Independence Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today I celebrated July 4th in a foreign country. What a reminder of the freedoms we have in the USA. We have freedom of press, religion, and the pursuit of happiness. We also have the responsibilities to exercise these freedoms for good or bad. There was no law stopping me from coming here. There is no law forcing me to attend church or mosque. No law to stop me from criticizing or complementing the government. I have a voice no matter how small. There is no law to stop men and women from interacting.





Today, some of us gathered on the compound and remembered our heritage with a multi-cultural feast of buffalo wings, chili con queso, grilled rib eye steaks, mesquite smoked chicken, potato salad, bar-b-que beans, corn bread, apple strudel, and water melon. We listened to Johnny Cash, Randy Travis, Neil Young, and other distinctly American music.





A view of the Arabian Gulf. It was quite beautiful. The water was green though the picture show it as blue. It was only 111 degrees F when I took this picture.





I took my first swim today in the Gulf. The water is very salty and I could float effortlessly. When getting out, the water evaporates very quickly making you quite cool. About 10 minutes later you have to get back in because it so hot. I was reading a magazine in the shade and the paper was noticeably warm.

Dust Storm

Today was my first experience with a dust storm (not the same as a sand stom). The sun came up as a white orb like the moon. It never became bright as the other mornings. Driving to the plan, the other chemical plants were not visible and the flares could not be seen. A dust storm is like fog limiting how for you can see.

In this photo, the water is not visible from my apartment as it has been in the earlier photos.

Here is a view of the beach at Murjan Village.

The water is also choppy because of the wind. Before it has been quite smooth.

Sunrise

It is 88 deg f at 5ish in the morning.















And here it is!















And one more with different setting.

Sunset

Looking south at the two apartment buildings next to me.

















Going.............













Going.............













Gone

View from Apartment

Murjan Village is located on the north coast of Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia. I went to Google Earth, made a screen capture, edited, and added the yellow arrow to point to the apartment building. My apartment is on the second level. The satellite view is a few months old. The complex has been completely landscaped with grass, flowers, fountains, and gardens. The beach area is complete with umbrellas and chaise lounges. It is a very nice resort area.


Looking north north west out the front balcony, is this view of the Arabian Gulf.

Looking out the back window of the apartment (south) is a view of the highway and street.

I used a program called Autostitch to make these panorama views.

A Quick View

It's around 6 pm and waiting for prayer time to start and end so that I can eat at the compound restaurant. Should be around 7 pm when it ends. There are a lot of birds here because we are next to the ocean and there is a lot of water because they water all the landscaping. Most everyone leaves at 5 pm because the work hours are so strict. Two people walk around each morning to take attendance. Two because one may be lying. They lock the lunchroom door 10 minutes before lunch so the Filipino don't start lunch early. Yesterday we had a mini celebration to hand out service awards (years worked at Fluor) and spot bonuses for jobs well done. They had Subway wraps, Lays chips (various flavors), Coke and Pepsi, and Kispy Kreme donuts. The Filipinos were grabbing 2, 3, 4 sandwiches and donuts so that there would not be enough for everyone. The project manager and HR guy yelled at them to take one each and IF there were some left, they were welcome to it. Wild.

By Saudi law, work stops when it is above 50 dec C (122 deg F). Officially, it has never been that hot. The unofficial thermometer on site ready 54 deg C (132 deg F). Whichever it was, it was HOT. You don't feel the perspiration because it evaporates so quick. It is easy to become dehydrated. There are signs all over about avoiding dehydration, the symptoms of heat stress/stroke, and check your urine color.

Murjan Village Apartment and Views

Bed Room

Entry Way

Kitchen Dining Room Living Room