RFQ

I am not sure when this went from "my instructor called the entire whole of the middle east bad" to RFQ doesn't understand their are dangers in the area. Apparently I have never spoken to anyone that lives there or done any research and I have my hand buried in the sand is the topic of this post.

Nice to hear about Atlanta. I have a lay over there.

I am glad you are home and I do pray the transition goes as smoothly as possible for you two.

In Gulf countries you're only unsafe if you're a minority activist (ahem... Bahrain). It's a terrible shame that legitimate democratic movements have been co-opted and in turn suppressed by religious zealots rising to fill the power vacuum. This has been the case (in varying degrees) in every "Arab Spring" country. And this instability will keep going on like this into the near future I think. At least until the power vacuum gets totally resealed again with a new despot. No... I'm not cynical at all . Lots of people try to give me their two-cents about my travels to far flung places. I got mad for a while in the beginning but now I chalk it up to their concerns for me, whether that concern is warranted/factual or not. I work in the humanitarian field so believe me I've been some really, really "bad" places

OP - It's exciting for sure to be seeing your husband. Best wishes and take care! I am also going to visit my fiance and my in-laws to-be at the end of next month and let's just say where I'm going is even less suitable for westerners at this point than anywhere in Egypt. But what's a girl to do? His student visa expired last year and he hasn't been able to get a tourist visa back to visit me and our last Jordan vacay was waaaaaay too expensive. Other people have offered good advice but I'd say have your ear to the ground and be as inconspicuous as possible. I'll be hiding behind a veil which will be much to Adnan's amusement since I can't bloody see with it on (I lack strong peripheral vision perhaps). Have an awesome time!

I was debating on niqab once I'm there. My husband doesn't think I will stand out unless I attempt to speak, haha. Though he says I get a bit pale this time of year and maybe I should go tan my face a lil. >.< If I do draw attention I will switch to niqab though. I think though, in his part of society I am actually as much or more conservatively dressed than many of the young women. Either way- I'll never be alone there. Everyone has dibs on me. I sincerely doubt they'll let me sleep.

My girlfriend is a very pale skinned American convert and her husband from a smaller village in Pakistan. She said people, particularly kids would just follow her around even while she was wearing niqab. Of course this is totally different than the environment I shall be in. I imagine that is unnerving!

I wish you as safe and blessed trip. And may peace come to the areas in turmoil and uncertainty

No, I didn't say that at all. I was just sharing my experience of people's negatiave perceptions of MENA countries. I have been to Egypt several times with my husband, although not since the revolution. I was giving the OP encouragement that her trip should be just fine. Geesh!

And the OP appreciates it My girlfriends in Cairo don't go out at night alone and definitely don't loiter in inappropriate places, but they go about their lives per usual. Neither my husband, any of his scattered family, or my girlfriends, or their children voice any concerns about carrying on their daily lives. It will be fine, insha'Allah ofc, if general precautions are observed.

FWIW we're taught in academics that Egypt is part of the Middle East because of it's strategic location in that it acts as a land bridge between the Middle East and North Africa. It's also commonly referred to as "the Jewel of the Middle East" because of it. It also holds the largest Arab population in the region and the largest Arab Muslim population in the world and it's a major power in the Middle East and Muslim world. These facts can be looked up in a simple Google search online and found in websites such as Wiki and the CIA world fact book. It's also considered part of North Africa so I suppose you are correct in that regards as well.

I get that you perceive your professor as ignorant of the region because you see him as saying the entire region is bad and you know better than that. I got a lot of that too from my friends and family during my nine month engagement period before going to Egypt to get married. They told me I could get kidnapped and have my head chopped off because I'm American. You know the scary things we see on television news happening in the wars that were in Iraq and Afghanistan. On the other hand I had my fiance telling me how safe it was and no one would harm me but after years of experience with the region I'm wiser. Sexual harassment of women is rampant and a real problem in Egypt. If you don't speak the language you'll be ignorant to the cat calls of the teenage boys and young men. It doesn't matter if you're covered from head to toe and the most modest pious Muslim woman the harassment targets all kinds of women there. Women journalists and even their own Egyptian women have been targeted by mobs and their own security forces for sexual attacks. You may have heard of some high profile journalists who were attacked in a mob, had their clothes ripped to shreds, and their bodies raped by fingers and hands and who knows what else coming from inside the crowd for a half hour to an hour. This has happened more than one time to more than one foreign female journalists and students who just wanted to cover or experience what is happening right now. The Egyptian women themselves have come out and spoke out against the security forces capturing them and submitting them to gross and humiliating examinations of their virtue by having military doctors and sometimes the officers themselves sticking their fingers inside them checking for a hymen while multiple soldiers stand around the accused. It's unfathomable in our western society and may be described as sexual abuse but this has been common practice over there. I once posted information on female genital mutilation practiced in Egypt. It's still ongoing and a common practice culturally with a much higher percentage than people are willing to believe or admit goes on there though it's not actually something that is to be done for religious purposes. It's more a cultural thing.

I'm not saying you'll be subjected to any of this. However, I do get the concern that others express about one of us going over there because they have legitimate reasons to be concerned about the situation. I can also see how they would have an irrational fear of the unknown if they've never been through or experienced a predominantly Islamic society before. If it's your first time traveling there, I don't care what anybody says nor how much one prepares themselves, it's going to be culture shocking. The State department advises us on the U.S. Embassy in Cairo's website stay out of protests, if you hear of protests that are going to happen get far away. Be aware of your surroundings. The region is in a period of unrest particularly in Egypt right now with everything going on politically and if they're politically passionate bunch be prepared for some irrational behavior targeted towards you at a moments notice. Many of us have traveled there and back safely and have our SO's as guides. Your professor may just be trying to heighten your awareness and is coming from a genuine place of concern for your well being as I am. Go, have fun, stay safe, but be also be cautious and aware. If your instincts are going off about a situation you're uncomfortable with listen to it and act on it. Either verbalize your discomfort and uncertainty or do something to help yourself and to put yourself out of harms way. Sending you my best wishes for a safe venture and happy marriage.

Indeed, and thank you for the warm wishes. I try to be cautious just walking to my car in a parking lot here. Its never a good idea to be cocky!

truth!

While I was voting in 2008, a lady saw my tattoo in Arabic and tried to have me thrown out for being "unAmerican" Let people think whatever they want and thank God that you are open minded enough to look past it. People are lame.

No joke? I guess it shouldn't surprise me because the voter registration lady personally asked each person in the room if they were registered to vote but me.

Awesome! I know what you mean about "who's counting?" I have an Ap on my phone that counts down for me. So, every few days I would post on my Fiancee's FB page "XXdays, XXhours, XXmins, XXsecs" And end it with "But who's counting??" LOL

Thanks for the acronym clarification, NOW I feel old! HAHA

Well I am not a spring chicken and I really don't know txt speak, but I do have an honorary doctorate in forum abbreviations. haha.

well I am certain not counting the 28 days and 12 hours til my plane touches down in Cairo.

I respect your opinion, but I highly disagree. How is it that calling a region "bad" as ignorant as a violent reaction that costed lives over a video? Yes, calling an entire region bad may be ignorant if unfounded, but it's not even remotely close as becoming irrationally and dangerously violent over a..... video. The latter is not only ignorant- is criminal.

Frankly, if that's all s/he said, I really do not understand what the rant is about. It is your choice not to warn anyone about crime infested St. Louis. But I'm sure if someone told you s/he will be going there for 28 days, you'd probably warn that person about that. It's not putting it through someone else's skull. It's called civic responsibility. Being a professor myself, if a student would tell me such news, I would've done the same thing; using more appropriate words, however.

I should have been clearer by what I meant about that. I meant in how certain people blamed the whole of America for this video. The action that they took of course is by far a greater crime. I was merely referring to the broader ignorant mentality of blaming the whole for the work of a few/one.

My point is this, I would never tell anyone not to go to Saint Louis or... New York because certain areas are crime ridden. I would say avoid this area or that area. I would not say DO NOT go to the United States of America because Compton California has gang problems. Categorically calling and entire region BAD is insulting and ignorant. I assure you that I would not get the same reaction had I said I was going to India or China or Mexico (etc) even though there are bad places to go there too. I would have been told "be careful."

But I'm done with this conversation because you've turned it into something serious. It wasn't meant to be a debate. I'm sorry my last comment was misconstrued as that I would possibly think burning and embassy was the same as ignorant labeling.

I get that their are dangerous places-- for sure. I'm not going out alone at night here or there! To categorize an entire region such as "The Middle East" or what he actually met "MENA" as inclusively bad is different, imho. That as ignorant as the people over their storming an embassy violently over a F-rate video on youtube.

Just because East Saint Louis may have [one of?] the highest crime rates in the US, it doesn't mean downtown Saint Louis does, or suburbs of Saint Louis. But do you think I can put that in anyone's thick skull? nope. lol.

Seriously though-- I'm ranting about it here just because I know you guys get the odd things one encounters, and I need something to do to pass the 28 days. Otherwise I would have just rolled my eyes and shook my head and let it go.

Most people in the US have never been out of the US... Yes, it is going to give them a closed minded view of things, and their main source of information is the news. You can't change that. Only thing that would is them leaving the comfort of their couches and exploring the world we live in a bit...

Your an American, married to an Egyptian. Time to get thick skin, and don't expect people to be accepting. They won't be, even the ones that seem ok with it will change their tune real quick if anything happens. I go through it all the time. Half the people think my wife trapped me, or that she was a call-girl I fell for. The other half focus on religion. There's just no getting around it.

Human nature is usually not humane.

Oh good heavens! I'm guessing people have said that too you... tsk tsk.

Yeah thick skin I have. I have to. I'm a Muslim in a red state.

it just behooves me that(I kid you not!)I just took a final today from this same instructor, and part of what it covered was culture sensitivity when treating patients.

At the end of the day-- no big deal.

al7amdulillah.

Just out of curiousity, what is KWIM?

Okay, maybe I read the post more as concern on his behalf rather then an attack on the region. It is hard to interpret emotion while reading text.

Anyways, you're lucky you fit in a little easier. That does help I'm sure. I sure don't!

Have a great trip!

Thanks!! 29 days...but who's counting yeah?

I can totally see how it could be interpreted as just concern. It really is hard to capture the tone of someone else's voice in writing lol!

KWIM= is lazy for, Know what I mean.

I fail to see how "Be Careful" can be taken as strongly as you have. You ARE American, there are travel warnings for US citizens all around the world. You are more then likely going to be JUST fine during your trip but that doesn't mean you should let your guard down.

It's not JUST terrorist attacks or kidnappings you have to worry about! You ARE American and you CAN be a target for petty theives as well.

I didn't feel threatened at all during my trip to the Philippines but that does not mean that I didn't watch for stupid crooks targeting me. Why? Because I'm American, it was obvious to them and I stuck out like a sore thumb.

I'm sure you have already read this page but here is the Dept. of State's website for travel to Egypt. It does talk about more then just terrorist activity on it, up to and including small crimes to watch out for.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1108.html

Also, it mentions the Embassy STEP program. It's always a good idea to register with that was well.

Have a safe trip, and not just because you're American!

yeah I get it-- Americans are targets, but the reasons you're talking about and the reasons he had in mind were different. I dunno if you KWIM. What you're saying is reasonable, but my instructor was not saying it the same way.

Plus I doubt I'm the typical American target. Unless I open my mouth, I'll blend a bit better than most tourist because I don't dress American.... Most Americans don't think I'm American. >.<

If he'd just said, "Be Careful, you're American in a foreign place" thats one thing. but insulting an entire region (and not even the correct region that I'm heading) as being a "BAD" place.... that is an entire other thing.

Off topic, but tangent of the bit about families and their skewed points of veiws-- SOMEHOW the womens in my husbands family think us American women marry guys, take half their worth, and then divorce them. *facepalm* Got to love media.

And back to my instructor thing-- cuz I'm not sure I'm done ranting on the issue.

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He definitely didn't want to hear nothing about Muslim, Islam, my common religion with the majority of MENA residents...and what that means. He doesn't come across as racist or rude, in his defense. Just sometimes I am shocked at insensitivity...

People here are narrow-minded and can't see outside their own experiences.

If they have never been to some place like that, they just can't imagine what it is like. All

they imagine is what they hear in the news which is such a distortion of reality. You have to

just brush off what he says. I hear the same stuff right here in my own family - it's so annoying.

Just makes you realize how limited peoples' lives are, that they can't see outside their own boxes.

Y'know, I expect it from my family a bit. They actually care about me and have a right to discuss this stuff with me. It just irked me that it was my instructor. I do pay this guys salary in part. I don't pay him to give me his narrow minded opinion. Whats worse is that we JUST did a section on culture sensitivity. smh.

REALLY? Isn't that just a bit insensitive?? I mean first of all my husband doesn't even live in the MIDDLE EAST. Second of all-- what does he know about it? It was okay when he first told me to be careful (on my upcoming trip), but then he got really incessant about how bad it is over there. I tried to explain a bit about say... how the protests in Cairo are pretty consolidated and the city has more people than our state x4, so the turmoil is rather small really. Its not like I'm going to the Sinai Peninsula border or anything. But every time I tried to enlighten him he stressed even stronger "You're AMERICAN."

He made it sound like t I'm American and that automatically mean everyone is on a witch hunt for me. I really resented that attitude, especially the unwillingness to here anything else.

Whadyya think? Am I being overly sensitive to the comments?

*edited misspellings*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8Hgp150Eno&feature=related

The History of US-Israel Relations

Part One

How the “special relationship” was created

by Allison Weir

September 2011

[We feel this information is so important that we are posting it now. However, this is an ongoing project and the below text is an incomplete, uncorrected draft. Please check back later for the final version.]

While many people are led to believe that US support for Israel is driven by the American establishment and U.S. national interests, the facts don’t support this theory. The reality is that for decades U.S. experts opposed Israel and its founding movement. They were simply outmaneuvered and eventually replaced.­

Like many American policies, U.S. Middle East policies are driven by a special interest lobby. However, the Israel Lobby, as it is called today in the U.S.[1], consists of vastly more than what most people envision in the word “lobby.”

As this article will demonstrate, the Israel Lobby is considerably more powerful and pervasive than other lobbies. Components of it, both individuals and groups, have worked underground, secretly and even illegally throughout its history, as documented by scholars and participants.

And even though the movement for Israel has been operating in the U.S. for over a hundred years, most Americans are completely unaware of this movement and its attendant ideology – a measure of its unique influence over public knowledge.

The success of this movement to achieve its goals, partly due to the hidden nature of much of its activity, has been staggering. It has also been at almost unimaginable cost.

It has led to massive tragedy in the Middle East: a hundred-year war of violence and loss; sacred land soaked in sorrow.

In addition, this movement has been profoundly damaging to the United States itself.

As we will see in this two-part examination of the pro-Israel movement, it has targeted virtually every significant sector of American society; worked to involve Americans in tragic, unnecessary, and profoundly costly wars; dominated Congress for decades; increasingly determined which candidates could become serious contenders for the U.S. presidency; and promoted bigotry toward an entire population, religion and culture.

It has promoted policies that have exposed Americans to growing danger, and then exaggerated this danger (while disguising its cause), fueling recent actions that dismember some of our nation’s most fundamental freedoms and cherished principles.

All this for a population that is considerably smaller than New Jersey.[2]

The rest can be found at this link: http://www.ifamericansknew.org/us_ints/history.html

“For the last 30 years, I have witnessed and experienced the severe restraints on any free and balanced discussion of the facts. This reluctance to criticize any policies of the Israeli government is because of the extraordinary lobbying efforts of the American-Israel Political Action Committee and the absence of any significant contrary voices."

“It would be almost politically suicidal for members of Congress to espouse a balanced position between Israel and Palestine, to suggest that Israel comply with international law or to speak in defense of justice or human rights for Palestinians.”

– Jimmy Carter

I'm now under 3,000,000 seconds . It's just good fun.

Ha! I love it. Counting seconds is fun when you have something near-ish to look forward to.

My packing began this evening, and I've started to get my clothes ready. He tells me it'll be cold in Egypt, but somehow 53 isn't what I'd consider freezing. So, I'm in a quandry about what to take. It's all a good quandry though. Have you been to Egypt before? It is a stunning place. One day soon I hope to visit Alexandria and the Black and White Desert. It's nice to have someone around who could easily take me there...

This will be my first trip there. I know its cool there in the winter but seeing as how we'll be in the below freezing temps here, 50 will feel so warm- especially since they have sunshine. Its so abysmal here in the winter. I always dress in layers anyways so I'll bring a sweatshirt, a sweater, and a robe since I don't know how impressive heating is there. Actually-- I'll probably have a big winter jacket hats and gloves on and look positively ridiculous when I arrive. Those things are necessary on leaving and I'm sure will not fit in my suitcase the way I'm packing.

We will probably head north to the red sea to escape the chaos of Cairo for a bit. No Sharm this time. Between my girlfriend there and my husband though, I should get to cover the Cairo and Giza area. He asked if I wanted to see the pyramids. I told him I would never live it down if I went all the way to Egypt and didn't see a single pyramid.

I will certainly be checking in to see how your trip went. I just keep praying that the weather will be great in December, so my flights aren't delayed. With a finite time to see each other, I want to make the best of all our time.

More than the weather-- I am starting to get a small bit concerned about the Gaza situation escalating anymore. IsA kheyr.

My new luggage arrives today ...any everyone cares why?? lol. But well...each little step helps fill the time.

I'll be packing as soon as my finals are over....

Go and enjoy yourself!!! My MIL did our wedding party too. I think it was more for her and my husband than it was for me!!! And yes, I felt like I was the center of all the attention all the way around that! Enjoy it and let them show you off to their friends and family. It is definitely an experience you should feel!!! Happy travels!!!

I don't think I have a choice but to let them show me off. And yes, this wedding party is more about her and the family (who are so happy to be rid of my DH after 30+ years a Bachelor). Hubby and I are trying to get it to be done as low key as possible but low-key in Egyptian is... yeah, not so much. I just had a parade of people come say hi to me on skype at his moms birthday event, lol.

Heading to Egypt is indeed exciting news. I will spend my Christmas vacation there as well, but I will have just two weeks. We are about 40 days away from my arrival, and I am as excited as you seem to be. I've spent summer in Egypt, but I look forward to the joys of winter. Have a wonderful and safe trip!

Woohoo! what a way to spend our vacation. It is only 5 weeks and 1 day now [for me]! But who's counting? You have been there before?

I do the same thing Have a great trip, be safe & enjoy !

Thanks so much! I think one suitcase is almost all stuff for other people.

My very first passport arrived today! I am official

Ah yes! I forgot to add a hardy HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you and the other Marines !! And ofc happy Veterans day.

I had 2 questions i think after reading your Casa review-- 1)Can the interviewer see you from the window all those hours you waited, like watching you interact with hubby?

2) I forgot and will have to go back later to read

Hmm...here is what I come to learn about Arabs. Only 20% of all Muslims are Arabs. My husband would like to reiterate the point that he is not ARAB-- he is Egyptian, from the continent of African. Arabs come from the Arabian Peninsula he says.

So how do I feel about Arabic? I love the language and its by far easier to learn than English except the speaking part because my mouth muscles really don't move in that particular way. I feel there are a lot more Arabic speakers than there are Arabs.

OOh! We are wedding planning now... or should I say MIL is wedding planning. I had planned to take take a trip back to EG in June with my family and have the wedding then-- all this provided our CR1 process went smoothly. but circumstances change and MIL is ready to throw the big bash.

I am somewhat terrified of going! There is so much hype and excitement surrounding my trip that I feel like I will be doing this or that and being carted around to various events for 3 weeks. Kheyr isA!

wa alaikom salam

I'm a former Marine as well. :)I have no expertise in the matter, but I can recommend checking out the consulate specific info if you haven't found it yet.

http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?letter=J

and here is the specific link for VJ reviews for the Jordan embassy

http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?cnty=Jordan

isA others will have more to add. I pray things go smoothly for you and you are together soon!

inluvandNOTWAITINGANYMORE!!!!!

^ yeah? seemed like a good name to me.