Back in April 2011, stuck in a monumental traffic jam on Interstate 5 just north of Seattle, I switched on the radio and hit the Seek button, hoping to find a station with an up-to-date traffic report. “Maybe they’ll recommend a way around this mess,”
According to the 21 May 1958 issue of the Arabian Sun and Flare—published exactly 60 years ago this week!—if you were living in Dhahran at the time and wanted to visit Half Moon Bay 14 or so miles (23 kilometers) to the south by taxi, a one-way ride there would have cost you 12 SAR ...
The Razorfish Swim University, founded by Zubair Mohammed Iftekhar, successfully concluded the year 2018 with the Razorfish Swim Meet at Sujatha Public School, Hyderabad. Zubair is the son of Aramco annuitant Dr. Mohammed Ifteqaruddin.
How often have you heard someone say, “A picture is worth a thousand words?” If that’s true—and we here at AXP believe it so—then the stories told by Aramco annuitant Bert Seal, Badge Number 17347, with his camera while serving as a photographer with the Public Relations Department...
At a recent black tie ceremony held in Atlanta, Georgia on April 21st and sponsored by the College of Engineering of Georgia Tech, Dr. Zakiya Ayo-Zahra Seymour was inducted into their prestigious Council of Outstanding Young Engineering Alumni. This celebrated scholar and Aramco Brat began her academic career at Abqaiq Elementary School in 1985.
Hanging on the wall to the left of the desk in my study is a framed etching, “Chelsea,” by renowned American-born expat artist James A. McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1879 and depicts a long-since-removed wooden bridge stretching across the River Thames at Chelsea in London...
Perhaps the most fascinating site in the area is Dumah al-Jandal, an ancient city protected by the Ministry of Antiquities. This town was mentioned in the Old Testament in Genesis 25 and Isaiah 21.
A few weeks back I was shopping for groceries when I heard the man behind the seafood counter say to the customer standing next to me, “It’s a real doozy!” He was referring to a monstrous king salmon large enough to feed an army arrayed in a bed of ice in a nearby cooler.
The two-day festival included a fabric fair. Handmade carpets from the area were entered into a competition. The vocational training school displayed carpets, electrical models, furniture and other products made by the local students.
“The world’s favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May.” —Edwin Way Tale
In January 2018, Mohammed Ifteqaruddin visited Makka Mukrrama to perform Umrah. After Umrah, he met his two daughters, Aneesa and Ruqaiyah Iftekhar, along with his grandchildren and sons-in-law now working in Jeddah.
The festivities continued throughout the night. Young camels and sheep were slaughtered for the evening meal. The men gathered on mats around large trays of Kapsa, rice mixed with spices. Hot camel or mutton, with the bones, was placed on top of the rice. Each man would eat by dipping his right hand into the rice and meat.
How many of you readers can recognize the sound of a safety relief valve popping? Aramco annuitant Dr. Mohammed Ifteqaruddin, Badge Number 140948, can. For thirty-three years, Mohammed dedicated himself to issues relating to safety relief valves at facilities throughout the Kingdom...
One of the biggest hurdles of a Third Culture Kid is maintaining the friendships they formed while living outside their passport country as an expatriate or as a military child, where they spent a significant portion of their lives residing in a foreign country.
About 30 kilometers out of town, the camels had gathered from all over Northern Arabia ready for the 15 kilometer race across the desert. Ann Rhea wanted to go to the starting point so I drove her and her car to that location.
In July 2016, Laurene Ann Opdyke, wife of former Saudi Aramco pilot Richard Opdyke, passed away. While living in the Kingdom from 1980 to 1985 and again from 1997 to 2000, Laurene served as a nurse, dedicating herself to helping others. In loving memory, Richard established the Laurene Ann Opdyke Nursing Scholarship.
I was asked to drive several Aramco women to Sakakah, capital of the al-Jowf area, for the Annual Camel Race. We drove in a vehicle owned by Ann Rhea. Ann was interested in observing local culture.
Before today, we here at AXP have never featured a story about peanut butter. Thanks to Aramco brat Desiree Adams, this is our chance to correct that omission.
Do you feel comfortable making financial decisions, or do you often find yourself asking questions such as “Am I saving enough and in the right place?” Join Reilly Financial Advisors for a complimentary two-day workshop at the Tandoori House, where we provide general financial education, aimed at helping you answer common questions like these.
“Diamante” is the Italian word for diamond. It also happens to be the last name of Giovanni Diamante, Badge Number 160876, a former senior trainer with Saudi Aramco who came to Ras Tanura in 1993 and worked for the company for the next four years as a teacher.