Saudi Sexpat Stories: Tales from the Kingdom

As most parents with toddlers will attest, a large part of the “Terrific Twos” is the seemingly insatiable curiosity about anything and everything.

Imagine my surprise one morning when our “resident kulit bulilit” was able to unwittingly compose this “artistically taken” (yup, it’s the mommy in me talking here - walang kokontra! ) shot while tinkering with my camera phone… 

Now, that’s one mean feet feat for someone just barely two, right?

PS Can anyone guess whose feet the purple starry shoes belong to?

Last weekend was particularly eventful for us.  We decided to check out the new water theme park in our neighboring kingdom, Bahrain - The Lost Paradise of Dilmun.

Impressive bovine structures greet us at the entrance of the park

Dilmun is actually one of the earliest civilizations in Bahrain.  They were believed to have been descended from the Greeks. We were fortunate to have visited the original site of the Dilmun ruins - a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site - during an earlier visit to Bahrain in October last year.

The attention to detail of the outer walls was a good sign - we weren‘t disappointed when we finally got inside!

What a welcome sight! A replica of an ancient Dilmun aqueduct

Highlights of our visit were the wave pool (apparently the largest in the Gulf region) , the Kids’ Rain Fortress (where the kids spent most of their time) and of course, the exciting water slides!  Too bad, though, that we weren’t able to take pictures of all the attractions we tried since it was quite difficult to bring our non-waterproof camera along while we were having so much fun in the water.

The Kids’ Rain Fortress aka The Water Temple - where we shared a lot of fun, BIG splashes!

Keith and I were so happy to have done something different and fun (for the kids, most especially) for a change.  Our weekend adventure was definitely one of our finer family bonding moments.

Our three blessings

Click here for more pictures.

Mula sa inspirasyon ng mga kapwa ko nanay na litratista, ako ma’y naghalughog na rin sa “mahiwagang” kahon ng laruan upang maghanap ng aking pahabang lahok ngayong linggo.  Buti na lang at di ako umalis na luhaan dahil natagpuan ko ang mga ito…

Huling linggo na ng Abril, mga katoto

Halina’t humayo at makipaglaro!

Sa mga laruang pahaba

ng mahal naming bunso

Kay Tomas na tren

Sa paglalakbay nito

At kay abakadang uod

Bago pa siya maging paru-paro!

Maligayang huling Huwebes (sa buwan ng Abril) sa lahat!

Yesterday was a special day for our two boys.  You see, every school year, Luigi and Rafa look forward to the Science Fair in their school since it gives them the chance to “showcase” their creative skills at making science projects (modesty aside, with help from yours truly ) and to also improve on their oral presentation skills when they explain their respective “masterpieces” to teachers, students and parents who drop by.

I guess what even encouraged this interest was when Luigi won “Best Science Project” in his class last year.

Despite the admittedly “toxic” time the boys and I usually have preparing for this “big day”, their beaming smiles and sense of accomplishment from this exercise more than make up for all the stressing and fretting of the “pre-fair” days…

This year, Luigi chose the somewhat “high-falutin’” topic, “Bats and Echolocation”, while Rafael decided to highlight his model-building skills by making a simple thermometer.

Here are some pictures from our day at the fair.  Pardon the picture quality as these were just taken using our reliable Nokia N70.  More pictures can be found in Luigi’s and Rafa’s Multiply sites. Enjoy!

 Looking so pleased to finally see us

How’s that for a visual aid?

Next stop: Luigi, the “Bat Boy”!

A closer look at the “Bat Navigation” model…

…and the “Bat Chart”

Finally, the “star” of the Science Fair, its littlest visitor that day - Marga!

Dito sa disyerto, kami’y gabayan

Sa landas na tinatahak, Iyong tanglawan

Sa apat na kanto ng mundong ginagalawan

Kalayaan sa pananampalataya

Nawa’y makamtan.

Di lingid sa marami sa inyo na hindi bukas ang “kaharian ng buhangin” sa iba’t ibang uri ng pananampalataya maliban sa kanilang sinusunod.  Dahil dito, masuwerte na kami (at ang iba pang kabayang Katoliko na tulad namin) kung mabigyan ng pagkakataon na makapag-misa tuwing Biyernes (ang katumbas ng Linggo sa bahaging ito ng mundo) o makatawid sa kapitbahay na kaharian (Bahrain) upang mas malayang sumamba.

Sa katunayan, noong una kaming napadpad dito, sa takot na malagay sa alanganin, wala kaming nabitbit na kahit na anong bagay na relihiyoso maliban sa isang rosaryo na naisilid ko sa bulsa ng aking bag.  Kaya naman laking tuwa ko nang “maipuslit” namin ang dalawang larawang ito (na may tig-aapat na kanto - kaya “swak” sa tema ng linggong ito!). Ibinigay ang mga ito sa amin ng aking ina mula sa kanilang “pilgrimage” sa “Banal na Lupain”. 

Sa kasalukuyan, patuloy ang dasal namin na nawa’y matuloy na ang napipintong pag-uusap ng hari dito sa mga lider ng iba’t ibang relihiyon upang mabigyang-daan ang inaasam-asam na kalayaan sa pagsamba sa bahaging ito ng mundo.

While shopping for the boys’ science project materials last weekend in our favorite arts and crafts store, Al Zamil, I was pleasantly surprised to find these…

Whaddyaknow? After “desperately searching” in the nearly 2 years we have been living here, I finally was able to get hold of my first Saudi refrigerator magnets - yey! What’s more, I like them because they are distinctly Saudi - with the man in the traditional thobe and the woman garbed in the “controversial” burkah (head veil) and abaya (aka “black ninja outfit” ). 

You see, apart from the celadon elephants I fancy, Keith and I also collect refrigerator magnets as souvenirs from all the places we have been to.  So far, we have been successful in our “quest” (except for Japan - but that’s another story…). 

I am so pleased with my finds that I placed them right smack center with all the rest of their “friends”.

Hmmm… now if only any of you guys can tell me where to snag those “much-coveted” Japanese magnets (without actually having to go back to Japan), I’d be forever grateful - promise!

Funny how a single date can turn the introspective switch ”on” in me …

Looking back. It was on this very date two years ago when I left the house as a bank executive and went home a “changed person”.  It was an “end of an era”, on a personal level, so to speak… After 12 years, I bid adieu to the crazy corporate life and officially embraced the even crazier life of a domestic diva.  Although my resignation did not take effect until 3+ months after my last day at work, being able to at last “live my dream” to be a full-time, hands-on wife and mom was definitely an answered prayer.  True, the road to “diva-ness” has not been without its unique challenges and there are admittedly still times when I find myself doubting if I made the right decision…Yet, in retrospect, all these seem such small inconveniences compared to the joy of actively being part of our kids’ growing-up years and the precious quality of life we now enjoy as a family.  Ironic as it may be, it seems that I was literally led to the desert so I could appreciate the beauty, wonder and simple joys of life even more.

Looking forward. Today also marks the graduation of my sister, Rina, from her MBA studies.  While I share my family’s pride and joy on this momentous occasion, I also cannot help but fervently hope and pray that my sister’s chances at a better life will indeed be boosted by this “laurel” she now has. Knowing how tough the rat race could be even with all the additional educational “trimmings” one has,  I pray that Rina really finds that which will make her truly fulfilled and happy.

The twelfth of April - one date, two lives.  One looking back, another looking forward. Seemingly opposite directions yet still very much intertwined.

Enough said. Introspective switch now turned off.

Ang napili kong ilahok sa tema ngayong linggo ay ito:

 Sirit na?

Ito ay bubong ng isang maliit na bersyon ng isang “spirit house” na nabili namin sa isang “night market” sa Bangkok ilang taon na rin ang nakararaan.  Ang “spirit house” ay karaniwang makikita sa  labas ng maraming bahay, kainan o tindahan sa Thailand.  Naniniwala ang mga Thai na pamumugaran ito ng mabubuting ispirito na inaasahang magbibigay suwerte sa kanilang buhay at negosyo.  Tulad rin ng nakagawian ng maraming Pinoy na may mga poon sa kani-kanilang mga tahanan, madalas ay inaalayan din ang mga “spirit house” ng  bulaklak at pagkain.

Hindi naman talaga kami mapamahiin.  Sa totoo lang, ang naging atraksyon lamang ng bagay na ito ay ang kanyang kakaibang “craftsmanship” at dahil sa tingin namin ay nababagay ito sa temang-Oriental ng mga muwebles sa aming tahanan.  Isa pa, may kaunting “twist” itong “spirit house” na ito dahil ginawa talaga siya para maging isang “aquarium”!

Sa katunayan, aliw na aliw nga ang mga bisita namin sa Maynila noon dahil kakaiba nga ang napili naming aquarium.

Sa paglipat namin dito sa kaharian, minabuti naming gawing mas payak ang aming pamumuhay (mahirap-hirap din kayang dagdagan pa ng paglilinis ng aquarium ang mga gawaing-bahay, diba? ).  Isa pa, di rin naman karamihan ang mga panauhing dumadalaw sa amin kaya di na kinakailangan ng kakaibang “conversation piece” na ito. Dahil dito, mula sa pagiging isang aquarium, eto na ngayon ang gamit ng ”spirit house” sa aming bahay:

Simple pa rin naman pero nananatiling may karakter. Ano sa tingin ninyo?

This was admittedly a difficult tag for me to do.  You see, I am really “musically declined”.  When I hear music, what I focus on is the lyrics and what message it imparts - which is why I very rarely remember the melody of a song unless I hear it over and over.

Good thing hubby was guilty kind enough to throw me a lifeline by suggesting that I do songs by the one and only “Material Girl”… Britney Spears! Hahaha! Gotcha there!

Kidding aside, I stuck with Madonna’s songs since, apart from them being numerous, they are the ones which ring a familiar bell in my tone-deaf head!  So, with instructions to choose one band/artist and use the titles of their songs to answer the questions, here goes nothing…

To Keith: Khalas! (”Done” in Arabic)

Are you a boy or a girl?               Angel

How old are you?                        Ain’t No Big Deal. Secret.

Describe yourself.                      Cry Baby. True Blue. Lucky Star.

How’s life?                                       Amazing. Bittersweet.

Where do you live?                         La Isla Bonita. Borderline (of KSA and Bahrain!).  

What’s your favorite song?          Live to Tell.

Describe your love life.              Fever.  Crazy For You. Till Death Do Us Part.

What are you?                           Beautiful Stranger.

What kind of music do you like?    Into the Groove.

How are you feeling?                    Keep it Together. Over and Over. Survival.

A few words of wisdom.             Express Yourself. Open Your Heart. You’ll See.

Two months shy of getting into the “Terrible Terrific Twos” zone, our darling daughter, Margarita (which, incidentally means “little pearl”), already has a few tricks and antics up her sleeve and is constantly finding ways to test her (and ours, too!) limits.

Case in point - Noticing that she hit her Kuya Luigi, I set her aside, looked at her in the eye (got this tip from Super Nanny Jo Frost ), and warned her sternly:

ME: “Marga, no hitting.”

MARGA: (in an act of defiance, I assume…) “Rowr!” (I noticed that when something displeased her in some way, she has recently developed a habit of letting out a “baby tiger roar” in an effort to “scare” her “tormentor(s)” - usually me or her kuyas)

ME: “I don’t like that.  You don’t do that to Mama!”

MARGA: (immediately changes tone with matching non-chalant facial expression) “Meow?”

Ayos! Yung tigre biglang naging kuting!

Momentarily forgetting my “Super Nanny” tips, I (and her kuyas) just had to let out a hearty laugh!

Marga, you definitely made my day! Love you! Mwah!