Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Middle East and North Africa	VISA IN HAND!!!!!!!!	SAMIR JUST CALLED!!!! VISA IS IN HAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TOMORROW HE IS GOING TO BUY THE PLANE TICKET!!!!! tHE FIRST HALF OF THIS K-1 PROCESS IS FINALLY OVER. THANK GOD. ALSO NOT TO MENTION IT IS THE FIRST DAY OF RAMADAN FOR HIM SO HE IS HAVING A VERY SPECIAL DAY !!!!!!	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-09-24 04:26:00
Middle East and North Africa	We were going to wait a few more years	Yeah I mean I think 8 threads is overkill...I think. 1.Samir will be here on the 6th 2.VISA IN HAND!!!!!!!! 123 3 Samir is going to pick up his visa 4.in 7-10 days we will have visa in hand 5. latest news from shannon on samir's approval 6. only 3 days till interview... 12 7. got an interview date !!!!!!1 8.samir finsihed his physical ... almost there! Can you imagine if everyone loved themselvesenough to make 8 threads about the interview and Visa how cluttered VJ would be. Yikes. i can start as many as i want to thanks LOL no one said u had to look at them.	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-09-27 22:11:00
Middle East and North Africa	We were going to wait a few more years	YA HAD ME FREAKIN' FOR A MILLISECOND.... you big goober! Tell Hicham don't eat the fish if he needs to break fast quickly! lol well i knew better cos it isnt like she actually spends time with her husband with being on VJ all the time	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-09-27 11:22:00
Middle East and North Africa	Samir will be here on the 6th :)	Make sure he knows that if lost, ask questions! Good luck and congrats gotcha gupt fortunately just about everyone in the frankfurt airport speaks english true you ordered that truckload of laundry detergent yet? lol yep i ordered a truckload of tide	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-09-27 10:20:00
Middle East and North Africa	Samir will be here on the 6th :)	Make sure he knows that if lost, ask questions! Good luck and congrats gotcha gupt fortunately just about everyone in the frankfurt airport speaks english	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-09-27 10:10:00
Middle East and North Africa	Samir will be here on the 6th :)	Well Samir got his plane tickets and will be leaving Algiers on the 5th He is flying to frankfurt to NYC and then NYC to Raleigh. At least he wont have the 10hr layover i had in frankfurt LOL I hope he is able to find everything ok. I am a little worried ........... Edited by samir_shannon, 27 September 2006 - 09:49 AM.	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-09-27 09:48:00
Middle East and North Africa	Love defined by culture	henia i dont know if maybe i misunderstood but did u ever say in a previous post that you and your husband might consider staying in algeria? i thought you might have said that but with everything going on these days i cant remember i never had a bad experience with the women in samirs family. they seemed very generous and kind. then again, i dont speak arabic so I couldnt understand what they were saying, but i never got the same impression of them as you have of your husbands family. (so sorry ) i however, did meet some friends of the family who i did sense the type of attitude that u are talking about. samir told me that some women are like that there. he likes to send me gifts in the mail, and always wants to know if he can get me something. I have had the discussion "you dont have to buy things for me all the time" with him. he is so sweet. bless his heart. i have sent him some things to algeria and a few times some stuff made it too him and had things missing henia, the way you feel and your husband feel about each other is genuine and he doesnt have to buy things all the time to show it. those women there are not being very Godly women by telling you the things they are telling you. what matters is you are doing what is right and that you and your husband love each other. maybe you can teach them a few things while you are there. LOL but in general i guess it would be fair to say the women there are materialistic. i feel sorry for the men who have that pressure on them. it isnt like they make alot of money there. oh by the way... i loved the cous cous with the red sauce and my favorite bread was the french bread Edited by samir_shannon, 29 September 2006 - 08:52 PM.	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-09-29 20:51:00
Middle East and North Africa	Love defined by culture	I hate to say this but those ladies sound just like the ones in Egypt. Sure I like gifts like anyone gal but I'm happy with simple gestures. A kiss on the forehead, a compliment about how I look or what I cooked, a sweet word, help cleaning up around the house, a shoulder to lean on when I'm feeling sad, etc. If my husband were to bring me flowers now and then I'd be thrilled. The simple things are what makes me happy in a marriage. Yes me too, Kara... I donnow but when I was asking my female Algerian relatives their asnwers were making me confused... and my replies to them made them even more confused. One women actually told me, you should not let your husband get away with not buying you things. I saw your home, it is terrible. You need to be a good wife and get him to fix it "chebba" she said... which means beautiful. ((((rolling my eyes now)))) ...mind you this came from a women who was giving me the evil eye all during my wedding and later I found out she is the second wife of her husband... and only married with him cos her family didnt want anyone to know she was messing around with him... Hmmm a new way to nag a husband, I guess... wow henia.. that is an interesting experience. i myself had noticed some of those qualities in the women there but not as extreme as this woman. sounds like she is a little off the wall..... i am glad u are having a great time there. i really enjoyed algeria and wished i could have stayed longer. i love the bread and the olives! they have the best black olives! the oranges and banannas were so fresh. it i amazing what food tastes like without all the chemicals in it LOL have you tried the tuna from the med. sea yet? i had it in a salad with some vinagarette and it was very good. another thing i tried was algerian cous cous i didnt care too much for the meat, but the sauce over the cous cous was great. ok off to do some laundry now. i am still trying to get all my homework done and get everythnig ready. i have less than a week before my baby gets here	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-09-29 17:52:00
Middle East and North Africa	passed interview today	For those of you who have been around a while, do most of the Moroccan fiances/spouses get put on AP? I know I saw one person on the site (Lavon?) who has been on what appears to be every kind of additional investigation!! Maggie Our AP in Morocco lasted from June 27th to July 3rd. Good luck! samirs visa wasnt issued untill 20 days after the interview..... all the AP for Samir was the name and fingerprint check. as soon as the embassy in algiers got the approval from the dept of state, they issued his visa yes what is written is: your application requiers administrative processing in Washington DC . we will contact you when this is complete. how long it may take thos process again and does it take along sometimes more tha one one week or 2 they didn't keep my passport; i hope it won't take a long time, we have been aprt for along time now. they are doing the name check and running your fingerprints. your SO can call the dept of state at (202) 663-1225 and check on the status of your case. i would wait at least a week before calling tho. hope this helps	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-10-03 06:49:00
Middle East and North Africa	Monday Thread	Esalaam, Hello and Salut Hope everyone is doing great... and their day and of course Ramadan is going well... I woke today with the biggest headache and felt like I wanted to sleep...but of course I could not...had to make the suhour meal, then pray then help my husband get ready for work. I really wanted to go back to sleep, but had alot of home works to do: clean the kitchen, iron and wash a load of towels....O snaaaaaaps seems the home work is never done here! I need a washing machine !!!!!!!! I am off to market in a mintue...to buy some ingredients for a kataif...(TY Dawn for the recipe)... I hope it turns out good. I hope to come back and take a nap after zuhr. We got invited to coffee after tarawee... my husband ditched me after 15 minutes and I was forced, forced I tell you to stay until midnight... I think I will never eat another sweet again... They served me tea in the traditional tea glasses, you know the small ones... and i looked at it and seemed like to me the glass was half way filled with sugar... I slowly took a sip until to gag on how sweet it was...and LOL on the saucer they had left me 2 EXTRA sigar cubes crazy!!!!!!!!! Anyway... Noura: how many more days now? Stacey: When is Zaeem arriving? Jackie: How was your anniversary? Rahma: How was your birthday? Hmmm if I forgot anyone that had some news, I am sorry... oh goodness, you must be talking about the tea glasses that look like shot glasses hahahahahahha i dont think anyone in algeria has ever hear of the Atkins diet	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-10-03 10:53:00
Middle East and North Africa	Closed North AFrican Country problem...	Hello everyone! Wow i have been reading this thread and all i can say is... WOW. Sounds like to me that this girl needs to step back for a minute and think, is this man telling me everything? Samir and i are looking at this thread and have no idea why he is saying he cant leave and re-enter. Something sounds fishy here and the only advice i have for this woman is be careful and dont pursue this any further. Also how can you be engaged to someone you havent met yet? I just dont get it. Please for your own safety do not go to Libya.	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-10-11 09:07:00
Middle East and North Africa	POE--- JFK	Samir came thru JFK on Oct 5th and got his stamp. Where is the update...we are waitinggggggggggggggggggggggg. Hello JP well things have been going great. I took Samir to the mosque today and he met many muslims there. While he was in the mosque praying i bought him a new prayer rug We went to an arabic store and looked at different things, I bought some dates and some veggies but the meat was way too expensive. Like double the price. He was culture shocked for the first couple of days but, is doing much better My friends really like him and think he is so sweet. I feel like it is a dream that he is here. I have been watching videos with him about Islam. There is this one Imam and I really like him. His name is Yusef and he is an american man from texas. I really enjoy listening to him. We are very happy and thank God for everyday we wake up next to each other.	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-10-13 15:10:00
Middle East and North Africa	POE--- JFK	Im waiting for the bidet update from Shannon. Yeah Sarah I am sure you are waiting for an update about a bidet, considering you obviously dont have a life and anything better to do. The reason I have not updated is because I AM SPENDING TIME WITH MY HUSBAND. So why dont you try to do the same?	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-10-13 15:03:00
Middle East and North Africa	POE--- JFK	Samir came thru JFK on Oct 5th and got his stamp.	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-10-12 16:29:00
Middle East and North Africa	One call, that's all...	congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-10-12 16:07:00
Middle East and North Africa	ME/NA marriages	We voted it was about what we expected... The first couple of days was difficult but after that things have been great! I go back to work tomorrow so he is on his own The only issue that was hard is he is fasting and i get very hungry and dont want to eat because he cant eat. I must have lost about 5 pounds this week! I found him a mosque in Raleigh to go to and he is very happy. I will do my best to take him there every Friday but it is hard because I have anatomy and physiology class and my lab on Friday . It will work out even if i take him on a different day just so he can meet with other muslims He has a job already if he wants it with a friend of mine who owns a restaraunt right near our house but I want him to get settled in first and get used to things......	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-10-13 19:35:00
Middle East and North Africa	JP's Official Countdown Thread	Good luck JP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will be thinking about you!	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-10-16 21:03:00
Middle East and North Africa	ROLL CALL	i am not here very often anymore, but i am here	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-10-26 19:30:00
Middle East and North Africa	Is your SO practicing his religious beliefs?	Samir practices his religion and its not a problem at all. I think it is wonderful to have such a wonderful husband who is devoted to God. I am truely blessed. Hi Charles! hiya sarah. where you been? I've been here... I did just recently start a real job so maybe I've been here less, but not really. I guess that shows how much I've been working! How are you and Nessa? Thank God! You got a job! Awesome Now if you could just get over your VJ addiction...................	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-10-27 21:10:00
Middle East and North Africa	MENA BICKERING	LOL it is funny to see that I was being blamed for all the bickering before, and i dont even come to VJ much anymore and the same ones are still pissing people off. The proof was in the pudding... I wasnt the troublemaker Sara, you are always saying whatever you want whether it is rude or not. If the woman is older than the man so what? It's thier life. Why dont you try living your own. Dont you have a new job or something to keep you busy?	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-11-01 07:29:00
Middle East and North Africa	How old are you and your S/O ?	I am 29 Samir is 25	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-10-30 22:04:00
Middle East and North Africa	Tuesday	So Shannon why DO you care so much? Why did you come in here to try to call out Muslims? That's not a very humble thing to do, I thought the judging was left up to God? I wasnt trying to CALL OUT. This is an issue that I like to talk about with other voters. It is something that was important to me. Thats all. You and your friend Moody only know how to make wise cracks and contribute nothing worth anything to the arguement of gay marriage, religion, and abortion. The fact is no matter what i say, that is all you and moody will do. I dont care how i rate in this forum. I hardly even come here to VJ anymore becasue my husband is here and I have better things to do. C-YA	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-11-08 14:15:00
Middle East and North Africa	Tuesday	Ok first of all not being for gays getting married and not for women getting abortions doesnt make me not tolerable. I am considering converting to islam and have been talking to people at the mosque about the prophet and his teaching and the laws in Islam. If you're ever interested in chatting with someone who's been there, done that, feel free to look me up I have lots of good internet resources and books to recommend. There are a few in this forum that talk about Islam all the time and make postings about Islam but will vote for someone who obviously goes against the teachings of Islam. I would guess that would be me. I have consistantly voted democrat since I gained the privilege of voting at age 18. As a minority in a non muslim society, there will never ever ever be a candidate with whom I agree with 100%. So, I write out what is important to me, as a muslim and as an american, and I find candidates that fulfil more of what I want. And, 99 times out of 100, the candidate is a democrat. Muslims threw their support behind the republicans in 2000 because Bush took 5 minutes to talk with some muslim leaders about the use of secret evidence. What have republicans done for american muslims? Not much. So, as a community, we're continuing to evolve and mature in our political activities and realize that you have to be sophisticated in your political choices, that no one party will represent everything you want, and sometimes you have to coalition with people whom you might not morally agree with. That's life. Rahma i can guarantee if I went to the mosque and talked to the Imam and asked him is it wrong ffor me to feel the way i feel, he would say no. That's funny, cuz there were a number of Imams and muslim community activists who threw their support behind Brother Keith, knowing full well what his policy positions were. Certainly there will be those who disagree, but that's up to the individual. Also the fight isnt for minorities. It is to do what God tells us to do. God said marriage is for a man and a woman. God says it is wrong to kill. I would like to know why I am called intolerant because I view it this way. Fiqh of minorities not fighting of minorities. The fiqh of minorities is how we apply sharia when we are living in a non muslim land. It ain't like sharia in a muslim majority country. We apply sharia in our own life and don't rely on the government to tell us what we can and cannot do. Our goal is to enjoin good and forbid evil. So, as muslims in a non muslim land, we determine what is good and what is not. Then, we see how best we achieve as much good as possible. I don't know if people call you intolerant because of your views, but rather how you articulate your views. The Qur'an asks us to convey the message in a good manner. That extends to our conversations in everday life as well. I enjoyed your response and that is what i like.. a good response to a good arguement. I appreciate the convo and congrats on your victory.	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-11-08 14:11:00
Middle East and North Africa	Tuesday	Rise to Moody's level ? What a joke.....	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-11-08 14:05:00
Middle East and North Africa	Tuesday	Ok first of all not being for gays getting married and not for women getting abortions doesnt make me not tolerable. I am considering converting to islam and have been talking to people at the mosque about the prophet and his teaching and the laws in Islam. There are a few in this forum that talk about Islam all the time and make postings about Islam but will vote for someone who obviously goes against the teachings of Islam. Rahma i can guarantee if I went to the mosque and talked to the Imam and asked him is it wrong ffor me to feel the way i feel, he would say no. Also the fight isnt for minorities. It is to do what God tells us to do. God said marriage is for a man and a woman. God says it is wrong to kill. I would like to know why I am called intolerant because I view it this way. Are there any religions that say homosexuality or aborition is right or acceptable? It's against Christianity too, but there are plenty people that are prochoice and support gay marriage. Do you think that just because someone is Muslim that they follow every single teaching and rule? JP I fully agree with you on that. I as a Christian do not support it. What I am saying is that Rahma posts threads about Islam and is an obvious muslim in which she presetns to people that she lives her life as one so what I am asking is how can you openly support gay marriage and abortion? If you are religious you are suppossed to follow it. That is all I am saying. I dont support those things because I have been taught that God doesnt allow those things. That is my point. I am sure alot of Imams and muslim scholars would find it insulting that there are muslims openly supporting these things. If they ask thier husband if these things are accepted in thier countries I am sure they know what the answer is. I know in Algeria it isnt accepted. I guess thier husbands must be intolerable too......	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-11-08 14:01:00
Middle East and North Africa	Tuesday	I was kinda hoping if ppl did want to argue they would do so without quoting. I'm trying to ignore...*blocking eyes* lalalalalala. Who's going to take the time to argue this with Shannon? Raise your hand! Moody, I wouldnt argue anything with you. I wouldnt stoop to your level.	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-11-08 13:56:00
Middle East and North Africa	Tuesday	Ok first of all not being for gays getting married and not for women getting abortions doesnt make me not tolerable. I am considering converting to islam and have been talking to people at the mosque about the prophet and his teaching and the laws in Islam. There are a few in this forum that talk about Islam all the time and make postings about Islam but will vote for someone who obviously goes against the teachings of Islam. Rahma i can guarantee if I went to the mosque and talked to the Imam and asked him is it wrong ffor me to feel the way i feel, he would say no. Also the fight isnt for minorities. It is to do what God tells us to do. God said marriage is for a man and a woman. God says it is wrong to kill. I would like to know why I am called intolerant because I view it this way.	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-11-08 13:45:00
Middle East and North Africa	Tuesday	well how can you be religous and support things that are against your religion? Rahma by the way your prophet wouldnt approve of gays getting married or for women killing babies.	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-11-08 12:16:00
Middle East and North Africa	Tuesday	VOTE REPUBLICAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! why does this not surprise me? Well Noura considering you and alot of women here are supposed to be Muslims, how can you vote for people who are for gay marriage and abortion?	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-11-07 19:15:00
Middle East and North Africa	Tuesday	Rahma I am glad you are voting as I just got home from voting myself. I wouldnt be seen in the samie room with Jesse Jackson tho. I am not a fan of his at all. VOTE REPUBLICAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shannon	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-11-07 08:44:00
Middle East and North Africa	What part of fall are you?	You Are Warm Nights by the Fire Peaceful and romantic. The best part of fall. What Part of Fall Are You? http://www.blogthing...fallareyouquiz/	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-11-10 16:40:00
Middle East and North Africa	What 2007 car should you drive?	You Should Drive a Bentley Azure You're all flash, and you love to show off to anyone who will watch. And you're such a high roller, this is just one car of many for you... What 2007 Car Should You Drive? http://www.blogthing...ldyoudrivequiz/	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-11-10 16:37:00
Middle East and North Africa	Friday thread		samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-09-01 15:32:00
Middle East and North Africa	Merry Christmas	Just wanted to say Merry Christmas to visajourney.... and to those who rag on Christmas well just take a day off and enjoy life........... Shannon	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-12-22 19:09:00
Middle East and North Africa	POE/travel coaching	Samirs POE was JFK and was totally painless...only a few simple questions. I made Samirs connecting flight online here and made it for 5 hours after his arrival time. His plane was almost an hour late on arrival and it gave him plenty of time to get thru immigration and to look around the airport. Make sure he has cab fare to get from one terminal to the next and he should be fine. Good luck and wish you the bes ton your reunion day!	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-12-28 22:36:00
Middle East and North Africa	Do your men feel intimidated because of your success?	My husband isnt intimidated by me at all and has been nothing but a loving and supportive husband. I feel my successes in life couldnt be reached if it wasnt for his love and emotional support. Whatever I acomplish, hes always behind me I currently work full time and attend college full time and feel run down but he is always there to keep me going. He works now too so he can help me and plans to go back to school as well	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-12-28 22:46:00
Middle East and North Africa	IN FREAKING HAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!	congrats to you!!! i rmember what it was like to wait.... now you will have him in your arms soon!	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2006-12-26 12:44:00
Middle East and North Africa	He's Here	Congratulations Jean on your reunion!! I am sorry the Mohammed had a rough time at JFK....Samir and I wanted to congratulate you and tell Mohammed welcome to America!! God Bless	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2007-01-02 10:28:00
Middle East and North Africa	What if you donnot like your SO's country...	I wouldnt let how I feel about my husbands country interferre with our relationship. I like Algeria, I dont like their government. His family is so sweet and I love them all so that is a great plus Algeria is a beautiful country but, the way their gov't does things there keeps the people in poverty and that is what i cant stand about it. Far as culture, it has made him a great man...so I can say I am blessed.	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2007-01-02 15:41:00
Middle East and North Africa	Medical Exam	They check for communicable diseases such as HIV, Syphillis, Hepatitis, TB etc. They perform a routine medical exam , blood tests, vaccinations, and a chest x-ray to check for TB. It is all very simple. Nothing more than an annual physical with a chest x-ray.	samir_shannon	Female	Algeria	2007-01-08 11:47:00