It was finally time, we were ready to move to the compound. We didn’t have much stuff to pack, no furniture or beds, but we boxed up the little that we had and readied ourselves for the move. A great excitement overtook the apartment as the kids talked of the pool and play ground where we would be living. Grama’s box had seen better days and was worn down to nothing so we tossed the last few items in it and shoved it in the new jeep the company had given him. We set out on the 4 hour drive to Al-Khobar, in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia.
The trip went by quickly as we wound our way through the desert and back to Al-Khobar where we had visited the 4 cousins. The compound was small as far as compounds go, it had 30 houses with a parking lot in between. A small play area in the middle of the houses was equipped with swings, slides and other toys for children. The pool area was lovely and serene and had a restaurant nearby. People sat in their Western attire and bathing suits while tanning in the unrelenting heat and humidity. The compound management hosted pool side parties, companies came and gave out gifts and even drawings for plane tickets. They brought a camel and a donkey, a bbq and talent show and a day full of crazy fun. We sat at the pool all day and went to the little play ground at night when there was a breeze. I taught the kids how to swim from the side of the pool, we laughed and joked and went on the shopping bus to a Western grocery store. We lived a fairy tale life that summer. We had stayed for almost 2 years in a villa with no windows, no furniture or appliances, an apartment with no electricity and a school that told me my children were not smart enough to make it , thus placing them in the back row each day to sit and doze off. So, now, here in this tiny compound they swam all day, played at the park and rode their bikes through the parking lot. They laughed and smiled as children should and cuddled up on soft beds with fluffy pillows. There were new sheets and blankets and dressers, a television with a connection to numerous channels. Although they had never been to Disneyland I am sure this is what it would have felt like for them! For the next 7 years we would live under these luxurious conditions.
Each lovely summer day passed into the next in an unbelievable festival of parties, days at the pool and nights at the park. Gardeners tended to beautiful flowers and also kept the compound in a state of perfect cleanliness, a constant display of sweeping, mopping and trimming each day. The restaurant had home delivery and would whip up steaks, fries, pasta and bring them to your villa door. Drivers were at your disposal and would cart you to the doctor, dentist, school. We rode the shopping bus to various places and saw a little of the city. As we rolled out of the compound and into the street we passed by the most curious site, a large lot of metal coverings, canvas material draped on wires and what appeared to be garbage everywhere. It was not a little blip on the side of the road but a huge mess and it was right next to our beautiful compound. The ladies on the bus remarked at what an eye sore this was and that it should be torn down. I peered through my window now ignoring the chatter to see a man standing hanging his clothing on a line that wound through the mangled boxes and metal. I could not imagine what that man was doing in that place. Each time we passed I looked and tried to imagine what was going on there. Finally I learned it was where many people lived!! I could not believe right next door to our festival of fun, people lived in such conditions. I felt these must be the people I had seen from my apartment window, the men carrying buckets hailing passing cars.
living room
living room
pool area
Foof by pool
parking area in between villas
upstairs family room, behind is the glass wall that looks over the living room below
little Abdullah in the new compound
Keep writing your story. It is fascinating.
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thank you! I will try
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You have beautiful kids 🙂 We used to visit the beach like every weekend with our tent and bbq grill when we were in Khober.
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fun!
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What a huge change and I’m glad you and the kids finally had a very comfortable and enjoyable place to live in…..so hard to enjoy it fully when you know your neighbours are struggling.
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I am enjoying this. I try to imagine the scenes in my minds eye.
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I am glad!
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You are welcome 🙂
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Finally you were able to live in a place with some comfort and security, The shanty shacks had to be disturbing to see. Looking forward to the continuation of your story.
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thanks!
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Wonderful upgraded living conditions Lynn!!
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thanks
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Sounds wonderful and looks so beautiful. I feel terrible though for the people who lived nearby in that mess. That would be awful. Makes a person even more thankful for what they have.
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yes for sure!
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So happy to read this new installment and to hear of the joy you and the children had to live in such a lovely new place! 😊 I suspect we will soon hear more about the junkyard village just beyond the complex!
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ha ha maybe
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I hope so……….
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What a wonderful change. Like awakening from a nightmare. But as you said… so sad to see what happens right next to the luxury.
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Yes for sure
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What a contrast between the villa and compound! By their names I would have assumed the compound a stark place to live without any luxuries, and the villa a beautiful place with a pool, gardens, and all modern conveniences.
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Yes i know
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Awwww, finally better living conditions. It’s almost like going from rags to riches overnight. I can imagine how relived and happy you all were!
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Yes it was…. But other things got worst
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Yea, I kinda figured there was still more horrible things to come. Was just relishing in the goodness of that moment. It was uplifting and brought a smile to my face. I’ll brace myself for the rest!!
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Well I felt I should just give the nice stuff for now then I will get to the rest. My relationship went downhill each year and then month and then day!! In the end it changed hourly. So I don’t want to overload you all with just negative lol. At least we had basic things then which was a huge blessing!
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Must have been so nice to see your kids have fun.
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it was wonderful!
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What a relief it must have been and how heavenly for the children, but how levelling to discover there were people living in piles of junk right next door ….
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yes! it was awful and for years made me so sad!! workers and drivers without their families, living in horrible conditions! I tried my best to be kind help out etc. but it was hard!
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I should imagine it was near impossible given the culture you were living in. It is so hard to feel helpless ….
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yes it was not fun and at the mercy of someone else so you really take what you can get
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Nice compound. Your story writing skill is great. Keep writing 🙂
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thanks for reading!
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Such a contrast Lynz. Maybe some of the women on the bus had not lived as you had and had not seen what you had seen, and now we all see it ‘grace a toi’ (don’t know how to translate this into English – thanks to you doesn’t convey the same gravity) Keep it coming Lynz xxx
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It was so sad and they became friends to me, helped me more than anyone, drivers, maids lovely people!
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Then it is the ‘Blind’ people that said their should have been pulled down as they were spoiling their pretty view that we should feel sorry for. We have so much more in common than can be expressed on here sister. x
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thanks sis!!!
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I feel so happy, that you got so great conditions for both yourself and your kids. Just to give them a real bed and a home looking nice.
It is always sad to see the poor people’s struggling, I see that here in Spain too.
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yes it is sad!! I felt a link to them
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This episode is one to fill us all with hope, Lynn. What a wonderful improvement for you and your children! I can picture the happy times you had. I now have the horrible feeling that this new and lovely life is going to end very soon. I hope I’m wrong, and you had many more years to enjoy before things became really bad. I’ll look forward to reading more…
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Thanks Millie….
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Your life as your write it looks a novel. Btw your children so adorable
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thanks Huma!
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Good story, Lynz! I call it the The Memoirs of Lynz. 🙂
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ha ha ok should I rename it? I keep trying to get a handle on the name?
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Ha ha! It’s your masterpiece so it’s all up to you. Keep writing/blogging 🙂
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Thanks!
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Yours is such an amazing story , your children are amazing they look so happy! It all sounds wonderful in contrast to that which you had endured …I fear it may not last! xxxx
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Thanks well the compound life was a big blessing but other things went downhill! They are amazing people!
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Such a comforting environment…it must have been such a relief. ☺
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Yay – another chapter! And this is a happy one 🙂 But I’m guessing there is some bad to come…. I love the name “Foof!” Never heard it. The kids are so beautiful. Thanks for sharing Lynn!
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Thanks Jodi! Well our living got better having normal things, but things got worst in other ways
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That is what I figured. I will wait for that chapter.
😦
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yes I am trying to not just throw it all out there at once and make you all feel its depressing lol there were many blessings!
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It is good that you can recognize and cherish those moments. ☺️
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yes they were fun times!! the kids were little and life was simple in most ways!
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Lynn, I was so excited to read this!!! YAY!! Finally y’all have started living a life!!! Sadly, I’m thinking it’s not gonna last, but not gonna dwell on that. Happy times right now!
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Haha your very insightful
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Just a gut feeling.
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smart!
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Yay, this must have felt much better!
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oh it was a dream life!
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Riveting story, Lyn. What a relief it must have been to finally have furniture, amenities, and a place where your children could be children. I am on the edge of my seat, waiting for the other shoe to fall!
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Thanks! It was a relief to finally have normal things such as pots pans etc. And for the kids to have fun!
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I can only imagine your thoughts. From your “prison family life” to a lovely home only to see the desperate poverty on your doorstep almost…knowing that there exists these situations hurts all humanity.
Oh Lyn, your kiddies were so adorable! and they would have been the blessing you deserve and kept you grounded. Wonderful writing!
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Yes they are the biggest blessing!
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I’m glad you and your children were finally able to have basic needs and even some luxury. It is nice that you all have some happy memories.
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Yes we do have lots of happy memories! thanks
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Ahhhhhh finally after all you have endured….someplace that you could not be denied the simple pleasures of life…..what a beautiful place for you and your children….I can finally breath for you….I don’t know if you can feel it, I am smiling….big smiles for you my friend, they say good things come to those who wait….well you certainly had to wait, no option really….can’t wait for the next chapter…..
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thanks Kat!!
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I’m glad that things improved for you at this time and that the children were happier. Though it is sad that on your doorstep a reminder of less happy circumstance was just a stones throw away. But, sadly it is often the way.
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yes it is
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your memoirs are beautiful 🙂 They tell us how different could be days 🙂 some grey 🙂 some black and some white 🙂
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yes things do change in our lives all the time, thanks
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🙂
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Hey Lynz I want to say that I really like reading about your life here. Maybe some day you can even write a book, autobiographical of some kind, you’ve got amazing skills of story telling 🙂
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Thanks that is so nice of you! maybe someday. when you are working with real life it is easier!
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I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the best to work out for you Lynz ❤ 🙂
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thank you!
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Lynn that’s so wonderful, what a great happy place for your kids to experience!
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It was just perfect
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I’m so glad for you! You needed that:)
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yes I was at my point I could not take much more!
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No doubt.
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🙂
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Lynn, I love reading your life stories. I am so intrigued by your writing. Is a book in the works….it would be one that I couldn’t put down, until the end.
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Awwe thanks so much. This blog changed things for me! I had a recent visit from,him which was not good. I have always powdered through for years but this brought me down. My daughter started this blog to put recipes on and then i felt like sharing. People here have been amazing so who knows what might happen. Thanks so much for caring!
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Wishing you all the best!!
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Thanks it helps having all of you
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What a stark contrast. I was relieved for your change of quarters, but also struck by your observation of the poverty outside the compound’s walls. As always, your writing is riveting.
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thanks so much!
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So happy you and the kids were able to move into the compound after living the way you did for two years. Your first summer there sounds wonderful. The contrast between the way you lived in the compound and the others lived next store is eye opening.
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yes it was totally eye opening and shocking! That was one of the worst things about living there the way the “workers” lived! It was awful!
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I bet it was awful. Did you want to help or befriend some of the people living there or was that out of the question?
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well for me I was in a mess and it was not acceptable, but I did do what I could, it was all single men so that is a big no. When I had drivers later I tried to give them tips, talk and just say hey how are you, how is your wife, children? etc.
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Such a different culture and learning curve.
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yes it truly is!
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Interesting. Looks rather empty though.
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well we were not allowed to hang up pictures or decorate so yes empty but thankfully new!
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Wow, you must have felt like you’d arrived in heaven 🙂
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It was amazing!
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How long did you stay there?
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for about a year, as soon as we moved there he was transferred back to riyadh! so we stayed there alone
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What is/was his job? Have I missed that…?
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he was an engineer and worked many different places
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Hence being posted around the place..I understand 🙂
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yes as well as being laid off etc.
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I see 🙂
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🙂
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Always love reading your stories:) I was talking to my husband last night about how fascinating your stories and recipes are:)
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Thanks so much Nena!
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So nice to read Lynn! The place looks lovely!
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It was a huge change and so nice!
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Amazing chapter Lyn – although warm and fuzzy i feel like maybe clouds are coming?
Amazing chapter Lyn! Although warm and fuzzy i feel as though clouds are gathering….
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Sorry posted twice by mistake! The first time it didnt so tried again
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thanks
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thanks so much you are smart!
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