Everything you buy here, unless it is imported, is shoddy, already broken when you take it out of the package or will break upon first usage, never the correct size or shape or material, often gaudily colored and chemically scented with odors that can never occur in nature. An example: rubber gloves. Such a mundane item, right? They often come out of the box with tiny holes or tears in them. They are so thin that the slightest pinch or bang against something will tear them anyway. And they are so short that water runs down then back inside them no matter how careful you are. So suck it up and ship it in. You'll be happier in the long run.
Always check flour, pasta, grains, and beans for insects before purchasing. Yeah, what else can I say here? It's scary to see ...things...crawling in that bag of elbow noodles.
Check expiration dates of cans, bottles, boxes. Food often spends a lot of time in customs and by the time it makes it to store shelves, well, it can be a bit past its prime.
Never buy fruit or vegetables that have been stacked in a box or container then sealed. The top layer may look okay but the ones below that will be green, wormy, bruised, or moldy.
Get on an email news chain. I'm on three. You can find out about events in camp, air fare deals offered by this or that airline (I got an amazing deal on my flight to Scotland in May this way), information about all of the little service shops run out of their homes by the so-called "dependent wives."
Learn to make your own whine or beer. It's easy, makes a nice hostess gift, and gives you something to talk about at parties.
Keep plenty of cash on hand--this is very much a cash economy. You need small bills to pay taxi drivers and larger ones to pay your domestic help each month. The Aramco dining halls only take cash. The Aramco gas stations only take cash. Small stores in town only take cash. Credit card theft (theft of the number to be precise) is a thriving industry in this part of the world (I've already had it happen to me once). The bigger stores in town take credit cards but it is often faster to pay cash.
Learn to live without things. You really don't need El Paso brand refried beans to make tacos. The UK Waitrose brand will work fine. Or perhaps forget the tacos and try whipping up an Asian-inspired dish with fresh ingredients.
Get names and mobile numbers of craftsmen from friends. Even if you can't find something here, you can often have it made for you: furniture, metal work, windows, doors. But be careful--refer back to the first paragraph! Some of the stuff made here is horribly shoddy and gaudy.
Always check flour, pasta, grains, and beans for insects before purchasing. Yeah, what else can I say here? It's scary to see ...things...crawling in that bag of elbow noodles.
Check expiration dates of cans, bottles, boxes. Food often spends a lot of time in customs and by the time it makes it to store shelves, well, it can be a bit past its prime.
Never buy fruit or vegetables that have been stacked in a box or container then sealed. The top layer may look okay but the ones below that will be green, wormy, bruised, or moldy.
Get on an email news chain. I'm on three. You can find out about events in camp, air fare deals offered by this or that airline (I got an amazing deal on my flight to Scotland in May this way), information about all of the little service shops run out of their homes by the so-called "dependent wives."
Learn to make your own whine or beer. It's easy, makes a nice hostess gift, and gives you something to talk about at parties.
Keep plenty of cash on hand--this is very much a cash economy. You need small bills to pay taxi drivers and larger ones to pay your domestic help each month. The Aramco dining halls only take cash. The Aramco gas stations only take cash. Small stores in town only take cash. Credit card theft (theft of the number to be precise) is a thriving industry in this part of the world (I've already had it happen to me once). The bigger stores in town take credit cards but it is often faster to pay cash.
Learn to live without things. You really don't need El Paso brand refried beans to make tacos. The UK Waitrose brand will work fine. Or perhaps forget the tacos and try whipping up an Asian-inspired dish with fresh ingredients.
Get names and mobile numbers of craftsmen from friends. Even if you can't find something here, you can often have it made for you: furniture, metal work, windows, doors. But be careful--refer back to the first paragraph! Some of the stuff made here is horribly shoddy and gaudy.
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