Update from Ivy

Since my mom hasn't updated this since she left I figured I'd give you a quick update. Here's the email that she sent to Taylor (and a few others) this week.

Hey Taylor (and I might copy a few others since internet time is precious.....)

We're writing to you from sunny Saudi Arabia! We are getting all settled in and for the most part things are great. There have been some frustrating times and sad times but on the whole, we are doing fantastic! Our house is very nice. Three bedrooms, two and a half baths, fenced yard (actually it's a cinderblock wall painted) It's not real big but big enough for Chelsea to run around in and play. She actually likes the yard boy who waters the lawn. Just out the back gate in your yard and across the street is the women's gym, library, movie theater, bowling alley "Olive Garden" restaurant (although it's not the same as what we call Olive Garden- still looks good.) Right past that complex are some soccer fields and the bus stops. So all in all, we're in a great location. We can walk to the grocery store/post office complex. It will be easier when we get a car but we're doing pretty good on the bus system. They are actually pretty nice. The scenery seems like what you might think Miami would look like, with the palm trees lining the streets. The weather is just perfect, sunny yet cool.

Last night the bsh. drove us to Al Kobar to shop. We bought a tv, bath mats, laudry baskets, printer, frames, etc. It was quite an interesting experience. They drive really, really bad here. It's only like a ten minute drive and it's the closest city to Dhahran.

Our Friday services were great. We can't really go into details over the internet or even phone about all that but things were very nice and very normal, just not the setting we are used to. But all the same things happened, same things taught, etc. This summer I'll fill you all in on that. The people here have been so welcoming. We ate Christmas Eve dinner with a member family and Christmas dinner with Bret J's parents. They bought us an Arabic clock. The other family gave the kids pajamas. It has been so wonderful to already have this group of friends. Without that, it would have been VERY difficult.

Dad really likes his job. Everybody is very nice. He works will so many different nationalites, he loves it. His boss is Lebanease, then there are Arabs, Americans, Australians, English.....just people from around the world.

Communication is sometimes difficult. I called to make Whitney and I an appt. to get our hair cut and I could barely understand the receptionist. Over the phone is SO much harder than in person. The biggest difference is the way the women cover themselves from head to toe.

We got Evan all registered and got his schedule. They both start the 3rd. Evan got to choose from electives like History of Flight, rock band (which teaches cords for bass, keyboard, etc), photography, basketball, etc. He's in History of Flight this trimester but hoping for RockBand the last trimester. His school is just awesome so far anyway. all the teachers gave us business cards and say call if we need a ride somewhere, etc. Even the principal offered to loan him a bike! (I think everybody is so nice because everybody was once new here and understands how overwhelming it is)

Our neighbors are from Pakistan. Very, very nice family. They have helped us alot telling us how things work. They have lived in California for a while before coming here.

We are hoping and praying that things are still good there with you in Cannes! Hopefully you are keeping busy and not just having to find all the time. So glad that you got to do something on Christmas. Anyway, love you lots. You are almost a your year mark!


That's about all I know - hopefully they get their internet set up soon!
-Ivy