"Tikeh Nuneh Ba Ob Khrelleh Bezorg Va Khube Boyast Ino Begeram" OR The water soaked breadcrumbs are delicious, thank you. I must have the recipe.

LOCATION: Qatif, Saudi Arabia
26 33' 19.67" N 50 00' 23.01" E
Elevation: 17 ft


Well, we've been very busy this last month (hence the lack of phone calls back to Canada). The boys are loving school and have rapidly picked up useful Arabic phrases and are using them on a daily basis. Heather and I have been helping Ruby make our backyard more enjoyable. You can see below that Ruby (remember our gardener) has been working around the clock to convert Will's sandbox into a nice place to sit out every evening and sip a nice, frosty margarita mix or a T and T (tonic and tonic).

Will's sandbox is starting to take shape.

The reason for the rapid growth of our trees and grass is due to Ruby's brilliant idea of incorporating a sprinkler system into our landscaping plans.


Ruby installing the new sprinkler system in our backyard.

 We recently went on an adventure to the Qatif market where our boys got to use some of their newly learned Arabic phrases. If you have ever tried to learn Arabic as an English speaker, it is quite difficult. Will and Gabe however have taken mispronounciation to a new level.

Will and I disocvered numerous odd goats at the goat market. Qatif, Saudi Arabia

When Will and I went off to what we though was a Camel market and found this goat market, Will was polite enough to approach the owner of this goat and say "Kbar khali-kili haftir lotfan." translation Thank you for showing me your marvelous gun.

Trying to get a youth sized falcon for the boys for the Falconry Team "The Blue Jays", Qatif, Saudi Arabia

After discovering the Falcon section of the bird market, Gabe commented to the shop keeper about the headgear "Maternier ghermez ahlieh ghorban" translation The red blindfold would be lovely, excellency.

Window shopping at the market. Qatif, Saudi Arabia

When the boys wandered into the fabric area of the market and wanted to comment on the thread count of the Egyptian cotton sheets they exclaimed "Ekr gabul cardan davat parh gush divar" translation I am delighted to accept your kind invitation to lie down on the floor with my arms above my head with my legs apart.

William and Gabe at the bird market. Qatif, Saudi Arabia

When the boys discovered a number of wildly coloured birds at the bird market, Gabe commented to the woman beside him "Tikeh nuneh ba ob khrelleh bezorg va khube boyast ino begeram" translation The water soaked breadcrumbs are delicious, thank you. I must have the recipe.

Grocery run. Qatif, Saudi Arabia

I asked the boys to go over to this old man and ask if he needed help loading his groceries on his bike. From afar I noticed them say something and he quickly dropped his groceries and left with only 2 boxes. I later found out that they had stated "Ba bodeneh sheerell teegz" translation Truly, I would rather be a hostage to your greatly esteemed self than to spend a fortnight upon the person of Cheryl Tiegs.

Butcher shop, butcher shop, butcher shop and butcher shop. Qatif, Saudi Arabia

Will and Gabe noticed that there was a whole block of butcher shops with one store after another. When a customer walked out William asked about this situation by stating "Khren maternier gherah ah liehah ghorban bodenah" translation Much like yourself I too prefer turkey bacon and camel tenderloin.

Street scene. Qatif, Saudi Arabia

When this guy got out of his car to ask the boys directions to the Liquormart, Gabe said "Auto arraregh davateman mano sephaheh- hasti" translation It is exceptionally kind of you to allow me to travel in the trunk of your car.

Soccer field. Tarut, Saudi Arabia

The boys noticed the soccer field in Tarut and ran down to ask the lady if they could play. What they actually said to her was "Khrel, jepaheh maneh va jayeii amrikahey" translation I will tell you the names and addresses of many American spies travelling as reporters.

Are you sure it was the second left? Tarut, Saudi Arabia

When we got lost in this friendly neighborhood in Tarut, the boys knocked on a door to get directions and said "Howmaeh fekr tamomeh oeh gorteh bande" translation I agree with everything you have ever said and thought in your whole life.

Local mosque. Tarut, Saudi Arabia

We crested a hill in Tarut and found this nice view of a domed mosque. I stopped to take a picture and William said "Yasaternier ghermeih al fekr hlieh ghor baneih" translation I won't tell anyone who you are if you just let me go.

Shrimp fishing fleet. Qatif, Saudi Arabia

To the soldier in the guard house at the pier in Qatif, William commented to the shop keeper about the headgear "Botnier ghermez ahlieh khorban" translation Your royal navy has an impressive fleet.

Gabe's first triple. Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Gabe had been having trouble getting on base all year. He finally whacked a motionless curveball that started down the pipe and ended right down the middle resulting in a well deserved triple. He was so excited and proud that he turned to the bleachers and yelled at the top of his lungs "Cashal-eh fashal-eh tupheman na degat man goftam cheeshayeh mohemarir behmeshvarehma." translation If you will do me the kindness of not harming my genital appendages, I will gladly reciprocate by betraying my country in public.


"M" for mosque, one of the more popular ones.

This particular mosque seems to have a very strong effect on the people here. Our boys chant "Balli, Balli, Balli" translation Let's go there, let's go there, let's go there (followed by crying when we don't stop) everytime we pass one.