Hello all from the Middle East,
It has been extremely difficult to hook into internet here in the country we are in. There are no internet places. Some people have internet in their homes, so we have not had access to communicate home.
We are doing well. All 4 in our *group* have been healthy. Our tour guide took sick the third day we were here, so we have been on our own in the city since then. The people of this country are very friendly, interactive and hospitible. We (us ladies) were invited to the home of a young woman this afternoon after meeting her last night and running into her again today. We hope to see her again this evening at the market we have enjoyed. We are hoping for a second invite (this is when we would accept).
The men are much more dominant here. It has been more difficult to interact with and "find" the women. They are only out in the mall and the grocery stores (imagine that) but rarely on the streets, at the beach or other public places.
We have met people and had *conversations* with people from India, Afghanastan, Bangladesh, Tonisa, Oman, Yeman, United Arab Emerites and Pakistan. It has been quite an international area to be.
We have had some significant conversations with a few people, including Peter (the American translation of his name) who was a fisherman who run up to me on the beach yesterday. I had been walking to find the one woman I had spotted at the beach. He insisted I join him and the other fisherman at the boat dragging in the daily net from the sea. I didn't know what he was so excited about until the net was fully in when he pointed out the turtle that had been caught in the net. He removed the turtle along with a couple King Tuna fish and attached himself to our group for most of the rest of the day. He is a fisherman and air flight attendant for an airline that flyes into this country. We were able to talk in depth with him and share with him the *special story and video* we had brought with us.
Later in the day we visited the *Kings Palace*. There are many beautiful places here. There are also many diferences. The women here wear Abyah's, which is a full black dress that starts at their neck and goes to their toes as well as a black scarf around their heads and faces. The women from some of the interior tribes wear face masks that cover everything except their eyes and the women from Saudi wear black viels that cover their entire faces.
The men wear dish-dash gowns that are all white and also are full length.
They also wear turbans or round caps on their heads.
We are learning a great deal and sharing every opportunity we get.
Although sometimes it seems difficult, we are certain there is a work being done none the less.
Please continue to keep us in your thoughts during our time here.
Faithfully,
Mom, Candi
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