Reflection of 2009 Saudi Arabia Reunion
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Author: Laurie Swanson
Released 8 May 2009
Laurie SwansonMy husband of nearly 41 years, Fred, and I retired from Saudi Aramco two and a half years ago after 30 years living in Saudi Arabia. We raised our boys, played softball and basketball, coached numerous sports, and generally embraced our lives as teacher and engineer while there. During our lives away from the USA we learned much about ourselves, our country, and most importantly, we learned to respect and admire another culture.
Saudi Aramco’s reunion for past employees, past employees’ children, past employees’ grandchildren, and other extended family was truly an event to behold. Nearly 600 people traveled to Dhahran from all over the world, but most came from the United States, among them a couple who had not visited Saudi Arabia for 50 years. Fifty years ago they had been high school students attending school in Beirut, as was the custom in those days. They were truly amazed to see all the infrastructure improvements. In fact very little looked the same as it had in their time, but some things had not changed, they said. The generosity and welcoming spirit of Saudi Aramco families and employees made them feel as though they had come home. “Coming home” was the theme that I experienced and heard expressed over and over again.
Fred Swanson During the reunion Fred and I visited with my former students that are now in junior high, walked the walks in our old neighborhoods, visited Munira Al Ashgar's wonderful museum, ate labneh cheese and zaatar bread from Latif Bakery, went shopping and renewed acquaintances with shopkeepers, partied with our friends, flew to the Rub al Khali and flew to Madain Saleh to name a few of the things we did.
Living in Saudi Arabia defines my life: past, present, and future. When I stepped out of that Saudi jet on March 23, 1973 with a two year-old and a four-year-old, little did I understand the great adventure that my family and I were embarking upon. And that is a good description of our 30 years in Saudi Arabia—an adventure! We took it a day at a time adjusting our camera lenses to bring things into focus, zooming in on the details and using a wide angle setting to get the big picture. There are so many little adventures embedded in the 30 years that I cannot begin to tell you about now, but I want you to know that the reunion was truly extraordinary as were our lives living in Saudi Arabia! Who ever heard of a company holding a reunion for retired folk? Saudi Aramco is that company.
Thank you to all that participated in making the reunion such a success--allowing Fred and me to come home. It truly was a: SPECIAL RUN!