This Little Life

Life has really been throwing me some curve balls lately it seems. As you all know my grandparents raised me and we were very close. I lost my grandfather a few months after I got married back in 2006. My choice to leave the country was very hard on my grandmother and two weeks after I had left she had a stroke. Still to this day she has to have a nurse in her home at night and she cannot walk. She always loved getting out and doing things so it’s been very hard on her. A year ago my brother Micah had a son Micah junior, a few months after that my cousin Brittany (who I was raised with) had a baby girl Caley.

Then on top of everything I had already missed I found out last month that one of my parents has brain cancer and is going through extensive chemo. And finally, I called my grandmother to check on her last night and I found out her sister my great-Aunt had just passed away. This is a very short list of all the things that have been going on in my life this past year.

One of my close friends mentioned that I was going through a lot and how in the world am I handling it all. I later said to myself ‘Wow, this is a lot of stuff and how am I really handling it?” I am not really the type of person who likes to talk to people about stuff that is going on in my life. I do not like all the bad stuff to get me down so I guess I try to ignore everything, keep busy and pretend that it never happened. This is one reason I love graphic design. It has been a very therapeutic outlet for me something that I do to concentrate on when other things are going on, it’s great to have a passage like that.

Life can be quiet challenging when you grow up. You leave the family you were raised with to make another one. That can be a very difficult transaction. Then it seems so many events happen that you want to be part of however you just cannot. As you age so do the people you love and they become sick and eventually die. I can honestly say that’s it’s not so much of where I come from that I miss because it was always a place I wanted to get out of. But I do miss seeing the small family I have and being part of their lives in some way or another. And it’s really hard when life happens to you and the people you were once close yet you cannot seem to find a medium.

I thank God every day for giving me a husband who protects and cares for me and a perfectly healthy child that adores me. I live a comfortable life and those of us who do are extremely blessed. And because of those things I never complain about all the things I miss back home. But nevertheless I am missing events in the life of my family, the family that I grew up with and the only people I knew at once and it’s really upsetting especially being on the other side of the world.

For those of you that are also expats living abroad from your family what are some ways you have managed to cope with issues?

Janadriyah Festival 2012 part.2

   

{camel rides}


{transitional song and dance}

{Saudi Artist}

{traditional mud house}

{so pretty}


{basket weaver}


{desert view}


{dates and tahini}


{camel man}

Today’s photos from Janadriyah are from the Al Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Al Qassim is known to be full of greenery which makes it an ideal place for growing much of the countries vegetables. I always prefer to buy produce from the region as its always fresh, bright and usually organic. I really enjoyed this section of the festival especially the handicrafts and date selections. Like all parts of the country men take part in traditional song and dance. Al Qassim music is a bit slower when compared to that of Baha but nevertheless just as beautiful.

Grrr Saudi Arabia

For those who do not live in Saudi Arabia everything closes down when the athan (call to prayer) comes on and stays closed until after the prayer is over. Also, the stores in Saudi Arabia do not have fitting rooms for women however most malls do have fitting rooms close to the women’s mosque and bathroom areas. But you have to purchase the item before you can try it on.

My son and I went to the mall today and I was shopping in Top Shop during that time the call for Isha prayer came over the mall. I always have a problem with stores from the UK and the way the clothing fits me so I knew I had to try it on. I quickly purchased three items then walked across the hall to try them on so I could exchange or return what I needed to. One of three of the pieces fit me. By the time we had prayed and did that the shops were opening again. I told the manager at the counter that I would like a refund for the two items because they did not fit me. He then told me that my receipt said that I could exchange only.

Let me tell you it takes a lot to realty get me mad these days. Yea, at one point in my life I could get mad pretty easily but hey I am older, more mature and just more carefree these days. But this really upset me! I was like “do you not remember me I was just here 15 minutes ago.” The man was saying that the company would get mad and he could get into trouble if he gave me a refund. I was like okay this is ridiculous women have absolutely no way to try clothing on in this country so we have to buy things knowing they may not fit and pretty much just be stuck in the end with pieces that do not fit us or stuff that we just do not want. I did not want to exchange them for another size, I did not like them. I did not want to get something in their place; I saw nothing else I even liked.

Top Shop is not the only store that has been doing this ‘new’ ridiculous procedure I have heard stores like H&M are and I know from the same experience Iconic is as well. How is this even sensible in a country that will not let women try on clothing?

Janadriyah Festival 2012 part.1

{Baha traditional poetry}
{Baha dancing}

{poetry}

{these girls were getting down}
{a man heating up a duff drum over the fire}
{everyone was having a great time}

 {the crowd was having a great time}

This is the third year my family and I have been to the Janadriyah Festival. We truly enjoy it and look forward to going yearly. The festival is a great way for Saudis and non-Saudis to learn more about the culture of various regions around the country. As you go through the festival you will find set ups built like a particular region along with foods, shops, singing and dancing as they may do. Also every year Saudi hosts a country to come to the festival to teach more about their country. The first year we went it was France, last year it was Japan and this year was Korea.

We waited in line forever to see the Korea exhibit and I was a bit disappointed that we waited so long for what seemed to not really be that much. It would be hard to top Japan from last year though. Korea did have a small 3D movie for everyone and their theme this year was water and how we should value it. As

Usually the weather is absolutely perfect in Riyadh this time of year however it was quiet chilly extremely windy on Tuesday night when we went. And at the same time we have been trying to get my son on a better schedule so we only stayed a few hours so we could get him home. We did not even get to tackle half of the festival this year and going on the weekend is a death sentence (WAY TO MANY PEOPLE do not try it).

Part one of my pictures above are focusing on the Baha region of Saudi Arabia. The music and dancing is a bit more upbeat then some other regions, I like it a lot. As you can see everyone was having a great time. That’s what I love about the festival everyone relaxes and you do not feel awkward to let loose and have a nice time. And for once people are not weird about taking pictures.