biggish data

QUOTE (Rajaa_Reda @ Aug 9 2008, 09:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

ooooooh... ummmm that's a hard one to answer and not have feathers ruffled you know what i mean? But I was so intrigued by part of your question I've been doing a lot of reading about the orgins of Islam and the rift between Shia's and Sunnah. I am having great conversations around this with a Shia friend of mine and it is requiring me to learn more about my religion overall... i love learning and this has been quite a path of discovery of my own path and others.

Sufi~ i haven't started my reading on that yet..and I stress YET cause i will Insha'allah. I've read some writtings but not enough to know anything other than I feel their hearts are beautiful..... my opinion so don't freak anyone please.

lol.... Rajaa

I'm with you on that one Rajaa. I think Sufis have beautiful hearts, at least from the things I have read about them, but I keep meaning to read something more in depth. I told my father about sufis (at least what I know) and he got really interested. My father is agnostic so I was suprised he wanted to know more.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-08-09 10:24:00

QUOTE (julianna @ Aug 3 2008, 12:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

OK, I know about the original political split of Shia and Sunni, but I had an additional question about ahadeeth and Shia which can totally be answered in non-inflamitory way so I thought I'd ask. Sunnis follow the ahadeeth which are proven/thought to have strong chains of evidence by Sunni scholars. Do Shia follow ahadeeth, or does that vary from person to person, mosque to mosque, area, or none do it? And if they do, I would guess they have their own scholars and what they consider to be strong evidence or not? Or does everyone more or less agree on ahadeeth and varying validities? (I figured this was barely more than a yes/no question or multiple choice to the different parts so it's not something for debate). I've never really gotten much of a straight answer on this and I figure there must be a straight answer, even if it is "it varies."

I found this link and it answered a lot of questions about things like that:

http://www.islamfortoday.com/shia.htm

Here are a couple key points:

Theological Differences and Attempts at promoting Unity
The line of Mohammed (pbuh) through Ali and Hussein became extinct in 873CE when the last Shia Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, who had no brothers disappeared within days of inheriting the title at the age of four. The Shias refused, however, to accept that he had died, preferring to believe that he was merely "hidden" and would return. When after several centuries this failed to happen, spiritual power passed to the ulema, a council of twelve scholars who elected a supreme Imam. The best known modern example of the Shia supreme Imam is the late Ayyatollah Khomeni, whose portrait hangs in many Shia homes. The Shia Imam has come to be imbued with Pope-like infallibility and the Shia religious hierarchy is not dissimilar in structure and religious power to that of the Catholic Church within Christianity. Sunni Islam, in contrast, more closely resembles the myriad independent churches of American Protestantism. Sunnis do not have a formal clergy, just scholars and jurists, who may offer non-binding opinions. Shias believe that their supreme Imam is a fully spiritual guide, inheriting some of Muhammad's inspiration ("light") . Their imams are believed to be inerrant interpreters of law and tradition. Shia theology is distinguished by its glorification of Ali. In Shia Islam there is a strong theme of martyrdom and suffering, focusing on deaths of Ali and, particularly, Hussein plus other important figures in the Shia succession. Shi`ism attracted other dissenting groups, especially representatives of older non-Arab (Mawali) civilizations (Persian, Indian, etc.) that felt they had not been treated fairly by the Arab Muslims.

Sunnis and Shias agree on the core fundamentals of Islam - the Five Pillars - and recognize each others as Muslims. In 1959 Sheikh Mahmood Shaltoot, Head of the School of Theology at Al Azhar university in Cairo, the most august seat of learning of Sunni Islam and the oldest university in the world, issued a fatwa (ruling) recognizing the legitimacy of the Jafari School of Law to which most Shias belong. As a point of interest, the Jafari School is named after its founder Imam Jafaf Sidiq who was a direct descendent through two different lines of the Sunni Caliph Abu Bakr. And Al Azhar University, though now Sunni, was actually founded by the Shia Fatimid dynasty in 969CE.

Practical Differences
On a practical daily level, Shias have a different call to prayer, they perform wudu and salat differently including placing the forehead onto a piece of hardened clay from Karbala, not directly onto the prayer mat when prostrating. They also tend to combine prayers, sometimes worshipping three times per day instead of five. The Shias also have some different ahadith and prefer those narrated by Ali and Fatima to those related by other companions of the Prophet (pbuh). Because of her opposition to Ali, those narrated by Aisha count among the least favored.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-08-03 01:03:00

QUOTE (Rajaa_Reda @ Aug 2 2008, 11:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hay April!!!! How's things going Guuuurrllll.. is your BIL still there??

I have a questons that I asked before but didn't see answered....

What is the difference between Shia and Sunna? I don't want to cause any arguements but just wondering

Rajaa

There are a lot of differences. You can find a lot of information online. I'm not sure I want to get into it here.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-08-02 13:50:00

QUOTE (just_Jackie @ Aug 1 2008, 08:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Attention cross-stitchers

I have brought out of the closet, my graphs for 4 small projects. One says "Allah" one is a mosque, one says Bismillah and the other is "Subhanallah'

I made 5 copies...and will start coloring them in. Whoever wants a set, pm me your address and I will send right away! These will also work on plastic canvas. Easier for kids and men to do

on plastic.

Any one or the set would make a great Eid gift! (or nice to display at your home too!)

Jackie

Oh, that is so nice Jackie! I want one, but I will have to convince my husband it is okay to give you my address

He constantly worries of the dangers of dealing with people over the internet. I managed to get the okay today to send Kathleen the baby shower gifts and he didn't fight it too much thank God (the return address will be on the box). I just have to space out these things so I don't overwhelm him, lol.

Also, in regards to the pics. I sent my husband's family pics of us in frames and they put them up in their living room on the tables. I feel bad though because they don't have any other pics since they had to leave a lot behind in Iraq. Thank God they enjoy them so much so it works out.

Edited by S and S, 02 August 2008 - 12:00 AM.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-08-01 23:58:00

This is another good link as well:

http://www.inter-isl...hadeeth/st1.htm

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-07-27 15:08:00

QUOTE (Rajaa_Reda @ Jul 27 2008, 02:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (S and S @ Jul 27 2008, 12:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Alhamdulillah @ Jul 27 2008, 02:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (S and S @ Jul 27 2008, 01:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Rajaa_Reda @ Jul 27 2008, 01:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (S and S @ Jul 26 2008, 07:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm doing some Islamic trivia and need some help. Who was the last Sahaba to die? If anyone could help on that answer I would appreciate it.

sorry i dont' even know what one of those are???

Sahaba is a companion of the prophet (peace be upon him). I believe I found the answer so its okay.

Well, you gonna share with the rest of us or leave us hanging??? lol

lol, sorry, I didn't know if anyone was interested. Abu Tufayl (may Allah be pleased with him) was the last sahaba to die in the year 110 AH (about 100 years after the prophet-peace be upon him).

wow where did you find this information???

I found it on wiki, but another person doing the trivia backed me up. Here is the link I got it from.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahaba

Usually I end up searching the net and trying different key words until I find the answer to questions. I also have many websites with hadiths and information about Sahabas and stories of Islam that I can read and learn from. It really depends on the question as to how I research it.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-07-27 15:01:00

QUOTE (Alhamdulillah @ Jul 27 2008, 02:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (S and S @ Jul 27 2008, 01:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Rajaa_Reda @ Jul 27 2008, 01:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (S and S @ Jul 26 2008, 07:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm doing some Islamic trivia and need some help. Who was the last Sahaba to die? If anyone could help on that answer I would appreciate it.

sorry i dont' even know what one of those are???

Sahaba is a companion of the prophet (peace be upon him). I believe I found the answer so its okay.

Well, you gonna share with the rest of us or leave us hanging??? lol

lol, sorry, I didn't know if anyone was interested. Abu Tufayl (may Allah be pleased with him) was the last sahaba to die in the year 110 AH (about 100 years after the prophet-peace be upon him).

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-07-27 14:44:00

QUOTE (Rajaa_Reda @ Jul 27 2008, 01:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (S and S @ Jul 26 2008, 07:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm doing some Islamic trivia and need some help. Who was the last Sahaba to die? If anyone could help on that answer I would appreciate it.

sorry i dont' even know what one of those are???

Sahaba is a companion of the prophet (peace be upon him). I believe I found the answer so its okay.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-07-27 01:15:00

I'm doing some Islamic trivia and need some help. Who was the last Sahaba to die? If anyone could help on that answer I would appreciate it.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-07-26 21:44:00

QUOTE (Alhamdulillah @ Jul 26 2008, 01:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You can watch Peace TV online too.... http://www.guidedway...m/islamictv.php They actually have a few channels there but some times when I go there I find the USA and UK channels in Arabic too.

Thanks, I'm still listening to the first one, lol. I will check those out though!

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-07-26 01:02:00

QUOTE (Alhamdulillah @ Jul 25 2008, 11:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatuh,

Does everyone know about HUDA TV online? http://www.huda.tv/defaultN.aspx?rt=15

wow, ma'sha Allah that is a great site. I have just been sitting her listening and it is so nice. Thankyou for sharing it with us. Inshallah in the future I will continue to make use of this site.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-07-26 00:22:00

QUOTE (Alhamdulillah @ Jul 25 2008, 07:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (?JP? @ Jul 25 2008, 02:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This conversation about what your husbands can do to make themselves more modest/less attractive is making me laugh.

The reason is women are so different regarding how we find the opposite sex to be attractive. Some women may love a beard. Men will oogle women in a totally different way. For me, I don't like it when my husband shaves his goatee, but others say he looks much better without it.

I don't think the hijab rule could really apply to a man, for them I think its all about actions.

In Islam, the hijab rule applies to both. They have to cover themselves from, at the very least, navel to knees. The beard is also a must (some don't agree... depends on your school of thought I guess).
They also have to lower their gaze and not mix unnecessarily with non related women as a part of modesty.

IMHO, the fact that some women find beards attractive is not a reason for men not to wear them.... some men find women in hijab attractive.... there are veil-fetish-perverts all over the web!

but that doesn't mean women shouldn't wear it. (eta: the mad face is for the perverts not you lol)

lol, I just asked my husband to shave his beard tonight. I hadn't seen him on the camera for days and then I saw him today and it got really thick. Neither of us agree with the school of thought saying he must wear a beard. I prefer him without it and I think he looks better without it. I don't mind if he keeps a very light one though and his mustach is fine as well as a gotee. I just hate a thick beard on him. He is happy to shave it for me if it makes me happy. I noticed in all the pics before he met me that he didn't have a beard so it is normal for him to not have one. He was just being lazy about shaving it recently.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-07-25 19:50:00

There is nothing saying she can't post a muslim thread. Of course people of other faiths can read or comment, but your criticism is hardly constructive or welcoming to newer members.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-05-26 21:52:00

Juliana you didn't say anything to offend me. I wasn't referring to you at all

Edited by S and S, 26 May 2008 - 06:42 PM.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-05-26 18:41:00

God, silly people trying to pick on others who don't put their words together just right drive me crazy. I chose not to let people continue harrassing her when it is clear she is not trying to be hateful. You don't get it and its obvious. There are plenty of other threads to harrass people, why don't you go there.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-05-26 17:34:00

April, i understand what you are trying to say even if others don't. Your wording wasn't perfect, but I see where you were trying to go with your points.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-05-26 16:58:00

QUOTE (April and Mohamed @ May 26 2008, 07:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (S and S @ May 26 2008, 01:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Actually, the start of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict can be rested on the shoulders of the Brittish. The US wouldn't hardly help Israel at all until the late 1960s. Now days you can put a lot of the blame on the US, but not the beginning. The most the United States did was vote for the creation of Israel which many other countries did the same or it wouldn't have passed. It was Brittain who lied to the arabs and promised them the land and then later promised it to the Jewish, so I hold the blame of the start of the conflict squarely on their shoulders.

So my husband has a really severe intense hatred to any and all Jews, and I don't know about ya'll but growing up I was taught to not hate anybody, especially not hating a whole group of people just for the actions of a stupid few, plus my family is extremely diverse so chances are if I'm racist against someone then I'd also be practicing racism towards one of my ancestors. I asked him if he's even met a Jew, no. I told him I know lots of Jews in California who don't support Israel or who just don't give a ####### one way or another, or who don't know enough to give a #######, but that didn't seem to have any influence on his thoughts. He swears that each and every Jew on the planet is part of a conspiracy theory against the Arabs, at which point I told him he's just going along blindly with what people have been telling him. I'm not asking him to go be best friends with them, I would just like that kind of discrimination to not exist in my nuclear family. I will not tolerate my children growing up to hate any group of people, period. I don't think "hateful" fits under the description of a "good Muslim". On another note, do you know how many Jewish converts there are to Islam? It's surprising!

I agree with you about the hatred. I had no idea there was racism until I had been in school a couple years. No one choses where they are born, what they will look like or what religion their family will be. Each person should be judged on their merit alone. It is all well and good to dislike the policies of a government, but you can't hold every citizen of that government accountable for their actions. It is the same with groups. How many Americans hate arabs/muslims just because of the actions of a few on 9/11 or a few other incidents. Can you really hold such a large percentage of the world population accountable for that? Of course not, yet people still do. It really makes me sad.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-05-26 15:11:00

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-05-25 20:57:00

I have been lucky that the mosques I went to were about half muslim converts so everyone seemed helpful to me. I also have a couple muslim born women friends that have been great for me, but there have been cases where I was treated as an outside for not being middle eastern muslim born. That really frustrated me since growing up Christian the churches are so welcoming of newcomers. I guess you think that the muslim community will welcome you in the same way, but sometimes that is not the case. Really, I thank God the mosques I went to were really great.

As for the airport, I rarely get searched so far and I have been lucky in that. I thought for sure when I flew back from Syria (not on any kind of friendly terms with the US) that I would be harrassed a lot. Customs and immigration asked me why I had been traveling to Syria and I informed them I went to get married. I said it with a big smile like it was perfectly normal for American women to fly to Syria to get married. He let me go and just said congratulations. I was suprised that was all that happened. Suprisingly my bags were never searched either. I'll never know how I got that lucky, but I thank God for it. On a side note, I was dressed conservative but western without a hijab.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-05-25 15:30:00

Checking in after a long absence

First off - congratulations and it's wonderful to hear your good news, great love story too! I really appreciate your stopping in and giving us still in the initial phases some insight into what we may expect in the days to come. Your post was really welcome and so helpful. Thanks for sharing your story, and I wish you and your husband many many years of happiness and children }

Thank you very much. I do hope it helped. Best of luck to you as well

Jackie and Staashi, nice to see both of you again as well. Good to know some familiar faces are still around!

S and S

Female

Iraq

2011-08-20 13:53:00

Checking in after a long absence

Thank you so much for sharing your story! It certainly gives me hope and makes me smile to read about your successful marriage. I really enjoyed your insight on the first year. I am in the midst of that first year right now and some days it is so difficult, especially helping him to become more independent...the job hunting...and the learning to drive. But we are so in love and we work through those. There are some days that I sit back and think I must have been crazy for starting this process...but most days I am just so happy we are together. It is funny to look back and think that the actually visa process was the easy part, its the adjustments and compromises that are the truely difficult part.

Thank you again for sharing!

Jackie

You are right that I didn't believe the visa part would be easier than the adjustment period. It wasn't that much easier, but some. The visa process gave me ulcers and depression. His coming here was mostly one long stressful period until we worked things out. I think the hard part about them adjusting is that you see them as these independent, mature men until they have to rely on you for everything. Then it is like having a kid that you must teach everything, but at a much more rapid rate. My hubby hadn't needed a driver's license in Iraq so that was a pain as well, though he did get it three months after coming. I got a nice tax refund around that time because I could claim him and he hadn't made any money the year before so it made us look poorer than we really were. Since I only got that much because of him, I spent it on getting him a cheap vehicle. It still works and he drives it all the time. I often joke when he is getting me angry that if he keeps it up then he can sleep in his van, lol. I'm not serious but that is the running joke with us.

I have to say discrimination is also a problem since people are often leery of Arabs these days. Some people have said some horrible things to him. At the gas station job, one guy refused to give my husband his ID for buying cigarettes saying that he shouldn't have to show his ID to a "non-American". I wish I had been there for that incident. My husband had to show his identification many times around Baghdad to the US check points and he didn't complain. Yet this guy couldn't dig out his drivers license just to buy cigarettes? Some people are so ignorant. There are times I wish I could protect my hubby from it all, but know that isn't possible. God forbid they ever do it in front of me though. I'll tell them I brought him here, and as a soldier who served in Iraq and risked my life for a questionable war, they better not tell me who I can marry and bring here. My husband is a good man who wouldn't harm a soul. Heck, most of the time if he sees a bug that got in the apartment he has me kill it, lol!

I hope things smooth out for you Jackie and that you have a long happy marriage. Sounds like you are doing fairly well, which is a good sign

Congrats!!! We just celebrated our 9th anniversary. There are many happy stories

I think it helps when those of us who survived the gauntlet let others know. Glad you have lasted so long. That is inspiration for me, even if I'm fairly certain we will be fine at this point!

S and S

Female

Iraq

2011-08-19 12:25:00

Checking in after a long absence

Hello everyone, I used to participate on this forum regularly back a few years ago. My husband and I got married in May of 2007, but he didn't arrive here until December of 2008. It was a long journey filled with the angst I'm sure many of you are going through now. He was Iraqi and and a refugee. He couldn't go back to his country and wasn't very welcome in Syria or Jordan, where he stayed for a couple years before finally coming to the United States. We never did get his spouse visa in those eighteen months. The whole process dragged and was completely frustrating. We got lucky that the US approved him for a refugee visa, so he came here on that. It saved us some money in the long run though I spent a lot already trying the other route.

Anyway, I know many people hear horror stories about MENA marriages. Part of me worried about it myself, but I believed I was the exception to the rule. We were open and honest with each other and around the same age. Thankfully, my marriage was among the small percentage that make it. He hasn't needed me since the day he arrived in the country, due to the US government sponsored his coming here rather than me. Yet it will be three years in December since he arrived and our relationship is stronger than ever. We still don't have any children, but we hope some day it will happen (God willing). Due to the economy going bad right before he got here, it took eight months for him to get his first job. The first two he found paid less than four hundred a month since they were part time. The third job, at a gas station, gave him full time work but barely above minimum wage. It wasn't until seven months ago that he got a job through Walmart's distribution center that he finally got something making about $15 an hour. We live in a cheaper state so this is okay. It is labor intensive and not what his degree is in, but we are thankful that it at least pays the bills. I have been able to go back to school and finish my degree as well, which has been great.

I have to say, the first year was the worst. Those that may have told you this are not lying or exaggerating. It is awful and takes tremendous patience. Not everyone can survive it because it requires both spouses to really try. The MENA spouse will need help with every tiny thing. You will go to the grocery store and they will want to know why there are one hundred kinds of salad dressing, ketchup, cheese, vinegar, etc. You have to explain about credit cards, banking, pumping gas, fast food drive-thrus, and the list goes on. My husband didn't even understand why we had to pay the electric every month since they only paid it quarterly or something. It all sounds amusing now, but I swear the endless questions and acts of helplessness were enough to drive me insane. We definitely fought and occasionally thought our marriage wouldn't last. Yet, we still remembered that we loved each other. How could we go through all those eighteen months of pain and troubles to get him here just to give up? So we rode it out. I compromised on some things, he compromised on others. We learned what subjects were safe to talk about and which ones were best left alone. He learned to fend for himself and get around without me helping him. I forced him to become independent and he hated it, but he learned and is quite happy now to be self-sufficient. Don't get me wrong, the man still will not cook or clean, lol. Yet he will work, occasionally take the trash out, buy groceries, and other small things. He has mastered the credit card quite well (which can be a bad thing but he hates debt so not too bad). The check book is still a mystery to him no matter how many times I explain and even show how he can copy the previous entries through the carbon copies. I think he just doesn't want to write the rent check out himself. He will walk it down to the office though!

The other day I was on the phone with a service company about something and I had to ask my husband a couple questions for the lady on the line. We got to joking and laughing and she asked if we were newly weds! I told her no, we had been married for over four years. She was shocked. We often laugh now like we did when we first met. Keeping a sense of humor and lightheartedness has helped tremendously. Remembering to say "I love you" and maintaining affection help as well. What amazes me most is how hard my husband still tries to make me happy, even when I'm being the less than pleasant one. He still cares a lot and it always touches me.

So, I just wanted you all to know that there is hope. Not all MENA relationships fail. Some do work. I think occasionally one of the older crew pops in to let you know, but thought I would add to the list. For everyone waiting, keep your faith and hope alive. I wish you a short journey to reuniting with your spouses and much happiness.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2011-08-19 01:40:00

The Forum Interview Cheerleading Thread Vol. 2

With my case my husband completed all this refugee interviews. We are just waiting on the background checks to be complete and then they will give final approval and book him a flight. Naturally, the visa he is now getting isn't listed on VJ, though the CR1 is my back up plan.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-07-27 00:42:00

Yeah, the year is actually coming up in December, but we found out that some kind of certificate of protection from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee can work as a kind of residency (though it isn't in the passport). Problem is my husband's certificate expired so now he is waiting for another appointment there. You have to wait months just to get an interview with them as well! He will have the certificate this month though and then he can go back for the police clearance and have it for the interview. Should be done sometime in early December when he reaches his one year in Jordan.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-11-04 09:33:00

QUOTE (ZARQA @ Oct 30 2008, 06:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (S and S @ Oct 30 2008, 06:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I got lucky. They did waive the police certificate since he hasn't lived in Jordan a year yet. The NVC operator said that his case is now pending completion. Thank God!!!

I'm so happy for you

Thanks, and I am sending lots of hugs to you ((((((Hugs))))))

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-10-30 18:51:00

I got lucky. They did waive the police certificate since he hasn't lived in Jordan a year yet. The NVC operator said that his case is now pending completion. Thank God!!!

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-10-30 18:33:00

I am waiting right now for NVC to do another review of his case and see if they will waive the certificate on the grounds that he has not resided in Jordan a year yet. Until they say no I don't want to start anything else, but if they do say no I will definitely take the advice given here. I really appreciate all your responses!

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-10-29 21:52:00

Thanks to all of you. I am really hoping that I can find a way to work this out so we can get the clearance they want. The silly part of all of this is if he left Jordan today than it would nullify him needing a police clearance at all because he was not in the country a year so why they have to have it is beyond me.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-10-29 17:21:00

QUOTE (ZARQA @ Oct 28 2008, 10:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (S and S @ Oct 28 2008, 11:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I just wanted to check with those of you who have gone through the Amman embassy about the police clearance. I thought my husband was supposed to get the police clearance from the police station so that was what I had him do even though he has technically not been in Jordan a year yet so he didn't have to provide it. Well, the only RFE I got on his whole DS-230 packet was the Jordan police clearance. Apparently they want one from the General Intelligence Directorate which I never saw anywhere I looked on the websites but maybe I somehow missed it. Anyway, he went down there and tried to get the clearance but they refused to give it to him since he doesn't have residency. I am waiting now for NVC to decide if they will waive it on the grounds that my husband hasn't been in the country a year yet.

This is what the RFE said:

Jordan: Available to resident Jordanian citizens and foreigners. The General Intelligence Directorate (GID) is responsible for issuing good conduct certificates. They are considered to be reliable, but cover primarily security-related records, i.e. not necessarily criminal information. These certificates must be applied for in person at the local GID office, and are valid for one year. It takes up to two weeks to obtain the certificate from the GID. Foreigners must reside continuously in Jordan for six months before the GID will issue a certificate. There are no procedures to obtain these certificates through Jordanian embassies in foreign countries.

This is really frustrating that they are doing this. If they really require this I have no idea how I can ever finish NVC.

I hope this one help, is the email from GID Jordan gid jordan (mu5abarat@gmail.com) I sent requesting to have information for my husband who is in Spain and I received an email the next day

To: GID Jordan (mu5abarat@gmail.com)
I just sent this way asking you can do the same

What did they say when you sent the email? My husband is in Jordan and went to the GID and they would not help him

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-10-28 22:35:00

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-10-28 22:04:00

Returning Petitions to the United States via 221g

QUOTE (morocco4ever @ Sep 27 2008, 09:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That is a bit confusing. Why would they say he wasn't qualified, then not deny? Strange response, but at least they are going to review the evidence.

I read somewhere on this site that the embassy used those emails in order to try and catch the spouse or fiance and see if they talk to other women. I guess a guy got caught that way because someone at the embassy posed as a woman and was flirting with the guy. They used it as evidence against him. They got his email address and chat IDs from the evidence he provided at the interview. I don't know if that is the case this time, but you never know. I could have sworn it was the Morroccan embassy in that case too. Maybe once they can't "catch" him doing anything wrong then they will give him his visa (inshallah).

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-10-03 23:56:00

IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures

August I-130 approvals, lets do NVC together.

QUOTE (shrewdgal @ Nov 17 2008, 11:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

who all is left without an interview date??

me...

???????????

We are in this together. I didn't get an interview date either.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-11-17 21:40:00

QUOTE (julianna @ Jul 26 2008, 01:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Olivia* @ Jul 26 2008, 12:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes yes yes. I am going to do it!

It's getting so hot with July going into August. I think I need to call one of the other gyms and see if they have an indoor track and go over there.

Indoor tracks rock. I may still do couch to 5k tonight, but I am for sure doing the lose a jeans size set of exersizes. They totally suck and you can tell they are working.

Yeah, the more it sucks, the better it works, lol.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-07-26 01:26:00

QUOTE (Olivia* @ Jul 26 2008, 12:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (julianna @ Jul 25 2008, 11:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (S and S @ Jul 25 2008, 11:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (julianna @ Jul 26 2008, 12:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (S and S @ Jul 25 2008, 09:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I drink about 40 to 60 oz of water a day. You are doing way better than me!

I was thinking about upping it to 100oz. If I stopped drinking soda, I'd have to up it. I have a weird habit of needing to drink something all the time.

If I could cut out the soda then I think I would drink about 100oz of water too. That is a good point. Maybe your goals will inspire me too!

I side with you though, water is terrible. I hate it so much! It tastes like total butt crack. I have to add something to it or else I cannot even get it down. I actually write in on my list of things to do because otherwise I will not do it. How bad is that?

QUOTE (Olivia* @ Jul 25 2008, 11:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Whenever I cut out soda and alcohol the lbs melt off my belly.

That could be part of your plan!

Mmmm.. ok maybe tomorrow.

Tommorow is always better, lol.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-07-26 00:52:00

QUOTE (julianna @ Jul 26 2008, 12:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (S and S @ Jul 25 2008, 11:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (julianna @ Jul 26 2008, 12:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (S and S @ Jul 25 2008, 09:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I drink about 40 to 60 oz of water a day. You are doing way better than me!

I was thinking about upping it to 100oz. If I stopped drinking soda, I'd have to up it. I have a weird habit of needing to drink something all the time.

If I could cut out the soda then I think I would drink about 100oz of water too. That is a good point. Maybe your goals will inspire me too!

QUOTE (Olivia* @ Jul 25 2008, 11:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Whenever I cut out soda and alcohol the lbs melt off my belly.

That could be part of your plan!

lol, I haven't noticed a bad taste unless it is some bad tap water. I filter it in a britta water filter jug and keep it cool in the fridge which helps. My problem is I love the taste of soda, lol. It is like my comfort food. I need it more than any deserts, lol. When Ramadan comes I really suffer because I force myself to prioritize water since I can't drink anything all day. It doesn't leave much time for soda!

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-07-26 00:41:00

QUOTE (julianna @ Jul 26 2008, 12:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (S and S @ Jul 25 2008, 09:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I drink about 40 to 60 oz of water a day. You are doing way better than me!

I was thinking about upping it to 100oz. If I stopped drinking soda, I'd have to up it. I have a weird habit of needing to drink something all the time.

If I could cut out the soda then I think I would drink about 100oz of water too. That is a good point. Maybe your goals will inspire me too!

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-07-26 00:26:00

I drink about 40 to 60 oz of water a day. You are doing way better than me!

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-07-25 22:01:00

QUOTE (chaishai @ Jul 25 2008, 08:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (julianna @ Jul 25 2008, 11:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (caybee @ Jul 25 2008, 09:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But HFCS isn't in no-calorie diet soda, correct? I know there are plenty of chemicals in them anyway, and I'm better off without it. (Possibly TMI: A friend once told me her doctor told her her urethra was partially clogged from drinking diet sodas - ack!) I'm just hooked on my diet Coke in the morning.

But I've cut that out, and I'm upping the water and veggies little by little.

I was feeling pretty blah yesterday, but my energy is up today. I walked 2 miles at 3.5 mph yesterday evening at the park while hubby played soccer. That put me at the top of my target heart rate, so I'll stick with that until the heart rate drops and I don't feel like I'm working as hard. I started logging everything on the Daily Plate a couple of days ago. It's so helpful! Thanks to those of you who recommended it.

My coworker's been on WW for a few weeks. The other day, she told me she'd shrunk out of some of her pants and asked if I'd like to try them. I always thought she was thinner than I was, even before she started dieting, but I tried them anyway, and they fit. Now I want to outshrink them too. Yay for second-hand clothes!

Actually, it contains:

Carbonated Water
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Caramel Color
Phosphoric Acid
Natural Flavors
Caffeine
Aspartame (NutraSweet brand)
Potassium Benzoate
Citric acid

Aspartame and HFCS are both pretty bad!

I have a regular soda addiction. I am trying to be below 20oz a day, but sometimes? it's not happening. I imagine if I cut it I should drop some weight, right?

julianna, isnt 12oz of soda like 200 cals? so you are drinking like 400 cals of soda a day - so that is 2800 calories a week, so approximately every week and a day or two you would lose a lb just by cutting out the soda. not to mention you would FEEL so much better. i had so many issues, sluggishness, ADD feelings, anxiety, all kinds of ####### when i drank soda. i NEVER drink soda now, i went cold turkey years go and now i think it tastes like syrup. occasionally i will sip a high quality rootbeer or something but that is just a taste and not to quench my thirst. i think its the most important thing you can give up (not to nag)

I noticed on days that I didn't drink Soda and did drink lots of water that I fell asleep easier and I slept better through the night. My problem is I love the taste of it, along with candy, and lots of other things I shouldn't eat. I try to just keep the bad stuff in small amounts as a compromise. As for calories, that just depends on the metabolism and what else you eat. Other than a bloated feeling if I drink too much soda, I have no weight gain from it.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-07-25 20:47:00

QUOTE (julianna @ Jul 25 2008, 12:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (S and S @ Jul 24 2008, 08:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (julianna @ Jul 24 2008, 09:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Jenn! @ Jul 24 2008, 08:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

All my pants are 12s, and they're all way too big. Some of them won't even stay up at all, they just slide right down. Yes, I'm gonna have to buy new work clothes too. My tops are pretty much fine, but I need all new pants. Little by little...

I did a lot of cardio today, so tomorrow will be a good time to do planks.

Oh yeah, that's a huge difference! So this means you've met your size goal, right? or are you still going to try for the extra weight to come off? I think I remember you're shaped differently than me, but I was gong to say if you keep going on the weight loss, size 4-8 isn't that different as you can wear the same pants and your hips' width should keep them up.. unless you don't have that particular curve going on. you'll definately need new pants, but your clothes won't fall off as much as from a 12 to an 8.

QUOTE (S and S @ Jul 24 2008, 08:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hmmm, i never come in this thread. I don't have goals to lose weight, but I really enjoy reading the ideas you all have. I run a couple times a week and do some push-ups, sit-ups, weights sometimes. It helps me have more energy and keep my muscles more toned. I have been trying to stick to more water because sodas definitely make me feel more bloated and make running more difficult. I naturally don't eat big meals. I am the slowest eater I have ever met and eat less than most people though I love to snack throughout the day (which makes up for the smaller meals). Lately I have been avoiding processed foods as much or canned vegetables. I try to use fresh vegetables (or else frozen if I must) and I cook meat in healthier ways. I do all these things just to feel better and it does help when I stick with it.

non-processed frozen vegetables are often more healthy than fresh in the grovery store-- unless you're growing your own or getting from a farmer's market. Fresh in teh store are picked before they are ripe and are stored in O2-free trucks for shipping.. and are pretty old by the time they get to you comparitively, and lack a lot of nutrients they would have gotten if they were ripe when picked. Frozen is often picked actually ripe and then frozen within a day or two of harvest so it's much more nutritious.

Thanks Jackie, I appreciate the advice about the vegetables. I had no idea!

You're welcome!

OMG, I am so sorry Julianna, thank you for the tips about veggies. I don't know what I was looking at when I thought she wrote that. I must have been out of it

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-07-25 16:30:00