RAKASA

thanks for hosting Amal! I wanted to host, but I have commitment issues on Sunday nights.... I'll try to pop in when I can!

Carrie, Ayman is SO FLIPPIN CUTE!!!!

jJ, thats a really cute and sweet idea. I wish I had been that creative when I was still apart from Adnan, but alas. I'm not.

Thanks Sara, so is Amira. Ayman does like older women, just ask Jen....lol.

#######?????????

to me and him.. you say I am a drama queen but i think losing my child and being battered entitles me. I also think many on here have experienced similar things ( maybe not dead kids) but divorce ( and they dont tell anyone) battering ( they dont tell anyone) and infidelity and separation from their spouses ( and they dont tell anyone)I think you have issues too like the rest of us.. and yes I think your marriage is more solid than most but yelling at me not to talk about this stuff doesnt make the reality go away that there are several on this board that since I have been posting have disappeared or are still posting and things are not alright in Kansas. I think their opinions have a place. Problems arent catching. And I am not going to say that every single day I had with my spouse was bad. I had lots of good days or I wouldnt have married him. But burying a child is another story and yes for gods sakes, there are tons of cultural differences that you see when there are clear differences between your families and the way things are done... Even burying them

I am sorry if this makes the people on here with perfect lives uncomfortable but if I had a pound of flour for every pm I have gotten about stuff, Id open a bakery. I think its important for us to talk about things. I really feel that when we are honest with each other, we can help each other but too often the people with no issues trounce all over the people with issues so people are afraid to talk about whats going on in a public forum because they are afraid of what they might hear... ( usually the truth or some sarcastic version of it)

I think we all know the real deal about this process and what it does to some of us...But how about the life affects of not knowing someone well enough before we marry them. Would we marry an american we only spent 2 weeks with in real life? I think not....You cant know a person well enough in 2 two week visits. How can we be surprised when things come up

just my 2 cents

Kat, (point 1) how can you detect a "yell" in my post is beyond me.... I was merely stating my thoughts and feelings about the uber drama you exude.

(point 2) how many times would you like to use this analogy? it, too, is getting old - open your flipping bakery already, would you?

(point 3) Would I marry American (or foreign) that quickly - hellz no! I didn't - either time. I was w/ my ex husband for 4 years before we married - I still didn't know him b/c he was a compulsive liar (textbook - really). We divorced after 2 1/2 yrs of marriage- that was after 1 yr of me trying to get his lying azz outta my house.

My husband (now) and I were together for over 1 year b4 even applying for a visa and I knew w/o a doubt that I was ready for this and he was a good man. Yeah, I'm lucky b/c there are some real jerkoffs out there - I found the gem that was to be my future.

I know you're bitter... you have every right to be - it just gets old hearing the same whining azz stories over and over, just spelled out differently. Different day, same story.... I have just as much right to complain about your complaining as you have to complain - so there!

I just sneezed all over my monitor.

ewwwwwwwwww...

Hey Jax!!! Dang it's cold here.... 38 today! Brrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Jax, you must be getting excited! Only a few more days til the interview. Slumber party in the works, I presume?

No Tuesday thread yet???

now there is - I was going to start one, but I was busy replying elsewhere..............

I wanted to do an anonymous poll of mena members to be able to post anonymously about what has happened in their relationships.

I will definitely tell you that with what I know now, I would have only sponsored a highly educated person, extremely fluent in English and on top of that, looking back at the red flags I saw all along, I would have still married within mena, but not the person I married. I think love makes us endure alot that we normally would never put up with with an american.

The visa process is exhausting . Not in a million years would I do it again.. for any amount of money.. this has been ridiculous for me and time exhaustive. I am curious to see if when we see flags in other peoples relationships.... if we are honest about our own or we overlook them

Internet infidelity in my book is a deal breaker yet I have seen over the last 2 years, people still with spouses who did it. What gives with our common sense? Why would any of us put up with this junk when we wouldnt accept it in Americans.

Not saying you love a person and neglecting them is emotional abuse NOT CULTURAL.. I am sorry. Why do we come up with all these complex cultural theories to explain crappy behavior? It puzzles me

I have been really loved by someone from MENA before ( it wasnt my husband) and he told me he loved me all the time, never hit me, always made me feel secure... never mistreated me.. He just couldnt legally stay here and his status was so messed up marrying me wouldnt have helped either.. so he had nothnig to gain. So I know all this bullshit about mena men not loving is a pile of #######. I get aggravated when I read this ####### about men not being loving with their wives,,, Its not cultural

read the book HES JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU...Cause thats the deal///not culture// Gees

God I must have looked like a dummy as I put up with more and more...

To those of you who everything is perfect.. THIS POLL IS NOT FOR YOU

Kat, I'm sorry... but *you* are exhausting - even more so than this damn process. You knew all this ####### before your husband got here, you saw all the red flags, and you chose to ignore it all. You think/thought that nothing anyone had to say was relevant b/c *we* all had our spouses here (not always the case, but you generalize like there's no tomorrow). Then once he got here, you realized that perhaps what we had to say was indeed relevant. Nothing like trying to regurgitate your big old shoe outta your own mouth, eh?

I know you've been through a lot, but I just have to say that IMHO you are one of the biggest damn drama queens I have ever had the pleasure of not meeting.

As for me, none of this stupid poll applies b/c yeah, my relationship is about as perfect as it can be. We could all use a bit more money, but my man treats my like his beautiful queen. *That* is a blessing.

Sorry for the rant, but it was high time someone said it.................

Wow look at all the new screen names in this thread! I don't think I've met all the new people yet but welcome!

Amal on that cook book now I'm really interested. You say over 200 recipes! Wow! Can someone order a cookbook later say like Jan. when they get more money to afford it?

Yeah, you are welcome to order them later. Just let me know. I do have a minimum order limit of 4 though....

Well dang... that sux that you had so much interest early on and now people aren't stepping up to the plate for the orders they wanted.

Aimee - is Badr away somewhere? He can't have gone home already for a visit....

Hope everyone is feeling well and having a good Monday! Scheherazade - take care hon, and come on down for a visit for some LA cheer!

I made Moroccan Kefta Briouats today (w/ goat meat, no less!) and they came out so good! I was on a cooking spree this weekend and made whole wheat sugar cookies, chocolate mint mousse pie, italian flatbread, and now briouats!

Gotta teach classes tonight, then hanging w/ my honey since he's off!

dont gloat dang it Charles!!

but we DO have dreyers and they just put out their holiday peppermint and its damn good.

Sara... send me some of that!!!!!

Sorry MENA ladies, I gotta agree with chemaatah...

If my husband and probably any of yours knew the discussion was on koky waxing they would be pizzd.

I would say its different talking to a friend about it but online, where other men can read it, our husbands would be ashamed.

Not trying to be mean, just keepin it real.

As for myself, I've only chimed in to give my professional advice on the subject since it's part of what I do for a living. And I'm pretty dang good at it too. If anyone has ever noticed, I rarely, if ever, give out any personal info about myself. I would *never* discuss something so intimate about myself... but I can offer many years of experience waxing many hoohaas

Rajaa and Rosalinda are the same? Rajaa are you talking to yourself?

No, they are different people.

good morning all.... thinking about going to see that movie SlumDog Millionair today anyone see it yet?

I've never even *heard* of this movie... but have fun if you go!

Tasha, congrats on Ayman's DL. That's awesome news and a big step towards his independence.

I got some beautiful snap beans & mixed greens for Thanksgiving (I told mom I'd bring hot & cold greens). I think I'm going to try my hand at briouats today. I made a mint chocolate mousse pie last night but haven't tasted it yet cuz it needed to freeze. Hubby's working til 3, so we'll have our afternoon coffee date, then come home & prepare dinner and spend the evening together.

Hopefully all of you waiting will get the good news so that you, too, can have evenings like this soon. It's wonderful!

Cremation is ABSOLUTELY against islam. You need to bury him and preferably in 24 hours. It will cost you approximately 6000 dollars to ship him home including mortuary, box transport and airfare. Dont ask me why I know exactly..

I have visions of you giving that boy you married what he dished out

argan oil is... argan oil. lol grows in the area of essaouira in morocco. google it girl! i have some that i will probably never use now, so if you want i can mail it. my husband's family hand made it this summer.

you can dip bread in it to eat it, cook with it, mix it with honey and ground up almonds to make what's called "amlou", rub it on your skin or hair. its awesome!

Argan oil is da bomb! We got some special stock of it in Essaouira. It's good stuff!

Evil Jenn alert! Evil Jenn alert!

That would be: Evil Djinn alert! Evil Djinn alert!

Burn After Reading was great!!!!

Burn After Reading was indeed excellent!!! :thumbs:

see i knew i could find someone somewhere with info... but the deal is my husband is very "protective" and going in and having "it" waxed is not an option so ... what is the best one at home?

that's *why* you go to a WOMAN. I cannot recommend one for home, so if he has issue w/ it, he should get trained and do it for you.

eta: it's only partially about the product, it's mostly about the proper application and proper removal... only my 17+ years of professional advice.

Amen, Noura. My gal in Argentina, who I swore by, had been doing this for 20+ years. Experience means everything. Especially when you can burn your hoohaa off.

:rofl: so true!

Sugar wax does not only hurt when you remove it but it hurts when it's applied too!!!

Rajaa...in ME/NA they have women that specialize in this do it for others, its very common. I don't know why it would make your husband uncomfy.

I have tried doing it at home by myself, I applied it..screamed. Took me 5 min to muster up the courage to remove it. I screamed. Then I went to a salon.

My aunt also did it for me once and she did do the whole thing. It took about 1 hour. In the salon, it takes 15 min. In the salon you experiance about 1/4 of the pain that you would at home.

see i knew i could find someone somewhere with info... but the deal is my husband is very "protective" and going in and having "it" waxed is not an option so ... what is the best one at home?

that's *why* you go to a WOMAN. I cannot recommend one for home, so if he has issue w/ it, he should get trained and do it for you.

eta: it's only partially about the product, it's mostly about the proper application and proper removal... only my 17+ years of professional advice.

Ladies, just break down and go to your local professional trained in speedwaxing. I use a special Lavender Wax for sensitive areas and I'm quick & relatively painless. It lasts longer and, done properly, minimizes re-growth over time. You would not believe the horror stories I hear from women who try to do it themselves. Helz, I *know* what I'm doing and won't do it myself in that area!

I got these last year. I'm excited they have them, but honestly, a little disappointed they've used the same design *&* color from last year. Oh well, at they've got them...

Sneakin on from work! Talked to Ibrahim this morning. He's having a good time in Syria and will be back to Jordan on Thursday.

10 days 10 hours til interview

275 hours !!!!!! (and alot of those will be sleeping and working!)

Caulk---scraped and tonight will be the squeezing

Get you some good squeezing in Jax!!!

OMG!!! 1 month, 1 week & 5 days left til our 2nd anniversary!!! That also means 1 month, 1 week & 5 days left til New Year's Eve! Holy Cow!!! Another year is almost gone, 2009 here we come!