On the third day...

First day of training today. Had about half a dozen people to train, and on the whole it went pretty well. What was interesting was that I had exactly the same sort of issues training this group, that I would have at home. Apart from the fact that the general level of politeness was much higher - in line with my experience of everyone I've come in contact with over here so far. I love the way they call you by your title and first name - so I become Mr Graham - it just seems to circumvent the awkwardness we sometimes get in the UK of 'Do I call him Mr Smith, or by his first name?' - With Mr Graham, you get the respect and familiarity. With my vast experience of 3 days over here, it feels a very 'Saudi' thing to do.

The training room is interesting. When we visited yesterday, Steve said that this must be where all their old PC come to die! There is a bit of an elephants graveyard feel to it. A real mix of PCs and monitors. There's some old Dell Optiplex models in there that I remember using at St. George's - 7 or 8 years ago now. But they pretty much all work, and all we're really doing is web based, so it's OK.

When we stopped for coffee, obviuosly I was offered a cup. The cups were very small bowls, so I expected a good thick, strong brew - not unlike the Turkish coffee I had the other day. But when it was poured, this had a distinct green tinge to it! Always up for a new exdperience, I tried it - and it was actually cardamom coffee. And (again) really, really nice. Another thing to try to make when I get back I think...

Had a really nice chat with some of the trainees over lunch. We got talking about the heat, and how I was still surprised by it when I walked outside - it was still a novelty to me while, of cource, it's normal to them. One of the men, Bander, said he knows what I mean because he felt the same way about snow. So I asked him where he'd experienced snow (because it certainly wasn't here) and it turned out he'd studied marine biology at Newcastle!

They asked what the weather was like now where I live - so I told them it was raining, but still warm I think. Whe they asked what warm was I told them 22 degC - and they all laughed. I told them that in the summer it obviously gets hot. Sometimes 28, 29 or even 30 degC. Again this caused much mirth.

Anyway, despite the usual little hiccups that happen in any training, I was pleased with today. If the next 2 days go as well, I'll be very satisfied with that.

The trianing rooms are in a building which seems to be round some back streets - it's certainly off the main drag. Anyway, I took the opportunity to take a couple of photos:

[Left]The Sulaimania building where the trainingroom is and [Below] The view down the street from the doorway.

(As with all the other pictures in this blog, clicking on them will show you a larger version...)


Got a lift back through heavier, end of day traffic on the way back. Me earler comments about the driving in Riyadh hold fast...

Went out with Steve and Nouf to a Lebanese restaurant tonight. Fantastic place, fantastic food and some excellent conversation over dinner. With much talk of Saudi and related lands/counties, it made me feel quite parochial. But more interesting stuff on how the reality of why muslim women cover up (more cultural than religious? Not the view that has often been pushed at us in the UK), and also the feeling that if in other counties, then that country and it's people should be respected and your culture should not be forced. We're back to extreme minorities, queering the pitch for the moderate majority. I really feel that alongside doing a job of work (the reason I;m here!), I'm also learning stuff as well.

I'm really being well looked after by Nouf and Steve - after all I could just be sat in my hotel room inbetween working - but they're giving me plenty of opportunity to experience new things and learn a bit.

As I think I've mentioned, Nouf is arranging for us to go visit a museum on Thursday - I also mentioned that I ought to have a wander round the shops - and immediately they are making plans for me to be able to do it with the minimum of hassle.

I'm a lucky chap...