KittyPollitt

The biggest hurdle/change for us was that my husband had to grow up. In Maroc he was the baby of the family and was catered to his whole life. He was 21 when he came here and had never lived on his own and had no idea how to care for himself. I blame his mother for that, but it's beside the point. He walked in and had not only to care for himself in part but also care for a small child (soon 2 small children). It was rough, for me especially and he has come a long way. There are still areas where I wish he would pick up some slack but I guess in time those things will be figured out.

Something that is always in the back of my mind.. I guess I won't really see how bad it is until he gets here and I have to show him how to make a can of soup, or furthermore, pour his own tea.. If you have time one day, I'd love for you to tell me how you dealt with it...

We're heading there in May if you'll still be there!

Yes, I will be there.. drop me a line, we can get lavAzza

This is a very short courtship from the time you met online up to the time you met in person and decided to file for a K1. I'm certainly not a lawyer, or a consular officer, but this in itself is definitetely a red flag for this consulate and very well could be the reason for the return. There may be other aspects of your case which raised a red flag for them. Hopefully the NOIR/NOID provides specific details for your fiance to rebut when the time comes for your case to be reviewd.

~kiyah~

There is a yahoo group called, American Women Living in Morocco. From what I remember, several of the ladies live in Casablanca. Some get together weekly for coffee, breakfast, etc. If you don't have one already, you'd just sent up a yahoo email, then search the groups for that, and then join.

Many of them have had experience on what you need to bring, what can be easily found there, what's more expensive here vs. there, etc.

Good Luck.

That is fantastic advice, thank you so much!

theres a rehash of mountain dew called throwback....are the grandparents going crazy over the baby?

http://www.facebook.com/mountaindewthrowback

http://www.facebook.com/mountaindewthrowback

I tried the Mountain Dew throwback.. and I was missing my chemical taste They're really excited about her coming.. I'm totally freaked. I've got my cell phone set up to shut off on Feb 11, I'm harbouring my truck at my father's, and bought a suitcase big enough to fit a human being in trying to gather every liquid baby medicine known to man, extra Karo syrup, 3-6 months clothes, 6 months clothes, and 6-9 months clothes.. I don't know how I'm going to pack this Boppy pillow and Bumbo chair, but life would be hell without them.. The logistics are mind boggling! Tminus one month and one week until takeoff

I guess im lucky with Sofyan. He actually stayed home with Zaid from the time he was 5 weeks to 3 months old bc I had to return to work. He does diapers, baths, everything.

The language thing is great. Zaid is sooo not confused and equally speaking both languages. He can count to 3 in both, says hot and cold in both and doesnt seem to favor either. Its working out well.

Squeaky. I wouldnt be concerned about Morocco I would just say draw the line when you get there. They will probably try to get you to feed her weird things, and drinks. And do things that arent common around here. Do what you feel is right, you are her mother. Ill never forget when we found out Zaid had TERRIBLE colic (at 2 months old) my mother in law INSISTED we give him the water from boiled sage so my husband SWORE we had to do it and he drank an ounce of it and vomited EVERYWHERE! I learned my lesson real quick.

I know theydo alot of things and jordan with the kids that I thought bothered me. Like squeezing the babies in pounds of blankets, putting makeup on their eyes, and shaving their baby hair to make it grow in thick

omg. I pity the fool.

Lol, good luck with that. I remember those English deprivation headaches! If you don't find someone to hang out with, there's always MBC! That was my english friend.

Even better luck with smuggling in a Mountain Dew. That would be a nice change. IMO, the Coke over there is so strong that you can use it for fuel in a car.

I've always been a Pepsi person, myself, but I had to try the Coke over there just once, and the Fanta, and I swear I was waiting to feel my teeth go down my throat along with the soda... yuck

Try Schwepp's Citron for a good Mt. Dew substitute !

Thank you! I'm gonna try it! I guess I'll be back to Topps and generic Orangina

I love Mountian Dew!! I remember asking Bijad, the first time I was there, if they had it and he looked at me so strange. Me, being me, thought for sure they had it. We went to the big supermarket in Casablanca and for real, they don't. lol

Have fun!!

I was shocked to discover, after looking it up, that they only sell Dew in the US, Canada, and Australia. So many people are deprived.

I'm nervous about that too, as I have still to introduce my son to his grandparents. But the language issue, au contraire! It's wonderful that she will be exposed to the mixed languages. I have to stay on my husbands case about speaking darija to Mehdi. I told him that this is the perfect moment for him to take it all in and start learning!

Congrats on your pregnancy, btw!

Also, I will pay you to bring me a Mountain Dew in your luggage! Seriously, PM me, it's an open invite... We could go to TGI Friday's

Hi Amy, great topic! I'm a brand new mommy, my daughter Fatimah Zahra is 2 months old, and I chose to convert to Islam after she was born.. We're leaving in a month to spend the majority of her first year in Morocco with her father and his family while waiting for his visa. I must admit, I'm a little nervous about what his mother and aunts will think of my American parenting style, and hoping that the mix of languages doesn't confuse her later on.. All in all, it should be an interesting experience, and one I am looking forward to.

I'm just sayin...

Good Morning MENA Peeps! Happy Sunday! Freezing outside and about to head off to work. Have a nice day!

wait wait wait.. Chillin in the snow?? In HOUSTON!? When I lived in Pasadena, we were out in tshirts and shorts on New Year's at midnight.. I can't imagine snow in Houston!

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I've had it with regular mail so I need all the options I can get! LOL

(and BTW, I laughed my azz off at that popcorn-eating monster you used in a post earlier today....it was VERY appropriate, given the volleying that was going on in that thread!!! What a riot....where did you find that little guy??)

He comes from a site called threadbombing.com

Hi everyone....

I am wondering if anyone has used any kind of express service to send mail to their SO in Morocco, and if so, what companies you may have used. The last time I sent Salim a package by USPS, it took over a month to arrive! Even letters can seem to take their time "swimming over". LOL I can't seem to find any reliable info about international mailing rates for EXPRESS services. Anyone who can chime in and share their experience would be greatly appreciated!! Many thanks in advance!!

~Beth

DHL is very reliable with shipping overseas, but pricey.. if its important stuff, its worth it for peace of mind

kind of like a car accident.. fun to watch.. horrible to be in huh?

Have you been getting enough rest? I found the wonders of the swaddling blanket.. there is one called SwaddleMe, it looks like a baby straightjacket, but she sleeps soundly (and quietly) for 3-4 hour stretches at night with it on.. and the legs part untucks, so you don't even have to unswaddle to do diaper changes.. a miracle invention! I'm buying 2 more!

I hope everything is going great for you!

Sarah

am i the only one who has trouble taking people seriously, or holding their viewpoints as legitimate when they've been downright racist in the past, targetting certain nationalities repeatedly, and throwing in lots of islamophobic commentary from time to time, just for good measure?

should myself and others be forgiving and forgetting, and just take comments they make now at face value, even though there's never been an apology, or any expressed acknowledgment from these posters that some of the comments they've made were unacceptable, and regrettable? i don't care how long ago it happened, i'm still disgusted by it. and i know other people are too. to me anyways, it's like the 800 pound gorilla in the room, every time they post. to those who are still able to respond to these people without this coming up, how do you do it? how do you find any shred of credibility left from them?

I've always been one to try and understand another person's point of view, all the while taking everything with a grain of salt and not taking things too personally.. Ultimately, you can't expect a person to apologize if they meant what they said in their heart- also, when a person is ignorant or racist, nothing you say or do is going to alter their point of view. Their bigotry is just words, and a reflection on their character- they only serve to make themselves look foolish. I say, let them do it. In the end, the truth defends Islam, and no one is going to make me a racist by acting like one around me.. and as far as their credibility, regardless of what you might think of them on a personal level, they've been through this process, and that's what the forums are supposed to be about- the immigration process.. just my 2 cents..

See, this is so uncool... I didn't want my thread to turn into a Kat bashing session.. Aren't there enough threads like that? I really just asked a serious question, and I appreciate her input on telling me the risks of what could happen, though I'm not overly concerned about them because I know and trust his family and don't anticipate going out much So sick of threads turning into the whole "Arab man" debate.. I think most of us in MENA have currently or have had Arab men in their lives and have already formed a pretty strong opinion of their own.. I've had a few real jackasses from various regions of the world, due to my taste for brown boys.. I could go on rants about Nepalis, or Indians, or *Americans*.. it wouldn't change the fact that an ####### is an #######, regardless of ethnic background, and there are far too many out there..

looks like he got some grape drank! ####### is juice?!

Charles, can you please stop this madness? My question has been answered, and decisions have been made... Don't need politics and tongue lashings.. Thank you to all who helped

It's been awhile since I researched this - but "living there" while filing a K1 - couldn't there be domicile issues as a result?

It could be, that's true.. I am fortunate to have an old school communal family household and affidavits from the homeowners.. phew..

Thats awesome.. and you just had a baby.... its not a sin for your family to help you but it makes it super amazing that you pulled this off.. still.... I think a k1 would go alot faster, its an easier affadavit and you could wait out some of the time over there... Getting married can take alot longer and if you have a K1, they can move pretty quick and you can always do a courtesy visit while you are there and register as an American citizen and say hi.. and just start putting proofs together..

Best of luck and beautiful baby by the way

Thank you I can be very patient and extremely driven when I want something.. and I want my family together.. so I'm gonna do what I have to, kiss the asses I need to, and use the help I get to make my circumstances as favorable as possible at interview time.. I can't afford to go through this again, mentally.. If I wasn't going there next month, I think I'd be breaking down now.. every time I look at her, I see him.

Thank you for your advice