Our second year in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
We're two years into our second tour in the Foreign Service with the US Department of State in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is hard to describe just how foreign it is to those who haven't been here, but the following posts might give you some idea. (USE THIS DRAFT)
Getting in and getting settled:
Things kind of specific to working in Jeddah and/or Saudi Arabia:
So, yeah, that's about it. I plan to move most of these links to "our end of tour" reference page when we leave, but I'll probably keep adding links to this page until then. That said, when I change things up, this hyperlink should stay the same but I'll probably link from this post to "the end of tour" page to some time in 2017.
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| This mural in Jeddah's Airport (Ranked #1... worst in the world!) and screams "Welcome to Saudi Arabia!" |
Getting in and getting settled:
- UAB & HHE (aka HHG)
- Getting Mail Overseas
- Commissary Shopping in Saudi Arabia
- The Paperwork for a Permanent Change of Station (PCS)
- Traveling Internationally with Pets
Things kind of specific to working in Jeddah and/or Saudi Arabia:
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| Mosque, Petrol, Supermarket, and ATM: For when you're running on low on anything. |
Compound Life in Saudi Arabia:
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| One of these trees is not like the others. |
Things to do and places to see in Jeddah:
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| Not sure this is what they meant by "catch a ride" |
Local places to get out and see:
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| Traffic circle art that looks like an accident? |
Places to get out of Saudi Arabia:
Saudi Arabia in the News:
- A Long Weekend in Dubai, UAE (with kids)
- Our Family Vacation to Turkey
- Our Family Vacation to Jordan
- Our Egyptian Nile Cruise
- Our Family Vacation to Sri Lanka
Saudi Arabia in the News:
- (23 Jan 15) Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz died
- (9 Feb 15) The facts — and a few myths — about Saudi Arabia and human rights
- (3 Mar 15) U.S. envoy to Yemen to work from Jeddah after embassy's closure
- (15 Mar 15) US shuts Saudi embassy over security fears
- (25 Mar 15) Saudi Arabia launches airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen
- (20 Apr 15) President Obama visited Saudi Arabia
- (22 Apr 15) Saudi-led coalition declares end to Yemen air strikes (SPOILER: Nope)
- (6 Jun 15) Saudi Arabia shoots down Scud missile fired from Yemen
- (18 Jul 15) Saudi Arabia arrests 431 with alleged ISIS ties
- (11 Sept 15) Crane collapse in Mecca kills 107 at Grand Mosque
- (24 Sept 15) Stampede kills more than 700 at Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca
- (7 Oct 15) Foreign Policy Magazine think piece article: "It’s Time for the United States to Start Worrying About a Saudi Collapse"
- (8 Oct 15) ISIS-Baiting “Angel of Death” Now Wants To Pulverize Saudi Arabia
- (20 Oct 15) Jeddah's airport ranked #2 worst in the world
- (28 Nov 15) Saudi Arabian executioners are having an unusually prolific year
- (27 Dec 15) Saudi Arabia shoots down Scud missile fired from Yemen
- (Dec 15) Saudi Arabia releases disconcerting 2016 budget
- (2 Jan 16) Prominent Shiite Cleric executed by the Saudi government for speaking out against monarchy...
- (2 Jan 16) ...sparking Iranian protesters to attack Saudi Embassy after execution.
- (14 Feb 16) Saudi Arabia shoots down Scud missile fired from Yemen
- (14 Apr 16) Saudi Arabia strips religious police of arresting power
- (25 Apr 16) Saudi Arabia unveils 'Saudi Vision 2030' to transform its economy
- (3 Jun 16) U.N. Adds Saudi Coalition To Blacklist For Killing Children In Yemen
- (4 July 16) Suspected suicide bomb attack near US consulate in Jeddah
- (10 Aug 16) The Houthis have fired missiles from Yemen toward Saudi Arabia at least 19 times between June 2015 and 23 July 2016
- (18 Aug 16) Saudi Arabia resorts to bombing own territory amid Houthi invasion of southern province
- (28 Sep 16) Anti-Saudi JASTA becomes Law as Congress overrides Obama veto on 9/11 Bill
- (10 Oct 16) What's Going On in Yemen
- (12 Oct 16) Saudi Arabia shoots down Scud missile fired from Yemen
- (21 Oct 16) Saudi deputy minister states kingdom faces bankruptcy in 3-4 years unless economy reforms
- (28 Oct 16) Yemen's Houthi rebel claim a missile they launched was aimed at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah
Other news that affects us:
- (6 Dec 16) Republican Staff Report on Embassy Construction
- (6 Dec 16) Minority Response to Republican Staff Report on Embassy Construction
- (? Dec 16) Staff report removed from public domain for security reasons
- (5 Jan 17) House GOP Brings Back Holman Rule to “Retrench” Agency Spending, Cut Pay of Any Federal Employee
- ( 5 Jan 17) Senate Bill to Slash Embassy Security Funds in Half Until US Embassy Jerusalem Officially Opens (Of course, my next assignment would be an Embassy Compound Security Upgrade project).
So, yeah, that's about it. I plan to move most of these links to "our end of tour" reference page when we leave, but I'll probably keep adding links to this page until then. That said, when I change things up, this hyperlink should stay the same but I'll probably link from this post to "the end of tour" page to some time in 2017.
https://www.bollrud.com/2017/01/saudi-arabia-jeddah-year-2.html
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You Might Also Like:
- Start of Tour Summary: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- One Year In: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Our Second Year in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- End of Tour Summary: Jeddah Saudi Arabia
- On the Job as a Foreign Service Construction Engineer
- Our Foreign Service Experience
- Entering the U.S. Foreign Service
- Other Summaries
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