Blood, Urine, and Embarrassment in Saudi Arabia

I survived my first voyage into the "real world" off the compound today. I had to go to the doctor's office to get a chest x-ray, blood sample, and urine sample.

Lessons learned:

1) Although every culture book I have read tells me not to shake anyone's hand off the compound, every person I have met here off the compound American or Saudi has shook my hand. I did also have a really awkward hug/hand shake dance yesterday with a Filipina I met on the compound. I think I will just continue to do that as my own personal awkward greeting on the compound--maybe I will add a high five.

2) I have no idea when it is appropriate for me talk to Saudis, Indians, Nurses or when Paul is supposed to do the talking so I just sort of stand there wide-eyed in panic until someone directs me to do something. Today the Saudi translator helping us out kept pointing places and telling me to sit or stay. I did not get a treat.

3) When the x-ray tech asks you if you have anything in your stomach, the answer is supposed to be "No I am not pregnant" not "a protein shake mixed with coffee". Also you can keep your shirt on for the xray as long as you take your abaya and your bra off. You do not have to be standing there in the room in your jeans with your boobs hanging out. Learned that one the hard way.

4) To pee into a cup while wearing an a

baya over a squatty potty, take the bottom of your abaya and gather it up, then pull it forward and tuck it through the neck of the abaya and pull it down, sort of like you are making a sexy shirt out of t-shirt in the early 90s. Then drop your pants and your underoos around your ankles. While leaning forward to create an angle to catch the pee in the cup, you must also try to catch the abaya that is falling down from its tucked in position all while trying to maneuver your stream into the cup. Then use the one piece of kleenex they gave you as TP to wipe off all the pee on your leg and give them the cup back covered in urine. Or better yet, maybe next time, just take the abaya off and then pee into the cup.

All in all in was a successful morning.