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.

**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:)

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:)

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.