Mama Returns to the Desert!!!!!!

After 13 years, my mama, Mary Ellen Cochran, finally returns to the Kingdom! 

Though she was only able to stay for a week, it was by far the most energetic, fun, sleepless and happy week I've had in Saudi Arabia for a while! 

Every day the two of us would just wake up beaming, re-living our happy memories from years ago.  Sites and smells and faces would activate our memories and we would share our remembrances with one another fondly. 

I have honestly never seen my mother so happy. She was received like a celebrity the second she stepped foot on AIS-R's campus. Brian greeted her with a giant bouquet of flowers and a paper crown dubbing her the Queen of Hearts - a homage to her days as the elementary school counsellor. She and Brian could not stop smiling and laughing every second they were together. They have a genuine loving friendship marked by mutual admiration and respect for one another. Brian paraded my mother around the campus and I followed along sheepishly. She came to school twice and was able to sit in on me teaching and catch up with some of her old friends and colleagues. 

Every single day was filled with social gatherings. Dinners, lunches, parties.....I barely slept for the entire week that she was here. We were wined and dined by friends every evening. We barely left each other's sides except for when I had to go to school and she made the wise decision to just stay in my villa and relax. 

Now that she's gone back home to Brussels, I miss her terribly! I would love for her to come and stay with me next year for a month or two, its so nice to have a partner in crime here. My favorite day that she was here was when I took the day off work to go to the Gold Souks in Clock Tower (or "Chop Chop Square" as she fondly calls it) followed by one of the best lunches I have ever had in The Globe restaurant atop Faisaliah Tower. 

I feel so grateful to have such wonderful and supportive parents. They love me unconditionally - more than themselves and have always encouraged me to pursue anything of my heart's desire. They seldom told me "no" and always filled me with positive ideals about the world and myself. 

Thank you Mom for being the greatest mother in the world! 

I love you with all my soul. 

Mama in the gold souk......gold gold everywhere!

Had enough gold? How about some diamonds....

Mom by Masmak Fort just outside the souk

SMILE!!! 

Mom in her favorite place....chop chop square (she was convinced the guy in the background was washing away blood)

Hello from the Clocktower

View from the Globe (top of Faisaliah Tower)

Isn't she cute.....

Kingdom Tower in the background

Mom really liked these sparkly stairs...

Our table for two

Mom's delicious sea food plate. It tasted like the ocean!

My meal -- a deliciously succulent lamb steak on a bed of risotto and wild mushrooms

View of downtown Riyadh

Mom and I went out to the observation deck....we are reflected in the Globe

Reflective Mama relaxing after our meal.....

Social Butterflying

This past Thursday I went to the British Embassy to attend a jewelry party by a well-known Saudi British designer named Ranya Seraj. Her line is called "Terra Eclat". She makes absolutely beautiful hand-crafted jewelry from raw and natural materials, metals and stones. I bought myself a beautiful aquamarine silver ring as an early Birthday present! 

Though I attended the garden party with some of my teaching friends/colleagues, I met some very interesting people including the jewelry designer herself and a young Saudi photographer. He was very kind and after I smiled at him trying to take a candid picture of me, we started chatting about culture and life and living in Saudi Arabia. He photographs mostly cityscapes but is hired to photograph at private events and functions in Riyadh. He's made me curious about the art scene here in Riyadh and since meeting him I have started looking up young modern Saudi artists and have been surprised to find a burgeoning underground contemporary art scene. I'm discovering all this via Instagram. Its pretty fascinating and is inspiring me to go out more and meet people in the city. I don't know why I thought I could only attend western-sponsored events, I'd like to go to Saudi art galleries and other quiet functions and meet actual Saudi people: young and passionate professionals like myself. True, language is a barrier, but I've been pleasantly surprised by the number of people who speak English quite well here. Saudi Arabia has a huge number of over-educated (as well as its fair share of grossly under-educated) young professionals looking for opportunities to grow and change things. 

Here are some pictures of the jewelry party by my new photographer friend, Thamer (to protect his privacy I won't divulge his full name).

** The last two are my favorite!