Girl in Riyadh

During a time when the entire world is not encouraged to travel - one of my favorite things in this sweet life, I have felt myself dreaming. Nostalgic dreaming back to some of the trips I've taken in my past. Stories that I've written down and never shared with the world. This is from October 14, 2016 after my first trip to Saudi Arabia. Cheers.

I find myself in the London Heathrow airport, for another long layover. My eyes are slightly burning with exhaustion, my empty glass of champagne was just carefully taken away from my table, and I wish more than anything I could take a shower. Yet, somehow I’m feeling refreshed and inspired. 

My hands can’t stop typing and working as I sit here at my computer looking at all of the planes sitting on the tarmac. I’m reminded of the restlessness spirit God instilled in me, to travel the world, meet new faces and places, and make the world a better place. I’m also reminded of the irony of how I continue to find myself traveling to the Mid-East. I’m returning from a country I never wanted to go to. A country I was terrified to travel to as a woman. As a woman who thought she knew how her importance was valued. Oh, how traveling has opened up my world, broken so many barriers, fears, and made me realize this. The same thing I realized when I was in Egypt. We all generally are looking for similar comforts in life - love, food, and happiness. It’s the same in each country.

I had one of the most exhilarating experiences while in Saudi. Upon entering this compound that probably cost around $50 million - an oasis in the middle of the desert, I was soon escorted to the female only section of the compound. Everywhere in that country it’s expected for me to wear an Abaya, a long black robe. I was greeted by two smiling women - our franchisee’s sister and wife. And inside that room, all of the women shed the Abaya and wore their normal clothes. Here I was, thousands of miles away, sitting in a room sharing Turkish coffee and dates, chatting with Saudi woman. Women who probably rarely have any western woman in their home. 

We chatted about family, marriage, work, and children. I showed them some pictures of my husband, my dog. And saw the sister’s wedding dress. We’re such different cultures, differing religions, and differing beliefs. But I felt love in that room. Women - we look for connection. We look for similarity to talk about. Or for areas of life to converse about. They told me I had a beautiful face and eyes. And similar to what everyone else thinks, debated the colors of my eyes. I couldn’t stop smiling the entire evening. 

We soon moved into the dining room, where there were several buffets of food. I had two full plates of food, soup, and dessert. I wanted to try everything. I finished my meal with a full belly and heart. I mixed up opening my soda can incorrectly, and ate with gold ware. No alcohol of course, and the men were in another area of the compound. But I met the children who smiled, shook my hand, and laughed with me. I would be in heaven living in that compound as a child. I would always want to play hide and seek, play in the greenery, or ride my bike. 

These women all travel outside of Saudi - some frequently, some not as often. They all know English - some more than others. But they gather with each other every night for dinner - sometimes lunch as well. This culture is focused around their family - their family is the utmost important part of their lives here on earth. I love that. Cousins, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, parents - they all spend time with each other almost everyday. The men spending more time with the men, and the woman spending more time with the woman. At the end of the evening, the girls gave me back my Abaya, after I asked them to take a selfie photo (that I promised not to publish - to respect their religion), and walked towards the area where the men hang out. I had more coffee and dates with the men. Shaking hands with many uncles, brothers, and our franchisee’s father. A true story of rags to riches. He has built an empire of wealth, and started with nothing. I still don’t know if it was common practice to have a woman in that area of the house - or if they bent the rules because I am western. 

Some themes of my trip: family, there isn’t much to do in Saudi, I would probably take up smoking if I lived there, there are so many food options, separate family seating for women & children, Abaya’s with the face covering are nice when you don’t want to put on any makeup, an intense class system of Arabs, Indians, and Filipinos, dates and turkish coffee, ginger, Oud on every man, prayer time five times a day (restaurants close too), religious police are relaxing their strictness, dry air, fancy cars, and more family. 

I know I will be back to this country. To be reminded that even though our religion is different, culture, how we dress, how we look - we’re still women. Women who want to be loved and love others. And that friend, is what we are called to do in this world. Open up our hearts and minds to differing beliefs.