UPDATE: this post was written well before it was posted. Off Exploring has been a nightmare so we are moving to a new platform. More on that when we return. For now I hope you found this with ease.
Hi again,
Our second trip to Hofuf was nice. We were going to drive our own car and just follow the arranged bus but last minute decided to just take the bus. Hamdallah! (thanks god) because we were able to sleep for most of the haul and did not have to get (as) frustrated with the several times we got lost. And, we shared the bus with about seven people that were fluent in Arabic...this was a huge advantage over the other bus and followers because most signs were only in Arabic.
We were on the road at 330am. I woke up every now and then, but eventually woke up and noticed the bus was surrounded by white. This is VERY unusual in Saudi...it's either dusty brown, smoggy gray, hazy brown, bright orange (from the flames) or just really bright and sunny. I really thought I was seeing imagining snow haze, but it was just really really dense fog. Unusual and somewhat frightening because you could not see much ahead of you. Afraid, I awoke Phillip to look at it. He seemed annoyed that I would wake him up for that, but responded with 'I hope we don't miss the exit'. Really?! I because I hope we don't get into an accident!
Well, the fog cleared just in time for Fadillah and Phillip to watch our exit pass the windows. Joe ('Joey'-our driver) assured us that he knew the way. Bla bla bla, to make a long story not as long as it could be,,,,we got lost. Eventually we found a man that was willing to drive there and we would follow him. Shukran (thank you) you nice man!
Our first stop was the camel market. We got there about one hour after the other bus but it was still enough time to experience it all. One of our bus-mates, Nadia, wanted everyone to taste camel milk. Phillip was determined to get a photo Kapernacking with some Arab guys. Hamsa wanted to ride a camel. Fadillah wanted to take a picture of a camel but not go near one. And I wanted to figure out a way to take the baby camel back to the compound. I failed, but everyone else was successful.
Nadia asked some young Arab guys to fetch us some camel milk. They came back with a bowl of warm frothy white liquid. When in Rome.....or the middle of an Arabian desert...We each grabbed the bowl (well, the boys nearly shoved it in your hands and said something in Arabic. If I had to guess I think he said "Try the milk, it is lovely and nutritious, and I was nice enough to go to that camel over there and get it fresh for you. I am sure you will really like it") and brought it to our mouths to take a gulp. I hate milk, I have even cut dairy out of my diet...but, I drank it. And it was not bad. Phillip says it tastes like dougnuts or pastry. He must of had a different bowl.
These guys were very social. They spoke almost no English but were more than eager to take photos with us. We even got THEM to Kapernack with us. Then they wanted to do the peace sign. Then they insisted that we take pictures with them on their camera phones. It was a lot of fun, everyone was laughing and posing and passing around the milk. Some were getting on camels too.
We saw clouds coming in (strange) and headed back to the bus. When we got there, the young Arab guys had driven their car over and started blasting some Islamic/Bedouin music from their car speakers. Then, all of a sudden, they got out of their car with long sticks and started dancing. It was AWESOME. I wanted to dance too but thought it was probably best if I didn't.
The moment we got on the bus lightening struck and rain came down hard. We met up at a grocery store strip mall and went to McDonalds for bathroom and coffee (word of advice: McDonalds is an American company located all over the world. Phillip pointed out that when traveling, just head to the nearest McDonalds for a bathroom. Sounds strange but so far, the McDonalds bathrooms I have been to in Saudi have been the nicest bathrooms I have seen...they are nicer than the McDonalds bathrooms in the states). The next stop was the Falcon Breeders (or you could go to the lamp shop on the other bus-we wanted to see falcons).
But...we got lost.
Next stop, gas station then the Souks. The last time we were in Hofuf the Souks were closed because of the Eid holiday. Today was not a holiday....but they were closed again. So we found a bathroom in the mall. I learned to check every stall because there might be a western toilet. Horray, I found one...no toilet paper though. (word of advice: always bring your own).
Next stop, pottery place. This was disappointing...not only did they have hole in the ground toilets (Hamdallah for GoGirl) but the people did not bargin. He wanted 75 SAR for this nice handmade candle holder. And then he told us (by 'us' I mean he spoke to Hamsa in Arabic) that he cannot accept less because they buy them from a company and the company dictates the price. Well forget it, I thought it was cool because YOU made it.
Next stop, the caves. For some reason we were told we would have just 35 minutes to eat our lunch and explore the caves. Phillip and I ate our lunch as we hiked to the caves. Then once in the caves we realized...its really cool the first time, not so cool the second time.
This was the last stop...the whole trip was exhausting but fun. The ride home consisted of a lot of small naps and chit chat. I am so glad we went (both times) because the lady that coordinates it is leaving after this year and I do not think anyone is going to keep the tradition going. This lady used to live in the area and knows it well. Most of the times we were lost was because of construction and detours but she typically knew how to get us back on track.
At any rate, we have one more busy weekend (Parent Teacher Conferences) before we go on Spring break. Phillip and I joke that we have never been more eager to attend an intensive workshop. The first week of Spring break is not a break. We are going to an Adaptive Schools training with another colleague from our school. It is one solid week of training, followed by one solid week of BALI.
The stretch between Winter break and Summer break are busy and exhausting. I have been watching TED talks about work and productivity and have been reminded of the privilege teachers have of getting these breaks. And it made me wonder, Why in the heck are schools planned out this way? Is it perhaps because the body needs time to re-energize? Or maybe its because we work with kids. That's probably it. You try spending 7 hours a day with kids....not your kids....a group of kids...15-30+ kids at a time...and try living among the same people you work with (this pretty much applies only to International School educators). Try doing that 5 days a week, and then spend the 2 day weekend planning what you will do with the kids the next week, or grading what you did with the kids the previous week...or both of those things. You would need a break too. Kids are exhausting.
Phillip and I are the only non-parents around here. I do not know how you parents do it-raise kids and teach them-WOW. We now have a family of seven working/living with us. 5 kids, two are less than one year old-they come to school everyday and teach like rockstars. People, I need 8 hours of sleep! Sleep does not exist for parents of five (or one). My goodness, you parents impress me-especially if you are a parent AND a teacher. You are ALWAYS around kids which means you are ALWAYS doing something. Educators...you take those breaks and applaud yourself for making it to the break without going nuts.
That said...I am looking forward to doing absolutely nothing in Bali but admiring the greenery and breathing fresh air. You have NO IDEA how awesome that sounds to me. Looking at trees and breathing. That's it. That is all I need. That will get me through the next 8 week stretch...then its Summer and you know the rest.
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