Aramco Expats

Brats Occupy LAX

1. Community
2. Aramco Brats

Author: LA Correspondent - Aramco ExPats
Released 10 June 2009

Scott Miller, Jeff Yaeger, and Pat Dinis at the 2009 Brats Reunion. Photo by Tim Barger

May 22nd, more than 800 Brats converged on the Marriott at Los Angeles International Airport to celebrate their common heritage. One Brat, Scott Branch (Dhahran 84), drove his scooter from Miami Beach, Florida.

After 30 days on the road he was greeted with universal acclaim to join what was essentially the biggest returning student Tri-D ever held. The balcony rooms of the first five stories of the hotel facing the pool and spacious patio were completely occupied by the invasion of Brats and their spouses.

Chairwoman Julia Simms and her reunion committee staged a flawlessly executed event that featured an overflowing suq, two huge rooms of Aramco memorabilia and a dedicated Teen Canteen that was open 24 hours a day, as was the hospitality suite of the renowned Brat Advisory Group Saudi, BAGS.

Scott Branch (left) and Sami Altallah
Photo by Connie Shaw-Schmidt

Brats from 1951 to 2008 mingled, vied in tennis, golf and bowling tournaments and filled the pool but conversation was by far the most popular activity. Classmates from first grade fifty years ago or graduates just five years out of 9th grade told stories and chattered like temple monkeys in Thailand. Reminiscing about school plays in Abqaiq, the Hobby Farm trips to Khobar, beach parties at Half Moon Bay and the hundreds of highlights from our childhoods in Arabia, everyone agreed that growing up in Aramco was an experience that we wouldn't trade for anything.

After four days of being with old friends, making new ones and laughing until they were hoarse, the weary brats gathered to share their goodbyes and Scott Branch remounted his scooter for the long trip back to Miami. Many attendees have said that the LAX reunion was the best one ever, but the verdict is still out as two years from now there will be another one in an yet-to-be disclosed location, so only time will tell.

Take a look at photos from the great event in Brats Reunion Galleries.