Marhaba (Hello!)
It is only one month until my trip to Saudi Arabia begins. The excitement of the trip has been building for months and I cannot wait for it to begin. Using a listserv provided by our sponsors, the educators on this trip are emailing daily to ask questions and learn about each other prior to the trip.
It is only one month until my trip to Saudi Arabia begins. The excitement of the trip has been building for months and I cannot wait for it to begin. Using a listserv provided by our sponsors, the educators on this trip are emailing daily to ask questions and learn about each other prior to the trip.
Packing lists have been sent to us along with wonderful books and other pieces of literature to help us prepare for this adventure. I hope that each of you will visit my blog regularly to learn about the culture of Saudi Arabia as I do.
Who is traveling with me?
24 teachers and library media specialists were selected out of 150- 200 applicants to participate in the Educators to Saudi Arabia program.
Who is sponsoring our travels?
This trip is fully funded and sponsored by Aramco Services Company, a wholly-owned affiliate of Saudi Arabian Oil Company. Their national headquarters is located in Houston, Texas, which is where our orientation for the trip will begin.
What is the itinerary for the trip?
Excellent question! We have not been told our exact itinerary, but have been told that during our 10 day visit, we will travel to the cities of Dhahran, Riyadh and Jeddah. We will be experiencing tours, site visits and lectures while meeting with government officials, business people, college students, fellow educators and individuals in the medical field. We will visit one of the largest deserts in the world and may even see a camel race!
What clothing will you have to wear?
While traveling to a strict Muslim country, females are required to dress quite conservatively. Long skirts or pants are worn by women and long sleeve shirts must cover our wrists and the color bone region of our necks. When we arrive in Houston, all of the females in the group will be provided with an abaya, a tailored black garment, which is worn over the clothing items mentioned above. In some areas, we will also have to wear a special scarf, called a hijab, to cover our heads.
24 teachers and library media specialists were selected out of 150- 200 applicants to participate in the Educators to Saudi Arabia program.
Who is sponsoring our travels?
This trip is fully funded and sponsored by Aramco Services Company, a wholly-owned affiliate of Saudi Arabian Oil Company. Their national headquarters is located in Houston, Texas, which is where our orientation for the trip will begin.
What is the itinerary for the trip?
Excellent question! We have not been told our exact itinerary, but have been told that during our 10 day visit, we will travel to the cities of Dhahran, Riyadh and Jeddah. We will be experiencing tours, site visits and lectures while meeting with government officials, business people, college students, fellow educators and individuals in the medical field. We will visit one of the largest deserts in the world and may even see a camel race!
What clothing will you have to wear?
While traveling to a strict Muslim country, females are required to dress quite conservatively. Long skirts or pants are worn by women and long sleeve shirts must cover our wrists and the color bone region of our necks. When we arrive in Houston, all of the females in the group will be provided with an abaya, a tailored black garment, which is worn over the clothing items mentioned above. In some areas, we will also have to wear a special scarf, called a hijab, to cover our heads.
What clothing will the men wear?
