رحلاتي حول العالم

كل عام وأنتم بخير.. عساكم من عواده .. تقبل الله منا ومنكم صالح الاعمال

Her name is Mirsada. Yesterday, I spent the whole day at her house and had dinner with her. Her husband was fired from his job. They are so upset because they can barely survive. I'm hesitant to offer help because I have a feeling that she is going to reject my offer. She has self-pride. We should be grateful for all the blessings that we have. Look at this Bosnian family. They were rich, had 3 homes and a prosperous business, but they had to flee their homeland because their town was and is still occupied by the Serbs. They cannot go back. They came to the States with nothing: no clothes, no money. They left everything behind. They are not happy in the States. The face a lot of discrimination because they are proud Moslems. Her son was studying law but could not finish school because they don't have money. They all work but earn minimum wage. It is so heartbreaking. It's very nice of you to think about adopting 2 Bosnian children. This is much better than having American or European families adopt Bosnian children. At least you share the same culture with them. I'll get you the postcards that you requested. But you should think about something else. I'm serious about it. By the way, how did your test go? How long is it before your English course is over?

Well, I found the scarves so fast because you are lucky. They have like a small souk at the university. When I first checked, I only found soft scarves. But they had a bazaar and were displaying new types of scarves everyday and I picked the ones I picked in 2 days. I wanted to mail them by regular air-mail but the lady at the post office told me it would be cheaper to mail them express mail. The postage cost almost as much as the scarves. Postage is expensive everywhere. But never mind. You deserve it. I think you do. You should know that you are a unique friend and a precious sister. You are so sincere, good-hearted, and supporting. When I am happy, you are happy for me and when I am upset or sad you're sympathize with me without expecting anything in return. You always have something nice and uplifting to say to me. All I want to say is thank you for your eternal friendship and unconditional love. Please enjoy wearing the scarves and I hope you like them. Let me know when you get them.

Yesterday I was mopping the floor with water and detergent. I was bare-footed and wanted to pull the table. The table is heavy as it has a marble top. So I started to pull it towards me and unexpectedly I slipped and my bottom and the last vertebra hit the floor so hard. It was so painful and soon I forgot all about the pain and continued to clean. When I went to my yoga class an hour later, I was exercising and when it was time to do the part that we do while sitting on the floor it was so painful to sit down. The area was a little sore after the yoga. I am taking anti-inflammatory and I hope it is not serious. I have not gone out today (Sunday). I am working at home in order to rest it. I was thinking about the fall last night and said: oh my God. If I am not careful, a trauma like this can paralyze me, God forbid.

Dear Claire

You did not tell me you're coming to Jeddah before. It was a surprise. A great surprise. You must be excited. You are going to Jeddah and I am going to Seoul, Korea on Conference between Oct 3-5. I am presenting a paper there. I am having another presentation in Singapore in December and 2 presentations in the Ukraine in January. Quite busy. As to Malaysia, living in Malaysia for few months has been a new experience for me. Everything is different: the weather (which is affecting my allergy), the people, the culture and the educational system. I am too Americanized. So I thought I needed to try something different. I wanted to go to Japan for 2 weeks after Korea since the two countries are close, but I changed my mind as the Japanese embassy was too fussy about giving me a visa as I am Saudi. I did not like the way they talked to me over the phone. So I cancelled the whole idea. I wanted to book a 5-day tour in Korea (from Kuala Lumpur) but when the tour operator asked about my nationality and knew that I am Saudi, he said I could not join the tour.

I'm back in KL and sick with the flu as I think I got a sun stroke the day before yesterday when we went to Eagle Square in Langkawi at 2 p.m. I was feverish and had body ache last night. I had to take lots of panadols and vitamin C. However during the day I took a very exciting tour to the Mangrove River. I went in a boat, 11 people all together: 2 Saudis and 8 Germans + myself. The tour was very scenic. You see small green islands close to the border of Thailand with beautiful rock formations all the way. We went to a cave that has hundreds of bats. We saw the mangrove trees that grow along the river. We fed too many eagles with chicken, monkeys and fish with bread slices. After a very good lunch at a floating restaurant, we went to a fish farm and were caught in the rain there. I saw real fish that I've never seen in my whole life and don't even know what they are called. When the rain stopped we re-boarded the boat and continued our adventure. On both sides of the river, we saw new marine life, things like small fish (about 5 inches long) and orange crabs in the mud. On the trees, there were eagles, bats, and beautiful birds with a black head and orange back. It was breezy all the way. I took lots of video with

I am in Kiev, Ukraine since last week. I go home on Wednesday. I had a conference in Vinnytsia for three days. A Ukrainian family has been hosting me. Their daughter who is a college student at the university in Vinnytsia has been escorting me and driving me around. She's been much help as she has been interpreting for me. Nobody speaks English here. The weather has been lovely although everything is white. a couple of degrees above or below zero. I enjoyed the conference and Ukrainian hospitality. Everybody was interested in me and gave me gifts to take home. You should think about visiting Ukraine as it is so cheap. Last night we went to a Verdie opera and tomorrow we are going to a ballet. Today we went to the Kiev Folk and Culture Museum (houses from the different regions in Ukraine). We walked on the snow for more than three hours. It was gorgeous. Some houses were open to look at. There were few more tourists there. We had it all for ourselves. We also toured the city before I went to Vinnytsia. I bought lots of souvenir. They were bargains. I hope I can pack them and carry them all home. I am sending postcards tomorrow. So expect one in the mail soon.

Jan 27, 2003

I am flying Turkish Airlines and it leaves Riyadh, Monday, January 20 at 4 a.m. I will arrive in Kiev on Monday, January 20 at 10:30 a.m. I'll go the hotel to sleep. I'll take the train to Vinnytsia on Tuesday, January 21. I do not know what time the tain leaves Kiev and when it arrives in Vinnytsia. I could not find the train schedule to Vinnytsia, in particular, on the internet. Svitlana volunteered to pick me up at the train station in Vinnytsia and take me to the hotel if I notify her of my arrival time in Vinnytsia. I I'll collect brochures when I get to Kiev and then go sightseeing after the conference. I do not know if it is possible to go sightseeing if it is -18. I wonder if I'll be able to leave my bed. I have not experience such a low temperature since I was a student in Iowa in 1980's.

I got to Kiev Monday morning and was met at the airport by Hanna, a third year student at the university where the conference will be held. She took me to her house to meet her mother, who was cooking for me. Although the mother does not speak English, she was so friendly and she kept feeding me and offering me all kinds of hot and cold drinks (you do not have to worry about me). We had lunch and then went out to look around. Although the temperature was zero, the weather was nice and refreshing. Streets are full of people walking around even late at night.

I spent the first night in Kiev with Hanna and her mother. Their apartment is so beautiful and my room was gorgeous.

On Tuesday, we took a city tour and in the evening we took the train to Vinnytsia where the conference will be held. Her father's driver picked us up at the airport and drove me to the supermarket and hotel. Hanna has been my tour guide and she has been interpreting for me and driving me around. People do not speak English at all and everything is in Cyrillic.

I am in San Francisco. It is cold and foggy here. They are having the heat on at the hotel. We could not see anything of the Golden Gate Bridge nor of the city from top of the hill. I hope things clear tomorrow and the day after. I am going out shortly after I finish this e-mail and solve my credit card problem. I tried to call the Saudi American bank from 3 places today but had no luck.

I was in Idaho in the last few days of my tour. The weather was very cool. 65 degrees F. I went hiking in Sun Valley, Idaho. It is an area that looks like Austria. Green mountains all around and fresh refreshing air. Sun Valley is a small town with expensive homes for wealthy people like you and me. Everything is so expensive here. I paid 4 riyals for one peach. I walked up the mountain for 2 hours and down for 1.5 hours then took the chair lift the rest of the way down. The scenery from the top of the mountain was magnificent. I'm warming up before I go hiking in Petra when we go the APETAU Conference in Amman.

Today we went to Monterey, Carmel and the 17 mile drive. They were picturesque. Crooked rocky beaches with cider and pine trees, calm water and lots of sea lions, nice expensive homes along the way. It was so peaceful. Tonight we are in a town called Solvang in California. The buildings are Danish in style and it is famous for Danish pastry. You feel as if you were in Europe not America. We did not walk that much today. We stayed on the bus most of the day except for the few stops that we made. Despite the pain, it is refreshing to walk in crisp cool air around San Francisco. Not to mentions the crowds of people, souvenir shops, beautiful scenery, sounds of sea lions and seagulls. I wish I could walk that much every day, especially when I am in Riyadh.

Now I'm back at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City where I'll be spending the rest of my holiday. It's too hot here. But never mind as long as I can go sight-seeing and shopping. They are having good sales these days. I'm having trouble fitting everything in my suitcases. I was in Idaho in the last few days of my tour. The weather was very cool. 65 degrees F. I went hiking in Sun Valley, Idaho. It is an area that looks like Austria. Green mountains all around and fresh refreshing air. Sun Valley is a small town with expensive homes for wealthy people like you and me. Everything is so expensive here. I paid 4 riyals for one peach. I walked up the mountain for 2 hours and down for 1.5 hours then took the chair lift the rest of the way down. The scenery from the top of the mountain was magnificent. I'm warming up before I go hiking in Petra when we go the APETAU Conference in Amman.

I collected my passport yesterday after waiting at the embassy for more than an hour and a half. The vice-consul forgot all about me and my visa and forgot about the collection day. The person in charge was not at the embassy and I had to wait for him to arrive. Finally he came and did it. I was an hour late for the workers who are working on my bathroom. They are installing a whole new bathroom for me. I went to the embassy during their lunch hour and thought I would be back 12:30. Instead I was back 1:30. They were mad at me because I was late and they thought they would not have enough time to finish what they were supposed to do before their shift is over. This would put them one day behind schedule. Another achievement is that I bought the ticket today. I had to change airlines yesterday unexpectedly. We have no direct flight to Ukraine, so I had to fly to Dubai and then take Ukraine Air from there to Kiev. My travel agent could not issue me a ticket on Ukraine Air as they have no agent nor office in Riyadh, could not issue it through Saudia nor Emirates airlines, could not get their number in Dubai to have them send it by DHL. So he asked me to buy the ticket at Dubai Airport. Since my arrival time there is 11:30 p.m. I thought that would be

I'm in Iowa City visiting my uncle. I got here Sunday afternoon. It's rather hot and humid . My aunt's niece is getting married and my aunt is making arrangements for her wedding. I have about a week left in the States. Yesterday I went to my university and visited one of my professors. He's retired now but he is having an office at the university, because he is working on some research. We went to several malls but I did not buy much, because I don't have much room left in my suitcases. A friend of mine - a retired professor from Germany- is coming over for lunch in 15 minutes. My aunt did the cooking and I made some salad.