Just wanna wish my dear husband, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY:) been a long time....:) Let's take a break...LOL
Love you with all my heart,
Your sweet darling wife:)
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
INTERMISSION*** ABBAYA PICTURES
Here are some pictures of the Islamic Dress: Abbaya, or black cloak:)
Monday, April 12, 2010
Abbaya/abaya/anyway you spell it. The definition is below;
The abbaya The abaya "cloak" (Arabic: عباية abāyah or عباءة abā'ah, plural عبايات abāyāh) is an over garment worn by some women in parts of the Islamic world. It could be described as a long-sleeve robe-like dress. It is the traditional form of hijab, or Islamic dress, for many countries of the Arabian peninsula such as Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates, where it is the national dress.
Traditional abayat are black and may be either a large square of fabric draped from the shoulders or head or a long caftan. The abaya covers the whole body except the face, feet, and hands. It can be worn with the niqāb, a face veil covering all but the eyes. Some women choose to wear long black gloves, so their hands are covered as well.
My experiences in the black cloak, I put it on, and it’s actually to me light but when you hit that sun, a new whole experience of feeling HEAT like nothing before, being from USA our weather is quite normal and warm. This is something that I wasn’t ‘preparing’ for. I had to find a cooler way of staying cool. I remember the first time I put the cover on my head, the hijjab, I couldn’t do it, so my BIL wife taught me how to do it. I did have some spills with the black cloak falling down for one and lots of occasions, laugh it off. And some not to happy about.
I wonder how it felt back then, so my husband and I sat down w/his mother my MIL and asked her questions about the infamous abbaya. During her time, her abbaya was woven from wool, and underneath heavier clothes during winter season it was quite warm for her. She mentioned that she wasn’t allowed to walk outside so she had her ‘servants’ or maids go out for her to obtain the necessary means of life, supplies, food, water, and so on. On these abbayas is nothing just black but now we are in the modern times, different styles, and colors quite different from the past and present.
Traditional abayat are black and may be either a large square of fabric draped from the shoulders or head or a long caftan. The abaya covers the whole body except the face, feet, and hands. It can be worn with the niqāb, a face veil covering all but the eyes. Some women choose to wear long black gloves, so their hands are covered as well.
My experiences in the black cloak, I put it on, and it’s actually to me light but when you hit that sun, a new whole experience of feeling HEAT like nothing before, being from USA our weather is quite normal and warm. This is something that I wasn’t ‘preparing’ for. I had to find a cooler way of staying cool. I remember the first time I put the cover on my head, the hijjab, I couldn’t do it, so my BIL wife taught me how to do it. I did have some spills with the black cloak falling down for one and lots of occasions, laugh it off. And some not to happy about.
I wonder how it felt back then, so my husband and I sat down w/his mother my MIL and asked her questions about the infamous abbaya. During her time, her abbaya was woven from wool, and underneath heavier clothes during winter season it was quite warm for her. She mentioned that she wasn’t allowed to walk outside so she had her ‘servants’ or maids go out for her to obtain the necessary means of life, supplies, food, water, and so on. On these abbayas is nothing just black but now we are in the modern times, different styles, and colors quite different from the past and present.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
**INTERMISSION**
If I post an Intermission blog; it means that I'm gathering some information or writing it down and later on I will post. Enjoy the Pics during Intermission:)
Monday, March 8, 2010
Meeting the Family:)
After so many hours of flying, eating bad airline food, kids screaming, and other annoying bodily functions we landed in Manama, Bahrain. We went to baggage claims and the customs went thru our stuff. Some things you are not allowed to bring inside with you, it’s their way. We walked from the customs and walked into waiting family/friends/neighbors of other passengers, we then saw his family, his sisters came and kiss him and hold him for the longest time. They said to me; ‘Thank you, thank you’. What do I do I thought? It was very emotional for me because I left my mom and brother. To enter Bahrain you must be a holder of your respective nationality, and a stamp from the Bahraini Embassy to be allowed to enter inside. Bahrain used to be called ‘State of Bahrain’ Now, Kingdom of Bahrain.
We drove around Bahrain looking for an apartment they say here for hotel/motel and we found one really nice looking over the highway and the sea. I was so tired when I walked inside, the room was really nice, a full – kitchen, 2 baths, 2 bedrooms and one big living room with a view. It was reunion of sort, all his sisters, and brothers came to see us and welcome me in the family.
During our stay in Bahrain, we went shopping; even the ‘gold’ market was very nice. I was introduced in away to Arabian foods, it was quite different from back home of what we eat, and it was good to the taste buds I say.
It was now that time preparing to enter my husband’s birth home, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We packed everything we bought in Bahrain and headed on to the highway which will lead me to my future home.
Next Post: Wearing the Abbaya:)
We drove around Bahrain looking for an apartment they say here for hotel/motel and we found one really nice looking over the highway and the sea. I was so tired when I walked inside, the room was really nice, a full – kitchen, 2 baths, 2 bedrooms and one big living room with a view. It was reunion of sort, all his sisters, and brothers came to see us and welcome me in the family.
During our stay in Bahrain, we went shopping; even the ‘gold’ market was very nice. I was introduced in away to Arabian foods, it was quite different from back home of what we eat, and it was good to the taste buds I say.
It was now that time preparing to enter my husband’s birth home, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We packed everything we bought in Bahrain and headed on to the highway which will lead me to my future home.
Next Post: Wearing the Abbaya:)
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Saying Goodbye
It was August 13th, 1999; I was going to embark on a journey that I never dreamed of when I was a child. Weeks prior to depart, I had to make a decision of a lifetime. We purchase our tickets in advance, no refunds. “Are you sure you want to go?” he said to me. “Yes, I am sure.” So, that was done, and we bought these huge bags, I never seen before, it’s like carrying a body inside. We bought four bags. I think that’s enough space for my stuff. The hardest thing is now to tell my mom and brother I am leaving them.
Few days before departure, leaving my love ones I had to think of what to say. I went upstairs without him crying and looking around. “I’m leaving” I cried. I never had a second thought about it. Packing was the hardest thing, what to take not to take, many thoughts going at once. I think mom knew mom’s instincts I guess. Mom said, “Rose Marie, you are leaving us?” I looked at her saying “Mom, Yes, don’t be upset, I’ll be safe, Al is a good man.” We hugged.
Departure day, Morning, put all the suitcases in the van. We all sat and had breakfast, nothing was said. Everything was said at the table. We all went to the van and drove to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The check – in was moderate, excluding the stuff we had to return back home because of the weight. We got our boarding pass; we were on the last TWA flight. The flight took us to New York, the busiest city on the planet I know of. Before that, saying goodbye to my mother and brother was the hardest thing. We hugged for almost 20 minutes, crying. I told my mom; “Everything will be alright!” She couldn’t say a word to me, she hugged her son-in-law for the last time,I hugged my brother saying; “Don’t worry, I’m coming back” We hugged and broke the embrace and we started to walk to our gate, looking over my shoulder I can see my mom breaking down in tears. I wanted to run to her and just forget the whole thing, but I am married and starting a whole new life overseas.
We started to board, my mind was on my mom and brother, not really thinking of what’s about to happen. FLYING! I never flew before. This was going to be my first flying experience of a lifetime. We sat in our assigned seats; this is why you need a boarding pass. The seats were filled no empty seats. The stewardess gave her demonstration on how to use the exits in an emergency, seatbelts. I knew that but I wasn’t with her, I can hear her voice in the distance. I was scared, nervous. But I was thinking of my mom and brother. It broke my heart. My daughter sat next to me she was 8 years old the youngest in our family to fly!
We finally taxed onto the runway, and we started to roll down and I was literally shaking up. We took off, and my whole body just like drop onto the floor because the force of the plane. The turn was the worse, I thought oh my GOD, we are going to flip over. We had a safe flight, thank god, we arrived in New York. It was a 2 and ½ hour flight, what I remember. The terminal was crowded with many nationalities, religions, race. Then we had to do that running dash, like in the movie “Home Alone” to catch the flight, when we got there, the lines were too much. We waited in line another 2 hours just to check – in and get our boarding passes!
We went on the Royal Jordanian Airlines, the plane ride was somewhat unique because it was the Total Eclipse on the Friday the 13th. I was afraid, still, thinking of mom and my brother. The flight was I think overbooked many people and so little time, but I’m glad we were on it. This flight was a long flight almost 18hour flight or more. I never flew across the ocean. The turbulence was awful I got scared and I prayed. Thank God, though we arrived safe and sound. We landed in Amman, Jordan.
We are now in the Middle Eastern country, Amman, Jordan. We stayed there for about 8 hours of layover. We went window shopping but nothing for my taste because; a. tired, b. hungry, c. want to go back home, d. you get the picture. We are going to board for Manama, Bahrain. Bahrain is a small island of the coast of Saudi Arabia. Same airlines, better flight.
Next Post: Meeting the Family:)
Few days before departure, leaving my love ones I had to think of what to say. I went upstairs without him crying and looking around. “I’m leaving” I cried. I never had a second thought about it. Packing was the hardest thing, what to take not to take, many thoughts going at once. I think mom knew mom’s instincts I guess. Mom said, “Rose Marie, you are leaving us?” I looked at her saying “Mom, Yes, don’t be upset, I’ll be safe, Al is a good man.” We hugged.
Departure day, Morning, put all the suitcases in the van. We all sat and had breakfast, nothing was said. Everything was said at the table. We all went to the van and drove to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The check – in was moderate, excluding the stuff we had to return back home because of the weight. We got our boarding pass; we were on the last TWA flight. The flight took us to New York, the busiest city on the planet I know of. Before that, saying goodbye to my mother and brother was the hardest thing. We hugged for almost 20 minutes, crying. I told my mom; “Everything will be alright!” She couldn’t say a word to me, she hugged her son-in-law for the last time,
We started to board, my mind was on my mom and brother, not really thinking of what’s about to happen. FLYING! I never flew before. This was going to be my first flying experience of a lifetime. We sat in our assigned seats; this is why you need a boarding pass. The seats were filled no empty seats. The stewardess gave her demonstration on how to use the exits in an emergency, seatbelts. I knew that but I wasn’t with her, I can hear her voice in the distance. I was scared, nervous. But I was thinking of my mom and brother. It broke my heart. My daughter sat next to me she was 8 years old the youngest in our family to fly!
We finally taxed onto the runway, and we started to roll down and I was literally shaking up. We took off, and my whole body just like drop onto the floor because the force of the plane. The turn was the worse, I thought oh my GOD, we are going to flip over. We had a safe flight, thank god, we arrived in New York. It was a 2 and ½ hour flight, what I remember. The terminal was crowded with many nationalities, religions, race. Then we had to do that running dash, like in the movie “Home Alone” to catch the flight, when we got there, the lines were too much. We waited in line another 2 hours just to check – in and get our boarding passes!
We went on the Royal Jordanian Airlines, the plane ride was somewhat unique because it was the Total Eclipse on the Friday the 13th. I was afraid, still, thinking of mom and my brother. The flight was I think overbooked many people and so little time, but I’m glad we were on it. This flight was a long flight almost 18hour flight or more. I never flew across the ocean. The turbulence was awful I got scared and I prayed. Thank God, though we arrived safe and sound. We landed in Amman, Jordan.
We are now in the Middle Eastern country, Amman, Jordan. We stayed there for about 8 hours of layover. We went window shopping but nothing for my taste because; a. tired, b. hungry, c. want to go back home, d. you get the picture. We are going to board for Manama, Bahrain. Bahrain is a small island of the coast of Saudi Arabia. Same airlines, better flight.
Next Post: Meeting the Family:)
My Life in Saudi Arabia
I'll give you a brief info...I am an American living in Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia. I have been here now for 10 years. I have 3 wonderful children, they are very happy. I am also happy, been married to a Saudi for a really long time 17 years now...I think thats enough?!?!?...lol I hope that in this blog, I will share MY experiences among, saudis, their families. and some other things as well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)