Sunday, April 8th, 2007 Happy Easter to all who celebrate the holiday

Greetings everyone. How strange to travel in a country that does not recognize Christian holidays. Several bags of jelly beans from the states floated around our bus today in honor of the holiday.Today, our travels took us to the Shura Council, the appointed representatives that help govern the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These 120 elite members of the Saudi society were personally selected by the King Abdul Aziz for their proven abilities in both academic and societal success. Each member on the committee serves a four year term. They must be a registered Saudi at birth, over 30 years of age and renowned for expertise in many fields.

This is the outside of the building where the Shura Council Committee members meet. Just like in Washington DC, this facility has high security to protect the important members of their committee.

Out discussions with members of the Committees which report to those on the Shura council took place in a round table format.
Our meetings began by entering the room where General Meeting Panels are held. This round table format, had our names on name plates and we were each asked to introduce ourselves to selected members of the education delegation for Saudi Arabia.

This is the great hall where formal legislative sessions take place in Saudi Arabia.

Following this question and answer format, we were given a guided tour of Shura Council Auditorium before being seated in a balcony to observe on ongoing Shura Council Session in progress. The agenda items we listened to (with headphones to translate into English) were as follows:

1. transportation, communication and information technology Committee's perspective on views regarding advertising on public rental cars and other vehicles.
2. Discussing draft regulations on civilian rehabilitation centers for the disabled.
3. Discussed draft of the traffic bill.
4. Discussion about fines collected from inheritances and repayment obligations
5. Protocol on combating manufacturing and trafficking of firearms/ illegal activities.

Here we were able to observe a session of the Shura Committee as they presented various issues that were on the agenda for the day.
Watching the procedures was just like being in the United States and watching political discussions take place in the house and senate. Very similar protocol and formalities were used to order the meeting.

Our morning session ended with our IIE guide, Josh, being interviewed by a Saudi TV station about the groups impressions of Saudi Arabia and the Shura Council. Now we have returned to the hotel for a luncheon hosted by one of the teachers we met at the public school yesterday and then we go on to the King Abd Al-Aziz Historical Center for a 3 hour tour of its facilities.

This is the view of the inside courtyard at the Riyadh Heritage Center that is next to the National Museum. We attended a presentation which encourages international dialogue and sat in an open air courtyard prior to dinner.
Our evening program takes us to a dinner held in the honor of Al Faisal Ibn Abd Ar-Rhaman Al- Mu'ammar, Advisor at the Royal Court. I am sure that you are seeing that many of our hosts have very long names, and that is their formal name which tells which family and which clan system they are a part of. Family history is very important to the Saudi people.

Here I am with a new teacher friend, Martha, who teaches at an all girls private school in California. These lovely gold chairs surrounded the perimeter of the outdoor courtyard in the Heritage Center.

Well everyone, my journey is almost over. Tomorrow, we leave for a 4 hour visit to the desert region of Riyadh and then it is four flights and 30 hours before I reach Manchester, NH. I don't want you to think that this blog has come to an end. It really is only the beginning. I have so much more information to share and hope to continue to update the blog with more information for months to come. While I am in no way an expert on Saudi Arabia, I now have many unique experiences that I wish to share with anyone who will listen. I encourage you to continue to post your questions and to keep your eyes out for press coverage about this trip and about events that deal with relations between Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Thank you all for traveling with me thus far. I hope you are willing to help me take the next step, which is to foster international relationships between our country and Saudi Arabia. I have made many contacts that are willing to help build bridges between both students and adults and I intend to make that my on going mission.

Once again, Shukran (Thank you!) In Shallah (God Willing), our countries will remain at peace and one day, the tensions between our two countries will be much less.

Debbie Hinrichs