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US Ambassador Expresses Fondness for Jareesh, Plans to Explore Every Corner of Saudi Arabia

In his interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Ratney said he was keen on visiting all regions of Saudi Arabia. (Photo: Bashir Saleh)
In his interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Ratney said he was keen on visiting all regions of Saudi Arabia. (Photo: Bashir Saleh)
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US Ambassador Expresses Fondness for Jareesh, Plans to Explore Every Corner of Saudi Arabia

In his interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Ratney said he was keen on visiting all regions of Saudi Arabia. (Photo: Bashir Saleh)
In his interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Ratney said he was keen on visiting all regions of Saudi Arabia. (Photo: Bashir Saleh)

In addition to his official role as the US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Michael Ratney has been actively exploring the Kingdom and learning more about its people and culture, which he regards as both unique and distinctive.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat at his residence in the diplomatic quarter of Riyadh, Ratney said that Saudis are some of the friendliest people he has encountered throughout his diplomatic career.

He added that during his time in the Kingdom, he has had the chance to visit various regions of the country and has been particularly struck by its diversity. This, he believes, challenges many of the preconceived notions people hold about Saudi Arabia.

The ambassador noted that no matter where he travels in Saudi Arabia, he interacts with Saudis from different walks of life and various parts of the country, which, in his view, contributes to the nation’s distinct character.

Hanging in the entry hall of his residence is a framed photo of the historic meeting between King Abdulaziz and US President Franklin Roosevelt on Feb. 14, 1945, aboard the USS Quincy. Right below the photograph is a model of the ship, symbolizing the strategic relationship that has developed between the two nations over the past eight decades.

During the interview, the ambassador also shared his fondness for Jareesh, a popular Saudi dish. Although he acknowledges that it may not be a common choice for many Americans, he admits it has become one of his favorites.

He also highlighted the variety of outstanding Saudi restaurants, both traditional and modern, where he often takes American visitors to introduce them to the flavors of a region unfamiliar to many.

Since his appointment around 15 months ago, Ratney has traveled extensively throughout Saudi Arabia, visiting cities and regions such as Jazan, Abha, Madinah, AlUla, Al-Hofuf, Dhahran, and Jeddah. Recently, he explored the northern part of the country and is planning to visit NEOM in the near future.

When discussing his reading habits, Ratney mentioned that he is currently reading a biography of King Abdulaziz, a book gifted to him, and that he had finished a novel about Syria. He typically reads several books at a time - both to learn more about the region where he is living and for the break it accords.

The diplomat also emphasized the importance of sports in his daily life, despite his busy schedule. He observed that Saudi Arabia now offers a wide range of exciting sporting events, many of which he never thought he would ever attend when he first arrived in the Kingdom.

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Varieties

Forecasts Warn of Possible Winter Storms across US during Thanksgiving Week

A drone view shows a damaged area, following the passing of Hurricane Helene, in Asheville, North Carolina, US, September 29, 2024. (Reuters)
A drone view shows a damaged area, following the passing of Hurricane Helene, in Asheville, North Carolina, US, September 29, 2024. (Reuters)
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Forecasts Warn of Possible Winter Storms across US during Thanksgiving Week

A drone view shows a damaged area, following the passing of Hurricane Helene, in Asheville, North Carolina, US, September 29, 2024. (Reuters)
A drone view shows a damaged area, following the passing of Hurricane Helene, in Asheville, North Carolina, US, September 29, 2024. (Reuters)

Forecasters through the US issued warnings that another round of winter weather could complicate travel leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, while California and Washington state continue to recover from storm damage and power outages.
In California, where a person was found dead in a vehicle submerged in floodwaters on Saturday, authorities braced for more precipitation while grappling with flooding and small landslides from a previous storm. Thousands in the Pacific Northwest remained without power after multiple days in the dark.
The National Weather Service office in Sacramento, California, issued a winter storm warning for the state's Sierra Nevada for Saturday through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at higher elevations and wind gusts potentially reaching 55 mph (88 kph). Total snowfall of roughly 4 feet (1.2 meters) was forecast, with the heaviest accumulations expected Monday and Tuesday.
The Midwest and Great Lakes regions will see rain and snow Monday and the East Coast will be the most impacted on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, forecasters said.
A low pressure system is forecast to bring rain to the Southeast early Thursday before heading to the Northeast. Areas from Boston to New York could see rain and strong winds, with snowfall possible in parts of northern New Hampshire, northern Maine and the Adirondacks. If the system tracks further inland, there could be less snow and more rain in the mountains, forecasters said.
Deadly 'bomb cyclone’ on West Coast Earlier this week, two people died when the storm arrived in the Pacific Northwest. Hundreds of thousands lost power, mostly in the Seattle area, before strong winds moved through Northern California. A rapidly intensifying “ bomb cyclone ” that hit the West Coast on Tuesday brought fierce winds that resulted in home and vehicle damage.
Rescue crews in Guerneville, California, recovered a body inside a vehicle bobbing in floodwaters around 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputy Rob Dillion said, noting the deceased was presumed to be a victim of the storm but an autopsy had not yet been conducted.
Santa Rosa, California, saw its wettest three-day period on record with about 12.5 inches (32 centimeters) of rain by Friday evening, the National Weather Service in the Bay Area reported. Vineyards in nearby Windsor, California, were flooded on Saturday.
Tens of thousands without power in Seattle area Some 80,000 people in the Seattle area were still without electricity after this season’s strongest atmospheric river, a long plume of moisture that forms over an ocean and flows over land.
The power came back in the afternoon at Katie Skipper’s home in North Bend, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of Seattle, after being out since Tuesday. She was tired from taking cold showers, warming herself with a wood stove and using a generator to run the refrigerator, but Skipper said those inconveniences paled in comparison to the damage other people suffered, such as from fallen trees.
“That’s really sad and scary,” she said.
Northeast gets needed precipitation Another storm brought rain to New York and New Jersey, where rare wildfires have raged in recent weeks, and heavy snow to northeastern Pennsylvania. The precipitation was expected to help ease drought conditions after an exceptionally dry fall.
“It’s not going to be a drought buster, but it’s definitely going to help when all this melts,” said Bryan Greenblatt, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Binghamton, New York.
Heavy snow fell in northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Pocono Mountains. Higher elevations reported up to 17 inches (43 centimeters), with lesser accumulations in valley cities including Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Less than 80,000 customers in 10 counties lost power.
Precipitation in West Virginia helped put a dent in the state’s worst drought in at least two decades and boosted ski resorts preparing to open their slopes in the weeks ahead.