Dano, Melissa, Kennedy, Ethan, Erin, Abigail, and Emily

Dano, Melissa, Kennedy, Ethan, Erin, Abigail, and Emily

13 January 2010

Our Compound

We live on a French compound, which only means that the streets have French names (we live on Rue de Paris) and the office phone recording is in French (and that every third boy you meet here is named Alexander). There are several French families but also families from Jordan, Italy, Great Britain, Russia, Switzerland, Lebanon, and America. Our compound is situated a little out of the city center, three blocks from the kids’ school, and about five kilometers from Dano’s office. It is bordered by a thick concrete wall lined with tall wispy green trees. To enter we first zig-zag around four concrete barricades and pass the first guard shack with three guards who manually lift the gate. Then we proceed slowly for about one hundred yards before we turn right. The first night the kids and I couldn’t tell what was in front of us; there was just something large, covered with camouflage netting. When we reached it we could tell it was a carport with a pickup truck with a large machine gun in the back. The machine gun stays manned and pointed at all who enter the compound, twenty-four hours a day. After the turn we drive and enter another guarded gate. Needless to say we feel quite safe on the compound.


The first day we were out, Erin had to use the bathroom (it seems nature calls her frequently). As we were far from home but close to a hotel in which Dano had previously stayed we decided to make it our pitstop. As we pulled up I noticed the same camouflage netted carport and, sure enough, underneath there was a large, manned machine gun. As I’ve seen several around, I think they try to have one at any location that caters to westerners.


The kids ride a compound bus to and from school. They were a little apprehensive at first. There are four buses that all look the same. I guess they didn’t think to look at the different uniforms. The buses go to Jeddah Prep, the British School, French School, and German School.


We are almost latitudinally equal to Hawaii so we have similar plantlife. One of the first trees I noticed was the wonderfully fragrant plumeria tree. There are also bouganvillia bushes everywhere. We have several banana trees on our compound but only a few of them are producing, that I can see. They surround the beautiful compound pool and tennis courts, where we have all had fun playing. Also like Hawaii we have geckos (like this one on our living room door) and other lizards, much to Ethan's delight but Kennedy's horror...she'll come around once he actually catches one! We enjoy the family setting here and look forward to getting to know more families on the compound and our time here.

4 comments:

Grammy said...

I'm so happy to read about your adventures! I have been wondering if you are happy and settled there. You all look so great in the picture at the temple and the kids in their new home. It is fascinating and I am realieved with the security there. You mother must be very excited to actually live in the same country as you!! Please tell Kennedy that her Frankincense and Myrrh has been displayed at the Nativity shows here in Connecticut every year. You are a treasure to me.
Love Always,
Kelly

porschespeed said...

Dear Listers,

That was fun to read all about your trip and your new living environment. We hope that you really enjoy your stay there, but not too much because we want you to eventually return to the US. As I look out the window and see snow and clouds and know that it is 25 and windy outside, Jeddah sounds pretty nice. I'm sure that you will come back with lots of interesting experiences, and the children will have a broader understanding of the world.
Love,
James

Marisa said...

Yay!!! I am just thrilled that you have a blog now so I can follow your adventures and see your beautiful family! I'll keep checking back to see how everything is going. I miss you!

Anonymous said...

If you turned around and saw something creepy and crawly for the first time, you would screech to.
Love You!
P.S.They don't scare me as much anymore.