I know that the blog week count is only up to 3, but somehow I've been back to work for 4 weeks now. Not sure how that happened, but I did manage to get paid this week so all is well!
I have been learning more and more about Saudi ARAMCO as a corporation and am impressed at where thet have come from and are now headed. Just to give some perspective, the company started in 1930 and was primary a production company for US majors Exxon, Texaco and Chevron. In 1980s the Saudi company bought out the oil majors and began a journey on it's own. In early 90's it started getting into refining and gasoline, and now is getting into Petrochemicals. In each industry the company is #1 in oil, 5 in refining and 12 in chemicals. By 2020 ARAMCO expects to be a leader in each. Along the way of this journey ARAMCO has built several major hospitals, a major university next to the HQ here, a cultural events center and hundreds of miles of highway and rail. Impressive for a company that has bees independent for only 30 years or so.
I included a couple photos of headquarters and the brand new RD center here in Dhahran. My office is in the 'Tower building' on the 9th floor (next to the top). The Tower is the largest building. The RD center is brand new and starting to staff up. I've been to a few meetings in the facility and it is very nice.
On the home front, I was quite excited to buy a microwave, toaster and a tool set this past weekend. Now I feel much more normal as I can heat up some food like it's the 2010 and not the 1980s again and can fix anything that breaks. Next steps will be real furniture. ARAMCO has given me somethings to use rent free, but as one of my colleagues said the other day - so this is where all the uncomfortable disco furniture went! Anyways, Lauren thinks I should get a bright orange couch. We will have to see.
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I have been learning more and more about Saudi ARAMCO as a corporation and am impressed at where thet have come from and are now headed. Just to give some perspective, the company started in 1930 and was primary a production company for US majors Exxon, Texaco and Chevron. In 1980s the Saudi company bought out the oil majors and began a journey on it's own. In early 90's it started getting into refining and gasoline, and now is getting into Petrochemicals. In each industry the company is #1 in oil, 5 in refining and 12 in chemicals. By 2020 ARAMCO expects to be a leader in each. Along the way of this journey ARAMCO has built several major hospitals, a major university next to the HQ here, a cultural events center and hundreds of miles of highway and rail. Impressive for a company that has bees independent for only 30 years or so.
I included a couple photos of headquarters and the brand new RD center here in Dhahran. My office is in the 'Tower building' on the 9th floor (next to the top). The Tower is the largest building. The RD center is brand new and starting to staff up. I've been to a few meetings in the facility and it is very nice.
On the home front, I was quite excited to buy a microwave, toaster and a tool set this past weekend. Now I feel much more normal as I can heat up some food like it's the 2010 and not the 1980s again and can fix anything that breaks. Next steps will be real furniture. ARAMCO has given me somethings to use rent free, but as one of my colleagues said the other day - so this is where all the uncomfortable disco furniture went! Anyways, Lauren thinks I should get a bright orange couch. We will have to see.
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