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Yasuke
Joined: 10 Jan 2014
Posts: 178
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 Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 3:36 am Post subject: Embassy events |
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| I was wondering if any of the posters here went to any of their home country embassy events. I'm sure that. Would at least give some a reprieve from the day to day grind that is KSA. If so, I would love to her about the kind of events and how regular they are. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 4:11 am Post subject: |
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I was in this part of the world for most of 15+ years and only once... in one country... did the US embassy lower itself to inviting mere TEFL teachers to any of their social activities.
One year I was around over July 4 and everyone was welcome to their activities, but normally we are as far as possible from the Gulf in July...
Other countries may be more welcoming to their overseas citizens that the US...
VS |
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cnthaiksarok
Joined: 29 Jun 2012
Posts: 288
Location: between a rock and a sandy place
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 4:50 am Post subject: |
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Plenty of US embassy events in Riyadh and consular events in Khobar and Jeddah.
You just gotta' get out there and meet people to get on "the list."
ACS (american citizen services) also hosts softball events ++ in riyadh with "real" bbq. 
It's not difficult. You can get invites to other country's embassy functions as well.
I'd say the Hash Harriers are one of the easiest "ins" followed by compound parties.
best of luck. |
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myohmy
Joined: 31 Jul 2013
Posts: 119
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 5:26 am Post subject: |
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| So true. Just last night I was at a concert at the British Ambassadors residence and I have been to one at the Polish ambassador's as well. I am not a social butterfly and am not particularly good at networking, either. |
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myohmy
Joined: 31 Jul 2013
Posts: 119
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 5:29 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I'd say the Hash Harriers are one of the easiest "ins" followed by compound parties. |
Unfortunately, the hash has been cancelled for undisclosed reasons until further notice. Compound parties are little more than drunken meat fests! |
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cnthaiksarok
Joined: 29 Jun 2012
Posts: 288
Location: between a rock and a sandy place
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 5:33 am Post subject: |
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| myohmy wrote: |
| Compound parties are little more than drunken meat fests! |
Yeh, well...some things never change.  |
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Yasuke
Joined: 10 Jan 2014
Posts: 178
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 6:57 am Post subject: |
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| Good to know. Is 'meat party' euphemism for something. Also, what is a hash harrier? |
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CANDLES
Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 605
Location: Wandering aimlessly.....
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 8:28 am Post subject: |
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1) Yes.
2) Walking the trails up in the mountains.
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cnthaiksarok
Joined: 29 Jun 2012
Posts: 288
Location: between a rock and a sandy place
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 9:20 am Post subject: |
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| Yasuke wrote: |
| Good to know. Is 'meat party' euphemism for something. Also, what is a hash harrier? |
Certain compounds have parties most weekends that become a kind of "meat market." Desperate westerners looking for anything to take their minds off of the past week of Saudi-ness (to put it nicely)
The Hash Harriers are a walking, hiking and running group that are worldwide (in bangkok it's more of a pub crawl) and they get together most weekends to do silly rituals and then walk/run through a prepared hike.
It's a good way to network.
Tho, one poster mentioned they have closed their Saudi doors, I don't know if he/she meant for the kingdom, riyadh, jeddah or the eastern province... |
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CANDLES
Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 605
Location: Wandering aimlessly.....
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 9:28 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Desperate westerners looking for anything to take their minds off of the past week of Saudi-ness (to put it nicely) |
Oh my goodness! It's not THAT bad in KSA! |
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Rostom
Joined: 16 Apr 2014
Posts: 102
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 9:50 am Post subject: Re: Embassy events |
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| Yasuke wrote: |
| I was wondering if any of the posters here went to any of their home country embassy events. I'm sure that. Would at least give some a reprieve from the day to day grind that is KSA. If so, I would love to her about the kind of events and how regular they are. |
The only 'event' I went to is when I want to renew my passport.
The other event is when the embassy contact you for a presidential vote or the celebration of the national/independence day! |
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cnthaiksarok
Joined: 29 Jun 2012
Posts: 288
Location: between a rock and a sandy place
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 10:58 am Post subject: |
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| CANDLES wrote: |
| Oh my goodness! It's not THAT bad in KSA! |
I'd have to agree  but I know of many who wouldn't. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 12:46 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Rostom,
"The other event is when the embassy contact you for a presidential vote or the celebration of the national/independence day!"
In 19 years, I was never contacted for a July 4th celebration (but then, I was mostly out of Saudi on summer holiday then) and most certainly NEVER for a presidential election.
In fact, I had to pay for a taxi to get out there and back and I had to pay for FedEx to send in my absentee ballot every time I voted. The embassy was absolutely useless.
Regards,
John |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
| The embassy was absolutely useless. |
That was my experience. Absentee ballots were my responsibility. Before internet, one had to go there to get tax forms... after the strip search at the door. Notification of the July 4 picnic came from the same person who received their regular CYA warning faxes to all citizens.
VS |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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| His Excellency Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia invariably left me off the invitation list. My reputation may have preceded me and I was in Jeddah when the Embassies were still located there ! |
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