Monday, August 31, 2009
SIDE NOTE
I notice that blogger is still showing the time of my posts as Houston time, not Saudi time. Just so you know, I am not up in the middle of the night posting, it is 8hours later here than the time shown. I haven't figured how to change the time stamp on the blog yet.
UP IN THE AIR
I finally have internet at home. It is dial-up and slow, I can't use my webcam or VOIP yet but at least I have internet, for which I am glad. Now I can begin to update with our adventures here.
I have a hard time remembering that we have only been here for 3 weeks. Sometimes it seems much longer and other times it seem much shorter. I have so much already to post, so I will start from the beginning, our trip.
On Saturday, August 8, 2009 we left Houston Intercontinental Airport about 7:30pm for the first leg of our flight to our new home in Saudi Arabia. Our flight on KLM was an all business class flight. It was a 737 plane that had been outfitted with only business class seats. It only held about 48 seats total. Out flight wasn't quite full so there was lots of room and a very relaxing flight.
Our flight was almost 10 hours to Amsterdam, our first and only stop. One of the first things after takeoff, was they brought a drink and cup of mixed nuts, also a menu to make our choices for dinner and breakfast.
Next they brought out individual TV's with headphones. These had music videos, some TV programing, and regular movies to be watched. Michael and I were watching movies when they brought our dinner.
Dinner was a three course meal. It started with a salad and lobster appetizer plate, followed by the main course of your choice, then a choice of desserts. It was a very good dinner which we enjoyed very much.
After dinner we settled down to try to sleep. These seats reclined to make it easier to sleep. They didn't lay quite flat though. Mike was able to sleep for a while, I on the other had couldn't so I finally watched a couple episodes of MASH and then another movie.
About 2 hours outside of Amsterdam they brought hot towels to wipe our faces and hands, and then breakfast. It was again a very good meal. When done, it was time to land in Amsterdam.
We only had about a 45 minute layover here and had to change planes. Luckily we didn't have to recheck our luggage as it was checked all the way to Saudi Arabia. We did have to walk a ways to the next gate and then go through security again.
This leg of the trip was on a Airbus 330 and lasted about 6 hours. Even though the business class could hold up to 16 people there were only about 7 there. But the coach section was packed. I don't think there was an empty seat anywhere.
I liked these seats much better. After lunch I felt like I could sleep a little and was able to take a 2 hour nap. This flight fed us lunch and then a very good snack. I didn't care for the appetizer on the lunch but liked my meal very much. I also had a quesadilla for snack before landing and it was quite good also.
Finally we landed in Dammam Airport. I thought that the hard part of the trip was over but little did I know that the fun was only just beginning.
I have a hard time remembering that we have only been here for 3 weeks. Sometimes it seems much longer and other times it seem much shorter. I have so much already to post, so I will start from the beginning, our trip.
On Saturday, August 8, 2009 we left Houston Intercontinental Airport about 7:30pm for the first leg of our flight to our new home in Saudi Arabia. Our flight on KLM was an all business class flight. It was a 737 plane that had been outfitted with only business class seats. It only held about 48 seats total. Out flight wasn't quite full so there was lots of room and a very relaxing flight.
Our flight was almost 10 hours to Amsterdam, our first and only stop. One of the first things after takeoff, was they brought a drink and cup of mixed nuts, also a menu to make our choices for dinner and breakfast.
Next they brought out individual TV's with headphones. These had music videos, some TV programing, and regular movies to be watched. Michael and I were watching movies when they brought our dinner.
Dinner was a three course meal. It started with a salad and lobster appetizer plate, followed by the main course of your choice, then a choice of desserts. It was a very good dinner which we enjoyed very much.
After dinner we settled down to try to sleep. These seats reclined to make it easier to sleep. They didn't lay quite flat though. Mike was able to sleep for a while, I on the other had couldn't so I finally watched a couple episodes of MASH and then another movie.
About 2 hours outside of Amsterdam they brought hot towels to wipe our faces and hands, and then breakfast. It was again a very good meal. When done, it was time to land in Amsterdam.
We only had about a 45 minute layover here and had to change planes. Luckily we didn't have to recheck our luggage as it was checked all the way to Saudi Arabia. We did have to walk a ways to the next gate and then go through security again.
This leg of the trip was on a Airbus 330 and lasted about 6 hours. Even though the business class could hold up to 16 people there were only about 7 there. But the coach section was packed. I don't think there was an empty seat anywhere.
I liked these seats much better. After lunch I felt like I could sleep a little and was able to take a 2 hour nap. This flight fed us lunch and then a very good snack. I didn't care for the appetizer on the lunch but liked my meal very much. I also had a quesadilla for snack before landing and it was quite good also.
Finally we landed in Dammam Airport. I thought that the hard part of the trip was over but little did I know that the fun was only just beginning.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Here I Am
Hello folks. I have not fallen off the face of the earth yet. I just now have access to the internet. sorry no pictures of details yet. I am at the library using the computer. We still don't have internet at home yet but are still working on that. I can now use the library to access email and read your blogs.
Just wanted everyone to know that I am here and settling in just fine. I have been keeping a journal to blog about, so when I finally get home internet and can add pictures you will see a lot of entries.
Just wanted to say I haven't forgotten anyone and miss ya'll lots. Keep looking for more information later. I will do what I can until I get home internet.
Just wanted everyone to know that I am here and settling in just fine. I have been keeping a journal to blog about, so when I finally get home internet and can add pictures you will see a lot of entries.
Just wanted to say I haven't forgotten anyone and miss ya'll lots. Keep looking for more information later. I will do what I can until I get home internet.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Goodbye USA
Tomorrow we head out on our newest adventure. We leave tomorrow night for Saudi Arabia. It had been a very busy last few weeks getting ready to go. Because I have to ship my computer, I will not be able to post for a couple of weeks. I will put up pictures of packing and the move when I get settled. We get to travel on KLM airlines. We have about a 10 hour from Houston to Amsterdam. There we have about a 45 minute layover to change planes, then another 6 hours to get to Dammam. The thing making such a long trip a big more comfortable is that the company is flying us Business Class. So we will have more room to hopefully get some sleep on the flight over.
Well, buy for now. More when we get internet.
Friday, July 24, 2009
How Observant Are You
I received this quiz link in an email from my sister. It really is fun. the average correct is 7 out of 25 total questions. I got a 23. Good Luckhttp://www.oldjoeblack.0nyx.com/thinktst.swf
Monday, June 22, 2009
Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, It's Off To Work We Go
The past 17 months have been a real roller coaster ride for us. For a brief recap, Mike's company went into a joint venture with Basell in January 2008. This added a lot of traveling for him the first half of the year. He spent a lot of time in Europe, mainly Germany.
By January 2009, the company ended up in Bankruptcy. This put a new twist on our lives. Not sure if the company would survive or if he would have a job, we began earnest prayer to know what we should do. Well, we ended up selling the house and moving into an apartment.
When the company began to offer voluntary severance packages we had new things to think about. Mike began thinking about looking for another job. Late January I heard about a job fair for a company that was hiring in his field. I suggested that he consider it. The only possible hitch was that the job is in Saudia Arabia with Aramco Services.
Well he ended up with an interview with a promise of another interview with the boss. After the interviews time passed and nothing happened. Then the company offered another severance option. Mike decided to take the severance on faith, even though we didn't have a job to go to. The very next day we got a contigent offer from Aramco.
By January 2009, the company ended up in Bankruptcy. This put a new twist on our lives. Not sure if the company would survive or if he would have a job, we began earnest prayer to know what we should do. Well, we ended up selling the house and moving into an apartment.
When the company began to offer voluntary severance packages we had new things to think about. Mike began thinking about looking for another job. Late January I heard about a job fair for a company that was hiring in his field. I suggested that he consider it. The only possible hitch was that the job is in Saudia Arabia with Aramco Services.
Well he ended up with an interview with a promise of another interview with the boss. After the interviews time passed and nothing happened. Then the company offered another severance option. Mike decided to take the severance on faith, even though we didn't have a job to go to. The very next day we got a contigent offer from Aramco.
After a few weeks of getting tons of paper work done we have a job. We are moving to Saudi Arabia on August 8th to work for Aramco.
I am really excited about the move in so many ways. It will be a wonderful opportunity. We will have the chance to travel, see so many exciting things. Also we will be able to get ourselves better prepared for retirement and going on missions.
Our plan is to stay until mandatory retirement at age 60. That means about 6 1/2 years there. We will be able to travel back a lot to see family.
The main down side is that we will have Chiara, Ken and boys; and Jon, Cassie and Hailey living here in Friendswood area, Marrisa, Kevin and boys in Austin, David, Katherine and Norah in San Antonio. Mike and Ashlyn and girls will be in Phoenix. I will miss spending time with the grandkids here in Friendswood, but plan to come back very ofter for visits.
So once again things are getting very busy for us. We only have about 6 weeks before we leave. There is sorting stuff, giving away stuff, storing stuff and packing stuff, that needs to be done. Since the move will essentially be in three stages there is a lot of sorting of the things we are taking.
First we have to decide what to take on the plane with us. This won't be very much as we are limited by the amount of luggage we can take. Mainly these things will have to last at about 3-4 weeks. At that time we should receive our e-boxes.
We get two e-boxes to ship. These are small boxes that are considered unaccompanied air freight. They should arrive in the 3-4 week time span. This is where we put things we need to make life a little more comfortable. But we can't ship very much in them. Mainly, computer, sewing machine and projects, etc. These boxes aren't very big.
Finally the main body of our things will be shipped surface freight. This means a ship. We are allowed to ship up to 10,000 lbs of goods. This will be all our furniture and things to make life there more like home for us.
Even though there is a lot of work, I am looking forward to this new opportunity. I plan to take as many pictures as I can and post often on what our life is like.
I am really excited about the move in so many ways. It will be a wonderful opportunity. We will have the chance to travel, see so many exciting things. Also we will be able to get ourselves better prepared for retirement and going on missions.
Our plan is to stay until mandatory retirement at age 60. That means about 6 1/2 years there. We will be able to travel back a lot to see family.
The main down side is that we will have Chiara, Ken and boys; and Jon, Cassie and Hailey living here in Friendswood area, Marrisa, Kevin and boys in Austin, David, Katherine and Norah in San Antonio. Mike and Ashlyn and girls will be in Phoenix. I will miss spending time with the grandkids here in Friendswood, but plan to come back very ofter for visits.
So once again things are getting very busy for us. We only have about 6 weeks before we leave. There is sorting stuff, giving away stuff, storing stuff and packing stuff, that needs to be done. Since the move will essentially be in three stages there is a lot of sorting of the things we are taking.
First we have to decide what to take on the plane with us. This won't be very much as we are limited by the amount of luggage we can take. Mainly these things will have to last at about 3-4 weeks. At that time we should receive our e-boxes.
We get two e-boxes to ship. These are small boxes that are considered unaccompanied air freight. They should arrive in the 3-4 week time span. This is where we put things we need to make life a little more comfortable. But we can't ship very much in them. Mainly, computer, sewing machine and projects, etc. These boxes aren't very big.
Finally the main body of our things will be shipped surface freight. This means a ship. We are allowed to ship up to 10,000 lbs of goods. This will be all our furniture and things to make life there more like home for us.
Even though there is a lot of work, I am looking forward to this new opportunity. I plan to take as many pictures as I can and post often on what our life is like.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Over the River and through the Woods . . . .
This week I embark on a great adventure. Chiara wants to go visit Mimi and Papa since Ken can't go with her and she doesn't like to drive, I voluteered to be the driver. So on Thursday, we all pile into her van, Me, Daughter, 3 grandsons, ages 6, 4, and 4 months.It should be a fun trip. It had been a while since I have made a trip with little kids. I used to travel with all 5 of my children every year. Mike would have to work, so I would take the kids and go visit my parents each summer. We always had a great time.
I remember packing each child individual backpacks with special toys just for the trip. I would put a cooler in the car with drinks and snacks to help also. We sang song a lot to help pass the time before they were old enough to read or play other car games.
Of course we listened to my music a lot. They all grew up knowing my favorite singers/groups. John Denver, Marty Robbins, Simon & Garfunkel, Neal Diamond are just a few of that we listened to on the trips.
So now Chiara and I are preparing for a another two day road trip with three little boys. The preprations are a bit different though. She had a DVD player in her van. Therefore in addition to new books, toys, snacks, drinks, and music, we have added DVD's for the kids to watch.
My how times have changed.
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