First Ramadan in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Salam Alykum its been a long time since I have last posted a blog and thought it would be a good idea to start back up especially with Ramdan just around the corner well actually tomorrow!  most of my Muslim life I have spent Ramadan and Eid in America so being in a Muslim country I think should be an rather interesting experience....

I'm for one very excited for Ramadan for the past few years I have been unable to fast due to my very young children who I have nursed or birthed in the previous years and had prevented me to do so so I'm happy to finally to be able to insha'allah to participate, I also just found out I'm pregnant so that will also make it interesting too I know I can do it insha'allah.

I am excited but at the same time I'm kind of not really scared but more nervous because its my first Ramadan in any Muslim country, I had went shopping for groceries yesterday and masha'allah it reminded me of black Friday or thanksgiving eve people where everywhere no shopping carts so the first shopping cart available you pounce on it I mean literally lol! and good luck getting through the isles it was like the driving from the streets had finally reached the stores it was really congested, I seen people with 3 to 4 shopping cars filled with food,cleaning supplies,sweets etc preparing for the up coming Ramadan as I look I'm thinking masha'allah I wish I could be an creative cook to know what to do with half the stuff they had, I really need some hard core cooking lessons so I know what to cook besides Kabsa O.o..

As I'm trying to work my way through the isles and many things from the shelves are empty even the spice shelves where pretty much empty I was lucky enough to find the few spices that I actually needed still need many other things but alhumdullilah got what was needed.  should I even mention the check out?there where literally lines all the way around the store waiting to check out and come to prayer time the cashiers leave to go pray and then return to continue ringing out and if your not paying attention someone is bound to steal your spot in line Alhumdullialh we got out alive and with what we needed but that wasn't the end of the journey in the store we still had to get through the very congested mall and then carefully watch out for the crazy drivers looking and fighting for a parking space as we go to our car you have people literally waiting next to you to take your cart hey they'll even help you even unload your cart lol, as we leave the roads are awful I'm not talking about the driving the lines there are lines to buy live lamb to be sacrificed.

All over the experience in the stores some would not enjoy it but I found it rather not sure if inspiring is the right word I'm looking for but it put you in the mood for Ramadan the people are smiling laughing literally the good vibes of a very beneficial month to bring us all closer to Allah, even the T.V. commercials are very tastefully done to remind you of the beneifits and to make dua'a to Allah and that Ramadan is a very important month for many Muslims .

For myself I have been struggling with many family problems I know I could change at any time and not have to wait for Ramadan but its a cleansing that is truly needed for my heart and I know for many others I really hope that everyone has a very safe and happy Ramadan I will insha'allah keep posted through out the Ramadan or at the end to talk about the experience here I am really looking forward to it may Allah accept every ones dua'a and fasting and bring us closer to Allah <3

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Allah is good to me!

I was a little lost for words on how I should begin this blog, I wasn't sure if I should start with my first visit to Makkah or talk about my new adventures here in the KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)...

It has been 3 months since I have arrived in Saudi Arabia I am always asked have you experienced any culture shock yet? my response..."not really" the first culture shock I had was walking down the stairs from the airplane instead of walking through a tunnel into the airport. Anyone that knows me personally know's that its been a life long dream to come here before coming here I used to have dreams of being here I never wanted to wake up because I was always happy I always took it as a personal message from Allah saying you will come here and you will be happy. Now that I'm here I know its a reality but at the same time I'm afraid its a dream and I don't want to wake up ever I would be beyond devastated to have to leave here. I have said before that Saudi Arabia may not be the place for others to live but for me, and for my family it is where we belong until Allah decides otherwise...

I keep asking myself what I have done to keep receiving the things I have before I became Muslim and as I spent time with Muslim families and I said to myself and at the time as a Christian I asked God please I want to live this life style as a Muslim and a year later after becoming friends with Muslims and learning slowly about Islam I became Muslim 9.12.2002. after a few years I had some personal struggles with my Eman and I remember seeing "sheikh Meshary Rashid Al-afasy" on an old friends t.v. it was a nasheed channel and I remember asking Allah one day I want to pray behind this man and with in a couple years later I got to see him and pray behind him.

for those who don't know who sheikh Al-afasy is please check him out he has a magnificent voice masha'allah.. http://www.youtube.com/feed/UCmMcOjsVehVlEOteyrhjI2Q

 I became acquainted with Saudi people as I learned about there culture,traditions,lifestyle I literally became mesmerized and I one made it my personal mission to find and marry a good Saudi "Muslim" man and to live there lifestyle. and alhumdullilah on 08.08.2008 I married the man that would be my best friend the father of my beautiful children  but Allah sent him to see my wish and dreams to come into reality. Was it an easy process to adjusting to the Saudi lifestyle? No!  a lot of arguments and clashes due to language and understanding in our language but I think with in the time it has and will get better.... little did I know with in these 4 years would I finally make my trip to Saudi Arabia on 12.6.2012 we departed from America it was kind of bitter sweet for me because America is the home I have ever known but at the same time there was nothing there for me worth staying for and I needed to go to my real home "Saudi Arabia"...

my visa for entry to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia...

With it being 3 months since I have been here it has been a long stressful process or "Journey" I should say when arriving here my husband was supposed to go to a hospital where he was supposed to get his job the paper process took such a long time, anyone that knows how things work here in Saudi Arabia knows how difficult they can make it to get things done here unless you have a "wasta" and Influence aka as someone who can pull strings to make things work faster!  yesterday 2.9.2013 I finally made it to Makkah we where supposed to do Ummrah but we where unable to do so with the fact of kids and many people it would have made it very difficult so we went to go pray Asr and Maghrib I was so excited to go anyone that knows my story before becoming Muslim knows how personal it is anyone that comes to Makkah to do Ummrah or Hajj has there own personal reason as for me it was just as personal.  as we arrived and parked the car Alhumdullilah we where able to find a space close by with in walking distance, my words of advice before coming here " GO TO THE BATHROOM BEFORE COMING'' because you will have to literally push each other out of the way to get to the bathroom that is overly crowded...  

in front of masjid Al-haram

After being partially traumatized with the bathroom experience my husband and I made our way inside masjid Al-haram as my husband is explaining something to me I see something in a far distance, it was black and had gold writing on it I felt as if I was literally a bug that was attracted to a bright light "wallah" I could not take my eyes off from it I had to come closer as I came closer it was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen before more beautiful then a waterfall and more beautiful then the most beautiful person in the world I was so  mesmerized at how beautiful the Kabba was I wanted to cry and started to cry but I couldn't cry I wanted to talk but I couldn't talk for the first time ever I had so many emotions going at once I did not know what to express other then stare in amazement at how many billions of Muslims come here each year and everyday to be closer to Allah and ask him to forgive there sins and to ask him for help and his mercy...

Kabbah and people doing ummrah.

As my husband and I searched for a place to pray asr that we missed as we drove to Makkah we also had to search for  a place to sit and wait for the Maghrib prayer as I'm siting I'm making dua'a to ask Allah to help me and my family to be closer and for me to gain more patience for all Muslims to be guided to the right path I asked that Allah please make the process for my husband to become easy so we can start living our life, as I'm making du'a I see people around me making dua'a crying asking and pleading for Allah it was truly the most touching  thing I have ever seen in my life I felt to myself if I could die I want Allah to take me here and now where I'm finally at peace I never wanted to leave this place but I had to leave to go get my kids the images of the Kabba and Makkah and all the people will always be implanted in my heart.  the next morning my husband received a phone call letting us know that his paperwork went through and he finally got his license to work I felt to myself "Subhan'allah"  with every struggle there is relief and allah answered our prayers and dua'a and I can not help but think that Allah is good to me everything that I have wished and dreamed he has given to me, but I didn't get these things easily but through trials and struggles I really do feel the meaning that Allah tests the ones he loves and I could not be more then grateful for the many blessings that he has given me and will have later on, I just hope and pray that my "Muslim" brothers and sisters will have the same happiness....

"Verily, along with every hardship is relief, (94:5) 

Verily, along with hardship is relief (i.e. there is one hardship with two reliefs, so one hardship cannot overcome two reliefs) (94:6)"

"فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرًا (٥) إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرً۬ا (٦) فَإِذَا فَرَغۡتَ فَٱنصَبۡ (٧)"

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Family weekend event

First of all can I say what a weekend! it has been a very busy and very productive weekend and week. This week was the week of my sister in law's wedding and there where so many preparations before hand that I am literally exhausted, a week before my sister in laws wedding I had spent a week in Jeddah which is 8 or 9 hours away from the city I'm staying in "Abha"  and stayed with my older sister in law that lives there and spent several days in looking for a dress for my sister in laws wedding,  alhumdullilah I found the perfect dress for the perfect price 350 riyal which is "93.00 in American money..

 My gorgeous dress

after the long journey back to Abha from Jeddah we had so much preparations to make I had to scramble to have my dress altered, find gold shoes for my daughter to match her dress and a thobe (white saudi dress for males) made for my son to wear at the wedding and as most men they like to wait until the last minute to gather everything around, on top of the all the finishing touches I was able to have some fun memorable moments with my sister in laws and mother in law... we had a lady come to do henna for all of us I had both of my arms done and my other sister in law did as well and the bride had a full bridal henna was very beautiful masha'allah even my 20 month old daughter she had henna done it was rather funny because during the drying process the henna artist thought it to be a good idea to wrap every ones drying henna with tissue paper and plastic wrap, so all of us accept my one sister in law had henna done it was really funny because we all where sitting and had are arms like in robot mode so that we wouldn't mess anything up it was pretty hysterical to me anyways but it was a good time and the price was not bad 100 riyal for both arms which is around 26 american dollars and my daughters henna "FREE" 

My henna and my baby girl's henna

The following day was a day that I was ready to get over with which was my sister in laws wedding, the wedding hall was very beautiful with a big long catwalk like stage and a special place for the bride and groom to sit at the end of the cat walk,it was honestly a really stunning wedding nothing like the American weddings accept the wedding favors, dancing, and family gathering together and the delicious food. How ever the dancing is rather different if you have been to a  saudi wedding then you know what I'm talking about  if not its not the typical jumping around dancing like we do in America its more like belly dance shimmy shimmy shoulder shaking kind of dance but really entertaining and fun the singer that comes and sings we can "Degaga" I guess is the best way to spell it who comes and sings at the weddings and celebrations she was ok but rather loud but then again the dancing hall was kind of small or maybe it was just me lol...

where the bride and groom sat at the end of the catwalk....

I rather really enjoyed myself this is my second wedding I have been to but this wedding was the main ceremony there 2 ceremonies the first one is where the bride and groom sign a contract agreeing to the marriage and making it official after that the groom is allowed to see his bridge without her hijab abaya (Muslim women clothing) but still not allowed to be alone with each other until the final ceremony which is what I have went to it was rather bitter sweet because I am very fond of my sister in laws I love them very much and was sadden that she would not be coming home with us that night but at the same time I was rather happy for her and wish nothing but the best, but in the end I have the happy memories we all spent together prior to her beautiful wedding, her grand entrance into the wedding hall was absolutely beautiful as she entered sparklers where lit up and as her groom came into the room confetti was thrown around him  and then he sat with his bride along with the bride and groom's family.... 

one of the centerpieces 

The one thing that makes the weddings different here in Saudi Arabia is that there is no mixing between the guys and girls so for me it was kind of hard because not everyone speaks english except a few people who I am happily became friends with I hope that I can learn arabic from these family members and I can teach them English which I think will be what will happen before I become fluent in Arabic lol but I'm rather enjoying myself here and feel very welcomed with all the family and I love them very much and I feel very blessed Alhumdullilah to be apart of the family! <3

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My WTH moments???

It has been a month so since I have arrived here in Saudi Arabia every experience has been rather interesting  and some  experiences have been like "really"?????

Since my arrival I have been dealing with adjusting to the climate and constantly getting sick (apparently to the new bacteria's)  but for the entire time I have been here I have not been able to keep anything down I didn't want to go to the hospital because my trip the private clinic for my (iqama "residency") was rather traumatizing so I was a bit nervous and I had every right to be!!! I had to wait to get checked in like you would any other hospital and then went to an area where there many beds for patients to sit and lay on. 

as for my check up, I think the person that took care of me got her license out of the cereal box! firstly when she met me my father in law explained to her I was from America and she contiues and says, "your from America"??? how did you end up here in Saudi Arabia???? you married his son? reffering to my Father in laws son I'm like yes... she tells me then come to the bed so she can examine me and then continues to lecture me on "why would you marry a Saudi there so complicated" not like I didn't hear enough of that before  so I just ignored her... I explained to her for the past 2 to 3 weeks I been throwing up and unable to keep anything down, what does she do? squishes my stomach asks "does it hurt here" i'm like yes and she's like you have this problem let me give you some medicine, and would you like a shot??? 

I'm like no I don't want a shot and I was like how are you going to prescribe me medicine when you only felt around in my stomach and didn't take any prior tests I mean I been throwing up don't you think a blood drawn or at least a urine sample to make sure I'm not dehydrated would be important??? she explains "you don't always have to do that to know what's wrong" before leaving I told her I really miss American hospitals because as much as I love KSA (kingdom of saudi Arabia) this hospital was a nightmare.....

The other day I went to a bank to open a checking account boy was that a experience where I wanted to literally slap the employees and ask for a male assistance who knew what they where doing....as I sit and filling out my paper work I'm asked to come to a room for any further assistance in my application, let me tell you I think I wrote my signature over 20 times because they where not identical maybe a few dots where not the same or lines but they where close enough the same I'm like really? I know how to write my name, this is how I do it all the time and no one else complains!!!!!!!!

After finishing my paperwork I sit with another lady waiting to get my bank account card which contains my account number etc, I think ask her after she finishes and after i'm done signing my name for the 1000 time where is my ATM card? that took at least another 10 minutes I probably spent over an hour because another client comes in and she tells me can you please go sit over here i'm like ok... so I sit sit sit and sit and still she doesn't check on me my husband and son are waiting for me and I tell him whats going on and he says well just talk to her manager "which wasn't much help" so I just got tired of waiting and got up and went to her and said I'm waiting for my card my husband and kid are waiting she them tells me "oh the machine is being slow" I'm thinking right it didn't take you seconds to print out my account card and I told her I was like well next time tell me that instead of making me wait and wonder what's going on, its very "Unprofessional" on your part! I didn't sit down, I sat where she could see my face after she finished with the other client she made me wait for her to serve she printed the card and I was finished I was so upset with her I just wanted to tell her off but I think me embarrassing her in front of everyone was enough....

I truly do love Saudi Arabia but there are some things I do miss a lot in America which is "great customer service" and professional health care physicians! but it is something I will have to learn to adjust to these are just small things that I can insha'allah live with! 

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first Saudi wedding

So I finally attended my first wedding ceremony not the actual wedding but the contract signing making it official that they are married after that they normally hold a ceremony... I think I would have enjoyed the wedding ceremony if I haven't been so sick with "climate change flu" and respiratory infection other then that I think that the wedding ceremony was absolutely beautiful masha'allah...

Firstly I was under a lot of stress and pressure in finding a dress I have only been here for a few weeks and didn't have enough time or the money to buy a dress so luckily my sister in law had a dress that she loaned me to wear and let alone the pressure of looking presentable such as caked on makeup, and dolled up hair'dos  which cost around 200 riyal for just my hair to be done that's 53.00 in American dollars for hair and makeup it can range up to 1000 riyal "266. American dollars" so if anyone has an experience in doing hair and makeup you could make a fortune here in Saudi Arabia as for me I only had my hair done and my sister in law did my make up she does a pretty good job masha'allah but next time I think I will try the caked on makeup for once lol... 

The wedding ceremony was very expected the males and females are separated as they normally would be in any other gathering accompanied with music and loud sounds like "la la la la la" a sound they do with the tongue which I have not mastered yet lol and dancing not your typical jump around dancing more like belly dancing washing machine dancing (if you seen the movie Selena you'll know what I mean by Washing Machine dance).. as for me I didn't dance much I'm the type of person that is very shy and don't like the attention all on me so I just basically sat it out there wasn't much communication for me since majority of my family in laws don't speak English....

after the long period of dancing talking, drinking tea, "saudi coffee" listening to music we eventually gathered around the groom and the bride a lot of us wore niqab "full face cover" I wore it which I normally do not because when I go out of the house in Saudi I don't wear it but out of the respect of my sister in law and myself I wore it, the gathering around the Newly weds was rather beautiful they sit together and in exchange of rings "which normally done at the church in front of the priest" feeding each other sweets, cake and more music and lots of popping confetti and after that there where opening of presents, but I didn't stay up for the whole thing I was rather very sick so I had went to bed for the night pretty early but I honestly cried I love my sister in law and seen how happy she is and truly am so happy for her and wish nothing but the best for her and her new family.

From my first experience of Saudi weddings, I have to say I was rather touched it was very beautiful and I kind of slightly envy my sister in laws on how the wedding's are done and how different they are from American weddings I think if a lot of American girls seen the beauty of saving your self for your husband and what they have to look for there wedding night they maybe would wait I never really understood the real meaning of how important it was to wait to get married in Islam but I think the after seeing how important it is culturally and to see how everyone gathers and prepares for this special day I think is a reward within its self its really an experience that one would have to experience for themselves to understand how beautiful it is to wait for the love of your life to get married.....

for some of my readers wanting more description of the actual wedding out of the respect and privacy of my sister in law that is something I can not share so insha'allah (god willing) most of you will understand...

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