hello there,
I’m glad you’ve stumbled into this space. My goal is to give you an authentic glimpse into life in Saudi as an American expat (the good, the frustrating, and the surprising), to offer travel tips for the kingdom and beyond (especially if you’re traveling with kids), and whatever else strikes my fancy.
Curious about who I am and what my deal is? Let’s get into it.
I hail from northwest Ohio where cornfields and country roads extend on a flat plain as far as the eye can see. When I was young, I’d turn to books as my form of travel, but after I took my first trip abroad at age 19, novels wouldn’t cut it anymore (love you Hemingway, but I’m ready to meander the streets of Paris myself!). I settled for short trips and a study abroad stint in Spain while I finished college. Then I attempted to satisfy my curiosity for the world by working with international students at the university level until my husband and I finally took a leap and moved sight unseen to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
We’ve been living the expat life now for three years, we’ve had two little boys since moving here (yes, they’re fully American citizens), and we’re continually intrigued by the complexity of Saudi, its friendly and generous people, and the richness of Arab culture.
Why Saudi?
Haven’t you always wanted to live in 110 degree temperatures where it feels like the sun is unleashing a personal vendetta against you the second you step outside? 🙂 Climate aside, my husband and I both became interested in Saudi because of our relationships with Saudis who were studying in the US. Then I learned of the covetable teaching positions at universities here where I could put my master’s degree in TESOL to good use, make decent money, and get a ton of vacation time. Similarly, my husband could get a clinical pharmacist job at a hospital and reap the benefits of more vacation time aka more travel-the-world time. And we like challenges. Picking up our life and moving to a country we’ve never visited, with an official language we don’t know, and that operates according to a religion we have limited experience with – I think that qualifies as a challenge, right?
The first year was pretty rough, but we’ve grown very fond of our life in Jeddah. And it doesn’t hurt that Saudi is a great base for traveling to other countries.
What's the meaning of "Flatlander"?
It’s a colloquial term referring to people who live in areas that are, well, flat – like where I grew up in northwest Ohio.
Our grandparents lived in hillier terrain within the state so, when we visited, my siblings and I would be enthusiastic about the hills – we loved rolling down them, careening down them on bikes, sledding on them, and any other activity we could think of that could be done on a slope. Thus my grandpa affectionately nicknamed us the “flatlanders” because of our glee at experiencing a little geographical dimension. But the term has touched at something deeper in my life – I’ve never wanted my small town upbringing to hold me back (as much as I loved it). I’m on a continual search to add more dimension into my life, primarily through traveling the world, experiencing new cultures, and meeting different people. But also in my roles as wife and mother, and my ever-evolving relationship with God.
My people
When I use “we” in my posts, I’m referring to my other half, the hummus to my pita, my husband Sean. Contrary to popular belief, he is not Arab but 100% “pure” American, as they say here. He is the extrovert of our relationship – the type who asks strangers if he can join their beach volleyball game, responds brutally honestly when a waiter asks how the food was, and takes charge when flights get canceled at the last minute. He’s up for any adventure (as long as I plan it), and he brings a lighthearted perspective to all situations. Our 2-year-old, Ezra, is sports-obsessed already and will be your best friend if you chase him. Abel is a giggly baby who is happiest in my arms or being tickled by his brother.
