100% Al Ahly Fan

There is very little adoption or step parenting in mena. Many times when a girl divorces and needs to remarry, her kids go to her parents. Many of these young guys are ill equipped to parent and are in many ways babies themselves. In many ways a 30 year old in the US is much older than a guy who lives with his mom in lets say Morocco. I think even if someone means well, there are huge differences in how people marry over there and there s a huge emphasis on viriginity and chastity and the divides extend to lifestyles, parenting, male female roles, etc. What we consider domestic violence is not over there where your husband hitting you is just not that uncommon and takes place in the street. If a husband decides in Algeria or Tunisia that your child that they had with them is not leaving the country, they arent leaving. They are not members of the hague convention. There are huge differences between our cultures and yes some relationships work but mostly in my opinion, its because the mena person is really trying hard to make it work. The relationships can and do work but things that would cause divorce for many Americans have been overlooked by mena couples. Infidelity for instance is often overlooked and forgiven, where as we as Americans just dont put up with as much as many mena women would. We have alot more opportunity here as far as women go and we also have options when we lose our spouse. Many women cannot remarry when they are divorced there because no one wants to marry a woman with a child in some parts of mena. Yet in the US we have more latitude. I think the biggest mistake americans make is thinking that our values translate over there or confusing the fact that love is just not enough to over come some very huge differences...just food for thought....

I'm just curious where you get your numbers from exactly? Being a Middle Eastern women myself, I know of MANY step-parenting situations in my own family and many many others. Many of whom are wonderful fathers. And as for violence against women (which is not accepted in Islam or any where else that I am aware of) America has just as much and many women deal with it here just as they would over there, just sticking it out. Although, thankfully here in America we do have many opportunities for women to leave and move on when in that situation, where as women over in MENA may not always have this chance.

As for relationships working or not, yes people who chose to marry some from abroad have challenges but the divorce rate in the United States shows that Americans have numerous challenges as well. So whether it's a MENA person or not, different cultures always makes things colorful in any relationship, but when it comes down to it it depends on the people involved. So an American married to an American or an American married to some one from a different country (not just MENA) will have numerous challenges and yes it is up to all the parties involved regardless of where they are from on whethere they chose to make the relationship to work or not.

Good Morning MENA!

Olivia I wish my hubby could cook! Although he is an expert at making salad

Hope everyone has a great day! Take care all!

I'm so sleepy.

Me too! I want coffee but weened myself from it a few weeks ago. What to do!?!?

Can you believe Ramadan is right around the corner again? This is part of the reason I weened myself from coffee and tea. I only drink mint tea now. I tried to get hubby to jump on the 'no caffiene' bandwagon....no such luck. At least I got him to drink the mint tea in the evening with me.

MENA, I hope we all wake up....after today we have three more days til Friday I feel like it's gonna be a LONG week.

Sandra like everyone else I am very sorry to hear about this. I agree too that you are a very smart, sweet and stronge women! If you need to talk, please feel free to contact me. Take care.

:dance:Happy Friday! Yep doing the Friday dance.

It's casual Friday! Wearing my jeans, not gonna be able to enjoy it to much longer 'cause I'm leaving work in an hour, wooo hoo!!!

Have a great Friday and an even better weekend everyone:yes:

I, too, am sorry to hear about your SIL. InshaAllah she is in good care. Prayer are going out to you and your family.

Afternoon MENA! It's truly is MOAN-Day! Blech!

JVTA, my mind must be in the gutter as well since I thought that book that was the unreleased sex ed version of a Berenstain bears series.

Jeanne, we too, watched the World Cup. So not a good World Cup Championship, but supper happy that Spain won!

Sorry to hear so many of you are not feeling well....I'm in the same boat. Got a stomach thing going on. Hope we all feel better soon.

As for teething....I hardly remember my son teething, although I remember ALL of his baby teeth falling out. The kid's still losing teeth. He just lost his lower right canine (is that what it's called? he calls it his FANG tooth:P ) . Kinda gross....wiggling and bleeds, wiggles and bleeds and then it finally comes out and he wants to show off the yucky tooth and his bloody toothless gum. YUCK! Sorry....TMI! I think it's a boy thing. Are girls icky like that too?

Anyhow, have a great rest of the day. Monday will soon be over!

Good Morning Ladies!!! Happy Friday!!

TGIF!!! WOO HOO!!!!

It's a beautiful day! So glad hubby isn't working this weekend. Andrea we too, don't know what to do with ourselves since we will finally be home as a family. I think some walking around the lake or going to the zoo, a picnic and some swimming is in order.

Jeanne...silly! I was gonna do that but you beat me to it, dude Btw the "feel" if Friday is awesome....wish it was EVERYDAY!

Aya I read your posted and I was just tickled. Welcome to America AND parenthood, honey! I agree with JVTA, "Sup, dude" isn't proper, but I personally have heard children say MUCH worse (almost on a daily basis working in a pediatric clinic). I would be thankful as well if that is the worst my son said. To be honest American English is a very unique language since there are many different variations and dialects....is there even such a thing as true proper English?

Anyhow, have a wonderful and safe weekend everyone!

Can I just say God is great!?!? Yeah, I think I will.....Allahu Akbar! It's a beautiful day and I feel blessed, alhamdulillah!

Good afternoon and happy Thursday MENA!

Andrea enjoy your 4 days off. As for men and teeth...welI, I don't blame ya for wanting to stay at work

Jeanne stay cool and I hope some of those "sprinkles" come your way.

Olivia...Good Will Hunt....Matt Damon.....hmmm

Wonderful...I used to think summer was my favorite season. I must admit as I get older I am falling in love with autumn! Here is a photo for all of us dreaming for those fall days....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqmSZ3HrsbE&feature=related

Plus the song in my signature

Mohamed I love this song. Reminds me of when I was younger and my mother used to play it. She lived in the U.S. since she was in her late teens....she'd listen to this and always says there is nothing like home.

I have to many favorites BUT here are two I was just listening to earlier today. Was in a lovely dovey kinda mood:P, I guess

This is one of my favorite singer, Mohammed Mounir. The beautiful song is Lama El Naseem which means When the breeze...

The other is an American song by Musiq Soulchild called Love.

:dance:I miss Caturdays around here! Hey everyone! Hope all if you are well. I managed to get a little time on the laptop before the busy day starts. Just wanted to say hello and please have a safe and enjoyable the holiday! Happy 4th of July weekend...hope it's a long one for ya!

Afternoon MENA folks! Been a while, but wanted to stop by and say hello to everyone. Hope all is well in your world. Take care!

What a blessed day for you on this Memorial Day.

This has been much more then just a visa journey for you. It's been a journey of patience, strength, and seeing just how far love can go.

Alf Mabook ya Trina wa Mohammed!

May you have a blessed life together.

Happy Hump Day! Have a great day MENA!

T.G.I. not Monday anymore! Hope everyone is well.

It's been unbelievablely hot the past couple of days. We had a new record high of 95 yesterday and the humidity ain't nothin' nice. The man from Egypt said he hoped that yesterday was the hottest it would get here in Minnesota, LOL! Minnesota weather is always an adventure

Anyhow, hope everyone has a great day.

Leia have a safe trip! InshaAllah you'll be bringing your man back with you

Hollykay....many congrats to you. It's been quite the journey for you, thank God you made it though. When is Ahmed coming?

Good day MENA! Hope everyone is well.

Getting a drivers license was a small victory as far as Ahmed was concerned. He got that BEFORE he even got his GC and as for having your MENA man drive here on U.S. roads just be prepared to live life on the edge for a while once they DO get their drivers license

Aww, kitties! Can we get some pictures of these cats MENA peeps? I just the kittas!

Congrats Squeaky!

It's FRIDAY MENA! Alhamdulillah!!!!!! Where is everyone? This place is REALLY dead (although I know people are still reading - yeah you know who you are!)

Tonight is date night for us I'm so excited. Btw, anyone seen that movie, Date Nite? It's so funny!

Anyhow, have a great day and a even better weekend everyone.

"Tak Ka-errrr" (Said with an Egyptian accent, tee hee)

Mohamed and HollyKay...inshaAllah this will all be at it's end soon, so that you may be reunited with your loved ones. I agree with Amr's Queen, this process is so unfair in so many ways. Anyhow, many duaa coming your way for a visa in hand very soon!

Many congrats on the visa! May you have a blessed life together!

I, too, usually get my minced molikhia at a local Middle Eastern store. I think the brand I buy is Montana? Can't remember exactly, but it's in a green package in the frozen area.

As for that tool, Aya, it's called a mezzaluna and I LOVE it. I was able to find one, that came with a cool cutting board, at the Mall of America at the Le Gourmet Chef store. Of course a week after buying it my mother told me I could have gotten it cheaper at Target, apparently she just saw one there by the brand Kitchenaid. Oh and I was looking through the Pampered Chef catalog recently and think I saw one in there too.

Je veux ton amour....hmm....chocolate filled croissants! Ahmed loves Molto (they are okay, but I much prefer them fresh better) but I haven't seen anything like that at our local Middle Eastern store. You mentioned '7Days' at Target? I was just at SuperTarget yesterday and I couldn't find them. Which area would they be in? Maybe our Target doesn't carry it I would love to get these for the hubby if I could.

I haven't made ol'as as of yet. My mother makes it to PERFECTION (must be a masiheen thing ) so I haven't dared. I might have to try it sometime. My mom is out of the country currently but I will ask her what sal2 is in english when she returns since I don't even know what that is

Mabrook ya Tetyana. It's been a long journey for you, with baby and all, but al7amdulillah you made it! InshaAllah, June 4 will be here before you know it! Congrats again!

This is an alfajor de maizena - an Argentine specialty - it is basically a shortbread cookie sandwich filled with dulce de leche. My MIL makes them and they are TO DIE FOR. Just sayin'.

'To die for' is not the right words for this, just sayin' Stacy, recipe por favor or where the heck can I get one of these?

Jenn, great subject to start. Everyone LOVES food.

Zatoona, that tajine with kofta and egg looks YUM! And Je Veux ton Amour, that's funny you mention lahma bi basilla I just made that two days ago (one of my favorites too).

As for all the food pics, they look wonderful and tasty looking, until people started to mention cinnamon in their dishes (just not a fan of cinnamon, raisins or sugar with any sort of meat). Actually my mother makes this Saudi dish called kabsa that EVERYONE ('cept me) just raves about. I was told by a palestinian friend though, that it's not supposed to have cinnamon in it, but my mama makes it with that. Anyhow it's looks like this:

Some of MY favorites from my hubby's (and my mamas) country is molikhia (I like it with rice but hubby likes it with bread)

And bamia

Hmmm.....I'm hungry!