Would a good parent do this?

Last weekend Kennedy attended her first activity with other LDS youth in the region. She had really been looking forward to this for several weeks. I, on the other hand was a little nervous. Why? Because this particular activity was taking place in Bahrain, a country neither Dano nor I have ever been to nor were we going. Would a good parent really send their twelve year old daughter to another country in the Middle East? I couldn’t go because of my bulging belly. Dano couldn’t go because of his obligations here and, well, also because of me. There was also a young man from Jeddah going and his mother agreed to chaperone. To leave the country, Kennedy needed to get an exit and re-entrance visa from our sponsors. We also needed to have a parental letter of authorization for her to travel without us. Dano then had a friend translate it into Arabic.

Kennedy flew into Dammam, a city on the eastern region of Saudi occupied mostly by Aramco (Arabian American Oil Company) employees. As the activity didn’t begin until later that afternoon, she was welcomed into a family’s home. She helped make snickerdoodles and attended a scout court of honor before they all headed to Bahrain. Bahrain is a country made up of thirty-three islands situated just east of Saudi Arabia. They drove several miles over a causeway connecting the two countries. Her Jeddah chaperone had an incorrect visa and therefore was not permitted to leave Saudi Arabia and had to return to the home of the family in Dammam.

Kennedy had a really great time meeting some of the other youth in our area. We were wondering why the activity was held at the time it was held. The time prevented Kennedy from getting a flight home Thursday evening. We figured out later that it’s because Bahrain's weekend is Friday and Saturday unlike ours that is Thursday and Friday. They changed it a few years ago as have several other Middle Eastern countries. (We’re wishing Saudi would follow suit.) So, some of the kids attending this activity were in still in school during the day on Thursday. She and the other two from Jeddah flew home Friday morning, exhausted. I think Dano and I were both relieved to have her back with us safe and sound. Aside from the fact that it’s just such a different experience with travel, schedule, and other facets we’d never have to take into consideration in the States, we’re enjoying the diversity of it all.

(I failed to send Dano to the airport with the camera or even ask him to take a picture of Kennedy. Therefore, I’ve got nothing. Kennedy will be posting a blog about her trip and has some pictures she took. Tune in soon!)