memories down the lane part 1

I have made this illustration with the inspiration of my memories working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The woman in my drawing is myself while I was looking at the view from the window during one of our company bus trips going to malls after work. We usually ate in a restaurant in the women's area- sometimes, the family side. We also did a lot of shopping especially if there’s a sale going on. We are not allowed to talk with any men outside if you are single. Some married couples are even being checked and asked a copy of their marriage contract which should always comes handy on their bag or pocket. I worked as a medical transcriptionist and at the same time have set up the medical records department-in a newly built modern hospital together with doctors mostly from UK, the rest of Europe, three from Canada plus one neurologist from USA who is my favorite doctor. Half of the number of nurses and those working in the administration, the cafeteria and even the cleaners all came from the Philippines. The filipino women's accomodation were built in the adjacent building of the hospital. During my first month in Riyadh, our accomodation together with another filipina was a very nice hotel 15 minutes away from the hospital. Our breakfast, dinner and laundry were shouldered by the company for the whole month we have stayed there. Two orders of breakfast was usually two much so we wrapped and ate the rest for lunch. I have always looked forward to dinner because it was always buffet and I get to eat what I want which were consist not only of their own kind of food. I am sorry to say but there's some kind of taste and smell in some arabic food that I don't like. During our trips to big public market place on fridays, I get to eat my favorite shawarma. You can choose between beef meat and vegetables but for me and my roommate the vegetable shawarma tastes so much better. Our bus trips are three or sometimes four times a week. Two of them earlier or later in the afternoon and only for three to four hours. If you have friends(I had) who are couples and have children that you can go with them in their car for unlimited hours. I have enjoyed the evening trips because I like Riyadh so much during the night. The streets and all the buildings are well lighted and have all those big christmas bulbs all year round!(of course, they have the oil!….). Almost all houses and building made of different kind of marbles and the hotels with lots of gold designs on the wall. Some of the people may not look rich but hey, I don't think there's poor people in the Middle East. I will hang my story right now and wait for my next memory down the lane....and yes, I have worned that black long dress and veil with only our eyes and hands were allowed to be seen everytime we go out in the hospital, and that means even just after the door of the hospital! And by the way, you can kindly click the title--the pictures were posted in my other blog.thanks!