September 3 Day 2

Okay, the jet lag was insane. I was up all night talking to my Roommate when I started dosing around 2PM. I tried to sleep but I couldn't. I have an air conditioner in my room and a nice single bed with linens and a warm blanket (like I need it). Still, I tossed and turned and sleep avoided me. I got a little sleep when I woke-up at 4AM, darn-it.

 I went out to the masjid to pray and came back shortly thereafter but I couldn't get to sleep until about seven AM. It's funny because I looked at the clock around then and realized that it was only midnight back home on the east coast and my wife was probably still awake, but the phone booth place was likely not open that early and I had no phone. I went to sleep resolved that I was going to get a phone today. I woke-up around 11AM and my roomie was on the phone with the VP of my school. He asked if I could drive out to see him and I jumped at the opportunity. How else, I thought, am I ever going to get used to this place if I can't talk to a taxi driver?

 I went out and got in a taxi (yes, they are more readily available here than in NYC) and immediately asked him what my address is. You see, my building has a number, but no one uses street signs (good luck even finding a street sign) so people and taxies use landmarks. He told me and then I asked him how much it would be to go to the landmark near my school. 15 Saudi Riyals. I was told that the average price is 10, but this is tourist season so I'm okay with the price, besides, it only equates to like $3.00 American.

 I got to my school, walked around a little and talked to the VP. Boring stuff really, he's a cool guy but that's not why you're reading this blog.

 I left the school and went for a ride into town, just somewhere dead in the middle of busy city life... didn't have to go far. I went to this chicken restaurant and the food was slamming! Just like the chicken at home with cole slaw and fries. Meh, it was good stuff, but I immediately resolved to stop eating like I do at home and start eating more local stuff. I saw a pet store with some sweet looking birds and wandered into a "souk" (a mini indoor mall). I walked around all over and finally found this Bangladeshi dude who sold me a Nokia for about $35 American (150 Riyals). I slipped in my sim card and started making calls immediately. Finally, I was back in communication with my peeps (see = loved ones).

 I actually brought two cell phones from America, but neither worked at all here and one didn't even come with a sim card. I wonder how many Americans even know what a sim card is; I didn't until I started talking with Canadians. Basically, changing a sim card for a local card gives you access to your cell phone in other countries, but America is such a greedy cesspool of bastards that they make non-American sim cards unusable in their phones. I could take a Canadian, UK, or Egyptian phone and replace the sim card to make calls in any other country with the same phone, but not American phones. Thanks Capitalism.

 I called my wife and talked with here over several calls, trying to get the best possible reception for future calls to loved ones, for an hour and a half and then went outside.

 I am mobile now and less afraid to venture out further. I took a taxi back home and then went outside and walked all the way down my street. It's funny watching the stray cats just chill out right in front of you; unless you look at them and then they run away. I went to a much further phone booth store (I like calling them that) and called my daughters for a while. Called mom too but she didn't pick-up... I love you mom.

 I figure I'll try and get a Shawarma before I go home as they are as local as local food gets in Saudi.

--Bill