high hopes

one of the most common questions I get from people when they hear that I am moving to Saudi Arabia not only moving but that I am actually looking forward to going, these are the most common responses I get from most people that are American... 1. you'll have no freedom 2. you can't drive 3. you'll never come back... these are the responses I normally get from Muslims that have a grudge or just hatred towards the country 1. Saudi Arabia doesn't help other Muslims 

so let me address the most common American responses.

1. You'll have no freedom: firstly what is the definition of freedom? freedom to create corruption from walking naked in the streets or half naked allowing drinking, dating (which normally leads to sex and can cause diseases and unwanted pregnancies)... 

Secondly every country all has there own imperfections but it is not fair or I should say you shouldn't criticize a country when the hands of your own (America) are far from clean. 

thirdly women have such a high respected status in Saudi Arabia and in Islam that the women are allowed to work,study etc in fact half of the Saudi women that I know hold ether a Bachelors,Masters and even a PHD degree some decide to work and some decide to stay home and take care of there home and you know what you have people in America that do that and its ok but when Saudi women or Muslim women choose to we are not free????

 2. the driving issue it really isn't a issue and from what I have heard from a very close friend who works with the Saudi government told me that they are actually setting up programs for women to teach them to drive so this is a huge big step and on a second not I don't really desire to drive so no driving doesn't really bother me.

3. I'll never come back??? well let me just put it this way there are many Americans,British,and many foreigners that work and live in Saudi and find it a very pleasant environment of course there is no place like home from where you came from but please unless you been there and have came back and can talk from experience then you really have nothing...

Addressing the responses from the Muslim side...

they criticize that Saudi Arabia doesn't help its surrounding Muslims countries:

All I can say to that statement is unless you really know what they do then you can't say that they don't the images I see of the Royal family helping the people in need  and I think the most important thing to do is to avoid backbiting these leaders and instead make dua'a  and ask Allah to guide them to making the right choices...

lastly I get asked this question all the time what do you look forward to when you go to Saudi Arabia..

I really look forward to the hospitality of the people learning the different life style and culture, learning Arabic food of course :) Studying Islam, and most importantly visiting Mecca and Medina. I know that Saudi Arabia is literally the opposite of America but I have high intentions and hopes to when I come to Saudi Arabia I always see negative  images of Saudi and Muslim countries so I personally feel its my duty as a Muslim and an American to tell and show people the real and true beauty of the people and way of life...

some people say "oh you have these rose colored glasses on" and think I don't see how hard and ugly the life style really is.. firstly when I wanted to get married I wanted to get married to a Saudi  and yes it is very hard and very difficult sometimes I cry because I think he's so insensitive but there are also times I'm so madly in love with him because he does the sweetest things to make me smile and knows what makes me happy, sometimes I question if he knows what makes me happy but that's all men all men are like that and I think if I can tolerate that then I'm fine.

 I have had told many people about this but I have had so many dreams of being in Saudi Arabia and every time I have had these dreams I fight to stay asleep because I am always so happy so I feel that Allah is telling me that I will be fine and I will be happy so I put my faith and trust in Allah that yes it may be tough but with every struggle there is relief <3 

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keeping a secret

Since we have received the permission and our visa's we are selling everything and trying to keep our secret on the low profile is very hard I'm so excited and happy and I want to tell everyone, I wouldn't mind telling the world about our process to going to Saudi Arabia I don't want it to sound bad but once people know that you have gotten the approval or visa's then you get flooded with requests to help them and really its not that easy.

anyone that has gone through the marriage permission process will tell you it can take up to 6 months to maybe a year maybe longer depending what country you are from yes sadly but depending on what country your from it can take longer or become more difficult, reason for this may depend on the problems they have in the country from certain countries....

so to the people that get to read my blog after I share it to the world please do not take it to heart when I did not tell you  I only told a few people that are close to me that I know I can really trust please don't understand that " I can really trust" because the people I told are the ones that know me personally and not from being behind the computer screen and secondly there are a lot of envious people that would be happy to give the evil eye and hope something bad.

so these are some of the reasons why I have not gone out and broadcast my marriage approval from Saudi and our Visa's to go there because the next process is to apply for my residency insha'allah that goes smoothly and as easily as the Visa's did so my message to you is to try and to be patient like the rest of us and yes normally for the process to go faster for your marriage permission you have to have someone on the inside that works with the government to follow your papers alhumdullilah we had some family and friends that where able to help us...

Insha'allah if you need help or need any advice I am more then happy there are many people like me that have and are still waiting for the marriage approval but just keep your faith in Allah and try to be patient insha'allah and everything will work out for you...

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The move process to KSA

Ever since we came home from Houston I have not been able to relax for a moment, as we arrived my husband says when we get home we have to start selling everything, we have a month to sell everything... Me thinking "ya Allah" I have no idea when I will get to relax  I'm taking pictures of everything listing them on ebay, cragislist I'm hoping I have good results in my sales because we really need money after our travels to Houston Texas.

 I'm grateful for that we got the Visa's and marriage approval I'm super excited to go to Saudi Arabia because I'll be going in almost a month Insha'allah I am completely floored, at the same time I am nervous not about going to Saudi Arabia but more about flying 15 hours I'm hoping when we arrive that I will be able to sleep to gain my strength for my upcoming journey to adjusting to everything.

 My husband was telling me when we arrive they will have a nice meal, and probably the next day they will invite friends,family,neighbors for a big feast I'm thinking I'm going to be completely warn out but I look forward to it.

I just hope that all the selling goes well cause I think that is the most stressful thing about moving is selling and I still have to buy clothes for the kids when we go back because apparently the clothes,toys etc back in Saudi are pretty pricey so we are keeping a few toys to take back with us then selling and donating the rest. I'm hoping during the black friday and sales coming up that we can stalk up on summer and some fall clothes, because the city we are going to is called Abha and its little cooler so they need some warm clothes hopefully I can get that accomplished insha'allah because I think I will be stalking up on all sizes before we go I have no idea how much it would be to ship overseas but Insha'allah all will be ok.

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a New Beginning to the KSA

Recently we have received the approval for our marriage permission I remember telling my husband when we get the permission I want you to create a way to tell me, well he did. we went to this restaurant called Incredible pizza (not so incredible) lol this place had lots of games to play unlimited and go-carts and bumper cars it was a lot of fun main plan was to take the kids out to have fun we where not really planning to eat but for the great price we stayed... so as we sit down to eat our not so incredible pizza my husband asked me to go get something and that he had something really important to tell me, Me I was nervous I'm like great what did I do, is he not happy, is he going to ask to marry a second wife? lol and he says I want to tell you something do you remember when we sat down at the (Al Saher restaurant) and told you that we will have to fight together for the marriage permission and I said yes why? he said well: we got the approval ,my reaction: Say Wallah he was like wallah I'm serious I can tell when he was joking and this time I knew he wasn't... I started crying I was and still am so happy to know that one of your biggest wishes and dreams is insha'allah coming so close.

so now the visa process, we are going this week to Houston Texas to the Saudi embassy to apply for mine and the kid's visa as soon s we get it insha'allah hopefully before the year is over we should (YA RABB) be in KSA how will I break this to my family? I have no idea they already think I'm going to hell for being Muslim and let alone think its a huge mistake and I'm going to be kidnapped when I enter KSA so hopefully when the time comes to tell them we are leaving will be hard....

I'm always asked are you not worried or scared of the culture shock? I would be lying if I said no, but honestly I'm more afraid of the 14  I think it is hour plane ride to KSA especially with 2 young children I'm sure I'll be fine what I'm more worried about is handling the Saudi women's role in KSA, I have a lot of learning to do as in (cooking)  but I am really excited to be living among the people that inspired me so much that has accepted me for who I am and has accepted me as one of them and willing to teach me is really  the gift and the most amazing thing I can imagine..and I thank Allah every day for everything that he has given me so far and may Allah make it easy on me and my family....

Now I will be posting here when I get news on what happens with our visa's i'm sure it will not take very long when we are there in Houston I am not looking forward to the trip to Houston but in the end its worth it right :) so please follow my posts so you can see how my journey begins :)


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We made our way to the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Houston Texas wasn’t really sure what to expect was a little nervous “why”?? because well I never been into an embassy before I didn’t really know what to expect I mean was it going to be like the embassy in Washington D.C. where they have there own building?

well there the Houston Embassy is not like the one in D.C. I will not share its location for there own safety.  came to the doors of the embassy it was beautiful like you where about to enter a V.I.P. room, as we entered we where obviously greeted by security where they took our cell phones and while looking around I seen 3 pictures of the Prince Salman which I believe is the next crown prince but I’m not sure, and then the first King  King Abdulaziz and the current King Abdullah, and on each side where the American and Saudi flag.

I thought we would probably wait a while before anyone would see us about apply for my Visa and a Visa for my children but they let us in right away, where we sat there where 2 areas obviously an area that would be for maybe males and females and on the table was a nice serving tray of Delicious Saudi Coffee we sat there and waited for the Embassy Staff to come and assist us and Masha’allah I never seen such more dedicated people to helping us get our visa they where very informative on any questions, but mostly where very curious to know why I was so eager to go lol!  sometimes I even ask myself why, but anyone that knows me knows the reason why I want to go to Saudi Arabia and why I love Saudi people so much and while being at the Saudi Embassy reminded me why I loved them so much there hospitality and making you feel welcomed, even though they did over load my kids with sugar and they where bouncing everywhere but that’s ok It was kind of relaxing for me kind of like babysitters so I got to relax a little  because they took the kids with them everywhere. we thought that it would take a couple of days to get our visa’s done well alhumdullilah it took 1 day, I thought that I would need another day for mine but he gave me my passport with my first visa stamp I was over joyed and amazed   and told them thank you so much you guys have helped complete a part the puzzle of dreams.

I thought after I was done there that I would probably not see any of them but alhumdullilah I was able to befriend a very nice sister that works there and surprisingly she is from the same tribe as my husband subhan’allah so I will be staying in touch with her insha’allah and had such a nice time spending time with her but I am floored about moving not so much at selling all of our stuff but we have literally a month to sell everything an I get to go to Saudi Arabia wallah I can not wait and at the same time my stomach is in my throat but insha’allah I know that I will be fine and I look forward  to the start of my new beginning…

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Why Saudi Arabia

Many people ask me why do I love Saudi Arabia or the “saudi’s” so much, and what makes them any better then any other nationality? honestly nothing!  I have met different Arabs from different Arab nations all of them taught me something different about each culture and life style.

to be honest I never used to like Saudi Arabia in fact after 9/11 i hated Saudi’s and Saudi Arabia from all of the influnces i seen on t.v. about them I thought they where hateful people and wanted to kill americans, after 9/11 my curiosity of Islam turned into a very much needed life change. before becoming Muslim I asked different muslims from different countries to help teach me I learned from people from Iran,Palestine,Egypt,Yemen. but never did I meet any Saudis before until I was invited to stay with some friends in Connecticut this is where my first Saudi aquantaces begain, my friends asked me I want you to meet some people from Saudi Arabia honestly i didn’t want to I was scared I was still a new muslim but was still not sure what to believe from what I heard from the media and it didn’t help much when they entered the room in thobe and gootra (traditional saudi dress). it scared me but that fear quickly vanished after they talked to me showed me a little bit of there culture some of it not all culture but ther hospitality  drawn me more to know more about the “saudi people” and there life style and traditions.

after going back home I wanted to know more about the Saudi people and was introduced to several when I came back to Ohio, the more I learned about there traditions, and culture I felt honestly at home and fell in love with them and knew that I wanted a life being around them and I was so amazed at how strong they where in there eman the Saudis I met before did a lot of haram things but there strength in there eman nothing could ever break that that inspired me most and I wanted to be like them. many say ther are a lot of Muslims and other arabs like that yes I agree but the Saudi life style was so similar to the lifestyle I used to grow up in when my dad was around so it was easy to adapt.

 so my next step i wanted I wanted to marry a Saudi. many of my “so called friends” would say “don’t marry a saudi”, “marry from any country but saudi”,”saudis are bad people” but I knew they where not what these people told me after spending time with them I knew the truth on what type of people. I’m not saying that they are perfect you will have your bad people in every country but I feel so welcomed when around them. After marrying my husband little did i know  of the rude awaking of the culture shock in the “saudi Marriage” things have been tough and hectic I always ask myself really? is this the life style you wanted?  every marriage has its ups and downs but when your from a different country you are going to have major culture clashes so my only advice to anyone wanting to marry someone from any other country learn about there culture ask the “women” on how the life style is because it is tough.

people ask me, have you ever been to Saudi Arabia? my answer: no! they ask me so do you think you can handle it? many critisize the fact of be going there trying to derail the idea of living there but I have had so many dreams of being in Saudi Arabia and in these dreams I’m always so happy so I feel like Allah is telling me that I will be fine and I will be happy when I go there. some ask me what about the women not being allowed to drive? my answer: I hate driving so it don’t bother me.  some people ask me what about the womens rights that they don’t have? normally I tell these people unless you have been there and have talked to the women you don’t know what rights they have no countries laws will ever be perfect but I accept the rules of Saudi Arabia and respect them and very much respect the royal family!

so my main reason why I love the Saudi people so much is because I just do. many people will never undrestand this kind of love or obsession unless the experience that feeling for something themselves. I love them because I feel like I’m part of a community, people always willing to help each other with not expecting anything in return, and mostly there strength in there eman. I love all Arab countries but my heart is firstly all for Allah, my family, but lastly my heart belongs to Saudi Arabia..

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