It's taken me a while to be able to spot schools here in Jeddah. Most look nothing at all like the schools I am used to seeing in the states. Many of the schools in KSA seem to be old residential villas that have been converted into schools. I have read many complaints about the school system here in Saudi Arabia, especially when it comes to girls' education. There are many who would like to see more a focus on academics instead of religious education.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Typical School in Jeddah
It's taken me a while to be able to spot schools here in Jeddah. Most look nothing at all like the schools I am used to seeing in the states. Many of the schools in KSA seem to be old residential villas that have been converted into schools. I have read many complaints about the school system here in Saudi Arabia, especially when it comes to girls' education. There are many who would like to see more a focus on academics instead of religious education.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
SkyWatch: Yellow Mosque
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Thursday, April 26, 2012
Minaret Topper Shop
Mosques are distinctive by their minarets. Most minarets are topped off with a crescent moon shape, which has come to symbolize Islam. The crescent moon plays an important role in the religion. The sighting of the new crescent moon with the naked eye marks the end of Ramadan, the month long fasting period when Muslims do not eat or drink during the daylight hours.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Artwork
This piece of art was part of a display of the Young Saudi Artists group, which recently had an exhibition at the Athr Gallery in Jeddah. To see more of the unique and interesting art that was featured, please see this post on my other blog, Susie of Arabia.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Our World: Red Okay if NOT Valentine's Day
Normally you can see this type of merchandise in shops all over Saudi Arabia, but in February of each year around Valentine’s Day, there is a ban on selling items such as this. This year alone, religious police arrested over 140 people for celebrating Valentine’s Day. The religious police have historically banned products that come in red – such as roses, teddy bears, lingerie, heart shaped chocolate boxes, etc. – in an effort to prevent people from expressing their love for one another on this pagan holiday. I have written more about this subject on my other blog, Susie’s Big Adventure, in these posts: Valentine’s Day Massacre and Happy Valentine’s Day…or Not!
Be sure to visit OUR WORLD TUESDAY, where family-friendly bloggers share a unique glimpse into what life is like all around our ever-amazing planet.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
SkyWatch: Huge Complex
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Thursday, April 19, 2012
Rafting at the Mall
Most large malls here in Jeddah have full scale family entertainment centers. The Mall of Arabia’s play area includes a rock climbing wall, various rides, water rafting, and a soon to be open Snow Village. There are not many activities that families can do together in Saudi Arabia – they cannot attend sporting events or go to the movies together – so malls rank very high on the list for family entertainment.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Our World: Adding On
It is common for additions to existing buildings in Jeddah to be built upwards, adding on more floors as it becomes affordable to the building’s owner.
Be sure to visit OUR WORLD TUESDAY, where family-friendly bloggers share a unique glimpse into what life is like all around our ever-amazing planet.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
SkyWatch: In the Ghetto
Jeddah is a modern city with lots of new construction everywhere, but the city also has some very old and rundown areas as well. Many of the poor foreign workers live in places like this. Though you can’t see them in this photo, even places like this are not without their satellite dishes. Just a few blocks away is an area with beautiful walled villas and a very large, beautiful, and popular shopping mall.
To visit MORE friendly skies around the world, fly on over to SKYWATCH where you’ll find beautiful skies posted by bloggers all over the world.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Just Hangin' Out
I was waiting in the car for my husband when I looked over and saw this group of young men just hanging out. The man in the traditional dress seemed a little older and was dominating the conversation. All of a sudden he started dancing around and the young men loved it. It would be unusual to see girls hanging out in public like this here in Saudi Arabia.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Our World: Busy Signs and Store Fronts
In Jeddah, many shops that offer similar products and services are often right next door to one another for blocks and blocks. My theory is that because of the close proximity of these similar businesses, it causes the signage and storefronts to scream for attention to make it stand out from the competition. However with all of these shops using this same strategy, all it really serves to do is to make the businesses look cluttered. Many of them have their signage in both Arabic and English, which takes up more room to begin with, and many of them also add graphics for the significant part of the population that may not be able to read either language.
Many shops repeat the same graphics over and over. Sometimes it makes me dizzy to look at these busy looking cluttered shop signs.
Be sure to visit OUR WORLD TUESDAY, where family-friendly bloggers share a unique glimpse into what life is like all around our ever-amazing planet.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Which Way?
Many street corners in Saudi Arabia have signs similar to this one. I've never cared much for signs like this because I feel like I never have enough time to completely read all of them. I prefer the big signs above the street that are visible from a much further distance so I have time to read them.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Cool Sign for Thobe Shop
The thobe (or thawb) is the long usually white dress that many Saudi men wear. Most Saudi men probably have at least a dozen thobes hanging in their closets, especially those who wear thobes to work. Most thobes shops will custom-make thobes tailored to each customer. There are many fabrics to choose from, as well as variations in styles like the collar, cuffs, buttons, pockets, embroidery, etc. Thobes usually have big hidden pockets on each side where men can keep their wallets, keys, mobile phones, and lipstick (just kidding - I was seeing if you were paying attention!).
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Pretty New Mosque
This is another beautiful new mosque that has just been completed near downtown Jeddah. I love the details of the arches, the minaret, and the dome and the color choice. In Jeddah, there are mosques every few blocks, and even more frequently than that in some areas. The construction industry continues to boom here in Jeddah with no signs on stopping. There is new construction everywhere around the city.
Friday, April 6, 2012
SkyWatch: Dusty Days
This year the wind and resulting dust storms have been the absolute worst and the windy season has lasted much longer than it has since I moved here in 2007. Hospitals have been filled with people suffering from asthma or other breathing problems. Thick layers of dust have covered everything in sight. There have been no cleansing rains to wash away the dust or settle it down. Many days the skies have been a brown haze with not a patch of blue visible anywhere. On the worst days, schools were closed and many people just stayed home because visibility on the streets was so poor. On really bad days, it is not unusual to see many people wearing surgical masks over their faces.
To visit MORE friendly skies around the world, fly on over to SKYWATCH where you’ll find beautiful skies posted by bloggers all over the world.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
New White Mosque
This new white mosque has just finished completion near downtown Jeddah. Beautiful, isn't it? I had published a photo of this same mosque in the process of being built a while back. If you'd like to compare photos, here's the link of the older post.
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