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Traveling to Saudia Arabia took a l-o-o-n-n-g time -- longer than
expected because the 5 hour layover in New York's JFK Airport was extended to
over 25 hours! Our plane to SA originated in Washington DC, but it was delayed
due to mechanical difficulties and we were put up at the Ramada near the
airport for the night. The next day we were told we'd be flying out at 1pm, but
it was delayed, and delayed, and delayed -- we finally left NY at about
5:30pm. |
The flight from NY to Jeddah, SA took about 10-1/2
hours. The plane was only about half full and the seat next to me was
empty, so I was able to put my feet up and rest a little bit, though I don't
think I got very much sleep. In Jeddah those of us going on to Riyadh stayed on
the plane while it was serviced. That is, until for some reason it was decided
it was necessary to do a baggage check. We all had to get off the plane onto
the tarmac and point out our luggage, which was then reloaded on the plane. So,
I actually touched Saudi soil first in Jeddah.
The flight from Jeddah to
Riyadh takes about 1-1/2 hours, so I arrived at the Riyadh airport at about
3:30pm AST (Arab Standard Time) on Saturday. As you enter the airport from the
gate there is a beautiful fountain! Processing through immigration and customs
wasn't too difficult, though there was some initial confusion about a form we
needed to fill out that hadn't been given to us. After clearing immigration my
passport was checked again and held while I got my baggage and waited for my
sponsor to show up (which was only a few minutes) -- unaccompanied females
don't leave the area without the sponsor. Everything was then put through the
x-ray machines, but nothing was searched (at least in my case -- the other
single female going to KFSH from the same flight had some of her baggage
checked and in that process, it seems, her passport disappeared). |
We stayed in the airport for a couple of hours because there was
another flight coming in with others who needed to go to King Faisal Specialist
Hospital and Research Center (KFSH&RC). I finally arrived at my apartment
at about 6pm. I was supposed to be at an orientation dinner at 6pm, so
obviously missed that!
My apartment's pretty nice -- 2 bedroom with a
bathroom in each bedroom and another 1/2 bath for company. There's a full
kitchen, a living room, dining area, and laundry room. However, since I qualify
for my own 1 bedroom apartment, I hope to be moving from here in a few
months.
Here are some pictures of the apartment: |
The entryway to the apartment building. |
The kitchen. |
The living room. We even have a
TV! |
The laundry room.
|
The dining area. |
My bedroom -- yes, Mr. B made it,
too! |
A view from my kitchen window of
the tennis court and, beyond that, the pool. There's also an exercise
room. |
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