Happy Saint Patty’s Day
March 17th 2010

So I finally made it over here to sunny Saudi Arabia. I have to start by saying fuck what you think you know about culture shock until you have experienced it. It’s one thing to do research on a place and a totally different thing to actually be in that place…Jetlag wuppin your ass. I was picked up from the airport by a nice young guy by the name of Abdula. Now Amira did say to me that the driving here is probably like a dollar cab drive down flatbush ave. Almost but not quite, way more intense.
In my first day here I have see some things that are the norm I guess. But if I told you, you would not believe it. For example I went to the mall today Wednesday. I saw a group of guys driving down a main strip in four wheelers fast in the wrong direction. Now if that wasn’t enough as this group of 10 or so 4 wheelers blew the red light as they traveled threw on coming traffic. That’s Nucking Futs!
My roommate’s name is Jeff and he is a pretty cool guy in his late 40’s early 50’s from Spokane Washington, he looks a bit like Kenny Rogers. He and another guy named Dan who is a retired firefighter from Albany NY drove me out of the compound to get some dinner buy groceries and to get a cell phone. Everyone I have met so far have been real cool people. I got a fun fact from the guys. In Riyadh there are about 17 motor vehicle deaths a day. No bullshit.
Anyway I have been forcing myself to stay awake that I can fall asleep and kind of get on their schedule here as best as I can.
It’s funny cause I say that as I write this post at 0354 Riyadh time 854pm EST and I can’t really sleep.
The flight was cool but there were a bunch of little kids on the flight that would from time to time scream at the top of their lungs. My flight was a total of 12 hours with a stop over in Jeddah. I went to the SRCA office and met the ladies that help us with our paper work everyone was super friendly and accommodating. I got the chance to have some Arabic coffee, which is not black or brow but greenish yellow. It had a little kick. After I went to the compound and got my room. My first thought as a walked around it was, Wow this in tiny. That’s when it all set in… I thought to myself, where the fuck am I? Am I dreaming? I can’t believe I am really here. Really scary feeling. But after my short nap and meeting more of the guys and getting my cell turned on and talking to Amira and Jazmine I felt a million times better. I got some cool picture and I will try to post video real soon cause if pictures say a thousand words video will say a million. Much love to all and I will try to put a post again in two days.
Ma Salama,
Carlos
PS
today I tried numerous times to load pictures on facebook as well as this blog and it didn't work so for tonight I will have to just post words. Talk to you soon.
LOS