Hi Neighbor!

 (<--- That's me in the hat) When I was a child, and in the neighborhood I grew up in, everyone knew everyone else.  Part of this was because most everyone in the neighborhood went to the same church  - that helps a great deal when you can regularly see someone else and talk with them when in any other circumstance you may not.  But even those families who didn't attend church were known by everyone else.  In fact two families in particular who were not very religious were a regular part of my childhood and had a huge impact on my perception of society and people in general.  There was a feeling peace and a neighborly trust most of the time.

Most of my childhood was that way.  Kids from all over the neighborhood played outside until dark at night, families went on walks and visited friends. I think back then that's just how it was. 

As I grew up neighbors weren't a big part of my life because I got busy and wasn't home much, but the changes in our area and how society responds to each other were very apparent.  The reasons for neighbors not talking or knowing each other are endless - increased work or a busy involved life somewhere else = no time, increased crime, word of kidnappings and murders on the news, terrorism threats and actual devastating events happening on U.S. soil, etc. etc. etc.. I moved into an apartment for a while and then met Paul and got married and moved away for good.  Mom mentioned how much things had changed and how different the neighborhood was at times when we would talk, and then she left.  On a visit home one year Paul and I took some time to drive through just to see how things were and I was overwhelmed at how small and trashy it felt.  It wasn't the same place at all. 

I always hoped when we moved to Tennessee and into our own place that we would have good neighbors and it would be like it used to be.  While there were lived in two different apartments and one house and, sadly, it just wasn't the same.  After 8 years in TN I had pretty much given up hope on having that kind of relationship with any kind of a neighbor.  But then... Saudi Arabia happened. 

This place we live... this tiny little compound in the middle of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia that is protected by multiple walls with wire and trees and armed guards at 3 different points before you get to the neighborhoods - it reminds me of my childhood a little bit.  When we first arrived here about 7 months ago (I can't believe it has already been 7 months) we were greeted by several of our neighors - at least 8 families - who brought us food, and cookies, and toasters and other house supplies, toys, and information for house help and where to get things, etc.  It was so amazing and so overwhelming all at the same time. 

Kids are regularly outside riding their bikes each night and playing together. People are taking walks and stopping by to see if you are doing okay "just because."  I sometimes think of it all as a desert mirage because, at times, it doesn't seem real.  Adjusting to life here has been difficult, frustrating, interesting, and the strangest experience of my life, but things keep getting better as we meet new friends and get more involved.  It gives me hope that there are still people out there in the world who care about their fellow man.  It also reminds me of how important it is to be a part of the community we live in.  How important it is to be a part of something and to share my gifts and talents with those around me.  How important it is to be a good neighbor.

We came here for our own reasons, but I also believe there are some unknown reasons our life path brought us so far off the course we had originally planned.  It's scary and exciting all at the same time.  And it's kind of nice to know we've got some pretty good neighbors around us going through the same thing.