Der Bücherwurm

Well, personally I think it is a shame what old people and misogynists believe. If you want to go backwards rather than forwards and turn back the clock on women's lib then move to Iran. They had the same idea and yeah, it hasn't worked out so well for them. I'm so happy that I'm an independent woman and can take care of myself. I married the man I did because I wanted to, not because I needed to. That is how he knows I love him. And why the hell should anyone care what someone buys with their own damn money. Whoever posted that ad on Craig's List needs some serious therapy not to mention an education if he thinks feminism is responsible for people buying cell phones and hiring someone else to mow their lawn. There are quite a few American men I am so happy to not be married to. Some people just need to get a life.

Ok, good idea. But how about a travel forum next? People could post their travel stories and maybe include a few pics and advise people of where to go, what to do, etc.

The guard seemed to believe sex and alcohol can be enjoyed easily in New Jersey.

It isn't like you can't get sex or alcohol in Iran or anywhere else in the ME for that matter. You just have to do it behind closed doors and maybe pay the police a bribe so they won't bust your party. There are smugglers that bring in whiskey and unfortunately heroin as well. Heroin addiction has become increasingly problematic since the Regime outlawed alcohol. Some people like to make wine at home. There are prostitutes in Iran like in every country. There are horny young men that obsess about losing their virginity and try to chat up girls in the hopes of finding a girlfriend that will put out just like anywhere else. You just have to put forth a little more effort and stress more about getting caught.

Yes they mean the USC when they say the sponsor needs to prove domicile. I'm doing DCF and I sent a copy of a bank statement from a US bank that I have used since I was 17, an explanation that I have always used my parents mailing address as my permanent address during the time I've lived abroad, a letter from my parents stating that we will be staying with them upon our return and a copy of my GRE test results showing intent to apply for Grad Schools in the US. They basically need an address to be able to mail the greencard to. Including moving quotes, etc. would be good to add as well.

Sign up for English language classes. You will meet other foreigners that way that are also experiencing homesickness and loneliness that will completely understand how you feel. When I lived in Germany and Norway I always looked forward to my language classes. I got to meet other people, practice my language skills and sometimes the students and teacher would meet at a cafe right after class to chitchat and have coffee. Sometimes we would agree on a day to make a field-trip to a museum or meet at a bar at night and we'd all go barhopping. You'll be meeting tons of people and arranging outings that way. Trust me. It is the best way to start meeting people and will help you adjust to your new home quicker and easier.

hi all,

ive posted in here a few times but havent really gotten a lot of advice but i do have one question that im hoping people will help me with: recommendations for travel agencies in turkey, preferably istanbul, that i can buy a cheap ticket to the US with for my husband. there are no direct flights to the US from damascus, so he would have to go through their IST or Amman anyways. I got screwed this summer flying with Turkish Airlines and want to look for another possibility. Thanks a mil!

Hi!

Have you tried travelocity or orbitz? They list all the major airlines and that is usually where I find the best deals. I use travelocity a lot. It is also worth it to check the home sites of the major airlines after you see what travelocity has to offer because on rare occasions the prices on the airlines own site are cheaper. So if the cheapest listing on orbitz or travelocity is delta airlines or one of it's affiliates then be sure to check the prices on their site to before you book. Travelocity also allows you to pick a travel route and sign up for email updates when the airfare prices to that destination go up or down. When is he flying to the states? The prices will be high now thru the new year because of holiday travel.

Why on earth would you want the K3 visa if you can get the CR-1? The CR1 is about as quick to get and it is less hassle later to deal with.

internetkafe...I see you live in Phoenix...we have been driving every few weeks to try a new Turkish restaurant in Phoenix...we don't have any Turkish restaurants here in Tucson...just got back form Med Fresh Grill in Tempe and it was very good! Efes was 50/50 Arabic/Turkish...ok and not worth the money! You know of any other restaurants?

I've been to Tucson before. Isn't that where Saguaro National Park is near? I remember exploring a cave there. The adobe style houses I saw in Tucson were so cute. When I go home I think I will take some of those seasoning packets home with me that tell you which fresh ingredients to buy to make the different Turkish kababs. Wish I could take some Baklava with me too but I'd probly eat it all on the plane ride home.

Ok, I just emailed the American Hospital and in case it helps anyone, this is their response:

We will be pleased to welcome you at our Medical Check-Up Unit. First of all we would like to inform you that our hospital is located in Istanbul. Your embassy appointment will be held at the United States Embassy in Ankara. If you visit our hospital on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, you can obtain your results the day after the examination at 16:30pm. However if you visit on Friday or Saturday, you will be obtaining the results on Monday at 16:30pm.

Our medical check-up consists of blood test, pulmonary x-ray, general doctor's evaluation and completion of missing vaccines.

Cost of this procedure varies from 350TL (240 $ in today's exchange rate) to 750TL (510 $) depending on the missing vaccines.

Once you decide the exact date of your preference, please let us know, so that we can check its availability for you.

While coming to hospital, you will need to bring your passport, 1 photo, embassy documents, case number and previous vaccination records if possible. (After evaluation, our check-up doctor decides which vaccines should be completed)

Please note that you do not need to be fasting prior to this examination.

If you have any questions, or if you need any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us.

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Best Regards,

I just emailed them again to ask if they were familiar with Iranian military vaccination requirements since they didn't answer that question.

No need to worry, it costs around 200-300 at most all inclusive. I visited the doctor in Kavaklidere, close to Tunalihilmi/Kugulu Park.I do not remember the name of the doctor. You can tell the receptionist and the doctor (both) that your husband received all the vaccinations available in the Navy.They will still vaccinate (a few) and it will cost less than 300 in total. That was my experience anyway.

I thought for a K1 that vaccines are NOT necessary, only before AOS...well, when Hamit went, the doc talked him into it anyway....the total cost was 250-400 I don't remember, but certainly not more! If he had any vaccines before he will need proof so the doctor can write that in the documents....your word that he has had them before doesn't matter, unless in Turkey they can somehow check this? I don't know...anyhow, it wasn't more than an extra $100 for the vaccines and he had ALL required ones for AOS...so hope this helps!

Is that 200-400 in dollars or TL? I'm sure for us it will be on the higher end since we can't get his medical records and they won't take our word for it. We will take his military ID and hope they are familiar with Iranian military vaccine requirements.

We'll be going to the American Hospital in Istanbul so I hope it won't cost more there than at Dr. Ungan's office in Ankara. My printout doesn't list the names of the doctors at the American hospital or an email addy so I'll have to go to their website and try to find an email addy to ask if they are familiar with which vaccines my husband has already had for his military service. Thanks for all who replied.

Thank you!!! Yep..Im Back!! it was a hell of a ride with larry.,but its over...

I am thankful im given a second chance, and this time, he's younger *wink*, real love for me is there,..and everything is good.. and yes, its gonna work.!! Thank u!!!

lol Congratulations!

Does anyone know how much each vaccination will cost and which one's they require? I have a printout for the medical that they sent me with the interview schedule and it says that blood tests are $60, x-ray is $45 and physician is $70. So that's $175 and then add to that the cost of the vaccines. It says each vaccine can cost anywhere from $5 to $200 depending on the vaccine. My husband was in the Navy so he had to have his last round of vaccines when he joined but he has since lost all his medical records so it looks like he will have to get a lot of shots that he has already had again. I'm worried about the cost if some of the vaccines are going to cost $200.

Just booked a room using hotels.com the other day and it was about $40 cheaper than if I had booked the same room at the same hotel on travelocity or the Best Western home site. The absolute cheapest rates I saw were on hostelworld.com but I needed a place closer to the US embassy than the ones they had on offer. So are there any other sites you use when booking hotels that I should know about?

I was on a Pound Plus, Trader Joe's Milk Chocolate Bars binge several years ago.

Milk chocolate doesn't have the same benefits as dark chocolate.

Congrats!

Doesn't surprise me at all.

You might take copies of all the documents you sent them just in case they lost something. You might not need it but I always think it is better to be prepared.

There are many countries that have 5 or more political parties to choose from yet the US only has the Democrat, Republican and more recently, the Independent Party to choose from. What gives? Would the US be less polarized if there were more parties to choose from?

CR1 = Less than two years of marriage, requires removal of conditions, 2 year green card

Am I correct in assuming that one removes conditions 2 years after arriving stateside? How does one go about removing conditions? Do they send you something when the greencard is about to expire or do we have to keep track and make an appt. at the local USCIS office?

Email/call the embassy and ask. They should be able to tell you where to go.

i once got stopped for wearing my seatbelt......only my seatbelt....

Wonder what the fine for that would be...

Thanks for sharing about the breastfeeding article too. Unfortunate, that the woman in the article was harassed for doing such in public. And the harassment came from someone else with kids too..even more unfortunate. Lol..I'm in for the feed-in too!

Yeah, that surprised me too that it was a mother that kept hanging around to complain about it. It was silly she was threatening to call the police over a breastfeeding mother. Seriously, cops have actual crimes to deal with. She could have just shook her head and walked away. Personally, I don't want to have children of my own but if I did I'd breastfeed wherever as needed no matter who had a problem with it. I really don't understand why our society has so sexualized the breast and views it as something naughty meanwhile, a man working outside in summer is free to remove his shirt altogether.

Don't know what your basis for this is. As a born and raised Scandinavian woman I would NEVER do this and I have never seen any of my Scandinavian friends "whip it out" either. I don't want to see other womens private parts nor do I wish to show mine off. Breastfeeding women should cover up properly or go somewhere private.

When I lived in Norway I saw women breastfeeding in public all the time. Perhaps Swedes aren't as progressive and comfortable with nudity as Norwegians are. It was weird for me at first seeing women breastfeed since breastfeeding isn't common in the US but I got used to it and decided it is perfectly natural. Personally, I'd rather pass by a woman breastfeeding than a girl in a Hooters uniform. I don't think a woman should have to cover her baby up under a blanket on a hot summer's day or hide out in a smelly bathroom in shame because you have a problem with it. That's your problem/hangup/issues that you should deal with yourself. You can always turn your head if you don't want to look.

YAY!

:joy: :dance:

Any new Bridezilla sightings?