Mixing with royalty!
A weekend includes ...21 total reviews
Comment from lyenochka
Congratulations on the story of the month!
I enjoyed reading your adventures. I was aware that Saudi women could take off their garb when among only women. It's so sad they live with such restrictions. Glad you could share experiences with them. Some of them would come for shopping in the US taking an entire floor of a hotel accompanied by people who were enslaved to them.
reply by the author on 08-Apr-2022
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Congratulations on the story of the month!
I enjoyed reading your adventures. I was aware that Saudi women could take off their garb when among only women. It's so sad they live with such restrictions. Glad you could share experiences with them. Some of them would come for shopping in the US taking an entire floor of a hotel accompanied by people who were enslaved to them.
Comment Written 08-Apr-2022
reply by the author on 08-Apr-2022
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Thank you Helen. Great review. Yes that is so. Plenty of maids and "workers" for all the lowly tasks. A different world. Restrictions are now fewer. Women are allowed to drive now and they now accept tourists!! I?ll talk about those changes in a subsequent chapter.
Wendy
Comment from MissMerri
Congratulations Wendy, for placing third with this wonderful story! I enjoyed reading it very much. I would love to know more about how you happened to be living in this place. Have you already written something about this? What title should I look for? You are an excellent writer. There are no corrections of any kind to be made and the story is extremely interesting and enlightening. MM
reply by the author on 08-Apr-2022
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Congratulations Wendy, for placing third with this wonderful story! I enjoyed reading it very much. I would love to know more about how you happened to be living in this place. Have you already written something about this? What title should I look for? You are an excellent writer. There are no corrections of any kind to be made and the story is extremely interesting and enlightening. MM
Comment Written 08-Apr-2022
reply by the author on 08-Apr-2022
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Hi Miss M,
Thank you so much for this lovely review. Yes, I have written about six or seven stories and plan on putting them into a book.
There is a prologue called
Life in a desert kingdom and other stories (all pretty much independent of each other) include Committed now, Culture swapping - on demand, Hearing the call, day and night) Day by day, and the latest is Water fun ? and ice carvings. Only the last one is current. But I am sure you would enjoy the others too if you have time. No need to review of course as they?ve expired.
I am so glad you?re interested. Thank you!!
Wendy
Comment from Marienkiefer
I love this story!
Your vivid descriptions and culturally sensitive account allows us to gaze and admire, even wonder at lives different from our own, but equally enrapturing.
Lovely story telling.
Good luck on your entry!
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2022
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I love this story!
Your vivid descriptions and culturally sensitive account allows us to gaze and admire, even wonder at lives different from our own, but equally enrapturing.
Lovely story telling.
Good luck on your entry!
Comment Written 07-Apr-2022
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2022
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Wow- thank you for your super review. I am so glad you enjoyed it. Very encouraging. There?ll be another story very soon.
Wendy
Comment from Bill Schott
The look inside the kingdom that your memoir provides is very interesting and reminds the readers that people are people wherever you go. We all have our shows to put on, but also want to be friends.
reply by the author on 04-Apr-2022
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The look inside the kingdom that your memoir provides is very interesting and reminds the readers that people are people wherever you go. We all have our shows to put on, but also want to be friends.
Comment Written 04-Apr-2022
reply by the author on 04-Apr-2022
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Yes, exactly right. Your insightful comments are very encouraging. Many thanks for a super review and especially for the six beautiful shining stars. Greatly appreciated.
Wendy
Comment from Debi Pick Marquette
This is a lovely story of learning the similarities and differences of a new part of the world. Learning Saudi Arabia's customs and lifestyle must have been amazing.
I didn't realize why women wore the covering, yet if most are as beautiful as the one in your photo, I suppose I can see the custom's reasoning.
What an experience to have an awesome honor to spend time with royalty while there. can't imagine what that must have felt like!!
This was an informative, but a beautiful story of what life is like in such a different place
and I thank you for sharing!
I wish you all the best !
reply by the author on 04-Apr-2022
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This is a lovely story of learning the similarities and differences of a new part of the world. Learning Saudi Arabia's customs and lifestyle must have been amazing.
I didn't realize why women wore the covering, yet if most are as beautiful as the one in your photo, I suppose I can see the custom's reasoning.
What an experience to have an awesome honor to spend time with royalty while there. can't imagine what that must have felt like!!
This was an informative, but a beautiful story of what life is like in such a different place
and I thank you for sharing!
I wish you all the best !
Comment Written 04-Apr-2022
reply by the author on 04-Apr-2022
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Thank you for all your lovely comments. It was a very enriching experience though not always easy. I appreciate your review.
Wendy
Comment from Judy Lawless
Thanks for sharing another interesting story about life in Saudi Arabia, Wendy. You've given us another view of things to do there, and it must have been quite the experience to be able to spend the evening with the princesses. I can imagine they were quite beautiful and I can see merits in having them covered up when in view of men outside their homes. Maybe North Americans could learn a little from that. :)
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2022
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Thanks for sharing another interesting story about life in Saudi Arabia, Wendy. You've given us another view of things to do there, and it must have been quite the experience to be able to spend the evening with the princesses. I can imagine they were quite beautiful and I can see merits in having them covered up when in view of men outside their homes. Maybe North Americans could learn a little from that. :)
Comment Written 02-Apr-2022
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2022
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I do agree. Some of our western women have no sense of modesty. Balance is needed. Thanks so much for a super review. Glad you are enjoying the tales.
Wendy
Comment from jessizero
I was happy to read another installment of your adventures in a strange land. It was intriguing, to say the least. Keep up the good work, and I look forward to your next installment.
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2022
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I was happy to read another installment of your adventures in a strange land. It was intriguing, to say the least. Keep up the good work, and I look forward to your next installment.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2022
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2022
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Thank you very much Jesse!! I am glad you?re enjoying the stories and finding them interesting.
Wendy
Comment from K. Lang-Slattery
This is a wonderful piece. I'm personally fascinated by all you have to say about your life in Saudi Arabia as I love to travel and see different cultures. As always your writing is strong. My suggestions are for you to consider. It is only my hope to help you make your writing even better. Years ago I taught English and I can't break my editing habits.
So here goes:
. 2nd paragraph. I would end sentence after "real." for emphasis. (yes, I do like short sentences .... just not too many) Make "With me .... for new sentence.
. Also, no comma after "ourselves" as this is a compound verb not a compound sentence.
. End sentence with "savour." This is a strong word that carries so much meaning and actually "again later" repeats the same thought as expressed by the word "remember."
. I think the simple "However, like all people,...." flows smoother.
As interesting as I find all the information about weekend activities and lifestyle (especially liked learning about the hot/cold water), I think, for this piece there is too much. Your title had me impatiently waiting to hear about the royalty. Maybe each of these personal essays should be themed. Like this one is about meeting princesses, another might be only about weekends, and another might be about daily life and meeting particular difficulties of living in a different culture and place.
For this essay I would keep only a minimum of the "weekend" material and concentrate on the fashion parade, the princesses, and how meeting them affected you.
reply by the author on 01-Apr-2022
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This is a wonderful piece. I'm personally fascinated by all you have to say about your life in Saudi Arabia as I love to travel and see different cultures. As always your writing is strong. My suggestions are for you to consider. It is only my hope to help you make your writing even better. Years ago I taught English and I can't break my editing habits.
So here goes:
. 2nd paragraph. I would end sentence after "real." for emphasis. (yes, I do like short sentences .... just not too many) Make "With me .... for new sentence.
. Also, no comma after "ourselves" as this is a compound verb not a compound sentence.
. End sentence with "savour." This is a strong word that carries so much meaning and actually "again later" repeats the same thought as expressed by the word "remember."
. I think the simple "However, like all people,...." flows smoother.
As interesting as I find all the information about weekend activities and lifestyle (especially liked learning about the hot/cold water), I think, for this piece there is too much. Your title had me impatiently waiting to hear about the royalty. Maybe each of these personal essays should be themed. Like this one is about meeting princesses, another might be only about weekends, and another might be about daily life and meeting particular difficulties of living in a different culture and place.
For this essay I would keep only a minimum of the "weekend" material and concentrate on the fashion parade, the princesses, and how meeting them affected you.
Comment Written 01-Apr-2022
reply by the author on 01-Apr-2022
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Thank you! Greatly. You are a true reviewer with very good insights. I did wonder about exactly that, there was too much in it. My thought process was that I needed something a little different to keep the reader going, as otherwise it might be boring if I only talked of the "ordinary things" similar to in Australia or the US. I will try to follow that for next time, just stick to one topic. It may well be better to have twice the number of stories, with each one half the size. I think it is too late to adjust this one or I will end up repeating myself. I have saved your review, so I can go back and make some other modifications, as you suggested.
I appreciate your insights. I was a teacher - but not an English teacher, so I am still growing my wings and learning to fly.
Thanks again.
Wendy
Wendy
Comment from royowen
This most informative series you're writing Wendy, keeps bringing back memories of our stay in Dubais, there was a pool, a gym, a couple of shops and a coffee place in this compound where our friends resided. I never knew where to put my eyes if an emirates lady happened by, I was sitting there drinking my coffee, when all of a sudden a beautiful young lady of Dubai sat down next to me, and engaged in conversation, innocently curious of my background, I was overcome, she was polite and friendly, and stunningly beautifully as you've written, I can't remember what we talked, so many things they wouldn't understand, well done, blessings Roy
reply by the author on 01-Apr-2022
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This most informative series you're writing Wendy, keeps bringing back memories of our stay in Dubais, there was a pool, a gym, a couple of shops and a coffee place in this compound where our friends resided. I never knew where to put my eyes if an emirates lady happened by, I was sitting there drinking my coffee, when all of a sudden a beautiful young lady of Dubai sat down next to me, and engaged in conversation, innocently curious of my background, I was overcome, she was polite and friendly, and stunningly beautifully as you've written, I can't remember what we talked, so many things they wouldn't understand, well done, blessings Roy
Comment Written 01-Apr-2022
reply by the author on 01-Apr-2022
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Thank you Roy. Yes, there are parallels for sure, so I am glad you are enjoying the stories. In SA a Saudi woman would never dare approach any man, let alone a foreigner - that would be seen as very loose, and she would be punished! They were very strict!
Wendy
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Yes, I was surprised, maybe she wanted to escape, well to do. I have other stories too.
Comment from Anne Johnston
Another very interesting chapter in your story of your time in Saudi Arabia. Glad you were able to meet some of the women from that country and interact with them a bit for at leas one night. It was nice that you were allowed to have church services.
reply by the author on 01-Apr-2022
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Another very interesting chapter in your story of your time in Saudi Arabia. Glad you were able to meet some of the women from that country and interact with them a bit for at leas one night. It was nice that you were allowed to have church services.
Comment Written 01-Apr-2022
reply by the author on 01-Apr-2022
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Thanks so much Anne for your review and lovely comments.
Wendy
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You are welcome, Wendy