Moevenpick Qassim Buraidah

Saudi Arabia could very well be "The Land of a Thousand Splendid Suns." It's as if everyday is filled with limitless sunshine and bountiful clear skies. A remedy for the weather-related mood affective side in all of us!<br><br>I met up with Abdul Karim, the friendly mini-sized, awkward Saudi fellow who would become my friend, for an impromptu tour of Buraidah. It's really amusing the kinds of things he chose to show me. I now know where every practicality and ...

After work today, we had our first 'Beginner's Arabic' Class in the lobby. It never ceases to amaze me how much similarity there is with Hindi and Spanish. Knowing those two languages is going to make this Arabic acquisition process infinitely easier. <br><br>Some new phrases:<br> 'Kayf Haalek?" - How are you? (Similar to the Hindi: "Kya ...

Ok, so it's really Sunday, but since the week is laid out completely differently than the Western week, it's practically a Tuesday. The work week starts on Saturday and finishes on Wednesday, making Thursday and Friday the weekend. Hence, Saturday is the equivalent of our Monday and Sunday is like a Tuesday (Saudi Tuesday!). <br><br>Anyhow, today's the most challenging day on my schedule. I've got three 2 hour time slots of classes. I have a ...

A nice Saudi guy who barely spoke any English invites me to sit with him and have tea. His name is Abdullah and he asks me in broken English if I am from Mumbai. Others from our staff join in on tea. Our host makes a comment that make some uncomfortable: "Women should not rule, they are meant to be ruled" as translated by Mike. I shrugged it off as cultural ignorance because I actually ...

Prepared as can be and mentally assured, I take on my first class of Qassim University students in a 'listening &amp; speaking' class. The students are incredibly astute and ready learn and their self-motivation is such a welcome change from teaching in South Korea. These students aren't afraid of making a mistake and will volunteer even when they are not sure of the answer. In Korea, you would have to pull ...

Woke up somewhat late this morning after a much needed night of rest and meet two other newly arrived professors that I am going to be working with. Tim Wallace is a nice guy from Nashville, Tennessee who had previously worked in China and Paul Taylor previously worked in South Korea too prior to this sojourn in KSA. My suspicions are confirmed. The deal with Al Imam Muhammad ibn Saud University in Riyadh has fallen through and we are being ...