Sunday November 8th, 2009
At work today, I had to conduct a workshop titled “How to Start Your Small Business: Step by Step” to a group of undergrad university students. These students are in Business School and are in their last year, so most of the things I covered are not new to them. But at the same time, I covered things they didn’t cover yet, such as Business Plans and Market Research. I really enjoyed it and I always try to make it fun and interesting and not boring as if it was a typical lecture.
I gave them evaluation forms at the end to fill out so that I can see what are my weaknesses and what are my strengths so that I can makes changes or adjustments, or simply do things the same way as I always have. But it’s always nice to improve and make changes in your teaching or presenting ways. After looking over the evaluations, I got mostly good feedback alhemdallah! It really made my day! Now my boss wants me to come up with different topics to different workshops and I’m very excited for that!!!
Much Love, HKA in KSA
Saturday November 7th, 2009
Today I went to the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce & Industry for a lecture on “Employee Rights” and things related to one’s job contract. It was very informative, especially since most of the things they were talking about were related to Saudi laws and all of this is extremely new to me. Since I work here now and since I signed a contract with a Saudi establishment, these laws cover and also protect me. So it was very nice to learn and to be educated in. I defiantly took plenty of notes and grabbed any literature that as passed out for people to take home.
I also met a very important Saudi lawyer and legal advisor, who came to present at our Conference 2 weeks ago and I was in contact with her through phone and email, yet I never got the chance to meet her in real life. So tonight, she was actually one of the main speakers! It was very nice to actually meet her and she was just as excited to finally meet me as I was.
They gave us a Certificate of Attendance at the end of the lecture, which was very nicely printed and placed in a nice, velvet cover.
Bassam came to pick me up when it was over at 8 pm and then we went to get take out and we just made it home. I will eat, make some coffee, and read a bit before bed.
Much Love, HKA in KSA
Friday November 6th, 2009
Talal, Kristi, Karoomi, and I went out for a picnic in the sand/desert area. It was in an area called Old Derayah, which is the original capital before it was Riyadh. You can see some old castles and buildings for 60+ years ago which they are trying to preserve.
We found a nice place which had huge rocks that made a U shaped cabana-like area to set up picnic or to have a bar-b-q. There was a lot of them, so they were man-made with real rocks. It is designed so that each group or each family can sit in their own cabana.
Kristi made very yummy chicken & grilled onion sandwiches and before we got there, we stopped by a mini convenient store and bought some pop and some chips. As soon as we set up, we decided to eat. Afterwards, Talal and Kristi decided to go for a long walk in the desert, and it was LONG! I stayed with Karoomi since he fell asleep and plus I didn’t have my sunglasses and the sun was very bright!
We stayed there for a few hours, but honestly, it was very calm and relaxing yet fun!
I took some pictures, so I will post them soon inshAllah.
Much Love, HKA in KSA
50 DAY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!! (I just can’t believe it’s been 50 days already!!! Amazing!!!)
Last week we went to IKEA and bought a few things, and they finally arrived today! They even installed everything. Even though my apartment is still missing a few things, I feel as if it’s beginning to look more like a home, and I’m really happy for this. Because what I hate more than anything is an apartment or house that is empty and doesn’t feel homey!
I was also invited to an Istaraha (it’s when people rent out a beach house or the equivalent of a summer house and just hang out and have dinner and just have fun). It was actually more fun than last time I went. It’s my 2nd time to this one. The people that go to it are all somehow related to one another (except my sister-in-law and I of course, but we are close friends, so it makes for something, right?) The Istaraha was just women, so everyone took off their abayas and head scarves.
We had lots and lots of coffee and sweets, which is something they do BEFORE dinner, and then came dinner at around 10:30 pm!! Yes, very late!
After dinner, they had music and all the girls danced. I had to show them some of my dance moves too! ;) At around 11:30 pm, we had my brother come get us.
Much Love, HKA in KSA
Wednesday November 4th, 2009
Right after work, I had Bassam take me straight to Samia’s house. I haven’t been there in a while and I was really missing them. She told me that her brother and his wife were in town, and since I’ve heard so much about her sister-in-law, I was eager to meet her. She was very sweet and friendly and very social mashallah.
We had the usual coffee and dates then tea and sweets. Afterwards, Samia ordered some pizza from Little Caesar’s. The funny thing is, I’ve NEVER had Little Caesar’s in America and now I have it in Saudia! It wasn’t that bad, but it wasn’t anywhere close to Talamo’s Pizza ;)
Bassam was out with one of his friends so he came and picked me up at around 11:30 pm. I was really getting sleepy by that time cause I was up early for work today.
It’s 12:15 am now and I’m just going to crash into bed and hopefully I will sleep in tomorrow!
Much Love, HKA in KSA
Tuesday November 3rd, 2009
I taught my Essentials in Business Mentoring class today and I must say, it was a lot of fun! I actually enjoyed it today more than the first time. I got a lot of good feedback from the girls, so that only made the experience extra nice! I gave them a project in which they had to work in groups, interview a businessman/businesswoman about Mentoring in Business, and then present it in front of the class two weeks from now. They seemed really excited about the project and I think it’s going to be fun watching them present.
Much Love, HKA in KSA
Monday November 2nd, 2009
I didn’t do much today (well, at work I went to the Meeting Room again and got a lot of work done once again!). Other than that, it was an easy day at home. I took a nap after work and didn’t wake up until Maghreb. After that, I just ate and was online searching for things work-related, but it wasn’t hard or tiring. Over all, it was a nice easy day!
Much Love, HKA in KSA
Sunday November 1st, 2009
I went to the Meeting Room at work to get some work done. Every time I’m in the office with the other girls, I could never get anything done! It’s not them who slow me down, it’s the students and other guests that keep coming in and out of the office, asking a million and one questions!! So I decided to just work in the empty Meeting Room and get as much as I can do. To my astonishment, I got a huge chunk of my work done in less than 4 hours!! I was soooo proud of myself!
So from now on if I have a lot of work to finish and can’t handle the unnecessary interpretations, then I will go to the Meeting Room to get it all done.
After work, we went to Hyper Panda to get some groceries and things for the house.
Much Love, HKA in KSA
Saturday October 31th, 2009
Today was Halloween in the States. This holiday happens to be my husband and I’s favorite holiday! Oh how I wish I was in America right now! Especially in California and on Santa Monica Blvd where they closed down the whole street for blocks and just have a huge Halloween Festival. Bassam and I went to it one year and it was just soo much fun!
Well, we didn’t do anything here for Halloween. Oh well, maybe next year inshAllah!
At work we had a really nice brunch and everyone involved in the conference was invited to celebrate the success of the conference. The rector of the university was present as well and she said a few nice words and congratulated us on a job well done. It was a very nice gesture and it was nice seeing everyone involved in the conference and kind of reflect on how we felt about the conference overall.
Much Love, HKA in KSA
Friday October 30th, 2009
Since I’ve been busy with work and the conference, I’ve been neglecting my apartment! I mean, my husband really helps out with washing dishes and washing clothes, but nothing’s like a woman’s touch! So I decided to Clean House today, and do it inside-out.
I started with the kitchen and worked my way around the house. I cleaned the fridge, the oven, all the cabinets, and then washed and mopped the floors. I also washed clothes and cleaned the bathrooms. Then I attacked my bedroom, making sure everything was hung that was supposed to be hung and folded and put away that was supposed to be put away.
It took me longer than I had expected but at least now I have a fresh, clean house. I made bakhoor and took a nice long shower. Now we will have dinner and call it a night.
Much Love, HKA in KSA