Arabian Night

On Monday one of the Majors I work with said "Tim, you and King are invited to the party." Awesome--what party. The Major then talked to Lenny. The party was for Tues--that was all we knew at the time.
On Tues more info trickled down--information like we had to wear a suit and tie and rumors that some big two star Generals were going to be at the party. The time of the party was also given to us--830--Inshalla--in the evening was the start of the party. So Lenny picks me up in his 4-wheel drive at 745--we stay on the main roads since we're dressed up (no desert digging for us). We get to the place at830.
Wow! The restaurant looked like an old house built of straw and mud. There were some tables but mainly there were sections where men were just lounging around on the pillows and food and drinks are being brought to them. It was like being in a movie.
Our party had it's own private room. Remember these are men that I work with but this is the first time for me to see them in Saudi dress--they're always in their uniforms at work. It was just a little startling to see these desert warriors in their "normal" Saudi dress.
I walk into the private room and there's General Faisal--we found out it was just our work group that was at the party--lounging against the pillows. He gets up with a smile and shakes our hands and tells us to sit. I get to sit beside Zidan--my former student and now my friend. Oh I forgot to mention that before you sit you take off your shoes off outside the door.
So here I am a white boy from the South in my new grey suit, white shirt, the tie that Laurie picked out for me, in my socks sitting on the rugs and lounging against the pillows surrounded by Saudi men in their Saudi dress--wow! And all of them are speaking Arabic--except Z--he's speaking English to me to tell me about the history of Saudi, traditions, customs and a story about the trip he just took with his Mom (he really loves his Mom and I told him I love hearing stories about his family life--his Dad is obsessed with watching Fox News). It was just like being in an Indian Jones movie--or Lawrence of Arabia.
Drinks were ordered--they still find it amusing that I don't drink coffee or tea--and they ordered water for me--but the tea and coffee do smell really good. More chatting. Now the dates are brought out--sweet dates--and we eat them--and more talking. We got there at 830 and now it's 1030. Finally the main course arrives.
I've never seen so much food. Not even at a pot luck. First all of our plates are brought in--metal plates painted with flowers and other designs--then the cups, and silverware (yes they brought silverware) and finally four huge--and I mean huge--platters of rice with veggies and meat, bowls of more meat and veggies and then bowls with what looked like refried beans (Z told me that it was veggies mashep up with wheat). Everybody gets close to the food, sits crosslegged and just starts digging in--and the talking stops (except Z who was still telling me things--General Faisal smiled and told Z to be quiet so I could eat). Oh and the bread--wow the bread. Eat Tim eat. "Tim I told you not to eat breakfast or lunch"--General Faisal--"and what did you do." I ate two donuts"--me--laugher from everybody. We're eating and eating. I was told some of it was lamb and that some was camel--all I can say it that it was all delish!
So we're finished eating the main course and now we're drinking Pepsi and water and back to lounging againt the pillows. More tea. Now dessert. I get a coconut type pudding--and it was delish but I couldn't finish it all. I look at my watch at it's 1130. I ask General Faisal if we all get to come to work later--in my smiling kidding voice. The whole room laughs and the General with a smile on his face "Tim you have to be at work at 0630 to open" --more laughter.
Things start winding down. People are shaking hands with the General and I hear my name and chuckles--it was about coming in late. Lenny and I leave around midnight--Z walks us to our car--and we get home at 1230. Work starts at 0700 and we leave here around -0630--yawn--it's been a busy evening and I only have about 5 hours to sleep. But I couldn't go to sleep until I called Laurie and Timmie and told them about my Arabian Night.