If there is anything we've heard multiple times, and now affirmed, since our arrival is that we arrived at the worst time of year.
Welcome to Riyadh! It's Ramadan where the government and stores have limited hours during the day so good luck getting paperwork done and running errands; remember that no restaurants are open until sundown because of fasting; most people on the Diplomatic Quarter (DQ) have left for the summer so it's going to be a little boring around here; if you think it's hot now wait until August; try to avoid the grocery stores during prayer time when you'll be stuck there until it reopens; since you don't have a car yet and can't drive anyway because you're a woman make sure to call motorpool with enough time; don't plan on any immediate travel because you can't leave the country for the next three months as a stipulation of your visa; and most importantly don't forget your jet black abaya when you go out in the 110+ degree heat!
OK I'm making it sound worse than it is, but it REALLY is funny when you start listing all of the challenges of arriving in June/Ramadan. Once Eid (the week-long new year holiday) is over next week, the day-to-day will be more manageable. The worst of it is not being able to go out to restaurants. There is an Eataly here that we're excited to check out! And it's frustrating to not be able to not have the freedom to come and go as I please. That I will have to get used to since I'm not allowed to drive, but will be better once our car arrives in three months and J can drive us. I suppose I'd rather arrive now and experience the worst of it. We have nowhere to go but up from here, riiiiiight???
On the positive, I was able to visit the Starcom office this week! It's been a slow moving process, but the General Manager here is keen to create a position for me while I'm in country. Will have more to share in the coming weeks, but I likely won't start until later this summer. It was wonderful to meet those in the office and I learned so much in the few hours I was there about the clients, business in the region, and agency culture. There are about 20 people across Starcom and Mediavest, including two woman - one of which is an intern. I know that doesn't seem very progressive, but it's HUGE in Saudi terms. I had no idea what to expect, but candidly was very nervous about being introduced to an office of nearly all men. They quickly put me at ease. Everyone was lovely, extended their hands to welcome me with a handshake, wished me the best, and told me how much they're looking forward to working with me. It felt really good.
I had a few great conversations with the executive leadership in the office. I learned so many interesting things, but my favorite bit to share is that people stay up all night during Ramadan. A colleague asked me if I'd been out at the Souq or to the mall at 3am to see how crazy it is. Like Black Friday crazy, every night. Fasting sunrise to sundown seems completely doable if you're sleeping through it! Makes complete sense and much credit to the creative thinking to work around it. This now explains why there are so few people out during the day.
As Week Two comes to a close, with very limited mobility and it being too hot to do much outside, I am getting cabin fever and can't wait to get out an explore a bit. Until I'm able to work I'm going to enjoy this time home with the gents, meet as many people as possible, and hopefully make one of the many playgroup invites soon!