Saudi National Day During the Pandemic

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First, I just want to share a super strange name for a coffee shop. This opened last year, before the “actual pandemic” occurred — a little prophetic, isn’t it?

Every year, our Company allows parents to have a day to bring the kids at work and it’s to celebrate the Saudi National Day. Last year was fun but I couldn’t post the photos here as they were mostly group ones and my friends will kill me if I post their photos here, hehehe.

Below is the workstation that they’ve setup last year for the kids. They had popcorn, chicken nuggets, cotton candies, balloons, toys, plants by the nursery and canvas for painting and coloring — this is where they were seated to do arts and crafts.

This year, because of COVID, the Office is not celebrating today but we are still closed for business tomorrow for the actual holiday. It’s gift enough for me. The gift of extra rest and not waking up early.

For the adults, they’ve left a small token at our desks last night.

  • Because ladies can now drive, they can now appreciate a car freshener hanging by the mirror, wait for the pendulum effect.
  • This is an oil diffuser. As you know, Middle East has the most amazing scented oils… and any OIL for that matter.

And a not-so-tiny surprise for the kids… I am sure Brook will be happy to see this.

  • I had to cover our Company logo — to add a little mystery (LOL)
  • I am curious what’s inside!

If you noticed, my office feels kind of hollow. I used to have a waiting area at the now empty space. We had to remove the sofas because people love hanging out here and given the current situation, it’s definitely not recommended.

White and Green are the colors of Saudi Arabia. I wonder if they’d celebrate tomorrow. The Eid Holidays weren’t as festive given that it happened at the peak of the pandemic but now that the restrictions are mellowing down, I wonder.

Will there be banners and flags everywhere?

Will the trees be lit white and green. Or will it be just like any other doleful day…

It’s a mystery…

We’ll see tomorrow.

By the way, this is an entry to Fandango’s One Word Challenge yesterday. I am sorry for being late, I didn’t mean to deviate from the rules, but I guess I am hitting 2 birds with one stone today.

40 thoughts on “Saudi National Day During the Pandemic”

  1. The coffee shop’s name is definitely prophetic, lol! My mom and I are really loving scented oils lately and since both of my Kuyas are in the Middle East, I’d definitely ask them to buy some when they come home! Haha.

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    1. Scented oils are amazing! And they are expensive… that’s why they sell it in small portions… Imagine the oils the 3 magi brought as gift to Jesus! That special… 😀

      I hear yah about the oils!! I am a certified TITA in that regard…

      Ask your kuyas to buy the local ones, because the mainstream ones will be just like any other oils… the traditional ones may be new to our olfactory sense but it grows on anyone… they’re really good.

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    1. 😀 😀 😀

      You and me both!

      As per Wikipedia, it is to commemorate the renaming of the Kingdom of Nejd and Hejaz to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by a royal decree from King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud in 1932.

      I have once read the history but I have forgotten the particulars, it was a very long detailed book… and by the way, I don’t remember celebrating this not until 2006.

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      1. A lot of the partitions were formed around that time. We heard about it when we went into Iraq 20 yearsago… that we had actually determined the borders of Iraq, that we dropped mustard gas into Iraq to repress rebellions, etc. A lot of it was very shady.

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        1. Yes… and those partitions still exist today. I mean everything has become so modern compared 20+ yrs ago and apart from the more liberal way of clothing… everything seems pretty much the same…

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            1. Oh! I didn’t know they had anyone route through here 😅😅😅 I am not super familiar with geography and how they course these hauls but I am glad to know… how did you find it?

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  8. I hope you enjoy the holiday, are able to rest, and treat yourself to something nice. The oil diffuser looks cute, and I did not realize that KSA has amazing essential oils. My sisters and I really enjoy those. They are quite relaxing, and a good addition to the yoga mat cleaner. Haha!

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    1. They have the pure and authentic ones. Remember the 3 magi who brought perfumes and essences to Jesus when He was born? It is highly likely that oils were big at the middle east even back then… they have stuff here called “oud” that are small pieces of wood from old old old trees, then u burn it and the scent would be divine! The legit ones can go up to 5000 SAR (x 13-15 php) per 1/6th kg

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