1st week here

Settling in has been going well, but we have been faced with some challenges. The biggest one has been buying appliances (beyond basic ones which are provided). Our housing is wired for mostly 110V, but we do have one outlet that is 220V. Most appliances in Saudi Arabia are 220V. It's been fun going to stores and then trying to find things that are 110V so we don't have transformers all over the house. We were able to find a microwave, toaster, blow dryer, and curling iron that were 110V, but water coolers don't come that way (and are very necessary). Plus, our outlets are "American" so we are always looking for the right plugs on items as well. Luckily, plug converters are pretty cheap.

These past few days we've been doing a lot of shopping and organizing. Tomorrow is our first teacher workday. "What?" you say "but it's Saturday!" True, it is Saturday tomorrow, but our school week goes from Saturday to Wednesday because Friday is the unofficial holy day for Muslims. It will be weird going to school on Sunday for a while, but we'll get used to it soon.

This morning Jamie and I decided to go for a swim in one of the compound pools. We quickly realized why no one else was out there. Even though it was only 9:30 in the morning, it was way too hot to be swimming. The pool water was probably at about 90F, which is not refreshing, and the sun was blindingly bright. Most people go around 6am or in the evening. In fact, right now it is early afternoon and no one is even outside. Probably because it’s 41C which converts to 106F.

We have been asked what the time difference is between the US and Saudi Arabia. Right now we are ahead of Chicago time by 8 hours. However, that will change because Saudi Arabia does not practice daylight savings time (plus it would mess us prayer times).

Jamie sweeping our back porch, eventually we will have

some furniture there, probably from Ikea :)

Our living room

The dining room

Kitchen (notice the sweet water cooler, it was our favorite purchase)

The road we live on affectionately named Shady Lane.

Most of the younger couples/families live here.