Only in Saudi

Like any other women, I love gold jewelries and others made up of precious metals and stones. And if only I can afford to, I will buy as many as I can not only for my pleasure but also as an investment. Too bad, I'm not rich and my pocket is not overflowing with money. So for now I'm contented for whatever I have and I quench that lust for gold by just looking at them. lol!

I'm often fascinated and enticed by the jewelries for sale here. Even with their glimmering beauty and expensive value, they are carelessly displayed in glass cases without any metal barriers that will protect them from possible thieves. Likewise, jewelries that are generally composed of 18-21k gold are just hanged on the walls for buyers to have a closer and clearer view.

I have also noticed that jewelries here are for sale by weight and not by the gold composition. So if one decides to buy a 10 grams, 18k gold  rope necklace, it has the same price to that of the 10g, 21k gold  necklace of the same design. Likewise, prices highly depend on the vendor. So you just have to be diligent enough to look for the lowest price among the neighboring jewelry shops. Of course, in order to save money, you have to ask for discount. Anyway, since Filipinos are known for that , prices are always negotiable. It is also wise to buy gold when only few buyers are around so you can ask for big discounts. I believe those Arab vendors also aim for bigger sales. So when sales are low,they prefer to sell the item at a much lower price than to have no profit at all.

My New Baby

I have been out of the circulation for a while because I don't have anything to use with. My hubby and I decided to sell my old notebook. Actually, it was already enough for me, but my husband insisted for a laptop because it has a much bigger screen. We also sold his old HP laptop which is almost 3 years old because it started to show signs of deterioration. The screen had repeatedly blacked out and when we had it repaired, the computer technician advised us to sell it before it can be totally useless.

After having much thoughts on what to buy, if either desktop or laptop, we decided to buy a laptop that we can use anytime and anywhere. Now, I got my brand new baby. As for hubby, he can buy later this year if I decide not to return here in Riyadh. At least, now I have something to use for my online activities.

Happy Birthday Ysabella!

To my cute and pretty niece, Ysabella, who always has a special place in my heart, Happy 1st birthday! I hope I'm there to celebrate the one year of happiness and blessings we have all experienced since you came into our lives. May you grow to be a God-fearing, family-loving and good person. Enjoy your party!

Sunday Blues

It's Sunday once again. And this day marks my 31st Sunday without going to church. This is why I couldn't help wishing for a more lenient and open city where freedom from all religions is practiced and allowed. But I know it's highly impossible for this country had existed for decades already, and they kept their system as it is from the start, and consistently too.

Sunday in Riyadh is just like any other weekdays. They have a different calendar here with regards to the working and rest schedules. Thursdays and Fridays are considered to be weekends as analogous to the Saturdays and Sundays of most Christian countries. That's the reason why these two days are considered to be family days. Singles, or more particularly, males without families are not allowed to enter the malls. In these days also, malls are crowded with families as well as single ladies. Most offices and clinics here are also close every Friday.

Every Sunday I can't avoid feeling lonely because I really miss going to church and being blessed by hearing some good news from the minister's sermon. I know that I can always worship God anytime and anywhere, but worshiping as a part of the congregation is much better.

Likewise, much to my dismay, I have eaten dinner all alone just awhile ago. After waiting for my husband all day, now I don't have someone to chat with. Hubby is sound asleep from his long and tiring day, and I don't have a heart to wake him up to dine with me.

Actually, this is my usual Sunday and I'm quite used to it. I just have to remind myself everytime I feel blue that this is a strange country and I just have to bear with them and their culture in order to sanely survive my stay. 

To Do or Not To Do

I just read an article today about a guy who had just stepped in the most important crossroads of his life. He just gotten a girl pregnant. The sad thing is that she is not his official girlfriend. Naturally, the guy is confused. Does he have to marry her even if he's not truly in loved with her? or will he just support the baby without marrying its mother? If he choose the second option, he thinks he just have saved the three of them from a lifetime but loveless commitment. So, I guess he's now off for the latter option.

These have bothered me a lot. So what must be done? At least, what's the right way? I believe, it's the right thing to marry the girl and give the baby a name and complete family. But, the biggest dilemma is what if the marriage will not work? What if marrying each other is the last thing that should be done? Is love a skill that can be developed? Or can it be learned? Why did the physical relationship that has lead to conception of the child happen anyway?

As for me, if the couple is not really sure of their feelings, they should not marry. If they have committed a mistake by involving to a physical relationship and betraying the guy's girlfriend, they have left with no choice but to bear the consequences of their actions. But marrying each other for the sake of the baby and no other else is definitely not the answer. Marriage is a lifetime commitment. It means when two individuals commit with each other and make it known to the world, there's no turning back. Even, if annulment and divorce are allowed by man, their union is irrevocable in God's presence. If they can be sure that they can give their baby and their future home the love that they deserve, then, they should marry. But if they are uncertain, then, they should refrain from having a loveless home. All they must do is to give the baby the support and the love it needs even with their separate lives.

Its just so sad that it happened. However, it isn't the end of the world for the two of them. Their future definitely lies on the intelligent decision that they will coming up today. I just wish they will choose what's best for all of them.