Donkey Riding in Dhahran
If you are a baby boomer that grew up in America in the ’50s, chances are you remember a children’s song called “Donkey Riding.” The lyrics to the first few stanzas go like this:
Fire and Rain
Our concern for Aramco ExPats affected by the series of natural disasters that have struck in the United States and its territories in recent months continues to grow. First, there were the hurricanes: Harvey, Irma, Maria, and others. Now there’s fire in California to add flames to their rain.
Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai Opens State-of-the-Art Secondary School Campus
Dubai, UAE – 10 September 2017: Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai (SISD) opened its Secondary School campus with first class facilities for Grades 6-10 on September 10th 2017. The new Secondary School follows the successful launch of the Primary School campus in 2015.
Interview with Tim Barger about Christmas in Khobar
Aramco Expats correspondent Grace Gail Malone interviews Tim Barger about his new book. "Your new collection of stories is entitled Christmas in Khobar. The name comes from one of your stories, but aren’t you concerned that a wider audience might not have even heard of the place?"
Reilly Financial Advisors Named To The 2017 Financial Advisor Magazine’s Top 50 Fastest Growing RIAs!
It has been a busy year thus far for Reilly Financial Advisors. Adding to an already long list of awards, RFA was named to the 2017 Financial Advisor Magazine’s Top 50 Fastest-Growing RIAs!
One Brat's Mission to Rebuild in the Aftermath of Hurricane Harvey
We all have friends and colleagues past and present—and, in some cases, family—who were affected by the series of hurricanes in August and September that struck islands in the Caribbean and wide swaths of the U.S. mainland.
Arvid, Jakki, Mike and Sue Picking Grapes in Portugal
Were you to throw a dart at a map of the world hung on a wall from ten paces away and hit a continent and not an ocean, chances are you’d find an ex-Aramcon or two living somewhere close by wherever your dart landed. The geographic spread of our readership suggests that...
Is Your Smartphone Hurting You?
Apprentices at the Jiddah Industrial Training Center (JITC) held their heads up high during the first “Text Neck Syndrome” awareness campaign as part of the “2017 Year of Health” series. Summer Program B participant and JITC health team member Bandar Al-Harbi delivered an eye-opening presentation designed to raise awareness of the syndrome with more than 200 apprentices, along with staff, in attendance.
O&BS Unearths Creative Talent in Best Photographer Competition
Operations and Business Services (O&BS) has a unique approach when it comes to engaging employees and unearthing the hidden talent within its organization. It organizes competitions that O&BS employees can enter as individuals on an equal footing without having to follow the usual hierarchical procedure of first obtaining management permission.
College Preparatory Program Students Excel on International Advanced Placement Exams
Saudi Aramco’s College Preparatory Program (CPP) students, who sat for Advanced Placement (AP) International Exams during a two-week period earlier this year, not only achieved the highest AP exam grades of any previous class of CPP students but also surpassed global averages in all of the subjects tested.
Saudi National Day Celebrating the Unification of Saudi Arabia
Few people in history have had the impact on their nation that Abdul Aziz ibn Abdur Rahman ibn Faisal al Saud, better known as ibn Saud, had on his. Conqueror, warrior, leader, visionary, commanding in presence, fearless in battle, cunning in negotiations...
Release of Excelsior!
This story from Christmas in Khobar has never been published before. In part, it’s about the miracle of receiving a shipment which for Aramcon families in the fifties was like Christmas in July.
Reilly Financial Advisors Announced in Financial Times Top 300
Reilly Financial Advisors was recently named to the 2017 Financial Times 300 Top Registered Investment Advisers list, one of the most prestigious awards for those in the RIA industry!
First came Harvey, then came Irma
Twice in recent weeks, major hurricanes have visited themselves upon the U.S. mainland, wreaking vast destruction with their waters and winds, claiming innocent lives in their fury, leaving enormous damage in their wakes for survivors to overcome.
Organizers of the 2018 Austin Hafla Having Fun While Making Plans
Planning is underway for the 2018 Austin Hafla Annuitants Reunion and by all accounts, volunteers who were able to attend the first meeting in Austin, Texas had a good time. Here's what co-hosts Bill and Judy Walker, and David and Vicki Jessich, had to say:
Shaikh Amin's Encounters with Aramcons: A Photo Series - Photo 1
Shaikh Amin, retired chief photographer of Aramco, is currently on his yearly tour of the USA to attend the annual Photographic Society of America conference and spend time with his family. In this photo, Tareck Elass (son of late Majed Elass, former Vice President of Government Affairs and Board Member) is seen with his family visiting Shaikh at his son's residence in Princeton, New Jersey in July of 2017.
Frankly Speaking, Life Has Been Good for Frank and Nit
One thing can safely be said about long-time Aramcons: They’ve been a lot of places and seen a lot of things. Frank Anderson, badge number 094403, is no exception. Joining the Saudi Aramco family in 1977, Frank initially moved into al-Firdoz, Khobar...
Now Available, Christmas in Khobar!
Tim Barger’s new collection of stories about 1950s Aramco, Arabia and life in general has just been released in print and e-book at Amazon. He hopes that you will enjoy it.
Friends in Need in the Face of Hurricane Harvey
Our hearts go out to all those impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, to our fellow Aramcons living in the area, all those at Aramco Services Company, as well, their friends and families. For those who wish to donate to disaster relief efforts, here are just a few ways you can help.
Syed Arzam Sher Completes Cambridge-IGCSE O-level
Syed Arzam Sher completed his O-level through Cambridge-The International General Certificate of Secondary Education on August 10, 2017.