Info...well sort of...

YAY! I've i finally been given details on my trip. Some of the details are limited, but I will be working in Dammam, which is the capital of the eastern provience. I've looked at some photos online and it's so gorgeous. It's the city where all of the processed oil and natural gas is shipped out to other countries. I will fly out on Luftunsa Airlines and will fly either to NY or Chicago, then to Munich and finally to Dammam. I know- it's a long 32 hour day!! Yikes. What a long day (and a bit). Exact details are still to come and I hope I fly through Chicago so that Jason (other west elm GM) and I can fly together on the longest leg. I wonder if we have to sit in the last row of the plane....you know that I'll try everything I can to sit in an excit row. Where I will still up in the air, it will definitely be a hotel, as to which one.... I'm somewhat nervous about loving in a hotel for 90-120 days. While I'll love the pool, gym (don't laugh)and daily maid service (YES!), I'm leery of not being able to cook for 3 months. I've looked at one of the hotels they are thinking about- its AMAZING! Many of you have asked what exactly I will be doing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I'm going to be a Global Brand Ambassador for the pottery barn brands. I will be the training liaison for two new stores (a Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids) in the Mall of Dharain. What an opportunity to bring the values of service to not one, but two new teams. The Operations Manager (our version of a District Manager) and Director of Operations (our version of a Regional VP) led part of a conference call on Monday and they gave us some great info about KSA and the company we will be working with. Josh, the Operations Manager (who is from the USA), said "It's not as bad as you read on the Internet." What a sigh of relief. I just submitted my VISA information, so I'm one step closer. Today I had a call with our benefits team about health insurance while away- all I can say is WOW! We have excellent coverage/options and services while traveling internationally. I thinks that's it for now. Oh yea, one last thing. I'm going to have a driver on work days. Yes, I'm going to come back super spoiled. More later