Eid Al-Adha (solemn festival feast of sacrifice)

               At the end of the Hajj (annual pilgrimate to Mecca), Muslims throughout the world celebrate the holiday of Eid al-Adha. The first day of the Eid Al-Adha holiday is Sunday, Nov 6th and will last for three days. During this celebration the miliary and civilians are on administrative leave.

          Eid solemn festival) al-Adha (feast of sacrifice) is an Islamic festival to celebrate the willingness of Abraham to follow Allah's command to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to Allah, before Allah intervened to provide him with a ram to sacrifice instead. During the celebration of Eid al-Adha, Muslims commemorate and remember Abraham's trials, by themselves slaughtering an animal such as a sheep, camel or goat. This action is very often misunderstood by those outside the faith. The meat is divided into three parts. The family retains one third of the share; another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbors; and the other third is given to the poor and needy. Muslims around the world observe this event.

          Ablah, my co-worker who is originally from Jordan, graced us with an authentic Saudi Arabian breakfast to kick off the pre-Eid festivities. The breakfast consisted of pickeled vegetables, falafel (deep fried balls of patty made of ground chickpeas and/or fava beans), pies filled with feta cheese, hummus, fava beans and gawah coffee. Gawah coffee recipe has three cups of water, 2 tablespoons of ground decaffeinated coffee, three tablespoons of cardamom (an indian herb having capusular fruit with aromatic seeds used as a spice or condiment) and 1/4 teaspoon saffron. The ingredients are boiled and strained. I will be visiting Ablah and her family after Eid. She says to me "you come see how I live!" It will most definitely be my pleasure!

Assalaam Alaikum 

GMarie

My Army Gear

          I didn’t tell most of you but besides being a Supply Systems Analyst, this position is an Emergency Essential (EE) position. This position is designated as “EE” in support of mobilization and wartime mission. I am required to remain in this position in the event of crisis situations such as hostilities or national emergencies until I am relieved by proper authority. I am also required to undergo nuclear-biological and chemical training and to participate in readiness tests, mobilization, alerts, and field training exercises. So we are issued items such as bullet-proof vests, decontamination suits, MRE’s (meals ready to eat) and several other things for field exercises.

          We are compensated for this readiness position with allowances such as Post Allowance which is pay in part for the higher price of many goods and services in overseas areas. There is also Post Differential which provides compensation to employees for service in foreign areas where environmental conditions differ substantially from environmental conditions in the continental United States. Sunday Premium Pay is also offered. In Saudi Arabia, Saturday through Wednesday is our work week. These entitlements add a 40% increase in our base pay! This incentive is used to recruit folks to this particular region. All of this is fine and dandy as long as we remain at PEACE!

Assalaam Alaikum (Peace be up on you), and as always,

All the best,
GMarie

Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud has died at 85

          Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud has died at 85, is the news and talks this morning at work. Crown Prince Sultan was the minister of defense, and has had various medical issues in recent years and he was reportedly visiting the US for medical tests when he passed away.  He is the half brother of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud who recently had surgery at National Guard Health Affairs King Abdul Aziz Medical Hospital where I work. There were no immediate details about his death.

          There are concerns about the future of Saudi Arabia, which has been ruled by the al Saud family since 1932. Prince Nayef, 77, who was appointed second deputy prime minister in March 2009 and son of  the King, now becomes next in line to the throne.  There are also internal differences because King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud has been seen as a reformer, making changes to improve the position of women and modernizing the kingdom.  There is some criticism from the ultra-conservative Wahhabi (dominant form of Islam in Saudi Arabia) clerics who give the royal family the religious legitimacy needed to rule. Prince Nayef's view is  seen as closer to the clerics. I will keep you posted.

All the best,
GMarie

National Guard Health Affairs King Abdul Aziz Medical Hospital

          I found out that other than working at my office on the base, I will also have a desk at National Guard Health Affairs King Abdul Aziz Medical Hospital.

My customer is the National Guard Health Affairs (NGHA) Contracting department. My position is called a Supply Systems Analyst which acts as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) for the U.S. Army. I am the liaison between my department which is OPM Health Affairs and NGHA Contracting.

          The hospital is about a 20 minute drive from the base. Of course, when I go there to work, I must wear my abaya and have to get a driver to take me there. NGHA has an office for me and prefer that I am there 2 to 3 times a week to work with them. They depend on the Army for advisory services to make sure they are in compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) regarding their purchases and contracts. I am responsible for analyzing and advising NGHA on their procurement actions (i.e. prospective contract awards) before they are actually awarded by Army Contracting.

          Today was my second visit to the hospital, this time on my own.  My sponsor took me on my first visit to introduce me to all of the people I will be working with. It was a culture shock for me. All of the men in the Contracting department wore white thawbs. This is an ankle length piece of clothing which is long and fits loosely and normally made of cotton. They also wear a ghutra (a square head cloth, red and white checkered) and aqal (a double circle of black rope or cord to hold the ghutra) on their head.  The women were wearing their black abayas (a long black cloak), jilbab (a black cloth covering the head) and a boshiya (a black veil worn across the lower part of the face) You can't see anything on the some of the women except their eyes!  I really tried hard not to stare.

          At first, I felt like an outsider but my sponsor ensured everyone, as he introduced me, that I came well equipped with the qualifications to do a very good job for them.  With their approving eyes and warm smiles all focused on me, they instantly made me feel at home and like a part of their team. 

           The National Guard Health Affairs King Abdul Aziz Medical Hospital commenced its operation in May 1983. In year 2001, it became part of King Abdulaziz Medical cities. Many physicians, nurses and paramedics are recruited from North America, Western Europe, Australia and South Africa.   

           This week, 86 year old Saudi Arabia ruler, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, underwent successful back surgery at the hospital where I work. It was surreal to be in the same place as Saudi Arabia’s King!

All the best,
GMarie

Prayer Types and Times in Riyadh Saudi Arabia

          I noticed since I have been here in Saudi that I hear, several times a day something that sound like chanting over a loud speaker.  So, me being inquisitive, asked the people at work. I was told that the Muslims pray at least five times a day, at a mosque if they can or in private depending on the prayer.

          With the some research, I found out that there with the Pillars of Islam there are five basic acts in Islam, considered obligatory for all believers. The Quran presents them as a framework for worship and a sign of commitment to the faith. They are:

(1) the shahadah (creed), which the believer I professes that there is no god except God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God

(2) daily prayers (salat), which consists of five daily prayers

(3) Almsgiving (zakah), is the practice of charitable giving by Muslims based on accumulated wealth, and is obligatory for all who are able to do so. It is considered to be a personal responsibility for Muslims to ease economic hardship for others and eliminate inequality

(4) fasting during Ramadan. Participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex  during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and submissiveness to God

(5) the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) at least once in a lifetime. Every able-bodied Muslim is obliged to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime if he or she can afford it

The compulsory prayer is obligatory for those who meet these three conditions:

are Muslim

are of sound mind

are ten years of age or older (beginning at age seven is recommended).

There are five elements that make a prayer valid:

           Confidence of the time of prayer

           Facing the qibla, (direction that should be faced to pray) with the chest facing the direction of the Ka'ba.(the holiest place in Islam)

           Covering the awrah (intimate parts of the body)

           Clean clothes, body, place of prostration.

         · Pure from hadath (impurity)

           Praying in front of a sutrah (barrier between himself and one passing in front of him)

Salat is intended to focus the mind on God, and is seen as a personal communication with him that expresses gratitude and worship.  The prayers are recited in the Arabic language, and consist of verses from the Qur'an.

The five prayers are as follows:

Fajr – dawn prayer, first of the five daily prayers, explained as being God's most-favored prayer since others are asleep. This has made the Fajr daily prayer the most essential and obligatory congregational prayer to be held by Muslims together in groups in mosques.

Dhuhr – Mid-day prayer, second of the five daily prayers

Asr – the afternoon daily prayer. It is the third of the five daily prayers

Maghrib - prayed just after sunset, is the fourth of five formal daily prayers

Isha – night prayer, It is the fifth of the five daily prayers

The times for these prayers are typically posted online or on boards for example:

                        October 16, 2011

Fajr	Sunrise	Dhuhr	Asr	Maghrib	Isha
4:35 AM	5:51 AM	11:39 AM	2:58 PM	5:26 PM	6:42 PM

For most stores, it is mandatory that they close during prayer or be cited by the mutawwa (religious police).

I found this prayer information very interesting. Didn't you??

All the best,
GMarie