my carry on bag. My friends were in stitches in the airport when the security guard looked at the knife and then back at me with an expression like “what on earth were you thinking” and my first reaction was to tell him, “It’s okay, it’s just a toy.” Needless to say, that was one Christmas present my brother never got. I had a quick layover in Germany, which a couple of days earlier would have been a disaster because flights were being cancelled due to a storm in Germany, but fortunately, a couple hours after getting to Germany I was leaving. It might just be that my heart was full of expectancy and hope, but that plane ride was spectacular. We flew well north of Iceland, going over the polar cap, and then came right down the west coast of Canada, going over the Canadian rockies. I hope it never seises to amaze me how you can travel anywhere in the world within about a day. Arriving at the airport was the best feeling. My mom, sisters and girlfriend were there to pick me up and then we went and met up with my Uncle and cousin at a Chipotle right near the airport. For the Saudi’s and other non Americans reading this, I apologize that you have never had the delight of eating a Chipotle burrito.
The rest of that day was picture perfect, getting to spend time with my family and girlfriend watching Christmas movies in front of the fireplace drinking hot chocolate. The next day was awesome too. Leslie surprised me by taking us to a professional photographer to get some pictures taken. They turned out really well, and I am still very thankful for those. After that I basically got three days of Christmas. Christmas Eve I got to spend with family and relatives. It was great to see them. Christmas morning my brother had to work, so my family decided to do our usual Christmas morning celebrations on the 26th. On the 25th Leslie’s family was kind enough to invite me over to celebrate their Christmas traditions with them. Everyone opened presents and then we ate a big breakfast of bah-bah. That afternoon I went out with my family and got to visit more relatives.
For a couple of days during my trip home I got to spend time in San Diego. This was one of the highlights of my trip. I got to spend some quality time with my best friend caching up on my time in Saudi Arabia and his time in India, and laying on his roof under the stars dreaming about the future. Naturally we also got to beat each other up a few times and got to play basketball with some of our old high school teammates. Also, my brother, who is a police officer in San Diego took me on a ride along, and though nothing to extreme happened, it was a great experience. Hopefully, if I can get all of the visa stuff worked out, he will be coming here to visit in March!
Other highlights of my time at home included horse back riding, time at the beach, time playing in Aldrich Park, and most importantly time catching up with loved ones. I am so glad that I got the opportunity to go back, and I had a great time, but to be perfectly honest it was pretty stressful. It was weird being at home but living out of a suit case. It was hard being delighted to see people, but knowing in the back of my mind that its going to be another long bout before I see them again. It have a lot of respect for all of the migrant workers here at KAUST and throughout Saudi Arabia who are here so that they can make money to send back home to their families. There are countless workers from Bangladesh and Pakistan and the Philippines, who are in this situation. I have met people with small children, who only get to see their wives and children for a week out of the year. My cab driver on the way to the airport was a man from India, who really didn’t like it here in Saudi Arabia. He complained that the people were rude to the cab drivers here and missed his family. He was here however, so that he could make money to send back so that his sisters could get married. It really is encouraging to see the extents some people will go to just to help their family get by. More to come soon.
