biggish data

QUOTE (Prince of Egypt @ Sep 10 2007, 09:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wow, were you already approved and you are just waiting for the visa stamp? That is crazy what do they say when you write them? You should talk to your congress man.

Well, that scenario (along with many other ridiculous ones) occurs repeatedly in Cairo!!!! Welcome to the Egypt AP black hole, Prince.....

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-10 14:25:00

Tattoos in Islam

I have managed to pin down Mina several times to pluck the area between his eyebrows. Even his brother decided to let me tweeze his.

****We are not Muslim, and this has nothing to do with tattoos. Am I just being a drive-by poster here?????? ****

Keep on moving, folks. Nothing to see here.

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-12 20:29:00

Congrats Wendy!!

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-11 02:30:00

Ramy's interview @ Cairo, 9/12

Yaaaaaaaaayyyy sparrow!

I hope the visa comes as quickly as possible.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-12 09:12:00

MENA Abuse Poll~~Please keep in MENA

Mony: I am so sorry for your loss. My heart jumped when I read about your daughter. I wish you the best.

I can't remember my vote (don't remember if it let me choose more than one option or not). But, here is what I voted about:

I experienced all of the types of abuse above from non-MENA men. American, African-American (which were still American, but the subculture is a little different , IMO), Mexican, and Mexican-American (again, just to distinguish the cultures/backgrounds of the abusers).

I haven't experienced abuse from a MENA man, but I don't know if that's because this is my first (and last) relationship with a MENA man or if it is because of my husband's character.

I don't know what that means about me or cultures or patterns. What I do know is something that Dee said in another thread and that is MEN are MEN and WOMEN are WOMEN in every country. I think that when talking about abuse, you will get all kinds of stories from all backgrounds and countries of origin. Gentle vs Abusive, Silent vs Volatile, Meek vs Agressive .........they all exist in every culture. None of the information is conclusive. At best, it teaches us to better OURSELVES. To make up our minds not to tolerate any type of abuse from anyone in our lives. The only person you can influence, change, or control- Yourself.

Thanks for the poll. It's good to be able to open a conversation about abuse especially among a diverse group of women. And, thanks to all who shared their stories.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-12 19:42:00

Ramadan Kerim

QUOTE (doodlebug @ Sep 12 2007, 08:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

my husband said that it's proper to say something when someone says ramadan kareem..............it's something like "allahu alim" or something. Anyone know?

I think it's "allahu a3alem" which means something like God knows best, or God knows better (than us). My husband has his own spin on this response in Egypt. He said that this is a typical response given by some Christians or some Muslims who don't celebrate or believe in Ramadan. It's kind of a polite way to say "Maybe you are right....who knows?" It's not limited to those groups, though. It's just that certain people say that as a polite way to move away from the topic.

Off this topic slightly, but another example:
In another thread I think sparrow was talking about responses and greetings in Egypt and if there are any differences between Christians and Muslims. One thing that gets said is "saly 3la alnabi" which he said translates to "pray to the prophet". It's supposed to be common between the Muslims to say this ( I even heard it at the pyramids when we were negotiating prices!!! ) but non-Muslims try their best not to agree with what was said without insulting their beliefs. I have heard them just say "Tieb" or "Mashy" and change the subject. Am I making sense , anybody??

**Disclaimer** - This is just the observation of my humble husband. Something he has seen throughout his lifetime, and I have seen in the 10 months I have lived here. It does not mean that everyone who says "allahu a3lem" is trying to be rude or disrespectful of Ramadan. And, it is just for general information/discussion; not for controversy.

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-13 16:59:00

Ramadan Kerim

QUOTE (doodlebug @ Sep 12 2007, 08:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey doodle. I didn't know where else to post this, but I like your new Ramadan avatars. You change your avatars all the time, but those are so sweet and cute! Plus, your glitter words are nice too!!

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-12 20:20:00

Tipsy Thursday

Happy Thursday everyone.

School started today, and I can tell my mornings are gonna be nice and quiet for a change! Mon's brothers are finally going back to school. Vacation here in Egypt lasted for about 4 and a half months.

Lucky ducks.

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-13 01:31:00

Friday!

Happy Friday to all!

Jackie: Did you feel any better after your cry? I hope you did. I am happy that you had a good meal and hope you continue to take care of yourself!! Good friends, food, and conversation seem like the perfect recipe to help you feel better. ~~~~~~~

WOW! So many birthdays this week!! For all the b-day people:

For Tammy:

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-14 09:24:00

Thanks for the pics Wael. Yesterday was the first time I saw the white lights at the mosques. But, that was outside of Cairo. All of the lights in Cairo so far have been green.

Unfortunately, I don't get out to explore very much and will possibly go outside even less during Ramadan.

But, I would love to see pics of the different decorations.

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-08-19 12:07:00

I know that the green color was not used to often in antique oriental carpets because it was consider as a holly color.

Very true observation apple. I never even thought about that...lol

Yeah, that's another interesting fact. Thanks you guys for posting those great historical explanations! I maybe could have googled it, but I wanted to get you guys' input. :thumbs:

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-07-30 22:22:00

Thanks everybody! I was just curious. I knew there had to be some kind of reason that ALL of the lights are green. (which are beautiful, I might add) I asked my husband and he didn't know, but he did offer up the theory that green is the color of his eyes and Egypt really admires him for it. :huh:

- Whatever!

Thanks again. (F)

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-07-30 11:54:00

Our neighbors are muslim and they have two daughters that go an Islamic school. The girls often come over and play when we have kids at our house. I had some playdough for them and one of the girls kept mixing all the playdough to be green. I finally asked her why she kept doing that and her reply was that green is the prophet's favorite color. I don't know how much truth there is in that.

I guess that reason would be a good one. Do the mosques in other countries have green lights also?

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-07-29 23:22:00

All of the mosques that I have seen here in Egypt are illuminated at night with green lights. Why is that? Does the color have any significance in Islam? I noticed that it is the color of some countries' flags, too. Pakistan and KSA are a couple that come to mind.

Does anyone know or have a link?

Thanks

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-07-29 22:08:00

did you change your name?- for the mena girls

I understand about the father's name causing confusion about my American last name. Because, here, when anyone asks me my father's name & I tell them, they say "Oh, so your name is Nicky Eddie Murphy??" (if my dad's name was Eddie Murphy, that is.....

) Or I tell them my name, and I get "Oh, so your dad's name is Hefner!" (That's if I tell them my name is Niki Hefner

)

It sounds kind of weird to hear my last names or father's name used in a different way, but that's how the names work in Egypt.

Good luck with whatever you decide, doodle.

Edited by monnik, 11 September 2007 - 01:57 AM.

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-11 01:56:00

did you change your name?- for the mena girls

I voted NO , doodle. But, that's because I haven't changed it YET.

Overall, we decided that it wouldn't matter. Even in Egypt, the kids don't have the same last name as the mother. So, it's no big deal.

I love my maiden name and my dad had all girls (5 total) so I wouldn't mind holding onto my dad's name for the rest of my life.

Mina even suggested taking my dad's name after his citizenship.

Because he despises his grandfather & great-grandfather's names, that might be his most favored option.

And, I wouldn't want to change my last name to one of the names that he doesn't like. So, I think we will be different - for a couple of years at least.

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-10 19:55:00

Its Ramadan time!

Those pictures I downloaded from the net, but the konaafa that we made was with cream, not cheese. You could use either.

Here is one recipe that is similar to what we made:

Konafa is made of a very thin half cooked pastry. The closest in North America would be vermicelli or Angel hair. Konafa can be found in some Middle Eastern groceries.

In Turkey and Greece, the name Kataifi is used for what Egyptian call Konafa, while Katayef is another different Egyptian desert.

Servings 7
Preparation Time 1 hour

Ingredients
1/2 kg konafa.
3 tablespoons cream.
1 cup butter or ghee.
4 tablespoons corn flour.
4 tablespoons sugar.
2 cups milk.
1 1/2 cups sugar syrup.
Vegetable oil.
1 teaspoon vanilla.

Cooking Instructions
In a saucepan mix milk, sugar, vanilla and corn flour.
Heat over medium heat while whisking constantly.
Take off heat and stir in double cream and mix well then set aside.
Cut konfa into short strips. ***I don't like the konafa to be cut into strips, I like it to be long and winding together in the dish - your preference here*****
Put in a bowl and mix very well with melted butter or ghee using your hands.
Brush a baking dish with oil.
Put half quantity of konafa in the bottom and press well to make a firm layer.
Spread cream mix over konafa layer then add the other half of konafa and press on it.
Heat oven and place baking dish until surface becomes golden brown.
Pour cool sugar syrup over konafa right after it comes out of the oven. ***TIP: the syrup must be cooled down and the konafa very hot****
Here are some links to other variations of the Konafa with (1st link) or without cream and with cheese (2nd link):

http://www.zawaj.com...rts/konafa.html
http://www.geocities...fo/konafah.html

We also made konaafa and cream in little swirls, and the preparation is the same but the shape is different. The best way for me to describe it is that you wind the konafa around your finger until it makes a whirly-looking shape. Then you line them all up side by side in a baking dish. When you take them out, you spoon the syrup over them and put a dollop of the cream inside each little whirl while they are still hot. It's the same thing as above (with the butter, etc.), only bite-sized. yummmmmmmmmmm

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-21 00:47:00

Its Ramadan time!

Well, this is the first Ramadan I have experienced, so I didn't have anything to look forward to, really. But, I am enjoying the way the streets in Cairo seem to have calmed down. We sat out on the balcony and watched the evening prayers yesterday, and I enjoyed it. The people were overflowing from the masjid onto the sidewalk. Also, the traffic is non-existent in the evenings, and there are different foods available during this time (especially sweets).

So far, we have tried several new sweets this month; we made ataif, konaafa, and om 3aly - all of them we made here at home. They were delicious. I guess moody was right about desserts and sweets being eaten more during Ramadan.

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-20 05:47:00

Its Ramadan time!

Doodle, in Egypt, the time has already been set back one hour. For now, there's only a 6 hour time difference between Egypt and the US east coast.

I believe in the US, it will happen on the first Sunday in November (which is Nov 4 this year) at 2am EST.

Edited by monnik, 10 September 2007 - 10:43 AM.

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-10 10:42:00

Mena Divorce

QUOTE (tammy sue kay @ Sep 14 2007, 06:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can't say what is going to happen, because I don't know at this point. I believe that everything happens for a reason, tho somtimes that reason is not so obvious. Maybe it was never meant to have been, and this relationship was sent to me to open my eyes about myself, and about others. Before I met my husband, I was clueless about the ME and it's people. I was one of those people that knew it existed, but to point it out on a map, no. My trail of thought followed popular belief about the ME, everything there was crude and old, the people less than murderous heathens. I was such a fool.
Because of this journey, I have seen the beauty of Jordan, and of it's people. I have stood in Petra, awed at it's timelessness and beauty. I have stood on the streets of an ancient city that has seen so much progress and growth, yet retain it's integrity. I have seen the love and closeness that the families there have for each other. I have learned that to be Muslim, does not mean that you are a bad person, or that you hate America and all it stands for. I have made friends I may never have met in this life. And I have loved a man again, with all my heart and unconditionally. I had thought never to feel that emotion again, my heart was frozen and with him it thawed again. Without him, I may never have had any of this, so I do not regret one moment.
I still love my husband. I am still in love with my husband. I don't know if that will ever change, but sometimes, you get off track. I don't know if it can be repaired, or if either of us will even want to try.
For those of you still going thru this journey, I wish speed upon the consulates. Time and distance are not a friend in the visa journey. May all of you be blessed with the richness that each of us deserve, love, and patience.
May God Bless your lives, and smile Gently upon you.
Your VJ Friend, Tammy

Hey Tammy! I am so sad to know that things have gone "off track" with you, but I am glad that you have learned so many things. I hope you continue to experience life, love, friendship, and beauty. I hope your knowledge grows and grows with each new day. And, I wish you an abundance of happiness. I think you are a wise and optimistic woman.

You never know where God's next blessing will be in your life or what you will learn next.

Edited by monnik, 14 September 2007 - 10:22 AM.

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-14 10:21:00

what is your opinion??

QUOTE (water is wide @ Sep 13 2007, 02:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think legal intervention is the way to go you need to start building a paper trail.... Is there a lawyer you can talk to?

This is good advice. You can talk to a judge in your area. They are the ones who sign restraining orders. Although a restraining order won't stop a murderer, it may stop him from stalking you and scare him into behaving for a while. ***(I don't know if he's violent, and I am not trying to scare you, but it happened to my mom's friend. You know your husband better than us. )***

If he's just blowing hot air, and is relatively harmless, it will create a paper trail and facilitate your divorce (which I am assuming is what you are aiming for???? eventually??? ---correct me if I am wrong).

Also, a lawyer may help you file for separation. Even if you don't physically stay separated every day from the date of the filing, or if it's just temporary, it will help you when you go to court.

You can look into grounds for divorce in your state/county. See what you might have to do.

Good luck Dee.

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-12 20:07:00

what is your opinion??

Hi Dee.

Well, my opinion about contacting his family would be to ask you first what you would like to acheive from the phone call(s). If it would be just to tell your side of the story or to get closure, I think you can do it and feel better. But, if it is only to try and convince them that you are right and he is a jerk (which is true, but they won't be convinced), then I would say DON'T do it.

Just try and make a small list of the expectations that you have for the call. Listing out some of the things that you think are important for them to know. i.e.- emotionally abusing your children, compromising your and their safety, making himself untrustworthy, withdrawing from the relationship, refusal to change, etc.....
And, if you feel you can accomplish those things, try it. But try to keep control of the conversation/call. Don't let them pull you into a debate or trying to pick apart your story. Let them know the facts, just the most crucial points, and how disappointed you are that his behavior changed completely.

I would make sure the person you are getting to translate for you is trustworthy (as mentioned before) and maybe even a female (who knows how they would perceive a male friend at this point in the marriage??) or at least someone that the family is familiar with (from your pictures or your conversations with them) or may have bonded with at some point. Try telling them that you wish you could talk to them yourself, but the language difference makes it hard.

Does his family have internet or webcam? Maybe you could talk to them in a video call to show your face to them online to let them see how hurt you are or that you are serious. Just an idea.

Calling them could add to your husband's anger or frustration, but if you take precautions (from the other thread and/or from any other advice received), then hopefully it won't affect your safety.

I wish you the best!! Please be safe.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-12 16:58:00

Pics from my February trip to Egypt

Your pics are cute, Becky. It looks like your family has some of the same names as ours; Mary, George, Adel, Marian, etc.

Your family looks so nice.

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-21 00:55:00

Happy Monday!

QUOTE (water is wide @ Sep 24 2007, 09:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My dog, Lucy (baby girl) is very ill since fri. we think its spinal menigits .. I wrote about it 3 weeks ago I thought it was whiplash cause it went away. now its back with a vegence I spent 400.. yesterday tests and e-xrays... and the only thing certain is there is infecton. The diagnosis for menegitis is a spinal tap which is like 1000. in itself. So we went ahead and treated it as if it is since she has a lot of the symptoms. high fever , spinal pi

......Please everybody send her good energy..........

Its a really hard time these days
my stomach hurts
I feel so worried

I am sorry about Lucy. It makes me think about the TP commercial with the little puppy and the song "I'm sorry. So sorry."

Sending doggie hugs to your baby girl:

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-24 14:32:00

The visa is on its way!

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-24 13:17:00

Happy Birthday

So many birthdays (and beautiful cakes) this week! It seems like the birthdays come in waves. If only the visas could follow the same pattern. Happy burfday everybuddy!!!

Edited by monnik, 25 September 2007 - 10:10 PM.

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-25 22:09:00

Pity Party!!!

QUOTE (doodlebug @ Sep 26 2007, 05:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah but even with those you STILL are living there you know? I would think that would negate everything else. As for the age difference it's the same with us (7 yrs) but I don't really consider anything within 10 years either way that big of a gap. That's just me though. My limit used to be that a guy can be 10 yrs older or 5 yrs younger but I guess I stretched it a bit this time. lol.

I don't think they look into the USC past except to see if you have any criminal background. I would hope that my phone records, etc. aren't being digged into without my consent!!!! Don't get me wrong, I'd gladly sign anything letting them look but without my consent that is just wrong in a country that is supposedly the land of the free.

You would think that I could get some kind of credit for that.....but, they don't give a flip. I actually am not freaking out about the time that we have been waiting because we just finished the cosponsor papers in August. So, it's like we've only been waiting 5 or 6 weeks.

And, just to let you know how freaky the government is:

I helped a friend of mine during a deportation process in 2005. He was Mexican and overstayed a temporary visitor's visa. He had a court date and had to sign in with DHS every week until his court date to keep tabs on him. I used to drive him to the sign-ins cause he didn't have a license and the office was in a city he wasn't familiar with.

Anyway, one day, while waiting in the lobby for him to finish his sign in, a guy popped his head out the door and asked me my name. I told him my FIRST name only. And, his next question was "Do you know any Pakistanians?"

What the hay!!????!!@! I hope that was not just a routine conversation starter for that office. Cause it was weird and uncomfortable. I said NO by the way. But, I used to be really good friends with a family from 1999-2003. Then, we lost contact. So, technically, I didn't know any at the time, but I wonder how much they really know about me, you know????? Especially since they were already investigating my NEW friends because of the deportation. SCARY!!!!

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-26 12:50:00

Pity Party!!!

QUOTE (doodlebug @ Sep 26 2007, 05:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

monnik I have to say that your case stumps me the most of all of them. For goodness sakes you're living there with your husband AND your husband and you are both Christian!!!! (right?) Not that religion should play a huge role but c'mon let's not beat around the bush since obviously muslim names are very common over there so there's got to be more name hits for them than for others.

Anyways with all you both have going for you I cannot for the life of me fathom why you haven't received the visa yet.....which totally leads me to conclude there is NO rhyme or reason to how Cairo operates.

We have red flags.
We met online (of course).
Our marriage was 11 days after my first visit to Egypt.

We didn't have a religious ceremony (mainly because we wanted to save money for the visa process and travelling back to USA, but that didn't work out too well. we have spent 5 times that much money just living here for a year!! later, we decided to get married with just a priest and get the certificate from the church , but without the big party/dress/etc. even that fell through cause the priest thought he was using me or tricked me into getting married.

if the priest didn't think our marriage was legit, what does the embassy think???

)

Also, I am 7 years older than him (which is not that much IMO, but considering that the Egyptian men usually get married at my age and they marry a girl who is his age- our relationship looks like a convenience rather than a norm). Also, his 3rd & 4th names are Arabian. Muslim or not?? I don't know. He said the names can be used for either, but that it's mostly for Muslims. (His uncle's name is Osama. Does that affect us in any way?

) There's a lot of ambiguity in the names. His first name is Christian, but everything else is a flip-flopper.

I can't think of a really good reason for the wait. I sit and try to think about anything from my past that may have hurt our chances. I feel guilty that I used to have a lot of Mexican, Guatemalan, & Pakistani friends who were in the US illegally; both overstays and illegal entry. I don't know how deep they dig into your friends/phone records/DMV/etc..... they could see some of my friends were immigration violators. Would that make a difference? Do I look like a person who is just going around trying to help people immigrate or assist violators????? I get all screwed up thinking about it.

I just thank God that I didn't have children, commitments, or any huge factors to keep me from moving to Egypt. I don't think my husband's heart would have been able to take it.

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-09-26 10:54:00

I'm leavin....on a jet plane...........

Well...................... Doodle should be finished with the interview by now. :clock:

Has anybody heard from her? Hope you landed safe and sound and I hope that the interview was a success. :dancing:

Doobie Doodle Doo, Where Are You?
We Need the Scoop from You Now

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-07-22 10:04:00

Manic Monday

Thanks!

I've got lots of pictures about the house and I often tell our son who that is when he looks at him. I also plan on giving him a present every year on his birthday from my dad. He was such a great man and I don't ever want him to be forgotten.

It's still such a "raw" feeling of missing him. Does that ever get better?

Get better? Maybe you're asking the wrong person that question.

Everyone's process moves at different speeds, but I have struggled with it. I cry like a maniac sometimes. :crying:

(((panic attack-type chest heaving, snotty nose, making the uuh-uuh-uuh noise))) But, I also enjoy crying and remembering him. Immediately after every breakdown, I start praying. I know that if I miss him and worry about him that much, that God must love him sooooo much more than that. So, in a way, it knocks me to my knees first so that I can be closer to God. That is pretty much the only comfort I get from the grief. Knowing that he has to be in good hands.

I think that sharing your dad with your son is a great idea. Children have a gift when it comes to simplifying and easing our fears and worries. :luv:

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-07-23 12:25:00

Manic Monday

today... well most of the days lately have completely SUCKED.. nothing is going well lately.. I'm having BIG problems with my husband

That is sucky, dee. Everything will work itself out with communication and kindness. I worry a lot about our adjustment period in the US. Even though my husband and I are used to eachother after 9 months together, I know that America is another element to think about. Just try to work through one small problem at a time. (L)

God bless you guys and I'm sending happy vibes your way!! (F)

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-07-23 11:23:00

Manic Monday

And let me share just a little bit more bad news.

Some of you may know that my father passed away last October. He found out he had liver cancer and died 2 weeks later. He was on wife #3 who was a total stepmonster. She kept my father's ashes from me and kept my inhertiance from me until the estate closed. Well, I received a certified letter in the mail this weekend from her attorney saying that she is disputing the money my father left me! She did not let me have any of my father's things and she even ended up getting a ton of insurance money...alot more than what was left to me...but she wants it all. #######!!!!!

Losing my father was hard enough, but this is about to do me in. With what is going on with Hicham's case and this, I'm ready for the white jacket that buckles in the back, you know?

I am soooo sorry for your loss allousa. Losing a parent is very hard, especially when you feel so close to them. I lost my dad/best friend 4 years ago, and I still miss him every day. :crying:

Stepgrouch is not making it any easier for you, but if you have a friend who you can cry or talk with, make use of that friendship......and if not, you can cry or vent with your friends from VJ. Talk to your son about him, too. It might help you let it all out and salvage some of your sanity. I used to tell my niece stories about my dad when I was missing him. She was a year old when he died, but to this day, she talks about him like she knew him! It's so adorable.

I hope that everything gets resolved with your stepmother and with your husband's case very soon.
(((((big hug)))))

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-07-23 11:18:00

Birthday double header

Wow! Oreo cake sounds delicious. Happy birthday to you two!

I love cake :wub:

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-07-23 14:34:00

Hey, has anybody tried to explain hippies? That was one explanation I got stuck on. I don't know if there is a word in Arabic or not. I went through the whole explanation starting with 1950's mentality to the 1970's and tried to give him an idea of what hippy means. It didn't work.

:help:

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-07-25 15:50:00

LOL yes. I told Moh one day he was grouchy he asked what it meant. I told him it meant "crabby"...he asked what that meant, too. I finally just said, you seem to be in a bad mood. He gets it now.

Anyone tried to explain...grouch.....or spoiled?

When explaining "ill/grouchy/moody (not you, kara)/cranky/etc", my husband translated this into "bad humour" due to his British English education. hehehee When he says good humour or bad humour I always think about the song from the Good Humor commercial! I'm the Good Humor Man... :whistle:

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-07-25 15:31:00

"Supman" just made me giggle.

Over the past couple of years, we've hit on a few funny ones.

In the early days, he used to blush whenever people would bid farewell by saying "have a good one." He thought that 'having a good one' sounded somewhat sexual.

Then came our showdown over Wal-Mart. I typically avoid the place, but he found it amazing. So when he asked what was wrong with Wal-Mart, I explained by offhandedly saying that some of their business practices seemed "shitty" and "shady" to me. Thus Wal-Mart became (and remains) "the Shitty Place."

Third, he seemed to think that "umm" is as weird as "yanni" sounds to me.

And, most recently (as his English continues to improve), I'm constantly amused by his use of the word "until." In my mind, "until" is always somehow linked to a negation (as in "I *didn't* go to bed until 3am" or "please *don't* water the plants until Saturday). Meanwhile, for him, until is infinitely more useful...

I came to work until 9am (him) = I *didn't* come to work until 9am (me)

Do we have any linguistics or ESL people here? Anyone who could enlighten me on how to better explain the strange intricacies of until...?

Miss this forum. If I could be online more, I'd post more. Best wishes to everyone,

E

I don't know if this will help you, but....

I always think of the word until to be a conditional word. One action starts/stops when another action begins/ends. Examples: Rub my head until I go to sleep. --- once I sleep, you can stop rubbing my head. Don't leave work until you finish cleaning. ---- When the cleaning is finished, you can leave.

In arabic until has two meanings. It can mean until or "even" as in, even a little child would know the answer to that. So, it can still be confusing on a whole 'nother level.

But in arabic, until = le7ad or 7ata. ??? ???

I hope either of those can help you guys.

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-07-17 21:58:00

i think abdou has watched too many music videos because i had to explain to him that the "N word" wasn't something people normally say other than black people to each other!!!

We listen to different songs and some have that word in them. Now, DH's little brother says it all the time!

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-07-17 21:48:00

Mine picked up a new one... "what's shakin' bakin' " I soooooo hate it and asked him to stop saying it.
He came home one day and said .. what does supman mean .. I said.."supman"???? he said "yeah when i say hi to somebody they say hi, sup man"

I had to explain "load of #######", "Piece of s###" , "she/he's hot" , "cool" , "wicked" , "nifty" , "awesome" (pronounced as owwwwsum by hubby).... too many to list. I just love that.

We went through that, too. Only it was, "what's kickin chicken?" It was just as annoying.

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-07-17 21:47:00

weekend !

HI everyone - - not sure what the weekend will bring...weather has been nice and hot..hoping it will remain that way and me the and kids can get outside and enjoy the weather...hope everyone has a great weekend....

I will trade weather with anybody!!!! It was 113 degrees here yesterday. I can't imagine how Jess is handling KSA.......I was melting........

monnik

Not Telling

Egypt

2007-07-27 23:10:00