ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Middle East and North AfricaHappy Birthday Jackie!!!

UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-02-05 11:48:00
Middle East and North AfricaThursday
Tired and sick. Want to be home, but my coworker is home with her sick kid today and one of us needs to be here. crying.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-02-12 09:44:00
Middle East and North AfricaLiving Hajj - free sunnipath event
Some people love in Saudia, some people hate it. That's why I say I could only live in Mecca or Medina. I could put up with the restrictions if I could compensate for them with increased religious opportunities.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-02-13 12:14:00
Middle East and North AfricaLiving Hajj - free sunnipath event
QUOTE (KHPerfectMatch @ Feb 13 2009, 01:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (rahma @ Dec 20 2006, 11:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Anyone and/or their husband/so ever been on hajj or umra? My husband lived in Saudia when he was little and made umra then. We're saving up to go in the next few years inshaAllah!


I sent my son on Ummrah when he was 14. It was 2002 and he was so filled with conflict being an Arab/American/Muslim with blonde hair and blue eyes. 9/11 created a lot of internal conflict for him. I sent him for one month with a group of other American/Muslim teenagers and Dr. Jamal Badawi.

He stayed in Medina for 3 weeks and Mecca for one week. He came back BEGGING me to move to KSA..... It was VERY hard on me to let him go so far, so young, without me or any other family member. But I think it was a very good experience for him. He learned he may be a minority here but definately not everywhere. It did not create the exact result that I had hoped for, but is something I think he will never forget.


mashaAllah that sounds awesome. I've heard of programs for adults, but never one for teenagers. That sounds like something that more kids should go on.

I hope inshaAllah to go on the rihla with the Deen Intensive Foundation someday, but it probably won't be for many years. Hajj first, then extras.

As for living in Saudia, I'd only do Mecca or Medina I think. I have this little dream of living near masjid an nabi, so I can visit the Prophet (saws) every day and give my salaams. I've corresponded with a blogger who lives in Medina, and she gives him my salaams whenever she goes, but I'd love to sit in the rawdah every day myself smile.gif

QUOTE
I had hoped to go on Haj during the winter months (recently). My maher was Haj, but it will be years before he can save the $ it will take for both of us to go and maybe even 20 years, since I'll be waiting for cool weather again)... And by that time I will need someone to run me around in one of the wheelbarrows! sad.gif I fear I have missed the window of opportunity I had been planning on for many years... Allah knows best.

Maybe we'll do Ummrah sometime when we take a trip to Egypt.... insha'allah. H has gone on Ummrah so I'm the only one who hasn't been.... sad.gif


inshaAllah you'll go when the time is right and inshaAllah that time will be soon. rose.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-02-13 10:06:00
Middle East and North AfricaLiving Hajj - free sunnipath event
QUOTE (caybee @ Feb 12 2009, 02:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (rahma @ Dec 20 2006, 02:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
National Geographic Documentary Inside Mecca

Channel 4's Hajj program, also excellent

BIG ol' bump smile.gif We watched "Inside Mecca" not long ago, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I don't know how recently it was mentioned here in MENA, probably more recently than 2006, but this was a short thread and easy to find. So I wanted to give Rahma's link another plug. I'll watch the other program soon as well.


Thanks for the bump smile.gif I usually watch Inside Mecca during the hajj each year to get myself motivated to save the $$$ to go. inshaAllah we'll be going in the next few years.

on a related note, they're finally building a railway system to the various parts of hajj and between Mecca and Medina. I'm really hoping it will ease the traffic congestion and make it safe to walk. I have it in my head that I'd like to walk to the different places, instead of being cooped up in a bus for 12 hours inching along half a mile per hour.

QUOTE (Berber Mama @ Feb 12 2009, 02:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Just curious, is hajj a one time thing or can you go more than once?


It's required to go once for every able bodied muslim who has the financial means. After that, it's extra.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-02-12 15:57:00
Middle East and North AfricaLiving Hajj - free sunnipath event
National Geographic Documentary Inside Mecca

Channel 4's Hajj program, also excellent
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2006-12-20 14:10:00
Middle East and North AfricaLiving Hajj - free sunnipath event
Anyone and/or their husband/so ever been on hajj or umra? My husband lived in Saudia when he was little and made umra then. We're saving up to go in the next few years inshaAllah!
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2006-12-20 14:05:00
Middle East and North AfricaLiving Hajj - free sunnipath event
Highly highly highly recommended!

Posted Image

Edited by rahma, 20 December 2006 - 01:18 PM.

UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2006-12-20 13:17:00
Middle East and North AfricaWhat are you getting your Mena Man for Valentine's Day???
Again we're grinches. We don't celebrate v-day. However, I do take advantage of the sales, and stock up on lovey-dovey presents for other parts of the year luv.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-02-05 11:52:00
Middle East and North AfricaHappy Birthday Noura!!!
sorry I'm late


UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-02-16 10:04:00
Middle East and North AfricaIt's Monday, again
Bah. Something is wrong with my computer. I can't print anything. And if I can't print anything, there's not much I can do at work.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-02-16 10:04:00
Middle East and North AfricaBest ME/NA blogs
One more I was looking for:

al-ghurba - former moroccan expat, her expat blog is North AFrica Notes

Edited by UmmSqueakster, 18 February 2009 - 12:56 PM.

UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-02-18 12:55:00
Middle East and North AfricaBest ME/NA blogs
I've added quite a few blogs to the rolls since 2006:

.Nzingha's Soapbox - expat in KSA and Bahrain. Love love love this blog. Great commentary on Saudi society

almiskeenah - another blog I love love love. Blogging from Medina with excellent pictures several times a week

Cairo/Giza Daily Photo - self explanitory title

Izzy Mo - great american muslim blogger, now living in Dubai

Multicultural Muslimah - my friend Molly, currently living in Egypt

Naeem's Blog - american muslim expat in KSA

Riyadat an-Nafs - jordanian blogger who has a lot of great posts on Egypt

Soliloquies of a Stranger - american muslim expat living in KSA

Southern Muslimah - american muslim expat in Jordan

Souvenirs and Scars - Syrian Canadian in Syria

Tea Break Thoughts - canadian muslim expat in Egypt
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-02-17 16:21:00
Middle East and North AfricaBest ME/NA blogs
I (L) blogs. I read probably 25+ a day :blush: Anyone else a blog-o-phile? What bloggers out of the ME/NA do you read?

The Black Iris of Jordan from, you guessed it, Jordan, is always interesting.

Juan Cole's Informed Comment, while not based in the Middle East, is chock full of news stories and analysis from the region.

Raising Yousuf: a diary of a mother under occupation highlights the experiences of Laila el-Haddad in Gaza City.

'Aqoul is a group blog dedicated to the ME/NA region, with several contributors living in the area.

The Angry Arab teaches in California, but writes a lot about the ME, especially Lebanon.

So, add more spiffy blogs that I can add to my daily blog roll. I neeeeeed more, I'm addicted!
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2006-04-18 11:13:00
Middle East and North AfricaWhere is your fiance/spouse from Egypt?
Formerly of Mahalla el Kubra, famous for it's textile factories and civil unrest, currently in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, famous for being increadibly cold.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-12-26 09:46:00
Middle East and North AfricaOk, Honestly, What did my family do wrong?
rose.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-02-09 15:28:00
Middle East and North AfricaHow long....to all the ladies w/beneficiary hubby
What goals does he have career wise? Working at Wendys might bring in a little dough, but will it further his job prospects and help him accomplish what he wants to do?

If he has a professional job in mind, and he can't get it right off the bat without work experience, look for an internship in that field. It's a great way to make connections, build up work history on the resume, and get the all important reference. Volunteering in that field also looks good on the resume and can help for future aspirations.

I waited a long, long, long, long (did I mention long) time for my husband to get a good, long term job. More than 2 and a half years to be exact. In the interim, he worked at a few dead end jobs (UPS, check cashing place, now that was a soul suck). But, he didn't sit on his behind and do nothing when he wasn't working in those 2 and a half years. He studied several days a week for his certified internal auditor exam. He practiced writing until he could knock out a letter in nearly fluent english. He did mock interviews, to get comfortable conversing with people other then me in english. He joined a job training program. He applied for 2 dozen jobs a week. He volunteered and did an internship.

And it was that internship and his 3 years of volunteering that got him his first job as an accountant here in the US. If he had been working dead end jobs more then he did, he wouldn't have had time to develop what was really needed for that professional job.


Now, looking back, hind sight is 20/20. But until he got his accounting job, ohhhh boy was it hard for me. There were many times I almost went crazy, and it was very stressful for both of us. If you have patience and your husband is working diligently towards a goal, even if it's not at Wendys, try to give him some time.

Edited by UmmSqueakster, 29 January 2009 - 01:05 PM.

UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-01-29 13:04:00
Middle East and North AfricaMena house decorating in the U.S??
We've gone the lota route, ie we have a watering can star_smile.gif I've offered to get a bidet, but the husband doesn't seem to mind, so meh, why spend the money?

If you google "bidet," there are lots of places you can buy online.

Ooo, in fact, while googling I came across this. Now that we might just have to buy.

QUOTE (humpkinpumpkin @ Jan 16 2009, 01:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
laughing.gif You and your love for cats!!!!


luv.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-01-16 15:10:00
Middle East and North AfricaMena house decorating in the U.S??
The husband asked a few months ago why our bathroom wasn't decorated like XYZ's bathroom. They have a flower theme going on. I just have a mismatch of whatever I found clearanced. I asked if he wanted me to decorate the bathroom and he said yes. bwahaha, little does he know that he has unleashed.

http://www.thecatcon...v06/kam_kam.htm


UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-01-16 13:50:00
Middle East and North AfricaMena house decorating in the U.S??
I'm thinking when we get a house in a few years (inshaAllah) that I'd like to decorate it in a modern style. The only problem is I have too many nicknacks and chachkis. I suppose in a house, they could be spread out, but in a 1 bedroom apartment, they kind of take over, lol.

I've been reading the moderncat blog recently, and I just love how simple and clean everything looks. We have cheapo scandinavian furniture already (ikea), and I figure we could collect good, higher quality pieces over the year and build the look.

This would be the neato, but for some reason, I think my husband wouldn't go along with it. Wonder why?


UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-01-13 16:28:00
Middle East and North AfricaTragic News from Cairo
If the location in this photo shows the blast site, I'm pretty sure this is right where the husband and I exchanged rings back in 2003.



ranting33va.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-02-23 08:35:00
Middle East and North AfricaSCAMMED FOR A GREEN CARD
Thanks for posting. I do hope you can come back and tell us more, so that we can better understand rose.gif

There is a lot of fraud out of MENA. Anyone who's been to a net cafe has probably seen the young men lining up for computer time to chat up their prospective tickets to the US. We all have reasons why we believe our men aren't like that, but we shouldn't ignore that this does happen. I would be very interested in hearing more, to see how everything went down and try to get a general understanding of how it all works. Granted, I'm sure it's not all the same, but there has to be some common theme, some thread, something for a better understanding.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-01-28 11:57:00
Middle East and North AfricaFriday!!!
Jummah Mubarak and Happy Rabi’-al-Awwal!

We had half a foot of snow last night, which meant I needed to move my car so the apartment people could plow the parking lot. Alas, I didn't have my boots, so I waded through snow drifts up to my knees to get my car scraped off. My legs are still numb.

Ah well, at least I have an excuse now to go shopping kicking.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-02-27 09:44:00
Middle East and North Africato the muslims wanting to buy a home
Wow, this looks great, thanks! The husband and I were planning on buying a home next year (or by the end of this year so we can get the tax credit), and this is exactly what we should be looking into.

I guess one of the upsides of living in the freakin freezing and miserable midwest is that house prices aren't too bad.

kicking.gif


UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-02-25 16:14:00
Middle East and North Africawhat did you know about your SO's culture before marriage/arrival
We certainly had conversations on what to expect. We didn't meet until 2 years after we met, so for 2 years all we had was talk, plus the 2 years after that before he got the visa. You bet we talked about it a lot laughing.gif

But, even with all that talk, living together brings up things you didn't anticipate, and even the best laid plans can get waysided. We've been together in the US going on 3 and a half years now, and there are still things that need hashing out.

I think what has worked for us, we agreed early on that he isn't an american, so I shouldn't expect an american husband, and I'm not an egyptian, so he shouldn't expect an egyptian wife. Instead of being ruled by either american or egyptian culture, we agreed to find the middle ground in islam. We're still working on creating that happy middle ground, especially since we've realized that our views of what the religion requires don't always mesh. Ah well.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-03-02 09:49:00
Middle East and North AfricaSharing some wedding pictures
Absolutely beautiful! Mabrook on your marriage!
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-02-16 17:07:00
Middle East and North AfricaMENA FASHION!
QUOTE (Ihavequestions @ Mar 9 2009, 10:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
ETA: It really drives me nuts to look at the prices of this stuff online. Abayas are expensive online but here I can buy a nice one - and I mean NICE style, NICE fabric, NICE everything - for no more than 90 LE (less than 20 US dollars).



Oh, tell me about it. The husband is planning on going to Egypt later this year, and I've already been compiling pictures of abayas I like for him to get made for me when he's there.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-03-09 12:25:00
Middle East and North AfricaMENA FASHION!
QUOTE (Pattu Rani @ Mar 8 2009, 04:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Not specifically for MENA, but I have had a lot of luck buying salwar kameez on ebay, I have a couple of sellers I like and they have the suits tailored to your specs in India so you can have the sleeves as long as you like, etc.

Salwar kameez was originally Muslim dress, introduced into India during the Mughal period.

I wear them every day and get lots of compliments!!



Oh man, I *heart* shalwar kameez, but I've been been able to pull it off. I always feel like a gori poser when I wear a suit. One of these days I'll beat that inner naysayer down, cuz they're sooo pretty and I'd love to be able to wear them.

http://www.modestclo...ing-stores.html

I've been drooling over clothes from eshakti for years. Have you ever ordered from them? It looks like they don't have much in the way of shalwar kameez anymore, but they do have other pretty looking tunics and kaftans.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-03-09 08:40:00
Middle East and North AfricaMENA FASHION!
Did someone ask about clothes whistling.gif

The Modest Clothes Directory has subcategories for different regions, although most of what is considered more traditionally "MENA" (ie abayas, jelbab, thobes, kaftans) are listed under the "islamic clothing" section.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-03-09 08:36:00
Middle East and North AfricaBikes in Africa: from Capetown to Cairo
Ah, as if one does not feel inadequate enough with life, apparently some folks from high school are biking from South Africa to Egypt.

http://bikesinafrica.blogspot.com

Of course, this comes after a few of them have biked from Alaska to Argentina, and across the US.

*note to self - accomplish something exciting before 10 year reunion*
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-03-09 12:25:00
Middle East and North AfricaHump day!
QUOTE (childress_london @ Mar 11 2009, 08:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Good morning all. I started that farm thing on FB last night. Interesting.


I too took the plunge. The peer pressure finally got to me. FB id is Umm Squeakster if anyone wants to friend me star_smile.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-03-11 13:19:00
Middle East and North AfricaDINNER IN MENA LAND
Ha re: sandwhiches. The husband came right before Ramadan 2005. On the first iftar of the fast, I made my usual fast breaking meal - a tuna melt and some soup from a can. When he looked at his plate he had the saddest look on his face. We figured out quickly that we had different ideas of what constitutes a meal.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-02-26 11:31:00
Middle East and North AfricaDINNER IN MENA LAND
When I leave the husband to fend for himself, he eats tuna and pita bread every single day. And if I had it my way, I'd eat macaroni and cheese every day whistling.gif Definately not healthy, as my blood pressure and cholesterol can attest.

So, I've made a concious effort to prepare meals ahead of time, like many of the other posters. On Saturday, I look through my cookbooks and plan out the menu for the week. I make a shopping list and get everything I need. Then for a few hours on Sunday, I'll prepare the food for the week. I usually do 2 or 3 different meat dishes, a soup, 1 or 2 big veggie dishes and one dessert. After it's done, I throw it in tuperware in the fridge. When we get home from work, simply throw it on the stove or in the microwave to heat up. Wa'la, dinner is ready under 10 minutes.

I also make one thing for the husband to take in his lunch - sometimes it's sandwiches, sometimes it's a simple meat dish without garlic and onions (don't want to eat that at work). He doesn't mind eating the same thing every day, so it works out well.


If cooking isn't something he's used to doing, work on it slowly. Most likely, he won't up and decide to cook for himself overnight. My husband is good about preparing his breakfast for himself (foul and eggs aren't too hard to make). And, since I've started to enjoy cooking (honestly, it's something that has to be done, so why not enjoy it?), I try to talk about the new things I'm trying with him. He sees that it's something that I like to do, so he's starting to offer to cook with me, so we can do something together.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-02-25 13:05:00
Middle East and North AfricaIts prophet MOHAMMED's Birthday !!!!!!
I have tomorrow as the Prophet's birthday, but that's a difference in moon sighting. Ahh, it's everywhere, can't escape it at anytime during the year, lol.


UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-03-09 08:44:00
Middle East and North AfricaWhats going on at the USA embassy in Cairo
For those waiting, from one who's been there, done that:

Yes, the waiting sucks. But eventually, he'll get here, and then he can spend years annoying the cr*p out of you whistling.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-03-19 07:47:00
Middle East and North AfricaThursday
Comm'on, ya'll gotta admit the MENA girls have to be a little intimidating to the outsider.

Also, I'll vouch for enraptured. I know her from another message board. She's cool and would be a fine addition to the MENA clique cool.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-03-20 16:17:00
Middle East and North AfricaFriday - First day of Spring!!!
QUOTE (childress_london @ Mar 20 2009, 09:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hello everyone! In Iran the first day of spring is called "Norooz" which means new day, but for them it's their new year. It's a big celebration. So happy spring and happy norooz to everyone. :-)




In college, I always welcomed spring/norooz with goldfish crackers. Gotta go russle some of them up.

It snowed here this morning, but gosh darn it, it's spring, huzzah!
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-03-20 16:20:00
Middle East and North AfricaWhat is the stupidest thing you have heard because your with a MENA SO ?
I get both sides - people who assume I'm an arab and people who can't for their life figure out I'm muslim.

I took a cab home from work on Monday. The driver was a sudanese muslim. I chatted with the husband on my cellphone for awhile, which means I used a fair amount of muslim jargon (assalamu alaikum, alhamdulilah, subhanAllah, closing the conversation with la ilaha il Allah). A bit later, I was talking with the cab driver and he's like, where are you from? When I answered Wisconsin, he's like are you muslim????? <---- imagine a lot of confusion and disbelief. Um yes, there are muslims in wisconsin. Your husband is muslim????? Yes, he is. You convert for him????? *sigh*
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-03-06 17:14:00
Middle East and North AfricaHappy Anniversary - Jackie & Ibrahim!!!!
Happy anniversary! inshaAllah next year and each one after that will be spent together star_smile.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-03-19 07:50:00
Middle East and North AfricaI Spy Caturday!
If the husband has a fault, it's that he used to watch the WWE waaay too often. Sadly I know who Ray Mysterio is, and I actually thought the same thing last night when we took the picture laughing.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-03-21 16:47:00