We Have to Move. Again.

Wednesday was announced that ExxonMobil will relocate all children out of Saudi Arabia. Many of you have been aware that we have been locked down in our compound more than we ever dreamed. It’s been on and off since September. In December/January we were down for 5 weeks – our friends were for 48 hours. This time we locked down again first of March and basically understand that we will not be released again. We will just move.

 

You should know that corporate made this decision based heavily on events in 2004 when they were not fully prepared. There was an event then and they had to evacuate everyone in hours. They are the only company planning this move right now. All our friends and neighbors thus far are staying and we are lead to believe there is no discussion of leaving at all right now though no other company is locked down like we are.

 

Men and wives are able to stay because our housing compound is very secure, we travel in armored vehicles with GPS tracking at all times and the plant where the men work is secure. The issue is the school location.

 

All families with children will return to their home countries and we have now confirmed that we will be heading to Houston.  The company would like us to go immediately but will allow us to stay together here as a family until June at the latest. We do not feel at risk in any way at home. We will see what the school has to offer to support our kids for completion of their current grades in school with me as the teacher. I am looking at home school programs. We cannot buy a house fast enough to enroll the kids before the last couple days of the year in Houston because they end the year in May.

 

Don’t worry. We are being watched over by Exxon and from above. We have been stretched spiritually here in ways we have never known and learned to trust the Lord and it has been a great experience. We love Saudi!

 

We will let you know when we know any more information.

Houston Bound

Brian got this in his work email overnight:

“Dear Fairfax Home Based Expat:

The following announcement was made today regarding the decision to relocate the Fairfax Headquarters office to the new Houston Campus.  We wanted to ensure that you were aware of this announcement.  Questions you may have regarding your personal implications should be directed to your functional Supervisor.”

I guess it’s finally official. When we left Fairfax we knew it was likely the last time we would be there. Nothing was announced for the Fairfax office, but there was an obvious LACK of an announcement. ExxonMobil had announced their intentions to build a mega complex in northern Houston to consolidate locations for their Texas employees. It’s been a while, but my vague recall of numbers was something like it being built for 8,000 employees. There were 6,500 Houston based employees.  Rumors of closing the Fairfax office have been around far longer than we were in the area. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to read the writing on the wall. Of course it took nearly two years to officially declare it to be so, but we’re Houston bound again in Dec 2013. Or June 2014. Or whenever we finish up this Singapore project.

We’re not surprised in the least. We’re sad to know officially we can’t go back to Fairfax. It’s shutting a door to a life I loved. Still, until we settled in Fairfax, we were very, very happy in Houston. We had full intentions to return when we left but the allure of four seasons and a land of politics won out.

I’m looking forward to:

Tex-Mex food

Big trucks

Parking spots big enough for big trucks

Texas pride

Houston Rodeo

Country music

Owning two cars again

Cheap houses!!!

Managing our own rental property

Home Depot and Lowes on every corner

Warm southern people

Dragging my rusty Spanish up again and using it

Brian is looking forward to:
Riding his motorcycle year round - I haven't blogged about it yet, but he's working on getting his license here and it's LOTS harder here than in the states but he figures it's worth it

Then again, maybe we’ll get another cool assignment.  China? South America? KL? Australia? Europe? A traveling fool can always hope, can’t she?