ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Middle East and North AfricaJust got fired from job!
Geez Nutty, what's going to happen next? Got plans to get hit by lightning? Is that other job you really wanted still available? Go tell your husband to put you on his health insurance, buy and cook his own damn food and to shape up or ship out.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-01-31 01:44:00
Middle East and North AfricaA 10-Year-Old Divorcée Takes Paris
I remember reading about this in the Gulf News when I lived in the UAE. I feel sorry for these underage girls being forced into marriage or the sex-slave trade. It will take a thousand years if at all before the ME reaches the same level of equality of the sexes one sees in the west.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-02-04 09:02:00
Middle East and North AfricaStopped cooking for my husband!
QUOTE (teenutty @ Feb 2 2009, 09:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You know what is soooo weird....When I lived in Iran, I would do things to help his mother around the house (like vacuum, clean the floors, hose down the patio and garden)....My husband would exclaim, "it makes me uncomfortable to see you work, please let me help you..." And when his mother went away for a few days to visit relatives, my husband would enlist his brothers to clean up the place before she came home.

These tendencies have completely disappeared.



I think some guys feel like they've bought a maid when they get married instead of found a life-partner.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-02-02 12:28:00
Middle East and North AfricaStopped cooking for my husband!
QUOTE (teenutty @ Feb 2 2009, 12:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Yes, it comes down to they have been babied by their mothers and have no concept of costs here in USA.

I just told my husband that if he wants me to cook, he has to pay for the food. Especially I am not working anymore. He went shopping last night. Came home with eggs, milk, a cut up fryer chicken and butter. I told him, "potatos, onions, carrots, celery, some herbs and I cook a proper meal." He just said, bake the chicken with pepper." HE IS SOOOOO CHEAP! I told him is he knows best, then he can cook it.



Oh good grief! That sounds like some 'friends' of Hoom's that I absolutely loathe. The guys are so bloody cheap and won't lift a finger to help their wives around the house. What's really annoying is the Iranian wives are so proud that they do everything in the kitchen while the guys sit on their asses chitchatting. Last time we had a get-together with the 4 of them the women asked me to help in the kitchen and so I called for Hoom to come help too and they said oh no, in Iranian households the women do everything. (They're very concerned with teaching me how to be an Iranian wife. wacko.gif blink.gif Which of course I never intend to be and Hoom knows it.) Damned if Hoom didn't get up to come with me even though he knew full well the women barely speak English which makes things awkward for me. I had to give Hoom the evil eye and explain that we're moving to America and he will have to get used to helping me out otherwise he should have married an Iranian. Then the light went on in his head and he remembered he can't stand the old-fashioned religious types and realized he needed to help me. blush.gif He doesn't always help out the first time round but when he sees it makes me unhappy he definitely remembers the next time or so. Sure it'd be great if he'd volunteer without my having to ask and help round the house the first time around but I count my blessings considering my mom is still waiting for my Dad to help out with house chores after 40 years together.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-02-01 16:55:00
Middle East and North AfricaStopped cooking for my husband!
QUOTE (Pattu Rani @ Feb 1 2009, 04:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
In Nepal when the wife is unhappy with the husband she will do what is called a 'cholo ra chulo bandha' - 'blouse and stove strike' - the blouse stays closed and the stove stays off.....

laughing.gif



Well, I couldn't go on a stove strike since I have to eat too. His favorite foods are pizza and waffles so we might have to go without those for a while. whistling.gif However, I might try the blouse strike to get Hoom to quit smoking. He promised to quit and was supposed to be threw with ciggies before we got married but he only cut down on how much he smokes and only after getting really sick with bronchitis. mad.gif I got Bronchitis shortly after him and it really scared me seeing how much sicker he got than me because he smokes. I was still functional though sick, but he was completely bedridden. I told him it was mandatory that he quit before we go to the states.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-02-01 01:16:00
Middle East and North AfricaStopped cooking for my husband!
QUOTE (HannahP @ Jan 31 2009, 11:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I sum it all up to immaturity. My husband never had to grow up making his own meals, cleaning up after himself, or doing his own laundry/dishes (and I think this is just as prevalent amongst Western men and many women as it is amongst MENA men).

He bitches about the money I spend on a week's worth of shopping, yet that week's worth of groceries is cheaper in the long run than his habit of buying a few ready-made meals at a time. He just doesn't get it. Even simple ideas like, oh, making a batch of something and freezing it to save money...he just doesn't understand. It's like the long-term consequences of spending fly right over his head.


I can't trust my husband to do the laundry etc. I wish he would cook more though. It's strange that he knows nothing about cooking when his dad actually did most of the cooking in their family. Hoom only knows how to make Persian style rice. (Which is basically the same as the way we make rice only it's burnt on the bottom. wacko.gif )

I suppose buying a cookbook and then going on a cooking strike would be a good way to teach guys that won't cook. What's wrong with these mothers that teach their sons nothing about caring for themselves when they're out on their own?
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-01-31 02:19:00
Middle East and North Africaregarding previous post on the flip side
Hmmm, from coded passive aggression to Q-tips soaked in evil. Where is that crackpipe...
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-02-12 00:07:00
Middle East and North Africaregarding previous post on the flip side
I'm guessing everyone is supposed to take a hit from the virtual crackpipe before opening this thread. huh.gif
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-02-10 14:52:00
Middle East and North AfricaVisa to Saudi Arabia
QUOTE (allousa @ Feb 16 2009, 09:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
laughing.gif Thanks, this gave me a real snort! smile.gif

....this is the FIRST thing that came to mind. laughing.gif



Well, with some of the characters on VJ you just have to wonder. So, Peeps...Anyone wanted by Interpol? Inquiring minds want to know. I promise I won't turn you in. whistling.gif
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-02-16 12:32:00
Middle East and North AfricaVisa to Saudi Arabia
I don't personally know the person in question so I can only friggin speculate as to why she isn't 'allowed' into ksa. I would never want to go there myself as I found Dubai intolerable enough to my western feminist sensibilities. The truth and sense of the matter is that if you have an Israeli stamp in your passport you won't be allowed into any GCC country that I know of, not even Dubai. And likewise some people have some f'd up relationships with controlling husbands that may or may not 'allow' their wives to visit their family in the next town let alone travel to another country. Also it can be difficult to get a visa for ksa. But like I said, I don't know the girl so I can only be imaginative and speculate. There are any number of reasons why a person may or may not be allowed into any country. She could be an international fugitive whose name comes up in Interpol, etc., etc., etc. rolleyes.gif
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-02-16 12:06:00
Middle East and North AfricaVisa to Saudi Arabia
QUOTE (Nawal @ Feb 16 2009, 02:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You're right. You can ask for them to stamp a "blank passport" page and have it not be in your actual passport. As for Cuba...you can go and visit through Mexico...we have a few family members that do it and usually have no issues (so far!). biggrin.gif


Obama is expected to decriminalize travel to Cuba so you're family might want to get in one last trip before the island becomes littered with Hooters and McDummies restaurants. wink.gif
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-02-16 02:10:00
Middle East and North AfricaVisa to Saudi Arabia
QUOTE (Nawal @ Feb 15 2009, 09:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Hoomsfuturewife @ Feb 15 2009, 07:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Amina_KSA @ Feb 15 2009, 01:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Why aren't you "allowed"??? KSA is filled with non-Muslims, I'm not sure where you're getting your information from.



Who knows, maybe she's Jewish or her husband just won't let her.


Wow, you learn something new everyday. Or if its simply a stamp in your passport from traveling to Israel though, you can just get another passport (stamp free) and travel there. Many people do it.


You're not allowed into the UAE either with an Israeli stamp in your passport. Some people don't want to bother to pay for a new passport just to get rid of the stamp. Iranians aren't allowed to travel to Israel either. The Iranian govt. won't let them and it's even written in their passports that they aren't to be admitted into Israel. It still bothers me that I'm not allowed to visit Cuba. Uncle Sam shouldn't have any control over where I go on vacation. Though I have heard of Americans flying to other places and then going to Cuba by boat. They say if you ask them not to then they won't stamp your passport. I guess it's the Cubans way of sending a middle finger to Uncle Sam while still getting some American tourist dollars. The fine when you get back stateside is pretty stiff though if you ever get caught.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-02-15 13:19:00
Middle East and North AfricaVisa to Saudi Arabia
QUOTE (Amina_KSA @ Feb 15 2009, 01:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Why aren't you "allowed"??? KSA is filled with non-Muslims, I'm not sure where you're getting your information from.



Who knows, maybe she's Jewish or her husband just won't let her.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-02-15 09:31:00
Middle East and North AfricaIs abuse ever OK in a relationship?
QUOTE (sereia @ Feb 19 2009, 08:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Abuse is NEVER okay. And I don't believe most abusers can change. I have read studies showing that VERY few abusers change for the better.

And never marry/date someone who comes from a home with abusive parents. Like father, like son the huge majority of the time.



I think a big problem is that women that were abused somehow in childhood usually go on to select abusers as mates because they don't feel they deserve any better. My mom got along great with her dad but her mother was a total narcissist that mentally/emotionally abused her. Instead of marrying a nice guy like her dad she picked someone like my grandmother that belittled her as if she were a stupid child that he owned. One of my childhood friend's mother was sexually abused as a child and even as an adult she wondered what she did wrong to make her father and brother do that to her. So she went on to marry a physically abusive redneck, divorced him, then married a mentally abusive crackhead that got her addicted to drugs and then laughed and made fun of her when she ended up getting raped by a bunch of guys in the ghetto when she was looking for drugs. It's hard for people to break old patterns without professional help. If all someone knew was being abused as a kid they view that as normal and end up in relationships with abusers.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-02-20 01:25:00
Middle East and North AfricaIs abuse ever OK in a relationship?
QUOTE (allousa @ Feb 20 2009, 12:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I don't think it is acceptable at all for women in any culture or country to be thought of as less than a man. We are all equal and we all deserve the same equal respect...man, woman AND child!


I totally agree with the above. The problem is that the major organized religions (cults IMO that were invented by men) view women as being less than a man. Religion always has been and always will be the ultimate tool of oppression against practitioners of the 'religion' and a weapon used against those that believe something else. Sadly, it seems much of the world has yet to emerge from the Dark Ages and is hellbent on dragging the rest of the world back to a time when women were nothing but property. It really makes me miss progressive, non-religious, ultra-feminist Scandinavia.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-02-20 01:13:00
Middle East and North Africawhere to buy cellphone in arabic
You might try: Souq.com

My husband bought a laptop in tip-top shape from there when we were in Dubai.

Otherwise, you might look up an electronics store over there where you could buy the phone online and have it shipped to the sister's address.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-02-23 23:18:00
Middle East and North AfricaQatar air?
It should be about the same as flying Emirates. Coach on Emirates is pretty cramped but the first class section is awesome. The service is good on Emirates and the food is even edible and plentiful and they don't charge you for every little thing like headphones either.

Edited by DieNörglerin, 03 March 2009 - 08:57 AM.

Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-03 08:55:00
Middle East and North AfricaDINNER IN MENA LAND
QUOTE (chaishai @ Mar 8 2009, 05:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
kebab in turkey soooo good



Yes. It was good in Dubai too at the Lebanese Restaurants. The Indian food is good there as well. I also like the Persian dishes that my father in law made when he came for a visit as well. Himself is now required to fix me Fesenjan like his dad makes at least once a month since it's my favorite.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-08 08:38:00
Middle East and North AfricaDINNER IN MENA LAND
QUOTE (M_n_M @ Mar 8 2009, 03:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
loooooool, my husband likes pancakes with maple syrup...LOVES them. I'm visiting him in Iran, so every once in a while I make him pancakes... there are no waffles here so I have yet to introduce him to the phenomena of waffles, but i'm darn sure he'd like them. But they do have maple syrup in Iran, it's surprising to me that they don't have it in Turkey. There are stores here that sell Foreign brand foods, like american, or chinese, and they definitely have bettycrocker pancakes and syrup. (actually i think the syrup is "americanfare" brand, but i'm not sure.) Anyhow, I hope you find some!



I've tried Americanfare products in Europe and didn't usually care for them. Turkey has protectionist trade policies so they don't import much compared to other countries and what they do have in the way of imports at the grocery stores is expensive. A box of granola bars or a jar of peanut butter would cost you about $6 here when you could get it stateside for around $3. So sometimes even if you can find what you want it's too expensive to be worth it except for on occasion. I can survive on the good Turkish stuff since I know I'll go back to the states eventually. Whenever we make trips abroad we will look for the syrup and then I'll just buy a waffle maker here to make him happy. They do have American fast food restaurants here but I'd rather have kabab. But I do notice young Iranians are a lot more into buying western products just to give the regime the middle finger.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-08 06:39:00
Middle East and North AfricaDINNER IN MENA LAND
Good Bakeries are something I wish the US had more of. Though there was a gourmet meals market I used to frequent in New Orleans called Foodies that had the best bread I've ever had stateside. I'd always buy the olive bread, blue cheese & walnut bread and chocolate bon bon bread.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-08 00:42:00
Middle East and North AfricaDINNER IN MENA LAND
QUOTE (star_dragon @ Mar 8 2009, 01:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (caybee @ Mar 6 2009, 10:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
My husband will eat Chinese food once or twice a month, usually lo mein. The takeout near us makes a great General Tso's tofu, but he doesn't think tofu is food.


Tofu is supposed to be food? jest.gif

tongue.gif

Hmm...wonder if I could get away with vegetarian "ground beef".....and if he'd notice the difference...



I don't generally like the vegetarian imitation meat stuff except for Boca Burgers. It's usually easy to tell the difference. The difference in texture and consistency is noticeable. The taste might be good but it still doesn't taste like meat to me.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-07 16:15:00
Middle East and North AfricaDINNER IN MENA LAND
QUOTE (childress_london @ Mar 7 2009, 09:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Baklava is big with the Greeks too. Every Christmas there is this Greek Orthodox church that sells homemade baklava and it is the best I've ever had. Mmmmm.... I'm getting hungry. I don't know if my hubby has ever had waffles or pancakes. I'll have to ask him.



The very first time I ever had Baklava was at a Greekfest in New Orleans. It was as delicious as it is here in Turkey. It could be dangerous introducing your husband to waffles and maple syrup though. star_smile.gif
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-07 14:12:00
Middle East and North AfricaDINNER IN MENA LAND
QUOTE (chaishai @ Mar 7 2009, 04:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
this thread is making me laugh too because my husband will eat anything, any type of food but he prefers his waffles or pancakes WITH nutella lol. or honey is acceptable. i share the love of waffles lately i have been on a waffle kick and eat flax plus waffles every day. i have been using agave nectar though as maple syrup is 10000 calories a spoon.


That doesn't bother my man at all. He's one of those annoying people that has natural muscle tone without having to work out and doesn't gain much weight no matter how many stacks of waffles or pieces of pizza he eats.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-07 08:49:00
Middle East and North AfricaDINNER IN MENA LAND
QUOTE (sara535 @ Mar 7 2009, 12:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
this made me LOL. My husband is also extremely fond of anything that might be served with maple syrup. we have pancakes or waffles fairly often around here smile.gif


I love Baklava, which is a Persian invention but they sell it in every bakery here too. Luckily it's a bit expensive otherwise I'd be eating it every weekend. I asked him if he preferred his native land's Baklava or waffles with maple syrup better. It didn't take him a second before he said waffles with syrup. luv.gif
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-07 04:35:00
Middle East and North AfricaDINNER IN MENA LAND
QUOTE (childress_london @ Mar 6 2009, 11:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
My husband says he doesn't like Chinese food either, so you are not alone.



Funny. Mine loves Chinese and Pizza and Waffles with maple syrup. He's obsessed with waffles with maple syrup. He's quite upset they don't have that here in Turkey. They just don't sell maple syrup here or any kind of pancake/waffle syrup. There is actually a waffle house but they only serve one kind of waffle and it's topped with nutella and fruit. He loves nutella...and fruit. Just not on his waffles. He wants to run away to a place that has Eggos and maple syrup. blush.gif When he saw a waffle maker in a store he wanted me to buy it. I mentioned the lack of syrup and he asked if I could make some home-made maple syrup. I had to explain the fact that I doubted the ability to locate any maple trees in Istanbul and even if I did find some the problem would arise of how was I to tap them and then carry the sap back to our apartment to make syrup from. He decided it was a waste to buy a waffle maker if he couldn't have it with the syrup. blink.gif The first place we'll go when we touch down on American soil is waffle house.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-06 17:12:00
Middle East and North AfricaDINNER IN MENA LAND
QUOTE (KHPerfectMatch @ Mar 4 2009, 09:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Good grief my house has never been cleaner EVER! He can't stand a single SPOON in the sink... can't even wait for the dishwasher to get full and run it.. has to do it by hand..... Has emptied out every single thing from my cupboards and thrown out everything old and organized everything that "passed his fresheness test".... I have to hang on to my glass or he takes it from me and washes it!

He irons, he does laundry, he puts all my cosmetics in a row on the counter... even tackled the "garage sale" pile in my loft... I can't wait for the weather to get warmer so he can tackle the garage!



Yeah, but does he house-train other husbands.

Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-04 05:28:00
Middle East and North AfricaDINNER IN MENA LAND
QUOTE (childress_london @ Feb 25 2009, 07:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
He needs to learn that both men and women are capable of cooking and making the meal and who does it depends on what the situation is for the day. Out of love and respect for you, he should be considerate of you and if you are tired or stressed from working or whatever that he should want to help you. Have you communicated to him these things? He probably is totally unaware and has no clue. He just thinks things are normal.


I don't think that thought process really ever occurs to most MENA men. They are used to being raised by stay at home moms, Asian maids or their mother worked and still came home to do everything because that's what's expected. All they know is that women are expected to take care of cooking and house work regardless of their other obligations so they might not have ever learned how to cook anything beyond throwing a chunk of meat over a fire. They really do have to be taught a more feminist way of thinking if they are ever going to get by in the west but they're not going to learn it on their own.

Mine is learning how to make some Persian dishes. I told him I refuse to learn to cook anything Persian, not even my favorite Persian dish. I said I'll fix Italian, American, Mexican, Indian, Chinese, German, etc. But if you ever want Persian then buddy meet pot and pan cuz you're Persian so you're cooking. He's now learned how to cook Fesenjun, my favorite and one of the more time consuming dishes to make. I actually don't know why Hooman never learned to cook though, because his family is really quite liberal and progressive. His father is a long haired hippy that loves to cook and actually did most of the cooking in the family. Hoom just can't pry himself away from the computer.

Perhaps a chili strike is in order for the OP. Just fix up a huge pot of chili. Freeze individual servings and anytime he complains he's hungry then plop a bowl of nuked chili and store-bought bread in front of him til he decides he wants to learn to cook.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-02-25 11:13:00
Middle East and North AfricaSMOKING CIGARETTES
We need a new thread by the smokers who were successful in quitting so they can advise those that are trying to quit.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-13 09:59:00
Middle East and North AfricaSMOKING CIGARETTES
QUOTE (dimanuni @ Mar 13 2009, 08:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
No offense to those of you who smoke, but I'm sure you stink and don't even realize it!


yes.gif Exactly. There's nothing worse than smelling, let alone kissing an ashtray. I don't smoke as I'm allergic to dust, smoke, etc., etc. Hubby smokes but is supposed to be quitting. He doesn't really try though. He claims the nicotine gum makes him sick so he'll have to try some of the pills and see how that goes. I make him smoke outside no matter how hot, cold or stormy it is.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-13 00:59:00
Middle East and North AfricaMan with 86 kids and more on the way!
*sigh* Between this guy and octomom, Zero Population Growth is really taking a beating. They might as well just raise the white flag and dispense fertility treatments.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-11 07:14:00
Middle East and North Africaproblems with muslim spouse?
It seems like certain countries cases get put on hold more than others because that is the case. Certain countries have a higher rate of fraud, regimes that the US govt. is in conflict with, a lower standard of living which of course makes people at USCIS wonder if the USC is being used. If I had picked a German or a Norwegian when I lived in Europe (I actually would never return stateside.) then of course he'd be approved much quicker than an Iranian, Pakistani or Filipino. Go check out some of the sob stories from people used for a greencard by Russians or Filipinos. Or some of the pissed off stories from Asia and MENA where it was discovered the spouse had another wife unbeknownst to the USC. Is it inconvenient that it takes longer for people from high-fraud countries to get their non-fraudulent spouse over? Yes. But I'm glad they take their time trying to weed out the fraudsters, criminals, etc. otherwise the US would be an even worse place to live than it already is. It's not like they are frivolous in deciding which countries cases need closer inspection. They don't just throw a dart at a map and decide they are going to cause grief for Finnish applicants that day. There is a proven track record of higher rates of problems/fraud coming out of certain countries so of course they take more time with those than with people coming from countries where the standard of living is the same or higher than that of the US. Knowing this doesn't make the wait less frustrating it just explains it.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-18 23:49:00
Middle East and North AfricaWhat is the stupidest thing you have heard because your with a MENA SO ?
QUOTE (M_n_M @ Mar 8 2009, 03:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The whole Caucasian thing on demographic forms has ALWAYS included those of north african and middle eastern decent, and it's very annoying. Especially when it comes to applying for university. Being Caucasian doesn't increase your chances of being accepted since many schools are looking to diversify their school population and APPARENTLY being middle eastern or north african doesn't make you diverse enough. There are laws for many schools as to the percentage of minorities that they have to accept. It's just frustrating. Sometimes "other" is not even available to mark, that's when I just don't answer the question.



I'm kind of hoping that one day it won't be necessary to ask such questions. I view some of the things they ask, i.e., religion or lack thereof to be a personal matter that need not be divulged. And some people don't like admitting to being mixed and shouldn't have to just in the hopes of getting a scholarship. I think it would be better if schools just accepted people based upon test scores, academic records, community service and extracurricular activities besides sports.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-08 07:05:00
Middle East and North AfricaWhat is the stupidest thing you have heard because your with a MENA SO ?
QUOTE (Lisa wa Yazied @ Mar 8 2009, 07:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
blush.gif actually the white with blue/colored eyed combos are leucistic, not albino..ya i know, splitting hairs but its true. See, I have kept both albino snakes and leucistic snakes...the difference is in the eye color mostly. smile.gif
I saw MANY red haired jordanians..if they are albinos then its very common laughing.gif
I suppose the "albino arabs" you saw had something in the gene pool that gave hem light colored hair? unsure.gif
just like there are blonde/blue eyed latin ppl, it doesnt mean they are "albinos" it just means that they dont fit into the common "dark hair,dark eyed" idea that most hold.
star_smile.gif


blush.gif Albinism can be partial. It's not always total. And it's still possible to tell the difference between an African albino and a European Albino. Like I said, the 'white' hair on an African albino can appear more yellowish than white. And yes, I know there are red-haired Jordanians. The Arab girl I saw in Dubai was an albino with the appropriate color skin/eyes but with orangey/reddish hair. I've nothing against albinos. Like everyone, I notice people that look different. That's fine so long as you don't stare. And none of the rest of her family were albino looking, so it wasn't that her family had red hair in their gene pool. And I don't think she had the same problem as Michael Jackson either. Sorry but I didn't exactly take a group photo of the girl surrounded by her dark haired & skinned relatives. Google for some pictures of Albinos and you'll see that yes most do have white hair but depending on ethnicity some can have yellowish or Carrot Top looking hair. Sometimes traits show up a little differently in different ethnic groups. Just like some albino snakes can have patches of yellow coloration due to pigments that aren't affected by albinism. Not trying to be uppity, but I can tell the difference between a red-haired person and someone with partial or total lack of melanin. Hope no offense was taken. wink.gif

Sorry to the OP for going totally off-topic but threads have a way of doing that. blush.gif

Off-Topic2.gif The dumbest thing I guess my family said was that I better never go to Iran. They fear I'd be stranded and something bad would happen which isn't so unreasonable given the crazy regime in Iran. They were also worried he'd be a macho man when actually, he's the total opposite.

Edited by DieNörglerin, 08 March 2009 - 12:36 AM.

Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-08 00:36:00
Middle East and North AfricaWhat is the stupidest thing you have heard because your with a MENA SO ?
QUOTE (chemaatah @ Mar 8 2009, 12:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
regardless of how i think (ie. that there is no biological basis for race, it's an invented social/cultural thing with all kinds of different ways to categorize), historically:
"The term Caucasian (or Caucasoid) race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the indigenous populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, West Asia, Central Asia and South Asia. Historically, the term has been used to describe the entire population of these regions, without regard necessarily to skin tone."
http://en.wikipedia..../Caucasian_race



I'm wondering why Americans are the only ones to use the term Caucasian. I've never seen it used anywhere else.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-07 16:06:00
Middle East and North AfricaWhat is the stupidest thing you have heard because your with a MENA SO ?
QUOTE (Lisa wa Yazied @ Mar 7 2009, 11:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
most demographic frms I see that have the "race" boxes say "caucasian" and then (white,eupropean,middle eastern/arab decent) so there tongue.gif
P.S-
albinos have a lack of color ...i.e- white hair with red eyes
sorry, i just had to correct that blush.gif


Europeans make fun of Americans for labeling themselves as Caucasian. I've taken to marking other when I see Caucasian on the list.

Not that it really matters but albinos can have either blue or pinkish/reddish eyes and hair ranging from white to yellow or even orange/reddish in color depending on their ethnicity. The African and Arab Albinos that I've seen usually have yellowish or reddish hair. I know a white albino that's the mother of one of my sisters friends and she has the white hair/pink eye combo. Nice lady, but she still looks like an extra from Village of the Damned. blush.gif

Edited by DieNörglerin, 07 March 2009 - 01:59 PM.

Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-07 13:56:00
Middle East and North AfricaWhat is the stupidest thing you have heard because your with a MENA SO ?
QUOTE (Nawal @ Mar 7 2009, 03:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
So very true!

My hubby is Egyptian..he has brown hair w/ red highlights (even his beard too) and hazel eyes. He's often mistaken as Spanish before anyone would guess Arab. Go figure!


I've seen some strange looking albinoish arabs with red hair before. It really stood out once seeing a redhaired little girl with a bunch of dark skinned, black haired relatives. Albinos can look a little creepy to me. Maybe I watch too many horror films.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-06 17:28:00
Middle East and North AfricaWhat is the stupidest thing you have heard because your with a MENA SO ?
QUOTE (childress_london @ Mar 6 2009, 11:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Well I have a story that's kind of along these lines, but not really. :-P I am learning Farsi at a local Islamic Education Center that is joined with the Iranian Mosque. We do have to wear the Hijab there because it's connected to the mosque, which I have no problem with. I just put it on before I get out of the car. Anyway, one night after class, I'm heading towards the door to leave and this old Iranian woman stops me and asks me in Farsi if I'm Iranian! I have blonde hair, blue eyes, pale skin and NO Iranian features at all. LOL. Maybe she thought I was some kind of Iranian albino. :-P



That's not too far fetched though. Some ME women do like to dye their hair lighter. You also have to remember that Persians aren't really arab and Iran is where Aryans come from. The one's that have the arab features are due to the arab conquest of ancient Persia. There are Iranians in mountainous or other isolated areas that were never attacked by arabs and the people there still have the hazel eyes, lighter skin and hair. Several of Hubster's friends are from those areas that were never attacked by arabs. They all have brown hair, paler skin and light hazel eyes.

But the stupid questions/comments do go both ways. A lot of ME people really think that all western women are whores that will cheat on their husbands. Hubster was telling me about being warned about that by some Iranians. But he knows people in the ME do it too, even in places that carry the death penalty for adultery. People there are guilty of all the same vices they just hide it and then claim moral superiority. I've also encountered ME women that get angry when they see a blue-eyed white girl with one of 'their' men...sort of like some black women that can't stand to see a black man with a white woman. I've lived in 5 countries on 3 different continents and traveled to many more countries and I meet stupid people wherever I go. wacko.gif

Edited by DieNörglerin, 06 March 2009 - 04:54 PM.

Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-06 16:52:00
Middle East and North Africapregnant, and complicated- need advice abt K-1
OP: Sorry for the sanctimonious, hypocritical and rude responses you've received. Religion has a way of making people point out the flaws in others so they can take the light off of their own shortcomings. The one's that say the baby won't help or hinder are probably correct. If it's true what you say that your marriage ended due to your husband's homosexuality and you only lived with him for the first 4 months of the marriage then you will want to mention that in your paperwork to prove that it wasn't your current SO that broke up the marriage.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-31 23:33:00
Middle East and North AfricaQuestion for those working with Syrian Relatives
QUOTE (enraptured @ Apr 11 2009, 12:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
thank you...yes turkce az biliyorum ama pratik lazim...

i would prefer to actually live in ankara, istanbul is amazing but it annoys me a great deal at the same time....and the asian side is ok but i tend to notice that public transportation there is not as ok as the european side...not that the other side is so amazing anyways....but still trying to work on this to begin with....i know im one of thousands who is going through this, but i just wish i could just get it done ASAP. its so unfair that this ####### takes so goddamn long!



That is very true. They don't have the metro over there so it's not as convenient for getting around if you don't have a car. Not to mention having to use the ferry to travel from side to side is time consuming and expensive.
I haven't made it down to Ankara yet. I'd rather live in one of the beach resort areas to be honest. It sucks living near the sea when there are rocks and trash instead of sandy beaches.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-04-10 23:17:00
Middle East and North AfricaQuestion for those working with Syrian Relatives
I just thought of something else you might want to consider if you do decide to move to Istanbul... Do you speak Turkish? Maybe you do but your husband doesn't? It is doable, but not easy to get by in Turkey without speaking Turkish unless you're an expert at charades. tongue.gif

We moved to the European side of Istanbul because we assumed more people would speak English on that side. Well, we were wrong. The wealthier, better educated people that are more likely to speak English live on the Asian side of Istanbul. So if you and your husband want to move to Istanbul you might want to consider the Asian side first so you can get by in English more effectively unless you want to live in the tourist section of the European side.

Here are some Turkish forums for you to check out:

Turkey Central

My Merhaba
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-04-10 06:58:00