I would love to fill you guys in on the little things that went on during my departure from Austin but it’s sort of a big blur. So we’ll pick up from my arrival in Baltimore, MD.

I arrived in Baltimore, MD around 4:30 pm local time. Then I met up with Matt C. another participant in this fellowship, and we both caught the shuttle to the MARC train that runs between Baltimore and DC. For those of you following me on Facebook, you’ve seen a glimpse of my waiting period at Union Station. After Josh (one of the NCUSAR planners) showed up we walked (14 city blocks!) to his house. Hot and very sweaty Matt and I did not go with Josh to see Prince of Persia with an old friend of his. Instead we stayed at his house and hung out with his roommates and their friends. Such interesting people, had lots of very riveting conversation. Also, I got to defend Texas even if it wasn’t really under attack.

The next day was full of meetings and briefings. Dr. Anthony (JDA) the president of NCUSAR gave at least two lectures that day, along with a visit to the Saudi Embassy, and a visit another place I’m not supposed to advertise. I learned so much from those experiences alone. They gave me a taste of what life will be like in KSA, with the call to prayer being announced over the PA of the embassy, the drinking of tea at the beginning of meetings, and the woman wearing ayabas. That night we also went to the Suaid Ministry of Higher Education’s reception for the Saudi students that were graduating from American universities. Once we concluded that Josh, Matt, and I left to Georgetown to meet up with Josh’s friends and have a good time.

The following morning I wanted to go see the sights (since I had only see the tops of two monuments and the backside of the Jefferson memorial), but I would have to carry around my luggage and that was just not an option. The plane was your basic 777 except that everyone had interactive entertainment screens (except me because mine was broken), there was slightly more food than other transatlantic flights, and you received tea after every meal. I did look off of my neighbors when he was asleep and I watched House. The blurred out any woman’s legs or cleavage that was showing, and when I switched over to the movie The Departed, they blurred out the alcohol in the bar scenes. Another sign that I was going to a different part of the world. I think I understand why they are so concerned with that sort of thing, but I can’t wait to hear from them the exact reasons why.

We arrived in Riyadh around 1:30 pm local time (that’s 5:30 a.m. Texas time). Once we stepped off the plane there was a person from the Ministry of Higher Education that took us out of the terminal and in to the GVIP (Government VIP) lounge where we met one of their head Public Relations papers. We were then told that our bags would be delivered to our hotel and that we didn’t have to go through customs (or rather they just collected our passports and took them to get stamped). After some warm ginger drink we walked out of the airport to get in our cars and it was 42 degrees C. It was like walking in to an oven it was so hot.

Debarking in our Chevy Tahoes we went to our hotel. Which I forgot to mention earlier that it is the Four Season’s Riyadh, which is located at the Kingdom Center. So if you look at the background picture of this blog you’ll see a large tower with a hole at the top of it… That’s where I’m staying, on the 42nd story to be exact. I walked in to my room (which I don’t share with anyone) and there was a plate of desserts, flowers, fruit, water, and a card addressed to me waiting for me. I think that there has been an Andrew Cotton that has stayed here before because no other fellows got the plate of dessert, roses, and card. My view is amazing and I’m incredibly excited about the start of my journey. Tonight we are free to do what we please so we’re probably going to check out the mall, get some dinner, and hop in the pool. More educational stuff I’m sure will follow after this.

Thank you for reading and if you have any questions feel free to ask (there’s a button for it).

Andrew