biggish data

That would be fantastic if he was done by the 4th of July! Our 6th yr anniversary is July 22nd so that would be awesome
timing!!!

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-03 00:12:00

I just realized it's my husband's 5 year anniversary of being in the U.S.

Cool! Congrats to him!!! :dance:

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-02 13:27:00

Depends on your local office. Houston says 5 months for us. Took 4-5 months for my brother in law last year from the Houston office.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-02 13:23:00

Happy May! This year is flying by fast! Jeanne we are so surprised that Adam will do his biometrics this coming Monday! We had just mailed off his N400 on April 12th! Hope everyone has a great day!

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-02 12:03:00

Feeling a Little Sad...

I'm working up on some ideas & plans for vacation once naturalization is over for hubby. Cruise or something. Either way vacation time for both of us starts after July 12th. Hopefully he will be naturalized by then. Btw, he had his finger prints done 1 week ago & today he was notified that he is in line to be scheduled for his interview & to be expecting the interview letter!

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-14 22:56:00

Leaving Las Vegas, or Brooklyn or Miami

Him saying he has to do something about you... Sounds pure evil! You need to pull yourself together & leave him outta your life for good! Don't trust any person that says they need to do something about you.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-18 00:02:00

The Dictator - offensive?

Went to watch the movie today with the hubster. Parts were funny as all get out and some were not at all. I don't care for nudity in any movie or cursing. I LOLed at the part though about the hair on the woman bcz that is soooo Egyptian to want hair off a woman's body and at the end when he finds out she's Jewish. I didn't know anything about this actor prior to this thread and google and Im not impressed with the amount of sexual content that he puts in this movie.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-22 19:14:00

The Dictator - offensive?

Going to watch the movie tomorrow with hubby.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-21 23:04:00

The Dictator - offensive?

Adam & I have seen the preview and will be going to the movies to see it. Too bad I'm not off work or we would go tonight!

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-16 10:42:00

Momof1 I'm sorry that you have to go thru something like this. (F)

Due to my biological mother being deceased as well as her 2 brothers died when they were an infant and the other as a child and both of my maternal grandparents have passed away and my birth father spending 16 yrs in prison and me being adopted I have almost zero info to go on for my health. I have PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome) and a blood clotting disorder from a mutated gene called factor V ..which I found that out 6 yrs ago from getting a major blood clot in my leg from being on BC pills for my pcos. I have only a small memory of my mothers father and his health issues being diabetes strokes and blood clots. It's frustrating

Edited by ~PalmTreeGurl~, 18 May 2012 - 10:58 AM.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-18 10:58:00

My husband has a male Egyptian dentist here vs an American husband & wife team in Georgia and he still dont like going!

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-03-08 12:22:00

Im loving this thread as well! Its so nice to hear everyones marriage stories & how things are going years after our husbands have come over.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-03-07 14:47:00

Met Wael almost 8 yrs ago and have been married almost 6 yrs. He arrived in the states Dec 07, so
it's almost 5 yrs since he left Egypt. We certainly were very fortunate to not have any adjustment problems.
He has loved the states since his arrival, worked for a few months and decided to go back to school. He has
a BA in Accounting, obtained his BS in Economics, and now will graduate with his MBA (Finance) May 11.

Last year he went home for the first time since arriving here. He had just graduated from the University of Arizona
and was a new American citizen. The first week he was back in Egypt, he couldn't wait to come "home"! So much
had changed. Of course he misses his family and speaks with them a couple times a week. He's just been so busy
studying and it has consumed so much of his time. I love and have always loved his independent nature and his
love for learning. He's still the same kind and gentle man I met and married. We have no problems with him being
Muslim and me Catholic. I learn and he learns. My family just adores him!

Tammy, replying to your topic of has it been what I expected....it has been more than that. I count my blessings
everyday and could not imagine myself without my sweetheart. He's such a good guy!!

Awww Jeanne! So sweet & touching! We are pretty blessed to have such great guys in our lives!

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-03-06 01:37:00

I got pregnant and miscarried 4 yrs ago. After that we didn't try/didn't prevent. It took about 3yrs to conceive with that method. My husband did work out of state for a time so that also prevented conception. I'm really glad things worked out the way they did. We had several years together before bringing a baby into the mix. Years we were able to work out the kinks so to speak. I will say that a few months before I got pregnant with our daughter, my husband did mention fertility testing. He thought maybe he was the problem since I had two already. He is so loving being a dad that he's already talking about trying again. Lol. Yeah I'm so not ready for that.

Wow! I dont know how I could ever handle having a miscarriage after everything I've been through. I would be broken to no end and I dont know if Adam would be able to handle that or even me for that matter. Sometimes I wonder if thats the reason I havent gotten pregnant -to save me from having a heartbreak as that. I've been told by doctors I'd more than likely have miscarriages plus be a high risk pregnancy. Thats always in the back of my mind.

Edited by ~PalmTreeGurl~, 04 March 2012 - 11:44 PM.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-03-04 23:44:00

And the "I love You" 100 times a day! Adam is such a sweetheart when it comes to that! ... but sometimes I'm like enough already- just please wash some darn dishes... that will show me how much you love me!

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-03-04 23:37:00

I must say to those of you who have left your families & homeland that I am so proud of you that you have a wonderful outlook on life and are making things work for you & your spouse! I cant imagine how I would feel if I left the comfort of my family, country & life that I was used to! Thats a huge adjustment to make and many of you here on VJ have done just that!

Edited by ~PalmTreeGurl~, 04 March 2012 - 11:35 PM.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-03-04 23:34:00

My question for those of you thats been married awhile and have a child with your spouse: Did you wait awhile & plan the timing? Did it take awhile to get pregnant? Im not at a point right now where I will financially go out of my way to dig deeper as to why I havent gotten pregnant yet. Its already stressful & tender subject for me, and it would not be covered by insurance to do all the tests that could be done on me. However, I have recently discussed with hubby about him going to get a test run to see if its him or just me. I know that he's been here in the US for 4yrs and that not all couples get pregnant in a 4yr period. The adoption talk had been talked about before but years ago when we first got married I didnt know how my health issue would be so complicating to getting pregnant that I just assumed I'd get pregnant at some point. About a year ago, hubby told me that he honestly didnt feel like he could go through with adoption and loving a child that wasnt his... and even though thats his honest truth -that broke my heart for a couple of reasons. I think in our marriage this has been my biggest hurdle.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-03-04 23:15:00

As far as lonliness went... Adam came in Jan 2008, 4months later he had his work permit and started working but we shared 1 vehical which was difficult. I worked 2 jobs at the time so I had the car most of the time and he hadnt gotten his drivers license until Dec 2008. Him waiting on me to get off of work and take him places was hard. Getting a drivers license, 2nd vehical & GPS helped tremendously back then. In 2009 we left Atlanta Ga to move out towards Houston Tx to be closer to my family. We stay very active in our jobs & when we are together we are always doing something or going somewhere. Theres hardly any time for lonliness now!

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-03-04 23:05:00

I remember back when I was 18 about to graduate, my mom had asked me to write a letter of what I wanted to do & where I saw myself 5yrs from then. I had wrote about working at Walmart, getting married & starting a family. I envisioned getting married having kids & quitting walmart at some point. 12yrs later still at walmart, married & no kids with health issues that would put me at having a high risk pregnancy.
I was 23 when I met Adam online then 3 months later I had a fast traveling blood clot that required major surgery then 6 months later I went over to Egypt and we got married. We talked about having kids of course but had no idea had difficult it would be to get pregnant. We are only 2yrs apart in age and very similar in many ways & very different in others. We both come from different religions & now share a common one-Christianity. We've been married 5 1/2 yrs and have had many wonderful experiences & times together. Adam is about to file for Citizenship within the next couple of months & get that over with.

I would say minus not having a child, that life has pretty much been what I would have expected it to be. We are growing old together even though we are fairly young, working hard, paying bills, and enjoying life together.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-03-04 22:59:00

So I figured I'd start a topic about marriage & life for those of us who have been with our spouses for awhile. Has marriage & life been what you expected? Has your family grown with you & your spouse? Care to share experiences? Gives newer couples an insight to what we have experienced through out the years.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-03-04 22:35:00

Thank you for the reply & PM Kelly, I appreciate all the advice from you ladies!

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-25 17:32:00

I never had my blood pressure as high as it was today from the stress of that place. 151/95 and I have relatively normal blood pressure. I actually felt dizzy & a huge headache today from the stress there. I've already applied to 4 places and Im going to have to continue. I do not want to fall out dead in that store Im in.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-24 20:49:00

Thank you for your advice WOM for the stock we get .15 to the $1 we put in. So yes, Im 30 and I think its time for a life change!

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-20 12:23:00

also to add w/Adam getting up for work around 230-330am to start getting ready for work on Fri-Sunday its hard for me to get any kind of rest through out the night with no set schedules. If some week I get off at 11p+ and I don't fall asleep til 1am then I just get woken up at 230-430am bcz Im such a light sleeper. My schedule the way it is wears me out for real. If on the weeks I go in at 6am and he has to get up at 230a-330a I have to get up my self around 430a but Im woken up by 230-330am anyhow by the alarms and him.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-20 12:09:00

Is your schedule at Walmart also a negative for you ?

I think you've given a lot of reasons to try to make a move. Your reasons for staying seem to be basically 1.) loyalty to Walmart, and 2.) the security of having health insurance. (Walmart's benefits do not seem to be especially great, though, in comparison to a lot of other employers.)

Your reasons for leaving seem to be 1.) get something with less stress and 2.) better hours. Lots of companies will offer you that, at comparable or better pay than what you're making now.

How do you receive the stock - do you buy it (at an employee discount,) or do they contribute to your 401K in the form of stock ? It's part of the compensation equation - as well as the personal time/sick leave/flex time comparisons.

But overall, it seems like there are more good reasons to move on than to stay. Also, look down the line to when you do become a mother - you want to position yourself now to the best advantage for the future of your family in terms of your paycheck, your hours, flexibility to take care of all those emergencies that happen when you're a mom, and most of all, your general happiness at work.

WOM you are pretty much right on for reasons to stay and leave.

And as far as the schedule: yah kinda 12 yrs of no set schedule. One week Im around 6 or 630am with or without split days off, then maybe next week 2p-11p then 10-7p one week or maybe different schedules all together. At least in Georgia I had off every Sunday & Wednesday but they won't do anything like that here bcz they say there managers here all have to have complete open availability 6am -11pm

For receiving stock, I select each week what I want to come out of my paycheck. Same as the 401k I select what % I want to come out of my paycheck and Walmart matches what I select up to 6%.

I did apply for HR last year but I was the 2nd person nominated for it which was fine for me bcz I absolutely love the person to pieces that got the assistant position. I go to her when I need advice within the company or to talk about things. She's a great listener. Im going to have see what else is available bcz Im tired of this stress and things going on. Its simply not worth staying a manager for my healths sake. And Im off on Monday & Tuesday so I might pop over at the bank and introduce myself and let them know I put my application in.

Edited by ~PalmTreeGurl~, 20 May 2012 - 12:01 PM.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-20 11:58:00

Thanks ladies for all the advice and pros & cons. I just got home from work and I'll write more when I get up.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-20 01:37:00

NY BX: I've always wanted to work for walmart, be a wife then a mother. So far every thing but the latter has happened. My sister on the other hand wanted to go off to college and make a career, not be dependent on a husband and kids later in life. She married a professor, has two children and did not finish college. Dreams don't always happen the way we plan on them to. I will be happy as long as our bills continue to get payed as they are plus I be less stressed and with a schedule that works for me spending more time with my family. That is biggest reason we left Atlanta to come to Texas to be with my family and spend time with them. I need to make that happen more.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-19 12:29:00

also, a side note is that since Adam works for Walmart already he has the option to add me to his health insurance if I needed it. Its more expensive to do it that way but thats an option if I don't stay with walmart.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-19 11:40:00

Really? I'm sorry the contract is so stiff. Does this count personal days? I am assuming you also have a sick bank accrued, right?

Yah thats just paid vacation. I have accrued up to 145 sick hours and we get 2 or 3 personal days a year. When you get to 196 sick hours they turn into a small portion of extra personal time.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-19 11:38:00

Depends of what kind of position you will have. A teller has sales goals to achieve every month wich can be stressful and annoying if you ask me ! I've been working for a bank ( a canadian bank but they are all about the same jobwise !!) for 11 years now and it all depends on the position you've been offered. As we say here in Canada " its not worth it to change 4 quarters for a dollar". The best of luck !

An advantage for me would be I do that already with Walmart with our Credit Card goals each month, product replacement plans for merchandise and raising money for the Texas Childrens hospital. Goals for me is an every day thing. Also the bank is behind and half a mile from my walmart. Same customers. My motto to my management team is that 99% of the customers love me & the 1% that doesn't -walmart should love me for. Its my every day job to find every way possible to make the customer happy & have the best experience and be taken care of as they want.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-19 11:36:00

To add: Working in a bank you must dress for success, clothes,shoes jewelry,hair,makeup ( at least this applies to the town I live in) All this adds up in $$$$$ and must be filtered in also.

Could be only the south that dresses that way your town bankers might not "over dress" like mine

Spending money on those things would make Adam extremely happy. lol I have nice things but he always wants me to have better. I on the other hand don't like to spend/waste money. And here in the country, I haven't seen too many people that dress to impress quite the same way like they would in Houston or Atlanta.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-19 11:32:00

At my 7th yr with Walmart I got 3 paid weeks of vacation. At year 15 I will get 4 weeks a year of paid vacation.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-19 11:30:00

Yes its a full time position. When answering the questions for the job I selected its for the hours and commute to work plus Other (which is just for a change in my life) I did not select stress, or due to other managers or associates or customers bcz I deal well with all those things.

And my attendance is excellent at my job and has been. I also have a high amount of the highest evaluations for my annual evals.

Edited by ~PalmTreeGurl~, 19 May 2012 - 11:22 AM.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-19 11:20:00

Hi, The way things are going now with the job market that's not a very good decision. My opinion, Stay with the job you have security in. My sister works for Wally World and she LOVES IT! Walmart has great benefits. And 3 weeks PAID vacation, give that up to start over? No way not me! lol.... The Best in whatever you decide to do

There is no security in any job and if she had the position I had for 12 yrs and the stress of it in 2012 she'd run fast. I've been nearly a fool to stay there as long as I have.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-19 11:07:00

Great questions to ask if interviewed and job is offered. The annual base pay is maybe $1k or 2 more than what I get now but I do get a lot of benefits with walmart with health/dental insurance, 401k & stock. Im not interested in getting to the top any where, Im interested in paying our bills comfortably, health insurance and taking care of my health and less stress so I can try to get pregnant. So if it offered health insurance, it would be a parallel job. I can be pregnant and work at a bank, not with me as a manager with walmart running around and as stressed out in that place. I feel that is part of the reason besides health why I haven't gotten pregnant is bcz of the stress.

Edited by ~PalmTreeGurl~, 19 May 2012 - 10:58 AM.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-19 10:56:00

Well, I am thinking to make a career change in my life. I'm always stressed and tired of some of the things going on. This is about to be my 12yr with Walmart & I'm only 1 1/2 months away from my 12yr year which will be a raise plus 3 more weeks of paid vacation. I have 401k and stock in the company. However with all of that I just applied for a position at a bank. Anyone have pros & cons for working at a bank. Being that I've been 12 yrs in customer service and 10 of the as a manager I'm sure it's comparable in that aspect.

It's scary to think about a life change like this but it may be necessary for my life!

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-19 10:26:00

I didn't say what I had to say in any ill manner. Im being completely serious. He's yet to come back and answer any one who had a serious question. His english is well enough that most all of us understand what he's saying.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-28 09:46:00

He has yet to reply to honest sincere questions that are asked of him. I don't foresee him actually answering those of us who are really wanting to know & help him out especially in this MENA forum. It is what it is I suppose.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-27 05:46:00

Hello, just wondering if you and the woman have age differences? Was she married before? Does she have kids? Are ya'll the same religion? Do you have doubts that she will marry you when you come into the USA?

never mind, forget I bothered writing. I don't foresee an actual response to my questions now that I've read further.

~PalmTreeGurl~

Female

Egypt

2012-05-25 20:40:00