Friday is the holy day of Muslims and the rest day for the entire nation.
It was in this nation that I experienced for the first time, the back pain of sleeping so long a time on my bed. Eventually you really just have to stand up and do something!
These are what I did:
1. Started the day with logging on to http://www.usccb.org/nab/for some spiritual readings (that is if you are a catholic). The nice thing about this site is it has podcasts (if you just what to listen to the reflections) or video reflections (if you want to view the speaker and sharer, usually a priest)
2. Did my washing and drying
You always take foregranted having your clothes washed, dried and "crisply" ironed and tucked on your drawer back home. I miss things having done for me. But as I said earlier, this beats the hell out of an aching back from lying down so very long.
Dito lang ako actually natutong gumamit ng washing machine....hehehe....too old I think at 36! I always thought I would do no wrong at washing the heavy maong in the machine....oh well, the pocket linings tears off by frequent washing (it's not made in maong nga pala, I forget).
I then learned from my kabayans, who would leave their washings overnight in sudsy soap (babad) then handwash the next day or do some gentle run on the machine.
3. I usually did my cooking as well so that I would just have to re-heat throughout the week
You know the expression "takaw tingin"? I was like that in the supermarket. Bought all the food that was "eye candy", stocked up my ref to the max (thinking I would not be able to go out again anytime soon), only to realize that I was only feeding myself. Matakaw ako, that I know, but I also found out the fun of "gorging" at food is also in the company. That I did not have, so the appettite also flew away.....and you can just imagine the food that spoiled :-(
My fave dishes were still the adobo and spaghetti but I did learn to experiment with the spices from all over the world with all these:
I discovered CUMIN, TURMERIC for chicken and meats for that indian taste.
I discovered YOGURT in the mornings (they would eat a tub of yogurt) which I would mix with fruits of fresh juices.
I discovered CHEESES and all its form - Brie, feta, mascarpone, etc.
I discovered flat round bread (unleavened bread) which is good for making pizza or dipping into hummus and some indian/pakistani/bangladeshi saucy dish.
I discovered the fresh juices and milk of the danes....yummy!
4. Decide whether to go out or not
Going out would entail a permission from my managers to have me accompanied by either our company driver or another option was "KUYA EDWIN".
Going out with our company driver is much like having an "unwanted" chaperone". He would follow you wherever you went, even in buying your lingeries :-( Good thing ours was kind enough to tell me, "Doctora, stay good and be good. I trust you will not put me or you into trouble so I will just leave you and pick you up later ok?" Thank God for Nizmi!
Then there's Kuya Edwin. Here is a Pinoy entrepeneur in the truest sense. He capitalized on what he does best...driving. He talked to his sponsor to buy him a car which he will use to drive around people as a "limousine service" for a fee. I call him and ask him to drive me to the different malls. He drops me off, goes to his other "pick ups" and picks me up again for another mall.
MALLING is the only past time here in Riyadh. But what great malls they have! I remember now the supermarket I found really great ....it was DANUBE! :-) By its name, European tastes. The market has everything but from a world so far from ours. I marvel at the knick knack stuff like the trinkets, the plates, I even bought my wedding souvenirs here.
How did I get to ride with Kuya Edwin...a man and a lady together in Riyadh?????!!!! He has a document signed by his sponsor authorizing him to be a designated driver for me which he will show when a religious police aka MUTAWA would question him.
By the way, I am not really sure if this is legal but it sure beats the hell out of staying home like a snail all cooped up. My managers knew this by the way. Of course, it goes without saying that I did this without any "hanky-panky" ideas that would get me into trouble.
5. Picnics
There is more sand than soil in the kingdom so whenever we see green grass...we sit on them and have a picnic. Back home, I think this has been a lost past time mainly because we don't have parks, the air is..indescribable and the grass you see is in your own lawn....what fun is that having a picnic just a step away from your house?!!!
But here, parks are also uncommon but you just really have to go out of your home and bask in the sun for some Vitamin D :-)
I learned that Syria is so "not like" KSA...much like Pinas in terms of freedom to do whatever. Muslims with fashion and movies...and with very beautiful ladies....much like the Lebanese.
Over Kebabs and Taboulleh salad, we laughed about each other in twisted english and "shisha" (arabic blowpipe). At mapagpula rin pala ang mga babaeng syriana...sa kapwa nilang arabiana...lalo na ang mga babaeng nagparetoke ng mukha o katawan. Ayaw nila noon. Naiisip ko nga tayong mga Pinoy na sarat ang ilong maiintindihan ko pang magparetoke ng ilong. Pero arabiana na napakataas at payat na ng ilong??? Sobra nga nga naman. I find it amusing that they say things about fellow arabs mainly because we Pinoys, being malays, don't say much about our fellow Indonesians, or Malaysians. Kakaiba di ba?
One thing I advice our kabayans, learn from the arabs by talking and being with them...not only does your world become bigger but your stay, more worthwhile with friends and memories all intact and growing :-)
After a day out in the city, I somehow feel rejuvenated to start another 6-day work week. Hay!
PS One thing I regret tough is not having to take pics.....hay.
