JEDDAH: There’s no place like home for former Saudi Aramco workers and their families.Hundreds of retired oil workers from around the world returned to Saudi Arabia for a special get-together in a country still close to their hearts.The fourth KSA Expat Reunion attracted 540 “Aramcon” visitors from 20 countries for an 11-day trip to rekindle fond memories of living and working in the Kingdom and meet up with old friends and colleagues.Reunion publicity manager, Alison Hooker, told Arab News that many of the ex-Aramco staff had traveled with their children and grandchildren, with the oldest member of the group aged 95.At the start of their careers in Saudi Arabia it had been a big adventure, said Hooker, but as time went by “the Kingdom grew into their lives and hearts and became their ‘home,’ the place where their children were born and/or raised, and the place from which they gained a special sense of identity and belonging: Where they became known as an ‘Aramcon’ and their children as ‘Aramco Brats’.”She added: “For many of the brats, Saudi Arabia will always be their ‘home’ and they are so grateful for the opportunity to return and rediscover their roots.”The idea for the reunion began after retired Aramco executive Ali M. Baluchi, who left the company in 1990, attended a get-together in the US, and as the years passed, he noticed a growing interest from expatriate retirees to revisit the Kingdom.“In 1998, Baluchi began gathering support for such a visit, lobbying not only the company, but also many local business leaders and government officials,” Hooker said. “Two years later he gathered 300 visitors in Saudi Arabia on the first in-Kingdom reunion. Subsequent reunions were held in 2009, 2015 and then March 11-21 this year.”Baluchi’s greatest desire, she added, was for returning Aramcons and their families to experience a warm welcome while marveling at how the Kingdom has grown and changed — from observing the roles of women in the workplace to the expansion of tourism and top-quality entertainment.While they enjoy reconnecting with their past, Baluchi hopes visitors leave with an even deeper affection for Saudi Arabia and its people, and a positive view of the dynamic future ahead for the Kingdom.The majority of former Aramco employees on the latest trip were from the US, but others came from the UK, Australia, India, Pakistan, Switzerland and Jamaica.“There were grandparents visiting with their grandchildren to proudly show them where they once worked,” said Hooker. “One couple, Roger and Amie Power from Oklahoma, were here on their honeymoon so Roger could show Amie where he grew up.”The oldest visitor was Johnnie Guyon, 95, who first came to Saudi Arabia in 1947 with her Aramco driller husband Raymond ‘Tex’ Guyon. She was accompanied by her sons Steve and Chuck who arrived in the Kingdom with the couple as babies.The reunion’s organizing committee lined up a program of more than 100 trips, events and activities which included visits to Al-Ula, Madain Saleh, Jeddah, Riyadh, Abha, Asir, Al-Ahsa and Shaybah.Hooker said: “The events included a magnificent welcome dinner hosted by Aramco CEO Amin Nasser at the King Abdul Aziz Center for World Culture, and a reception hosted by the governor of the Eastern Province. The pre-planned activities included local tours to Dammam, Alkhobar, and Uqair. They also included a boat trip from Jubail, shopping and photographic excursions, special dinners, shows and lots more.”She added that the visitors had been stunned by the progress and development in the Kingdom. “For some, it took a while to adjust. The most obvious change for all has been the status of women in the workforce. The master of ceremonies at the welcome dinner was one of the Kingdom’s first female firefighters, for instance. Seeing women driving was another amazing thing.”Canadian Kathy Brown came with her international driving license just so she could experience driving in the Kingdom for the first time. “It was an amazing and freeing experience after years of having to rely on drivers to take me anywhere,” she said.Hooker said it was the incredible warmth of traditional Saudi hospitality that had the biggest impact on the visitors.“Whether over coffee and tea at a desert campfire or at a resort lunch, the welcome was phenomenal. So many commented on the kindness and generosity of the Saudi people they met. They definitely returned home as unofficial ambassadors for the Kingdom.” The next reunion is planned for 2023.
