I don’t think that it’s surprising to say that moving with children is as stressful as it gets. After Toddler just about got used to the guest house in the DQ, we finally got the green light to move into a small villa in one of the biggest residential resorts in Riyadh.
We chose our new place after reading everything we could find about living in Western compounds in Saudi Arabia, visiting a few of them and talking to residents. We have considered distance to work, proximity to British schools as well as the quality and variety of facilities. In addition to this, we also wanted a family-friendly and safe neighbourhood, obviously. Of course, anyone who has ever had to move will tell you, finding the perfect place is practically impossible, let alone twice, and having to compromise is almost always inevitable. After some deliberation, we ended up surrendering the possibility for a quick commute to work.
When we saw the resort for the first time in person, we were so impressed that we made an offer on the spot. Despite the strict security, it has a warm atmosphere, it’s lush and green. Most of the compounds we saw had multiple pools, but here we actually have direct access to a satellite pool. Our family’s favourite is the indoor soft play area with trampolines and padded climbing frames. It's much quieter than having to take the Toddler to one of those crazy, chaotic and overstimulating entertainment centres you find in the malls. There’s also a café, restaurant, dry-cleaners and a small supermarket, that make it more like a regular neighbourhood.
People are generally friendly and welcoming. I signed up for Pilates lessons, and Husband was invited to play football twice a week, so I’m sure we’ll soon get to make some new friends. We all feel at ease on a compound, it’s much easier to meet new people and get chatting to the other expats. The pace of life seems to be a lot more relaxed than what we’re used to in London and some of the strict rules of the Kingdom, like dress codes, for example, don’t apply.
Toddler started nursery right away. It's definitely not easy for either of us to be separated again after spending so much time together, especially since he had no time to settle in properly before a five-day holiday. We help him settle in by talking about his day, the people he met, the things he’s learned. We read books about going to nursery and preparing him every morning for what the day ahead is likely to look like. Our toddler, like most, thrives on routine, and it was recently severely disrupted, but he’s resilient and I know he'll be fine.
Our villa is laid out differently from what we’re used to. It’s darker to provide relief from the sun and a little small, but on the upside it comes furnished (I hate repeating this over and over again, but we are still waiting for our container). Just like our home back in London, there are three bedrooms, so the boys have their own space that we are looking forward to personalising. I have no objection to the sleek, modern furniture, but it’s by design impersonal and soulless, much like a standard hotel suite. I will get rid of the artwork on the walls and customise the space with new soft furnishings and décor, but I insist on keeping the weekly linen service. There is still plenty to do, but we are definitely relieved to finally be able to settle down.
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