Social Distancing

Being a rather socially awkward adult, I am actually not having a problem with social distancing during this pandemic. I have my family at home with me, I see some of my friends on animal crossing, and I use facebook and whatsapp to talk to everyone else. My daughter, however, is having a more difficult…

Niqabi or not?

When I first came to Saudi back in 2015, it was almost like a whole different world. The kingdom was still a closed,  almost secretive society. The Ha’ia roamed the streets, looking for people doing something they shouldn’t be doing. Women weren’t allowed to drive! It was a very strict place, and to top it…

chocoffee

One thing I learned about living in Saudi is that food plays a central role in everyone’s life here. Every week I collect so many chocolates and candies from students as sweet as the goodies they give me. It is common for my colleagues to knock on my office door with fresh baked goods. Saudis…

Dahlia Sees a Camel

I know I am so late posting about this, but Dahlia saw a camel for the first time! She was underwhelmed, and I am pretty sure I was more excited than she was.

Umrah

One thing that shocks most people when they find out that I have lived in Saudi Arabia for 4 years is that I hadn’t made Umrah. Most people make that their number one priority when they arrive here. And while it was definitely a priority of mine, I just never felt the timing was right….

Choklava

The other day while walking around the mall with my husband, he got a craving for something sweet. While standing in line and waiting for him to buy some desserts, I happened to spy something I’ve never seen before- chocolate baklava. I’m usually not a huge fan of sweet foods like baklava, but I do…

Nofa Resort: A Horse Lover’s Haven

Any horse lovers out there? (And by out there I mean Riyadh, of course!) If so, Nofa Resort is definitely the place for you. Located in Tibrak, Riyadh, Nofa resort offers an esquatrian club, golf resort, and wildlife park. The resort recently opened the wildlife park to the public, so you can take a safari…

Hidden Talents

Riyadh’s bespoke community really has some hidden gems.     With a growing number of festivals and events, you can find a lot of small businesses selling gorgeous handmade goods popping up. It is becoming increasingly common for these shops to advertise their goods through snapchat and instagram. Buyers can text a whatsapp number to place…

Dahlia

Whenever I see someone I haven’t seen in a while, I’m always greeted with a “I noticed you’ve stopped blogging.” And, in my awkward state, I always groan “yeahhhhh” awkwardly in reply. Not totally because they are right and I have stopped blogging, but mostly because I am surprised anyone at all reads my blog….

What no one tells you about being an expat

When I was still new a co-worker invited me to an event under the notion that I wasn’t Muslim. As soon as she realized I was Muslim she basically gave me the ultimatum of taking my hijab off (not that eloquently- she told me to ask my husband if I could take it off, as if its his decision) or not coming at all. Clearly I chose the latter.

Perpetual Summer

One thing I really love about Saudi Arabia is the lack of winter. It is comforting to know it will never snow here. I prefer the scorching heat to the freezing temperatures I faced back home. It’s nice to be able to enjoy a park in the winter months.   Salaam, KC

When people think of the Arabian gulf the usually envision tall, glittering skyscrapers that almost reach the heavens, luxury cars, and blue oceans. While all those things are present, lets not forget that there is a lot of farm land housing camels, horses, and other animals. It’s often nice to get away from the glitz…