shopping malls, monkeys and Madness!

Well, it's nothing like I thought it would be. My Mom had me a little worried but the Arabia she lived in twenty years ago has little in common with the one I'm visiting now.

The first notable difference is the highway. Dear God, if I don't die in a car accident I'll be amazed!!!! It seems like there is no such thing as rules of the road and everyone just drives like madmen. Yes men. Women are still not allowed to drive, but honestly I wouldn't want to!!! They don't stop for lights, squeeze four cars into two lanes, cut each other off like it's a contest and don't slow down for pedestrians!!! Mad!!

The Clothes are ultra conservative but only the abbaya. Underneath the women dress better than Americans (and almost as skantily). I get away with barely covering my hair and only cover my face when men are staring. I bought my own abbaya today. That was a crazy experience. Imagine the smallest store you've ever seen. Merely a stall, chalk full of women covered from head to toe in all black in the hundred degree weather (keep in mind it's past eight o'clock in the evening!) Buying you guessed it, more black :)

I don't know if many of you know this, but Saudi Arabia is the mall capital of the world! Jk I don't know that for a fact but I wouldn't be surpirsed! Every other corner is another mall. not just back alley stalls but high rises with the latest fashion. Seriously, I'm never shopping in America again.

The pet stores were the first thing that made me realize just how different this country is from America- I mean aside from the clothes and food and unbearable heat. Sadly they have never heard of animal rights here. (My brother just stared at me blankly). They keep full grown dogs in cages, sell skunks to collectors, sell monkeys and heres the clincher, they were selling what my brother called a Mountain cat. Seriously. The store we went to had a freaking mountain lion in a tiny cage. :( It was going crazy, hissing at the children who ventured to put their noses up against the glass.

Otherwise everything has been incredible! I'm adjusting really well and can't wait to see what happens next!