Been Working, but still having Fun!

serena and the funky face in the desert (clever photography)


desert scorpian---yuck!

Work has been okay,i love my days off though! Its really getting hot now,mostly around 36-40's. I still like to get outside though. Have played tennis, go swimming in our groovy pool with diving boards yey:) and still even head out to the desert for hash. Been shopping for nice givency and dior sunnies, perfume and all things nice. Feeling all girly again!!! Still watching movies all together at our friends compound, go out for dinner--had japanese the other night. All is good. Hope you are all well and happy too xoxox
I will put more photos on--they will all be random coz i havnt updated this in ages.


Julia and Serena in saudivegas (all the restaurants and streets are so lit up!)

random photos

me in the desert all alone!!
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the massive bread at the turkish restaurant! Tang my friend in the background. So much food yet again!
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me, serena and steve all with our saudi champagne (like punch)
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a few of my friends ready for our walk
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my friend hadi with a camel abought closer to us to pat "the camel whisperer!!"
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baby camel

Kingdom tower

this is on the hospital grounds, a huge big park and caves and yey, water and trees!

A few of us from my orientation outside ready togo to dinner in our little black dresses!

More hash and desert!

Had first shift at work today, okay, very nice staff (first impression anyway). Just wish i could speak more arabic! oh, and the amount of double documenting is insane! My preceptor is lovely. Will put a photo of me in my uniform when i get one! Very unattractive, but super handy to have lots of pockets.

Still loving hash walks. Had camp out for Anzac run coz we missed out on the embassy function. Was okay, i survived! We danced and cooked our food (well Hadi did most of it all!!) Was kwayis! I haven't camped sice i was young and was dreading the whole toilet thing and sleeping outside with the bugs--but it was awesome, i survived, but was desparate to get home in morning for shower! Mostly too coz i didn't sleep much, or even at all really, neither did serena, julia and hadi. We laughed lots. Had sleep in morning then went to friday hash. I liked the friday walk more. Even collected fossils and had cheese and vegemite and all aussie stuff for anzac run. I know the desert looks almost the same every different location, but i will still piut some photos on.

I'm still here!

Almost finished orientation. Am doing skills lab stuff these couple of days, then have weekend off and start work SATURDAY!!! Very nervous, but just want to enjoy the last of these relaxed days and weekends off!

I finally have internet at home, its slow,but so much nicer than the computer room. Have checked out more shopping malls, they are awesome! i want to go and spend a day there with lots of money. Have just been getting boring stuff that i need really, ooh, and a few shoes:) Really want to get to the souks soon too!

Just so busy with other stuff, same old really, dinners, shops, movies at hadi's and hash! Got camp out this weekend coz we misssed out on the embassy function for anzac day. Im making anzac biscuits for the camp. Have been baking lots lately. I think coz its like a little community, i want to share it with my friends. Mum has given me some classic recipes.
i'm trying to put more photos on, but the internet is being a poo, will try tomorrow, night!!

The DESERT

I am a week behind with this, but still want to show you it all. Last weekend (thursday and friday--saudi weekend) Tamara got us into what they call Hash House Harriers, a world wide walking/running group. It was unreal! We went to the thursday hash and started to walk, it is really rocky, not all sand like i expected. The weather really cut up and we ended up trying to run through this wicked as sand/rain storm with thunder, and the lightening almost only 4 meters away!!! It was so scary, but at the same time a bit of an adrenaline rush. It was so invigorating and fun at the same time! This was nature, and this was life! We all looked out for each other, the walk was cut slightly short and we were drenched by the end!! We got a lift back with Tamara's and Ann's friend Hadi. He bought us all dinner and we went to his compound to eat it "Shwarma" yummy arabic food. He was very genuine, kind and hospitable.

The next day (friday), Hadi invited us to the Hash that day. It was only Serena and I coz Tam and Ann had to work. The weather had improved and today bought lots of feelings that the camera could not capture. It was a feeling of freedom, the beauty in its own way is unreal. The huge big ocean floor!! We climbed really high, it was so amazing! The group of people are all really interesting and very welcoming! I love it and am off to do it again tomorrow!

Have just finished another week of orientation, have just been to dinner where steve (aussie guy in our orientation group) could join us. Same deal, very full, very happy with meal and very cheap!

Here are some photos from Hash in the desert:

A very organised group! We had to stand in the circle and introduce ourselves! Lots of people!


Freaky bug in the desert!


Tamara and I before the storm!


Stuck in the storm! Lucky my camera is waterproof. The sand mixed with the rain and it was like desert hail!


I like this photo, this was thae calm after the storm, and finally i got to see some blue sky!


Me and Serena ready for thursday


Take two: serena and I out at hash again friday!

I also have some other photos, like the ones where we got to pat a lonley camel! It was a nice one, he didn't spit and actually loved the attention! They look awesome in the desert. Hadi drove up to it and bought it closer. Serena and I also did something illegal!! We had a little drive each in Hadi's left hand drive 4wd in the desert! I couldn't believe it, it wasn't that hard to adjust sides from what you are used to. I will put the photos on when i have more, until then, take care everyone and know that i am fine. I hope everyone is well! I have spoken to mum and dad and might even try and call now since they are seven hrs ahead and i can sleep in if i want to tomorrow, so i might catch them n the morning.

First compound get together

Serenas flatmate invited us (Brooke, Serena, me, and emily-from nz) to the American milatry compound to meet more people. Oh my Allah! What an adventure just to get in there!! Mass security, it felt weird and was a lengthy process for us being our first time. A guy met us there, like our sponsor really. We got in there, and yes, everything is in Saudi!! Good party!
Good to meet new people, some cool aussies there too, but most of the guys were american. It was fun, i even joined in this crazy pick up the cup with your mouth without touching the ground and keeping your hands behind your back!! The challenge between us got more intense as they trimmed the cup down. Lucky i can do a bit of yoga, this helped a lot!

Serena, Emily and I


Lots of dancing and kareoke in the lounge


Crazy cup challenge (trickier than it looks!!)


Brooke (Aussie from my orientation group), Ann (a school teacher) and Alishia(cool aussie chicky been here a few months).

I met so many people and have more photos but cant put themn all on here. It was good to get out, so much to learn from each other even, not just the Saudi ways. Lots of fun so far!

This was different!

I just wanted to add this to an experience. It was a few days ago now,but i havn't forgotten. It was the same day we were stuck in the dust storm near Faisalia. I decided to wear my head scarf, not only out of respect, but also to protect my ears from the sand. It was hopeless, we were a little lost, stuck in a car park type area what looked like a ghetto, we were trying to get our sense of direction in the storm. My scarf was hopeless in the wind, it wouldn't stay on properly. I decided i could ask for help from a lady walking with her son. At first she avoided me, but i continued to gesture asking for help and when i said "how" and gestured she knew exactly what i meant. I only wanted it around my head, but she insisted i get around like ths:


I walked around a little like this and Serena was cracking up :), she couldn't belive i let her cover my face! It was a really bizzare feeling, but i tell you what, it really did protect me from all the flying sand and rubbish!!!