Wednesday 20 August 2014

The end of another chapter, a reflection on Texas.

It's been a while......

Today officially marks the end of my training in Texas, my flight leaves on Saturday.
I don't quite know how to look back on my time here as I've got mixed emotions.  There have been times where I've hated it, equally there have been times where I've enjoyed it.  I don't think I'll look back negatively as some real good has been achieved, not so much with training on PMDI but with the relationships forged between the other lads here.  The barriers that exist when you bring UK expats, Indians, Saudis and Filipinos to work together would have taken an awful lot longer to break down and friendships to form had it not been for this environment.  Learning about others cultures, what they personally consider to be funny/offensive, what interests them and generally conversing on the same level has been the real positive.  Yes the training has been an important factor as ultimately that's what we came here for but the interaction has been just as important.
I think that perhaps I got myself off onto the wrong foot as going to KSA was a new job, new adventure, new life and that training in Texas was seen as a hurdle I had to get over before moving back to Saudi and having my family back with me.  I was also first told when I was offered the job that my training would be in Germany which I was really looking forward to and, it suited my situation better as it would have meant being to spend time with my family more frequently, when I found out I was coming to Texas I kind of resented it a bit without even giving it a chance!!
So what do I think of Lake Jackson/Freeport?  As I've said before it's probably not somewhere I'd choose to live, there's an awful lot of heavy industry but I'm going to get that wherever I live in the world because of what I do.  That said there can't be many places in the world where the humidity is so oppressive and the mosquitoes so bloody vicious!!! During one round on Freeport Golf Course I was bitten on my legs no less than 27 times and during another round on the Wilderness I couldn't concentrate on what I was trying to hit as sweat was running into my eyes and dripping off my nose.  That said, the people here are, for the most part, really friendly and there's everything you need here.  Notable mentions go Kristi, Byron and Jim our trainers at Dow, to Dave, Dyllon and Pate, Chonno and his staff at Ricochets, the couple who run Sista Whites cafe (the best pulled pork and hot sauce sandwiches in the world).  
I've got some good memories to take away with me, visiting San Antonio and Orlando with Lindsey and Tilly, a golf trip with Johan that was great fun, deep sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico (I caught MahiMahi and Kingfish among others), NHRA drag racing at Baytown, Jordan busting his moves in Kicks (you had to be there to appreciate it), fishing for catfish at L.D's, drinks round the pool watching Jordan trying to tackle sunloungers and drown himself!!!! we didn't let him obviously but it was funny watching him try.



As I've said before the living arrangements here have been less than ideal, it's not that me and John don't get on, I've just found it quite challenging sharing an apartment with someone I wouldn't choose to live with.
Which leads me onto 'so what's next?'
Well, my flight leaves Houston at 15:00 on Saturday and arrives in Saudi at 22:05 on Sunday with a 5 hour layover in Frankfurt crossing 8 time zones on the way.  A 1 hour taxi ride up to Jubail and I should be in our new home at around midnight.  After living in a hotels, Las Dunas compound and The Residence at Lake Jackson over the last 6 months I am looking forward to having somewhere to call home again where i can properly unpack and settle in knowing this is it for the foreseeable future.  Home will be a compound called Jubail Views that has 40 villas and 64 apartments, I already know there will be 4 other lads with their families that I used to work with at Growhow.

Also once I get back to Saudi I can start the process of obtaining my 'yellow slip' which is the last hurdle to complete to get Lindsey and Tilly there, that should be done by mid September all being well.

All that remains is to close this chapter of my journey, for anyone who I haven't bored to death already I'll more than likely start a new blog to chronicle the 'What happens next' and what it's like to work and live as a family in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
Thanks for reading!!

2 comments:

  1. Hey Les,

    I take it Las Dunas is the compound site in Al Jubail?
    If so, what did you make of it and it's facilities.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Steve,

      No, Las Dunas is a compound in Khobar I stayed on when I 1st got to Saudi. I'm now staying on Jubail Views in Jubail which is a lot closer to where I work. The facilities at Las Dunas are fantastic although the villas in Jubail Views are much better but the facilities aren't as good. You can't have your cake and eat it apparently.

      Les

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