Packing It Up

I often get a similar question as I am shopping and packing up suitcases and boxes to make my return trip to Saudi Arabia after a visit to the States: “What are you taking back with you?”  This list changes with each trip; various items are brought back each time, some occasionally and some are just  one-time purchases.  So for the fun of myself and hopefully those who read this, I compiled a list (though not completely comprehensive for the sake of boring you).  Along with the questions of what we are taking back,  common follow up questions, sometimes verbalized, sometimes just implied are, “Why are you taking that?"  "Can’t you get that there?”  I have often had to ask myself the same thing:  “Why am I taking this back?”  I have been able to justify it if necessary in the following ways:

It is not available in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

It is not available on a regular basis in KSA.

The brand I like is not available in KSA (and I prefer not to use another brand).

It is more expensive to buy it in KSA than to buy it in the US and ship it back.

It is more convenient to pay for the shipping than to have to go out and buy it in KSA.

Our trips to the US average 1-2 times a year.  So when we shop and ship we have to look at when the next time we will return to restock will be.  That regulates what we take back each time:  Are we buying for a year, 6 months, etc.  How much do we have left and will it last until the next trip? 

The more I worked on the list, the more it expanded into our packing and shipping adventures.  So in answer to your questions and in justifying my own reasoning, read on!

Usual Items/Necessary and Unnecessary Items Included

Wheat Gluten and Dough Enhancer.  Not available.  The quality of bread has improved over the last 4 years, but overall it just is not the same.  It is dry and not that tasty.  Not to be sacrilegious, but let me help you understand our desperate search for good bread.  Each week in church someone is assigned to bring the sacrament bread.  One week as we took of the bread it actually tasted good.  After a few phone calls later that afternoon, we located the donor and found out what kind of bread it was and where it was purchased.  We found it in the store the next time we looked, but it was not always available.  It is often easier and more fulfilling to make my own than try and locate good bread.

Pepperidge Farm Goldfish.  They are more expensive to buy in KSA –a  64 oz box in Saudi will cost about $16.

This was our first experience of packing for our return trip.  I don't think we got much sleep that night.
But the goldfish are in the box!

Yogurt Covered Pretzels .  I have begun to see chocolate ones shipped in.

Sunflower Seeds.  These are not always available, and not always the brand the kids like.

US Brand Candies.  These might include Swedish Fish (becoming more available now), Airheads, York Peppermint Patties, Mike and Ikes, Hot Tomales. I have also started bringing back M&Ms of various flavors.  I can get the small milk chocolate ones here, but the others have been changed to a chocolate stuff called “choco”.  It is a darker chocolate and more fudge-like in flavor.  It seems to be all I can find here and in European countries we have visited and which often ship to KSA.  If I am going to watch a movie with popcorn, I am going to have my milk chocolate M&Ms to go with it.  (Is that high maintenance?)

Various Dried Fruits.  These might include chocolate covered raisins, cherries and craisins—chocolate raisins are sometimes available, but not what we like the best. Craisins are becoming more available, but not consistently.

Various Nuts.  Pecans are the nut I bring back most often.  They are very expensive to buy here if the US import is purchased.  There is a nut store where I have purchased them from before.   But after a few times of purchasing them, I realized they had an interesting aftertaste which I eventually identified as cumin.  Jon does not like pecan cumin pie (I do not either).  What happens is this:  The nuts and spices are in open bins next to one another.  The nuts pick up the flavor of whatever is in the bin around it.  I have had the same problem with almonds.  So now if enough people want pecans, we will purchase an unopened box and share it.  But if we have not found any available, I will bring them back with me. 
Holiday Candy. Christmas and Valentines are technically illegal here.  However, they are getting more candies in stock, especially where expats shop.  There are two problems, though.  First, they are extremely expensive or they show up in the grocery store with a “Just arrived from the US” sign about six months after the holiday.  If they are a decent price, I will purchase them and save them for the next six months.  Often I have someone in the States purchase holiday candies, decorations, etc. when they go on clearance and I will pick them up when I come again.  We have to always be planning ahead and thinking about all holidays all year round.

Baking Chips.Chocolate chips are usually available in the Hershey’s brand I like, but they are usually about $4 a bag.  However, I usually still buy those in Saudi so I can bring back those which are not as readily available: cinnamon, butterscotch, and mint.
Food Coloring.  I can get some colors, but they are not the good brands, or colors.  I have never seen black here.
Flavorings.  Maple flavoring, lemon, and always, always real vanilla.  I can get a powdered vanilla here and it is actually good for some things.  But real, true vanilla is not available because of the alcohol content in it.  Alcohol is against the religion/law (most of the time one in the same) so anything with alcohol in it is not allowed.  Even the mouthwashes say "alcohol free" on them.  I bake a lot, and I refuse to bake without real vanilla or butter.  (I can find butter.) I have never had a problem bringing it in and I do not feel guilty about it as I do not think of it as alcohol.  There was one time I was nervous coming through customs, however.  I was on a return trip from the States, traveling alone.  I had a taxi driver who had picked me up from the airport.  We stopped on our way from Bahrain coming into Saudi and the agent wanted to X-ray our boxes.  We had never been asked to do that before.  But it must have been the night for it, as another car with expat, American women was also pulled off to the side ahead of us with their boxes being checked and x-rayed.  I was a little concerned as I had real vanilla and several bottles of herbs and medicines which are an "iffy" item to bring in also.  So I tried to remain calm and guiltless as I waited my turn to be inspected.  Then, just as we were to pull ahead to be x-rayed, another worker came out and said the x-ray machine was not working.   I decided I was being watched over and that even God appreciates a good chocolate chip cookie with real ingredients.

Various Spices, Cooking and Baking Items.  Redmond’s sea salt.  Rubs and seasonings.  Cinnamon (that does not taste like cumin), cornstarch, MSG free soup bases, ham “flavored” base, imitation bacon bits.  (Pork is against the law/religion so it is not allowed in.  However, some people actually put frozen meat, pork included, into a polar pack and then into a box and bring it in.  My friend did this (She was bringing steak.), lost her luggage for 3 days and it was still frozen).

Herbs and Medicines.  These include over the counter and prescription drugs.  Some herbs are not available consistently from GNC (often on back-order) and not always in the brands I like.  I can have essential oils shipped in, except for some of the stronger ones which I have to bring back.  We can get most of our prescriptions here.  But to save the hassle of having to go to the clinic here I keep some prescriptions on hand.

Hygienic and Beauty Items. Tampons.  OB brand is becoming available in rare places, but nothing else! Stock up!  Deodorants we like.  Lotions and sprays.  There is a Bath and Beauty now in Bahrain, but I really do not want to have to go to another country to purchase them  (Oh, I guess that is what I am doing in the US) and they are much more expensive in Bahrain.  I stock up on Mary Kay products and hair products.  I can get some stuff here, but not always what I like, and often only in Bahrain.  I have told my hairdresser, I need to bring her back with me!

Craft Items.  There is a craft store here.  It is not Michael's, but for us here it is a lifesaver for our creativity.  I do not think the owner ever gets rid of anything, so there are craft supplies and patterns from the early 80s available.  When I buy paint or mod podge, I have to judge if the dust on top is relevant to the age of the product inside.  There is also some stuff available at the bookstore, "Jarir".  Usually their products are fresh.  I can get some scrap-booking paper, but bring most back with me.  Fabric is sort of available.  Quilters can usually find stuff they like, for a price.  I have looked for 4 years for curtain fabric, with no luck.  I did once bring back fabric to redo everyone’s rooms, but have not done it yet. Sometimes we will find a store with good cloth tucked in a corner and it makes our day for a month!  I recently went with a friend and we found US brand cloth.  I didn't need it, and have no idea what to do with it, but bought it because it was such a great find!  Little things are really what count here.

Clothing.  I cannot usually get the brands I like, and if the store is here, it is usually more expensive. (Granted, that coming from the person whose favorite stores are thrift store,s which I miss terribly!) Most often there are no dressing rooms in the store, so I have to buy the clothing, then go to a restroom, if one is available, and try it on.  It is easier to buy in the States to save the hassle of having to get a driver (as I cannot drive off camp) or wait for Jon to drive me to the mall and then try to time that shopping around prayer time when stores close.  Most of the clerks are men (not that I have anything against that), even in the lingerie store.  I have heard of women going to these stores, with their blousey abayas on, and the clerk telling them what size of bra they need.  Sorry, I don't want any man scrutinizing me that closely, especially if I know he is doing it!  

We bring back the majority of everyone else’s clothing for the same reasons.  When we first got here, we stayed our first year through and did not really know what to plan for.  So Josh ran out of underwear and we were on a search to find them.  What a simple task to walk into Wal-Mart and find the Hanes isle, pick the size, decide on camo print or plain, and probably even get a couple of extra pair for free in the pack.  We searched all evening for underwear.  We finally found some in a department store.  I have shut out the cost from my memory, I just remember it was too much, but he was covered.  Then I took them home and looked at the washing instructions:  “Dry clean only”!  Are you kidding me?  Who dry cleans their underwear? Not me!  I never did send them to the dry cleaner, and they have made it through the washing machine several times now.

Sports Equipment and Toys.  Most baseball equipment for Joseph is brought back as baseball is not a top sport in the country.  We have bought soccer shoes instead of baseball shoes as soccer, or football as I should call it, is the dominant sport, again at a higher cost.  This summer I brought back one pair in the correct size and one a size bigger for spring season. 

There is a Toys are Us, but the quality is not the same.  It is cheaper quality and higher prices.  I will buy some stuff, but if I plan ahead enough, I will bring back stuff for Christmas and birthdays throughout the year. It does not matter what I am buying, there is always the question in my mind of "How much does this weigh?"  I can be found in Walmart hefting items in the isles trying to judge their weight and if that weight is worth the cost.

This was our fist method of weighing our suitcases.   It took two people:  one to hold and one to look under the suitcase to check the weight.  To meet the weight requirements, it has to be 50 pounds or less. We have since devised a method that can be done with one person which includes a hand weigher and bailing twine. 

One-Time Purchases

110 Appliances.  Most of these items are small 110 appliances.  When Aramco, the company we work for, was established in KSA, it started out as an American company.  So the homes were built to American standard 110 voltage.  But, the majority of appliances sold here are 220.  The company supplies the major appliances, and we brought several of our own when we came.  There used to be more 110 available, but they are all being phased out according to an “official decree” to get everything to the same 220 standard.  So we have brought back several of these smaller items to make our lives more comfortable.  Also, because of what is (and is not) available, I make the majority of my food from scratch, and these items make it easier and faster for me to do that.  These items have included:  as an electric griddle, VCR, blow dryer and other hair devices, ihomes, laptop computer,  popcorn air popper, ice cream maker, bread maker, yogurt maker, crock pots, and fondue pot.
Musical Instruments.  Electric cello (Josh’s birthday present.) Surprisingly, we have found several instruments here including an electric bass, guitars, tenor saxophone, electric piano, cello in Abu Dhabi, and drums in Dubai.  The thing we need to bring back next is a bigger room to fit them all into. 

Bows and Arrows. Technically these are illegal to bring into the country, so I guess I am confessing on this one.  I cannot even justify it except to say, "It's for the kids."  We broke the bow down into several pieces and put them and the arrows in separate boxes.  We sent them ahead (just in case there was a problem) with Jon who left earlier than the kids and I that year.  He never got questioned.  Actually, I am amazed that we have never had a problem with any of the items we have brought through customs.  We have temporarily lost luggage before, several items at a time, but all have been recovered after a few days and a few extra trips to the airport.  I also think that the agents don’t dare mess with a mother of 3 who has just survived 24+ hours of traveling.  Thank you for their mercy.

We missed our flight from Riyadh to Dammam.  It took 15 hours to reroute us for the 45 minute flight.  So we parked and waited--what else do you do with 17 pieces of checked luggage?  This is one time I almost wished we had not brought so much back (almost).

Josh wanting to make the most of his time and our luggage, created the fort seen here and above.

DVDs.  These too are "illegal", especially religious ones.  We usually try to bring them in our carry-on luggage and have always gotten them through.  Some video stores have opened up, but are somewhat limited in their stock. And if there is anything to do with a pig including a picture or being mentioned in the name, it will be scribbled out with a black magic marker. I once saw a copy of Charlotte's Web at the bookstore with Wilbur completely covered in black marker. But those stories are a post in and of themselves. 

Extra Large and Heavy Items

When we moved here, the company paid to move our personal belongings across the ocean in a large shipping container.  This summer we decided to do a similar shipment  in a 40 foot shipping container with 2 other families.  (This was in addition to the 17 items we checked on the plane.)  This included items too large to fit in a dish pack-sized box or too heavy to justify bringing.  Most of these were purchased online and delivered to the shipping company in Salt Lake.  Jon did take one load of items we had purchased directly to the company.  This is what some of them were.  A washer and dryer.  There is a Sears store somewhere here, but we wanted to save some money and wanted the most up-to-date versions.  Targets to go with the already smuggled in bows and arrows (We told the woman at the shipping company to be sure they were labeled as “children’s sports toys.”) Home decorations, books, musical equipment, beds, comforter sets, 60 cans of canned chicken (already wishing I had brought more), a case of Pepperidge Farm goldfish (already wishing I had brought more), espsom salts, several kitchen items including pans, an extra bowl for the icecream maker (I am sort of an icecream "snob" but hate to pay the price for the good kind shipped in.  But we love the kind we make.),  water softeners (The ocean water is desalinated and is safe to use and drink, but not preferable. We buy bottled water and anything white usually turns gray in about 6 months.), and more 110 appliances.

Now, in reality, probably very few of these items are absolutely necessary for our basic survival in Saudi Arabia (except for real vanilla).  However, they do maintain our sanity for various reasons.  Although we bring back a lot of things, we cannot bring back the things that mean the most and that is our families and stateside friends.  Tucked in the crevices of our boxes, we try to sneak in little reminders:  photos, stuffed animals from grandparents, homemade dried fruit from Mom, birds from Aunt Shan, endless hours of others helping us pack or watching the kids so we could do the hours (days) of necessary shopping.   Things can never replace the love that we miss as we go away.  Perhaps the “stuff” at least in part, is all just a way of making us feel more comfortable and more like we are at home.  In many ways this strange land has become our home because that is where our immediate family is and we have many wonderful friends.  But some things can never be replaced no matter how many boxes we bring back.  However, until The Lord tells us it is time to return to the US, we will keep packing our boxes, missing our families and trying to find a way to keep hot dogs (turkey of course) frozen for at least a 24 hour flight.