Rick Joseph in Saudi Arabia

Motown Homecoming

2007-12-04T19:53:00.000-05:00

We arrived in Detroit on Monday December 3 at 1:30 pm. This will be my last post on the Rick Joseph in Saudi Arabia blog.

What an amazing trip! Let the learning continue...

The Price of Gas

2007-12-04T18:47:00.001-05:00

On the way to the airport we stopped at the first oil well in KSA, which was discovered station in 1938.

Later, we went to a station for gas. We figured that gas in KSA costs about 1.20 a gallon.

On the Way Home

2007-12-04T18:31:00.001-05:00

We had our final meal in Saudi Arabia at a golf club in Riyadh, but we didn't get a chance to play!

I took picture of part of a roller coaster from the window of our bus. Too bad we couldn't stop.

I presented our Aramco guides, Tariq and Hanadi with BCS t-shirts as a thank you for accompanying us on our 10-day journey throughout the country.

Last Day in Saudi a Big One

2007-12-04T05:19:00.001-05:00

In every hotel room there is a sign on the dresser or the ceiling that indicates the direction of the city of Mecca. Muslims all over the world always face Mecca when they pray.

We visited the Shura council on Sunday (the business week in Saudi Arabia is Saturday through Wednesday. Thursday and Friday are the weekend days.) The Shura council is the rough equivalent of the U.S. congress or the British Parliament. We met with four members of the Shura council who talked openly about issues related to the Arab-Israeli conflict, the war on terror, the war in Iraq, and the future of relations between the U.S. and Saudi governments. I videotaped many of the responses and look forward to sharing them.

Walking in someone else's shoes

2007-12-02T17:43:00.001-05:00

On our last night in Riyadh, and Saudi Arabia, a number of the teachers on the trip decided to wear Saudi garb that we had purchased. The transformation was very interesting on many levels. I look forward to sharing more details of my experience when I return home.

Riyadh: A study in contrasts

2007-12-02T00:03:00.001-05:00

Here's a view from my hotel. Oh, and yes, Saudis love rap, as seen from the music store at the mall.

Jeddah to Riyadh

2007-12-01T23:56:00.000-05:00

We left Jeddah on Friday afternoon and arrived in the capital, Riyadh, that evening.

2007-12-01T23:48:00.001-05:00

On the Red Sea

2007-12-01T23:47:00.001-05:00

2007-12-01T18:11:00.001-05:00

Old Jeddah and the souk

2007-12-01T00:13:00.001-05:00

The souk is the outdoor market. We spent some time sightseeing and shopping in downtown Jeddah, the second stop on our three-city tour.

2007-12-01T00:03:00.001-05:00

Cars in the Kingdom

2007-11-30T23:50:00.000-05:00

Here in KSA they drive pretty much all the same vehicles we see at home.

Global Fast Food

2007-11-30T23:30:00.001-05:00

Fast Food is everywhere. KSA has nearly all the same restaurants we do. There are two separate entrances. You have to enter by one door if you are a single male or in a group of males, and in the family entrance if you are with your family. Women are not allowed to be out in public without a male relative or their husband if they are married.

Hungry?

2007-11-30T23:20:00.001-05:00

Here's a typical example of the kind of food I've been eating. We usually go to places that have enormous buffets set out for us. Sometimes we sit at these very long tables that have 15 chairs on each side of the table. I truly feel like I have been treated like royalty here in the desert kingdom!

Dhahran School for Kids with Special Needs

2007-11-30T17:24:00.000-05:00

Aramco Middle School Dhahran, KSA

2007-11-29T17:18:00.000-05:00

Traditional Saudi Celebration

2007-11-29T17:08:00.000-05:00

Here are some photos from the same reception where I rode the camel. All the women teachers on our trip got a henna, which is traditional temporary tattoo. This guy is playing a guitar-like instrument called an oud (pronounced "ood.") They actually rolled out the red carpet for us!

Schools, Food, Weather, Clothes, and Music

2007-11-29T09:44:00.001-05:00

Thanks for all your posts. It is Thursday night and we have been in Jeddah since Tuesday. We leave for Riyadh tomorrow. Here are the answers to some common questions. Keep 'em coming!

Schools

There are two kinds of schools here, public and private, just like in the USA. In both schools, there are rules that the government says schools must follow. Boys and girls must be separated from kindergarten. They don’t even see each other throughout the day. This is because Saudi Arabia is avery conservative country with a conservative society, which means their rules about boys and girls can seem very old-fashioned, especially to Americans and Europeans. Boys and girls are not allowed to date, by law, but they find a way to meet anyway. Many use Facebook and MySpace.

Clothes

The clothes people wear in their own home are exactly like the clothes we wear in the USA. Girls wear a robe to go out in public called an abaya. This is a rule in Saudi Arabia. The reason is to be modest in your dress. Girls also cover their head with a scarf called a hijab. The hijab must cover their head. Other girls wear veils that only show their eyes. Some girls wear veils that cover their whole face. I even saw girls who wore gloves. The color is almost always black. This is part of Saudi culture and tradition, and is not necessarily related to the Islamic religion. There are Muslims in other countries who do not dress like this.

Boys wear a long white shirt that goes to the floor which looks like a white robe. It’s called a thobe. They also wear a head covering called a gutra.

Food

The food is just as diverse as the food in the USA. They have every fast food restaurant we do. They also have a lot of very delicious Arabic food. This includes shish-ka-bob, grape leaves, taboulee, hummus, seafood, and much more. We have breakfast at our hotel (anything we want) and then lunch and dinner at fancy restaurants. I mean really fancy. Usually there are these gigantic buffets that have countless types of food. Everything is all you can eat. Most days I feel like a huge balloon ready to pop after meals.

Everywhere we go, people offer us hot tea in tiny cups to drink and dates to eat, which is very traditional in Saudi Arabia and throughout the Middle East. They also offer us little sandwiches and cookies. I’ve never eaten more amazing food over a 10 day stretch in my life!

Weather

The weather here is about 85 degrees every day. It rarely rains. I feel like I’m on Spring Break in the Caribbean. We went to the beach once on the Arabian Sea, and tonight we will go to the beach on the Red Sea. The water is a beautiful blue-green, like Cancun. There are also lots of coral reefs, so much so that they used to make the bricks for houses out of coral.

Music

A lot of people listen to Arabic and English music both. I actually saw some graffiti on the wall on the street that said some words in Arabic and then “50 Cent.” (as in the rapper) I was amazed! There is satellite TV with video music channels from everywhere. Kids seem to like a bunch of different music, just like at home.

2007-11-29T09:10:00.000-05:00

I apologize

2007-11-29T00:50:00.000-05:00

I hope I didn't offend anyone by the title of my post about riding camels. I only wanted to show how much fun it was to ride such a majestic beast. As an Arab-American and a member of BCS's Diversity Committee, I am certainly sensitive to language and its power.

Saudi Gazzette newspaper article on our trip

2007-11-29T00:29:00.000-05:00

Sorry, here's the link to the article.

artcle

Article in Arab News

2007-11-29T00:24:00.000-05:00

The Arab News is Saudi Arabia's largest English-language newspaper. They did a story on our trip:
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=104063&d=28&m=11&y=2007

Camel Jockey

2007-11-28T15:34:00.001-05:00

We went to a reception complete with traditional Saudi music and dancing. They even had camel rides!

Bill Bowles

2007-11-28T08:21:00.001-05:00

Bill Bowles is a media specialist from Western International High School in Detroit. He and I both represent the Detroit area and the State of Michigan on this trip.

He is a very intelligent and thoughtful person, who had traveled widely throughout the world. I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to have this experience with him. I look forward to working together with Bill in the wake of our trip to Saudi Arabia.

Controversy

2007-11-28T00:36:00.000-05:00

As a group of 25 teachers, we have always wondered whether or not we would see the "real" Saudi Arabia - good, bad, and ugly on this trip.

So far, we've seen mostly good (which we expected) but we certainly have been free to talk about the bad and the ugly.

Yesterday, three of us went for an unescorted walk for two hours around Jeddah with the blessings of our Saudi hosts. Today we want to do the same thing.

We have talked about the following issues so far: women's rights (driving, marriage, divorce, clothing, education) and the Annapolis peace conference between the Israel and the Palestinians and the Saudi sentiment.

We will press for more access and discussion. So far, I've been surprised with the honesty of our Saudi hosts in not trying to pretend this country is in any way perfect.

2007-11-26T10:37:00.000-05:00

Girls Rule!

2007-11-25T18:31:00.000-05:00

I was absolutely amazed at the talent, preparedness, and motivation of the young women I met at a school today in Saudi Arabia. They were all studying in anticipation of spending their college years abroad. Here are some photos and video from my visit.

Surprising Schools

2007-11-25T09:49:00.000-05:00

Today we visited three schools here in Dhahran. The first was a private school about 10 minutes from where we're staying, the second was a training school for high school graduates who will attend college in the USA, Canada, or the UK. The students' education is paid for by the Aramco company, and they will work for the company upon graduation.

We were all amazed at the facilities, curriculum, and overall the people. The quality of what we saw would have made any American feel right at home. English was spoken well by nearly everyone.

What was most impressive was the fact that the number of women working for Aramco is growing rapidly. These women are very much on the cutting edge of social change here in the kingdom as they prepare to leave home to go to college.

All About Oil

2007-11-24T12:07:00.000-05:00

Today we went to the Aramco Petroleum Institute, which featured a hands-on museum. I learned an enormous amount about the oil industry "from ground to gas tank."

We had a wonderful lunch, then toured the Aramco compound, which is its own city. Unfortunately, we couldn't ride the horses.

We then visitied the Heritage Center, a small museum focusing on the history and culture of the Arab and Muslim world.

We're back in our rooms at Steineke Hall, and I'm ready for bed. The jet lag has caught up with me!

Detroit Free Press Article

2007-11-23T18:32:00.001-05:00

Check out this article on my trip that appeared in Friday's Detroit Free Press.

Saudi Thanksgiving

2007-11-23T18:22:00.000-05:00

On Friday evening, after a day at the beach, we enjoyed an amazing Thanksgiving dinner, Saudi-style. We actually had turkey, (which apparently no one eats in Saudi Arabia) and even pumpkin pie. I was pretty amazed.

The people who work in the service industry in the KSA (hotel staff, food servers, maintenance staff) are all foreigners. They typically from India, Phillipines, and Pakistan.

Ras Tanura Resort

2007-11-23T18:14:00.000-05:00

Check out the video below (sorry it's out of order.)

I had a great time playing soccer with some kids and hanging out at the beach on the Arabian (Persian) Gulf. We spent the entire day swimming, playing volleyball and soccer, eating and talking. They even had a bowling alley, although we just watched.

It was a great way to spend my first day in the KSA!

Flight Photos Part Two

2007-11-23T18:07:00.000-05:00

This is a guy wearing a Barry Sanders Detroit Lions jersey. It even said "Sanders" on the back. I met him just after I landed in the Bahrain airport. I introduced myself, told him I was from Detroit, and that I liked Barry. He had no clue what I was talking about! I guess he liked the jersey, though.

Photos from Flight

2007-11-23T17:53:00.000-05:00

Questions Asked...Questions Answered!

2007-11-23T16:58:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all the amazing posts to the blog. I want to send a big "Shout Out" to all the amazing BCS kids who've been posting. You guys rock. Mr. Wallington's class is out of this world!

While I can't reply to all your questions individually, I will do my best to answer everything that people have asked so far. Here we go:

After a two-day training in Houston, I arrived yesterday after a 21 hour journey on Lufthansa German Airlines from Houston to Bahrain. Bahrain is actually a tiny country in the Arabian (Persian) Gulf which is connected to KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) by a 15-mile bridge called a causeway, which is a low bridge over water. It is actually the longest Causeway in the world.

Houston was wonderful, but nothing compared to the experience of being in a foreign country for the first time, especially one that is so far away which has some unique cultural aspects. The best Mexican food in the U.S.A. is at a restaurant in Southwest Detroit called Mi Pueblo. Go there! I like the tacos and tortas.

When you greet someone in the KSA, you say in Arabic, "Wah-sa-laam Alei-kum," which means "Peace be with you."

There are 24 other teachers from all over the USA on this trip, including a Media Specialist from Western International High School in Southwest Detroit named Bill Bowles. I'm making friends with everyone.

The KSA is eight hours ahead of Detroit. Right now it's 1:05am Saturday here and 5:05 p.m Friday afternoon in Detroit. My body thinks it's 5:05pm, that's why I'm still wide awake. I haven't quite adjusted from the jet-lag.

I didn't see any armadillos in Texas, but I saw a cool fish some boys caught at the Arabian (Persian) Gulf today. I'll post the picture above. I also saw some small fish jump out of the water while I was swimming.

In Houston it was 77 degrees both days I was there. Check the KSA weather here. It was about 88 degrees here today. Unbelievably gorgeous:-)

Rachel Mucha, the woman in the picture from Houston was named Alma, and she was teaching us about life in the KSA. She reminded me of my cousin Lori, because she's Lebanese like my grandparents.

I definitely miss all of you, my students, so much, and I can't wait to come back and share more amazing stories and fascinating artifacts.

Katie Powell, there's actually a teacher on this trip from Vermont who teaches on an island in Lake Champlain. It's like Grosse Isle on the Detroit River, if you know where that is.

People in Texas and In Saudi Arabia both speak English with accents that are different from how we speak in Michigan. I can demonstrate when I get home.

I have eaten incredibly well everywhere I've been. Check out the pictures above from our special Saudi Thanksgiving dinner.

Lewis, the economy is Saudi Arabia is driven by petroleum exports. It is also a huge concern of the USA to keep the oil flowing so we can drive our cars and trucks, to name just two things we use oil for. As I learn more about oil production and distribution, I'll share.

I had a roomate from New Jersey, Robert, at the hotel in Texas, but while here in KSA, I've got my own room. I'm pretty lucky!

Malcom, I miss my wife and kids very much. I'm trying to use Skype to video conference with them. I'll let you know how that goes. It worked in Houston. Check out the picture above of a teacher "Skyping" with his family.

Here in KSA I'm staying at the Aramco companies headquarters. They have a dorm here, which is kind of like a hotel. The headquarters is surrounded by a fence, and is enormous. It's really more like a small city. Check out more info on where I'm staying here.

Lily, Arabian horses come from KSA, and if I see any, I'll post a photo. They don't farm too much here, although there is a small dairy industry. Here's more.

Frankie, I'll tell you all about the kids I meet when we go to schools for visits.

Nick A, I was on the 7th floor of my hotel in Houston. I really only saw Houston from the freeway, since we were busy all day both days, but I did get out to Chuy's Restaurant (see previous post.)

Keep the questions coming, everyone!

Arabian Gulf Exploration

2007-11-23T15:05:00.000-05:00

I Made it!

2007-11-23T02:55:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone!

I arrived in Saudi Arabia on Friday morning at 1:30am local time (5:30pm on Thursday, Detroit time.) All is most well.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.

I'll post pictures as soon as my laptop is up.

Love to all,
Rick

Tex-Mex at Chuy's

2007-11-21T06:14:00.000-05:00

The hand-held buzzer vibrated and blinked madly, seeming to proclaim, "Yes! Yes! Yes! Your table is finally ready. You can go grab a seat." At long last. Something must be special about a place that made us wait 30 minutes on a Tuesday night.

Our eclectic group of 15 teachers from around the country snaked carefully through the jam-packed, neo Tex-Mex diner to find our spot. I felt like I had slipped into an Ozzie-and-Harriet-meets-Speedy-Gonzales heaven as I glided onto my red vinyl seat with aluminum tubing and perched my elbows on the Formica table top with metal trim. This was a Texas experience. Our last hurrah before setting off the next day on a 21 hour odyssey to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

How authentic could this be, I wondered, my purist mexicano food instincts taking over. The menu offered an impressive array of enchiladas, burritos, and ensaladas, but no tortas. I decided to relax and just order what I could typically rely on: tacos. They were mediocre. The sliced skirt steak was tough and the tortillas flavorless. But, bueno, the company was excellent.

Outside my Hotel Room

2007-11-21T05:44:00.000-05:00

Aramco U.S. Headquarters

2007-11-20T19:46:00.000-05:00

Happy in Houston

2007-11-20T08:41:00.000-05:00

Hi all! Rick Seefelt drove Bill Bowles and me to Metro Airport to begin our odyssey. Our flight left at 12:15pm. Bill is a media specialist (formerly known as "librarian") at Western International High School in Detroit. He has traveled extensively, and is a fascinating guy. You'll see him in these photos.

Our flight went very well. When we arrived in Houston, we found our shuttle bus and joined 10 other teachers for the ride to the Houston Intercontinental Hotel where we're staying. My roommate at the hotel is a high school teacher from New Jersey named Robert. When we get to Saudi Arabia we have our own room.

We had a great dinner and opening meeting last night, where all 25 teachers introduced themselves. We are an exciting group with many diverse interests.

This morning (Tuesday) we are going to the Saudi Aramco headquarters for an orientation on Saudi Arabia. Enjoy the photos!

My Fabulous Family

2007-11-19T04:07:00.000-05:00

This is my wife Mary Beth, my sons Zachary (8) and Nicholas (5), and our dog, Buddy. The photo was taken in our living room on Saturday. I will miss my family dearly, and I look forward to bringing them with me on my next big trip!

2007-11-19T03:33:00.000-05:00

Ayah and Heba greet you in Arabic

2007-11-18T22:45:00.001-05:00

Ayah and Heba both come from Syrian families. Their home language is Arabic. They made a short video in Arabic in which they basically introduce themselves and tell what grade they're in and where they attend school. See if you non-Arabic speakers can follow along!

It's All About the Kids

2007-11-18T21:58:00.000-05:00

Here are all 54 of Sara and my students in front of BCS.

I also am posting some photos of the kids and me at my going away party last Friday. I felt so honored by everyone. Each kid wrote me a note on a 3x5 index card. All the cards were bound together to make "Mr. Joe's Travel Tips." I will cherish these forever.

Dale and Hal

2007-11-18T21:51:00.000-05:00

Dale Truding is our principal at BCS, and one of the key people who helped make my trip a reality. She has always championed new and innovative ideas and programs at BCS. She is our first and only principal in the 13 year history of the school. BCS exists because of her vision and leadership.

Hal Heard is in his third year as our assistant principal. He has recently accepted the post of athletic director. Among his other roles and responsibilities, he is BCS's Diversity Champion, and is committed to equity at all levels of education.

Dale and Hal are both currently working on their doctoral degrees at the University of Toledo.

The Ones Who Take Care of Everybody at BCS

2007-11-16T20:39:00.000-05:00

The Ones Who Take Care of Everybody at BCS

2007-11-16T16:49:00.000-05:00

Sally Battle, our Office Assistant (standing) and Nancy Best, our secretary (sitting) have provided me with great practical support in anticipation of this trip. Sally arranged and processed all the paperwork for my eight days off, and Nancy ordered the business cards that I will present to all the people I meet on my trip.

Of course, I couldn't begin to count all the ways they've helped me over the past five years here at BCS. I can't imagine life at BCS without them.

The Best Teaching Partner in the World

2007-11-15T12:18:00.002-05:00

This is my teaching partner Sara Wilkie. She teaches math and science and I teach language arts and social studies to the same group of 54 children. We each have a homeroom of 27.

Sara and I actually went to the same grade school, but were a year apart and didn't realize this fact until we began teaching together last year.

Sara is one of the most outstanding educators I've ever had the pleasure to work with. She is a tireless advocate for every child on our team. She truly values the triadic relationship between student, parent, and teacher. She cares deeply about each child, and the rigor with which she teaches is only matched by the love she displays for everyone she meets.

My ride?

2007-11-13T23:02:00.000-05:00

This article typifies the "rich and famous" news that comes out of KSA. Maybe I'll meet this guy!

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007711130352

Welcome to my Blog!

2007-11-11T06:23:00.000-05:00

Please enjoy this video introduction to my blog which will give some background information on my trip.