Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	September 2010 K1 Filers	We came to an agreement where he has 45 days (exactly half of the allotted time) to search for a job and at least get good job-leads. If he doesn't get hired or have any bites by 46 days, we get married that day! Ha. He is so worried about getting married when I'm the one providing for him. He is a bit embarrassed so we compromised. However, part of me just wants to drag him off the plane and to the court house off-topic question, anyone else on here going to have their fiance meet their friends and family for the first time when they come here?	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-10-28 13:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	September 2010 K1 Filers	grr. it's been 24 days since we were "touched" at VSC I want to know exactly what the workers are doing on a day-to-day. Of course to us outsiders it seems like they just take 5 breaks a day and don't get any work done. i want proof	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-10-27 11:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	September 2010 K1 Filers	I hope these NOA2s start coming out soon. I know it's not been that long but I'm getting ancy. I wish we could take a time-out from waiting and just have a day together every once in a while. A year has been torture!	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-10-20 17:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	September 2010 K1 Filers	wow. dec-jan? I know that sounds a bit far away, but that is also way closer than I thought was a reality! I was praying and hoping all year that Ali could be here for my cousin's wedding in February. Gosh, if he's here for xmas that would be amazing! Glass is half full!	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-10-17 09:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	September 2010 K1 Filers	i totally agree! optimism makes all the difference!	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-10-11 08:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	September 2010 K1 Filers	anyone get any news today? any touches? I must check about 10 times during the workday. Just for fun a friend and I read our horoscopes. I read Ali's for November and it predicted a "long-distance move." It's the little things that help you get through the day!	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-10-07 21:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	September 2010 K1 Filers	i think its for everyone. you are certainly welcome!	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-10-07 12:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	September 2010 K1 Filers	so sorry you had a rough time. that sounds so scary!	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-10-06 08:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	September 2010 K1 Filers	Got our third touch yesterday!!!	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-10-04 07:57:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	September 2010 K1 Filers	Happy October everyone! Let's keep our spirits high and try not to count the days. I'm checking the status pretty much on the hour while I'm at work. It can drive you nutty! We'll have our SO's by December/January. Keep the faith! Anna	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-10-01 10:13:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	September 2010 K1 Filers	[size="2"] I hope this is useful. Anyone of you can reply to this post when someone new comes by or if you need to update your timeline. Just follow the instructions. Good luck, my friends! And, oh, I really hope the RFE section will remain incomplete for all of us. 1. DO NOT DELETE THESE INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Please make sure you are using Rich Text Editor as your message setting. 3. Click "Reply" on the most recent/updated posting version of this list. 4. Remove the "Quote Coding" at the top and bottom of the list. 5. Always use [Courier New] Font and font size [2] [font="Courier New"] ============================= I-129F: September 2010 Applicants ============================= ====================================== USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox ====================================== UserName.............Sent...........CheckCashed.....NOA1.............RFE...........RFE Reply.....NOA2 ameribrit............09/07/10.......09/14/09........09/13/10.........--/--/--......--/--/--......--/--/-- Sunshine13...........09/07/10.......09/10/10........09/10/10.........--/--/--......--/--/--......--/--/-- Caribbean Lady.......09/09/10.......09/16/10........09/15/10.........--/--/--......--/--/--......--/--/-- Andy and Kayla.......09/13/10.......09/20/10........--/--/--.........--/--/--......--/--/--......--/--/-- J & K................09/13/10.......09/20/10........09/20/10.........--/--/--......--/--/--......--/--/-- Anna and Ali.........09/16/10.......09/20/10........09/22/10.........--/--/--......--/--/--......--/--/-- brian89..............09/17/10.......--/--/--........--/--/--.........--/--/--......--/--/--......--/--/-- Nikki + Tomislav.....09/21/10.......--/--/--........--/--/--.........--/--/--......--/--/--......--/--/-- *Yankee Love*........09/27/10.......--/--/--........--/--/--.........--/--/--......--/--/--......--/--/-- I'm having an issue with formatting this, even though you spelled it out! I just wanted to add our NOA1 got our second touch today! anyone else getting "touched?" !!! Oh and we got our paper copy of the NOA1! this is so much quicker than anticipated. Edited by Anna and Ali, 27 September 2010 - 04:18 PM.	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-27 16:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	September 2010 K1 Filers	I can't wait for Ali to have his first American xmas. He used to live here as a child but his family didn't celebrate it. He's going to get so spoiled! I hope you have a fantastic time over Thanksgiving!	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-26 20:31:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	September 2010 K1 Filers	yes! we were touched as well feels awesome!	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-26 18:55:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	September 2010 K1 Filers	I totally don't want to get my hopes up over something silly but: Today my mood was lifted exponentially when Ali called and said his mother's friend who reads fortunes through coffee () said that Ali will be in the States by DECEMBER! Well, I know its just a fun fantasy to believe in, it just helped me get through today It's the small encouragement that helps. Especially when I remember that the first time she told his fortune 5 years ago it turned out to be true! Caribbean Lady I hope you are 100% true!!!! that would be a miracle. Gah. our file was touched yesterday and I am so optimistic. Even February would be an awesome goal for me. I want him here for my cousin's huge wedding!	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-25 21:07:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	September 2010 K1 Filers	Touched this morning! Hope it's good news that they are being so quick and it's not a quick denial . Wishing Andy and Kayla, and Yankeelove a speedy response on NOA1!	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-24 08:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	September 2010 K1 Filers	I hope this is useful. Anyone of you can reply to this post when someone new comes by or if you need to update your timeline. Just follow the instructions. Good luck, my friends! And, oh, I really hope the RFE section will remain incomplete for all of us. 1. DO NOT DELETE THESE INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Please make sure you are using Rich Text Editor as your message setting. 3. Click "Reply" on the most recent/updated posting version of this list. 4. Remove the "Quote Coding" at the top and bottom of the list. 5. Always use [Courier New] Font and font size [2] ============================= I-129F: September 2010 Applicants ============================= ====================================== USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox ====================================== UserName.............Sent...........CheckCashed.....NOA1(email)......RFE...........RFE Reply.....NOA2 Sunshine13...........09/07/10.......09/10/10........09/10/10.........--/--/--......--/--/--......--/--/-- ameribrit............09/07/10.......09/14/10........09/13/10.........--/--/--......--/--/--......--/--/-- Caribbean Lady.......09/09/10.......09/16/10........09/15/10.........--/--/--......--/--/--......--/--/-- Andy and Kayla.......09/13/10.......09/20/10........--/--/--.........--/--/--......--/--/--......--/--/-- J & K................09/13/10.......09/20/10........09/20/10.........--/--/--......--/--/--......--/--/-- Anna and Ali.........09/16/10.......0?/0?/0?........09/22/10.........--/--/--......--/--/--......--/--/-- brian89..............09/17/10.......--/--/--........--/--/--.........--/--/--......--/--/--......--/--/-- *Yankee Love*........09/--/10.......--/--/--........--/--/--.........--/--/--......--/--/--......--/--/-- shoot sorry! i think i messed it uP!	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-23 19:08:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	September 2010 K1 Filers	I think i got my NOA1 tonight....I'm not sure!! the email just says it has been received and I should be getting something in the mail in the next week..... what does that mean and if it is the NOA1, does someone wanna help me update the timeline on this thread ? lol Today has been soooooooooooooooooooooooooo encouraging. I love this site and everyone on it! I seriously would never have figured out how to do any of the application without the love and support from you guys.	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-22 22:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	September 2010 K1 Filers	my package got signed for yesterday in texas by T. Grimmet! SOoooooo Happy to finally have some legitimacy! In such a great mood!!	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-22 08:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	September 2010 K1 Filers	I guess I'm official. Went and mailed it yesterday. Gah! Partly excited and the other part is having a mini-meltdown. I feel like I've been babying that application for so long that I'm panicking now that I can't make changes Also freaking out because it's not just playing dress up anymore. I could very well be married in the next 9 months! Holy Toledo. Anyone else feel like that? The postoffice worker was like. stop worrying and just give me the package! Here's an abbreviated timeline of ours : Met on Skype- Jan 2008 Started "dating"-Feb 2008 Met in London in person -March 2008 (really fast, huh?) Met in Felixstowe, England- December 2008/January 2009 Met in Felixstowe again- May 2009 through September 2009 (I stayed longer than the month I had planned ) During that time, got engaged sometime in July haha neither of us remember the day. must've been the celebration wine!! I went home SOOOOOO sad Applied for B2 Visa in October or November DENIED Applied yesterday for K-1!!	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-17 09:22:00
Middle East and North Africa	THINGS TO MAKE THEM FEEL AT HOME	Can I just say that I am all warm and fuzzy inside reading all this? This whole online community is filled with people who are so full of love for another person! The lengths that we are willing to go through for our SO's is inspiring. Thanks for all of you who are involved and are helping Ali and I along with this journey! I can't wait to build our nest together here and cook mansaf!	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-08-25 13:44:00
Middle East and North Africa	Where do you live in the US ?	Hi, I'm new and don't know if I count here! I'm from Rhode Island. I have yet to actually mail the petition out, I'm still getting an overview of how not to get denied. its a tricky thing!	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-08-25 13:33:00
Middle East and North Africa	Age a factor ?	This is so weird! My fiance is Ali and he is 24 and I am 21 too! hee hee but he is from Jordan.	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-10 11:57:00
Middle East and North Africa	How is your Arabic?	I loved reading this thread! I can relate. Sometimes I hear phone conversations and Ali gets surprised when I yell at him for saying something rude to a friend or tell him something about what he said to his mother. He seems a bit confused about how I know the gist of the conversation. It's really hard to try and tell when he's talking about me because he pronounces my name, "Anna" as "Ana" so when he is saying "I" in arabic it sounds the same. that way I don't know when he's talking about himself or me! He also thinks its funny when I mimic his expressions of frustration. The first time I said (excuse the spelling I'm sounding it out) Ya caracer, he almost died laughing.	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-10 09:46:00
Middle East and North Africa	opinion on speed of approval	i kinda expected that but I was holding out hope. Oh well, eventually is better than never. Keeping positive! thanks for the response though.	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-15 16:27:00
Middle East and North Africa	opinion on speed of approval	In everyone's opinion, is there even a glimmer of hope that if I send my application out this week, that we could be approved by February? My FH and I have been invited to my cousin's wedding and I was hoping to use that time to introduce Ali to my mom's entire family. Is this a pipe dream?	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-15 09:44:00
Middle East and North Africa	Something humorous (lol)	number 14 is so true! I used to be like Ali, why are you yelling at Mahmoud, he just called to say hello. And Ali is always oblivious and says we were just "discussing" something. His discussions are LOUD! I'm afraid he'll scare people on public transit with his "chit chat"! haha	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-22 13:41:00
Middle East and North Africa	You know your husband is ____ when...	this list had me dying! omg haha. Ali does the thing with his p's and b's my fave is the oscillating fan!!! I think he had a cracked rib two years ago from who knows what, maybe the violent way he sneezes! But, he claims until today that it was because he slept with the window open .....in summer. oooooh. Lol he gets so mad when I say that you can't catch: A stomach virus A torn muscle A sinus headache or leg cramps from a fan! or if he doesn't haev a shirt on. It's so adorable but funny. his cure for EVERYTHING is a cup of water. If I am sad about something and crying. He says, its okay. have water. Although it was very nice of him to put toothpaste on my thumb after he accidentally burned my finger with a cigarette I wouldn't have thought of that one.	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-22 14:00:00
Middle East and North Africa	b instead of p	Mohammed sometimes struggles with this too. In his letter to the Consul regarding his intentions towards me he wrote "I feel like I have known her since I was porn." Ohhhhhh k. I wonder how times she reread that line. The other thing we laugh over is his study is in hotel and tourism. Well, when an Egyptian says "tourism" it sounds an aweful lot like "terrorism". We have had some real hoots over that but he is always VERY CAREFUL to annunciate that one properly. Mohammed if you read this... Honey I'm not making fun at you. You just tickle me. Remember when I butchered Arabic so bad instead of saying "I love you" I said "doorknob"? omg i started crying i was laughing so hard at work about his letter to the consul omg made my day. These guys are too cute!	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-22 14:50:00
Middle East and North Africa	Raising bi-cultural kids	My daddy is a preacher so you can imagine the conversations we have had. After meeting and talking to Amr, my dad knows that Amr is a follower of God, does not matter what his religion is. When it comes down to it all, when we are all knocking on those pearly gates one day, I don't think God will say "are you Muslim, Christian, Jew, etc?" He will say "you are a follower of me." "you are a follwer of me." that is how I think! It's a one on one relationship with God and only you can answer for yourself in the end :)Whatever the label is on the religion, the most important thing is to raise a household full of love and respect, the rest will follow suit!	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-22 14:24:00
Middle East and North Africa	Have you been MENA-ized by your SO?	I read a lot of topics on these boards and it seems like people get annoyed too easily-so much that a friendly thread turns into a nasty cat fight. People take things too seriously. Many people want to argue and this is why most feel discouraged to post. So bitter. I guess it's easy to do so behind a computer. I bet I just annoyed a few of you.... Zaytoona Ha I agree. I would like to completely unsarcastically and in all seriousness apologize to those I gave cavities. I guess after all the crankiness on some of the threads you can't relate to being in the throes of love I'm not really a bubbly person either, I tend to just overdo it in type so that people don't misconstrue my meaning and think I'm being a jerk. If we were searching for a meaningless internet feud, we could always just head on over to youtube where people are absolutely absurd in the comments as though writing curse words to strangers validates them.	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-24 11:12:00
Middle East and North Africa	Have you been MENA-ized by your SO?	i wasn't referring to you. i already made that clear. it was a comment based off of reading what you said that reminded me of something i see all the time in the united states and morocco. its just a question directed at everyone! i'm not accusing you or judging your religious beliefs. that is none of my business. i was in morocco less than a week ago and saw many women wearing tight jeans and tight shirts with a scarf. i was simply asking what the purpose of this was. i am trying to get it clear to give me futher knowledge of islam and their traditions. i was under the impression (this impression given to me by muslim people) that the scarf and djellaba are worn so that men won't be tempted when they look at you. for modesty. but just because you cover your skin but wear tight clothes, is that still modest? i really am asking and don't mean to offend. if what i was told is correct, then wearing tight jeans and a scarf don't make sense to me. if i'm wrong, then please explain. i just want to be educated futher. Sometimes when you see the tight=clothes hijab combo its being worn more out of a cultural instinct rather than a religious one. the girls might not even have been practicing muslims. Just like sometimes you see women drape a pretty scarf over their hair as a fashion statement not a religious practice. I'm not making excuses or anything just saying its always a possibility. now if they were in bikinis and hijab that might be a different story there's no excuse for that haha	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-24 10:11:00
Middle East and North Africa	Have you been MENA-ized by your SO?	I'm worried a bit about some posts where the relationship sounds a bit overpowered by chore lists. I think i may have lucked out in that department because Ali cleans a lot and always complains that I need to relax. As for food, he's 6.3 and is a bottomless pit. He and his friends in uni lived on fast food and I had to break that habit. he even eats sardines out of the can. this boy can eat! I tried making all sorts of stuff and he eats anything so im grateful. but there was definately a twinkle in his eye when i out of the blue attempted to make homemade kebabs jordanian style. he hadn't been home in three years and he pulled me onto his lap and gave me a hug when he found out what i did while he was at work. He's so cute! momof1said: "I do everything my husband asks of me. I know that sounds terrible. It's just that I love him so much and he never asks for anything outrageous. If he wants some water, it doesn't hurt me to get it for him because he does the same for me." That is so true!! its nice to feel needed and sometimes i would complain about bringing him his sandals or something, but he takes me shopping whenever i give him the puppy face so i can't really get mad as for clothes, he begs me to wear revealing stuff when we go out together and he's always frustrated when i won't. i wear kind of sexy dresses to clubs and sometimes out to dinner but i don't wear shorts or tube tops or anything like that and he is always like why are you so covered! of course, his tune changes if im going out with friends. i get Babeeee are you wearing just that? I think it's cute im not bothered	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-17 10:11:00
Middle East and North Africa	Have you been MENA-ized by your SO?	wow. cleocatra, i loved reading your post over breakfast this morning. it was so enlightening! I feel Ali is a bit different from some Mena men because he spent 5 years away from home for schooling. He was raised in Jordan but spent two years in Virginia as a child. Then he did a year of school in Pakistan, and then four in England. He lived by himself in a dorm and did his own laundry, cooked (rarely) and got used to be self-sufficient. He's also a neat freak. The first time I lived with him I was shocked that he wont' go outside until he's had a chance to clean off his sneakers so he doesn't look dirty. His mom cleans like a madwoman so that makes sense! he is also out of his work clothes and into pajamas the second he walks through the door, even if we have to leave again in a few hours! lol I live with my parents still and never had to cook or wanted to until I met Ali. I surprised him once just by making Jello and his reaction was so grateful (i don't know why he hadn't thought to make it himself) that it was an encouragement to try other things. By the end of the summer i was making kebab and I tried to even make maqlooba. he claims that everythig I make is good, which is a lie I feel really lucky to have Ali because I know he is willing to do his part. Yes, absolutely there are some things he doesn't budge on, he doesn't want me out with guy friends by myself (i only have two guy friends anyway and we always hang out in groups so that's fine!) The best part of our compromise is that when it comes to whether or not i should do something his answer is always the same, "if it were me, would you like me to do it? If yes, then go ahead, if not, then don't" Rules in our relationship are very 50 50 and most of the time I have the emotional upper hand because i pout and he caves He is one of four sons in the household and definately the most sensitive. His mother definately did a great job raising her boys and two daughters as well while their father was in the military. Ali is fantastic with kids as well. One christmas we had dinner at a neighbor's house in england who was kind enough to invite us when we had no where to go, and the man's granddaughter wanted to spend all day in Ali's lap playing with him and I was jealous! little kids usually love me! He also dotes on his nephews and nieces. His nephew Azzam and Ali dance a lot to music and just act silly because he's only a year old. I think he'll make a great dad. His dad was extremely firm but in the end he and his brothers and sisters respect him like no other adult. They strive to make him proud. Again, sorry for blabbling, but if there's one thing I like talking about, it's my babe haha. <3 (oh, and as for chores, sometimes he beats me to it, but I like doing them anyway	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-16 08:30:00
Middle East and North Africa	Have you been MENA-ized by your SO?	I don't know how i feel about this...I mean I completely agree that you shouldn't abandon yourself and become something you aren't. However, sometimes you hear another person's view on life and have that Aha moment where you wonder how you lived so long without realizing that. Ali and I took walks and discussed religion and culture and we asked each other tons of questions. Immediately I was like, that makes perfect sense. I didnt feel resistant to anything I was being taught. It is my choice to follow certain cultural things and not others. I won't ignore my roots or betray myself but when i find a smarter way to do something, I do it. It's almost like i found an excuse to finally be myself. I used to get teased a lot by friends about being soooo modest, polite, and studious. Now its like I have found a culture that treasures girls who act like that. I remember his grandmother was shocked when she first saw me because I didn't have a low-cut top on. I'm so much more positive and comfortable when I'm dressed appropriately! So i dont' think of our relationship as me sacrificing anything. It's a learning experience. I taught Ali some things and he taught me some. It's give and take. Bottom line is if you are going to change soemthing about yourself, either inside or out. The idea of changing must originate from within, otherwise it won't stick! Plus, you shouldn't marry someone if you don't think that being with them can help you to reach your full potential! challenge each other! Grow! but most importantly, LOVE. Sorry for the rant. its a slow day at work!	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-15 12:52:00
Middle East and North Africa	Baby names	i know this thread is old but i wanted to chime in. not to share too much personal info but i loved the name aaliyah until i put it with Ali's full name. THat poor little girl would get teased if her names was Aaliyah Ali Ayyat. Say it outloud I have some lengthy pretentious names that im attached to and Ali's face was like four kids, two boys, two girls Pelayo-boy layo for short Ayla-girl Labayala- boy (though it sounds a bit feminine) possible Laila for the last girl....I'm obsessed with names with y's i don't want kids really but if i have one i might as well have four and become a super dedicated mom.	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-24 11:47:00
Middle East and North Africa	arabic baby names	I like Noah. That's a good compromise. In my family (I think its a religious tradition, but not sure exactly) I'm supposed to name my daughter after my dead grandmother, Anna. But that name sounds really stupid with my fiance's last name (which also starts with an A) Maybe we'll do it her middle name. If I even have a girl. I know this topic is from ages ago. i was just laughing because my name is Anna and Ali's last name starts with an A as well and I was like aww phooey. I dreamt as a little girl of getting an awesome last name and now it just sounds like a mouthful of A's. Even though Ali's initials are AAAA (no lie) I wouldn't stray too far from other A names. Depends on the syllables involved.	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-25 15:25:00
Middle East and North Africa	MENA nicknames	how cute is this thread? nice little pick me up. I call him: Haboo Habubu Aloush Babu (most common one) Habubu-bear Baba Aloo When I'm frustrated that he isn't listening I whine Babisch!!! (idk y) He calls me: Habibi Sweetie pie (also pronounced sweaty....lol spelled the same when he writes it too) Princess Mermaid Babe Schnugglypie I've invented a lot of words that I hope he doesn't think are real haha. He says schnuggle now instead of snuggle. Oops lol.	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-25 15:48:00
Middle East and North Africa	Bidets	ha this thread makes me giggle. its strange that some people here have a misconception that arabs are "dirty" considering I have never met a group of people as hygenic as my fiance and his fam. In fact, I was a bit embarrassed living with him because I was like...oh I never thought I was dirty before but in comparison, i feel grimy! gah. He even cleans his shoes before leaving the house	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-22 14:45:00
Middle East and North Africa	Change the way I dress?	I was surprised at first at the way the post can take such a sudden turn into personal attacks or just waste-of-time remarks. Until I went back to read the beginning posts of VJ's MENA section while at work. And the tone was absurd. Apparently this site attracts not only people who honestly wish to help, but also those who get a rise out of commenting on things just for the sake of knowing that maybe someone read something they had to say. It's just unfortunate that those who want help one day can't offer advice to someone else the next. This holier than thou complex really degrades this entire site. There have been many mentions of ageism on the site and I'm sure I'm not the only one who will think twice about things they post from now on. Better to do your own research than to ask unqualified and rude people.	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-26 08:49:00
Middle East and North Africa	Change the way I dress?	I wasn't necessarily referring only to hijab. I don't think adding hijab to a skimpy outfit makes you any more pious than wearing a tophat makes you Mr. peanut. Again, just admiring the overall fashion sense of many MENA, and western women who choose to be tasteful. I was seriously just asking for a quick opinion on whether or not anyone has encountered severe difficulty in developing a different fashion style post-marriage and/or post conversion. I thought this would gather four posts tops. Also, to clarify, as I don't want to pose as something I'm not. I have not officially converted. I am still in the deep research phase and think it would be a bit naive of me to jump in head-first, make a commitment to God, and act as a representative in public for the faith without the proper knowledge behind me. I'm still a student of Islam in the very beginnings and even though I know in my heart I will be converting in the near future, I certainly don't want to accept congratulatory statements when I haven't earned them yet. I must put in the hard work first. (however, thank you for that sincerity and I'll let you know when it finally happens!) As for trying the "harder" aspects of Islam, I don't view my eventual choice concerning hijab to be the be all end all of choices. Once I make a commitment to the religion, it will either happen or it won't. Sidenote: I would like to note that Queen Rania of Jordan is doing her very best to bring literacy in the Muslim world into the spotlight. Yes, the media often decides to caricaturize and generalize by showing a cycle of footage of hijab, war, camels, and mosques with the Azan always in the distance, but the intelligent people in this country (yes, there are still some ) are able to examine something from all sides. (at least that's how I still have faith in humanity) I hope I'm not coming across as being obsessed with grabbing attention through wearing something quite distinctive, it's just that I've fallen head over heels with fashions I've found that just happen to not show much skin, if any at all. These fashions often do involve variations on hijab and abayas. It's an honest and uninfluenced attraction that I think I may have come to love regardless of my fiance. I guess i've answered my own question then. Believe in what I wear, wear it properly, and don't let anyone bully me out of making my own decisions.	Anna and Ali	Female	Jordan	2010-09-24 21:54:00