Facebook is guilty.. I am guilty.

Such a long long time!! I think whoever is administrating Jordan Blogs will kick me off soon for being such an "inactive" member! I think that’s unfair, but that's another post! Remind me about it if hibernate again!!

I don’t know why I haven’t been writing lately. Although I had, and still have many ideas in my head that I would like to share – If anybody is still reading this blog!

I felt very guilty the other day when I read Qwaider's comment on my last post! And it actually triggered me to write something… I don't know why it took me this long.

This blog has been so much on mind lately.. And I was trying to find the reason behind me dumping it this way.. Is it laziness? That is definitely part of the reason, but I seem to be active in some other aspects. Is it lack of ideas? No, as I just mentioned so many things are worth talking about…
I came to find out that a big part of the reason is that I used to feel that this blog links me to people. Now, I somehow feel the Facebook is doing the job! Not as perfectly of course, but it does make me feel connected with everyone of my friends, and I feel as I know all about each and everyone of them!

So Facebook is responsible for my absence! Facebook is guilty!!
Well, I like Facebook. I know people have contradicting point of views about it. And I agree with some aspects of them. I agree, for example, that some pictures are too private to be published in Facebook, on blogs or anywhere else on the net. On the other hand, I like how much it helps me keep connected with those who like miles away, be in touch with people life has taken so far..
I love how I was able to find many friends from school or university whom I lost contact with. That is, for me, the best part of it.

never the less.. I feel soooooooooooo guilty for not writing for this long..

What a lame post to write after such a long period of hibernation! I should have chosen something more serious.. Ghaza crisis maybe.. But what can ever be said about that? Allah 3ala al- thalem………..

اعتذار إلى صديق

كان صديقي الدائم، رفيقي في كل الأحوال.. في سعادتي وحزني، في ضحكي وبكائي، في فرحي وتعاستي. كان أول من ألجأ إليه عندما تشتد حيرتي.
وفجأة ظهر الآخر، ووجدتني أنظر إليه نظرات إعجاب... ثم أتقرب إليه. كان أكثر جاذبية وشعبية.. وكان صديق لأناس محددين، فهو لم يكن متواضعا مثل صديقي. وكان الناس ينظرون لأصدقائه بنظرات احترام وإعجاب.
وبدأت علاقتنا تتوطد... وشيئا" فشيئا" بدأت أنسى صديقي القديم... وهو بدأ يبتعد عني وينزوي وحيدا".
ومرت سنين، لم أحادث فيها صديقي إلا قليلا... ولكنني كنت دائما" أذكره، فصديقي الجديد لم يكن يفهمني ويعبر عني مثله.. ورغم أنني حاولت إلا أنني كنت دائما" اشعر بأن ثمة فراغ بيننا.
وتساءلت، لم تخليت عن صديقي القديم حتى أصبحت علاقتنا ركيكة هكذا؟
أكان يجب علي أن أختار بينهما؟
وأدركت خطأي. لم يكن خطأي أنني حصلت على صديق جديد، بل أنني تخليت عن صديقي القديم....
وأدركت أيضا" لماذا حصل ذلك الخطأ... فأنا بالتأكيد لم أقصد أن أتخلى عنه، ولكن صديقي الجديد بهرني، تماما" كما يبهر كل جديد، وتسرق أضواءه كل انتباه.. فانقدت وراءه ولم أعد أعر صديقي أي انتباه يذكر، كأنني كنت متأكدة من أنه لن يذهب إلى أي مكان، وسيبقى معي رغم إهمالي...
وفاجأني صديقي مرة أخرى... فأنا لم أتوقع أنني سأجده بعد هذه السنين.. توقعته أن يرحل لأنني لم أحافظ عليه وأعتني به.. ولكنه كان هناك، حزينا" وغاضبا" ووحيدا"، ولكنه موجود، فأدركت أنه صديق حقيقي..
لقد تعلمت الدرس. سأحافظ على صديقي الجديد، ولن أضيع صديقي القديم...
سأرفع الغبار عنه، وأحاول إصلاح ما أفسدته بإهمالي كي تعود علقتنا قوية كما كانت..
قلمي العربي...... عذرا"

SaReem... To move or not to move?

I have thought of moving our blog to wordpress long time ago. And I have actually created and account there. At that time, it didn't support importing blog posts and comments from new blogger.

I have visited wordpress again, and now I was able to import my blog. So technically, I am ready to move the blog. But I am giving it a second thought. I don't find wordpress as usable as I thought it would be. And I couldn't the option I wanted to move my blog for in the first place. The option I am looking for is sending notification emails to those who have commented on a post when further comments are being put on that post. Is this option available?

Blog Reem - Say something!

I thought coming to live in KSA would give me all the time and the motive to blog more. Changing towns, exploring the new city and culture, and being semi-jobless!

But it didn't happen! Have you ever heard anyone saying that when you are busy and have a full schedule you actually do more? That is absolutely true! In my case, at least!

I am leading a lazy life. Yet I am loving it. If anyone knows about my sleeping addiction, it wouldn't be at all strange, and if you know a bit more about me and know how much I love eating…. It's all explained why I love Riyadh (let's not mention the dark side, weight!) Well honestly, shopping as well makes it so enjoyable!
I think this lazy life is contagious. I am having a lazy mind as well. So I am keeping my mental activity to its minimum – No blogging! Bad! But at least, some reading is there!

I discovered a bit more about myself lately. I am a lazy housewife, and a bad cook. However, I am not so naggy (is that the right word? it does not look like it, the red line is flashing here) and easy-going person.

So it's been almost 6 months now. And I am not yet bored from Riyadh. I actually like how much it got me closer to Sari, and how much quality time we spend together (and quantity as well, there is no one after all!). I think Saudi is a great start for newlyweds, it is the case if you start your life anywhere other than your hometown, but Saudi has an extra advantage, you have absolutely nothing to do but spend time with your spouse, even if you are doing grocery shopping.

Speaking of shopping- I love it here. Sales are always there, almost every time of the year!! At this particular time, it's the best, 50-70% off everything! I thought that in sale I wouldn't really find nice good stuff – all would be gone. But I was very mistaken. I have a new digital camera now. I love it. I should be posting more pictures.

Speaking of which, I have a story that I will die to share!
Before I went to Amman, I bought my nieces some clothes. It was on sale -50% off - because that was the old spring collection and they were just putting up the new collection. Cool!
It happened that I bought a skirt for Judy, but couldn't find her size for the blouse matching. So in Amman, almost two months later, I happened to pass by the same shop and find it has 30-70% discount. Cool, I thought. I can get the blouse.
- Hello, How much are these discounted?
- Hello Madam, well, these are only on 30% discount, just "dyafeh" for our customers. Because these are the newest collection this year!!!!!

Saudi Arabia, heaven or hell?

It's been almost three months for me now in Saudi Arabia. And I can tell you it's not bad at all, Thank God. I have decided that I will be using this blog to tell people more about Saudi Arabia, and try as much as I can to prove the stereotypes, that we hear and come to unintentionally believe, wrong.

I will start by saying that no place is perfect. Just as no one is. So as we start weighing the good and bad of Saudi, we should not be comparing it to the perfect image we have in our minds about the place we would wish to live in, which might most resemble heaven.

Saudi Arabia is a place of a special culture that is initially derived from Islam, from the fact that Saudi Arabia was the land in which Islam was revealed to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), and from being, up till the very moment, the land the hosts Al Kabaa and the mosque of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) among many other holy places.

Saudi Arabia is mostly accused for being too conservative, where women are almost "jailed" in their houses. I don't deny that KSA is a conservative country, where they TRY to abide by Islam to the pieces. I agree as well that some of their "traditions" are not purely Islamic; an example of this is forbidding women from driving. This contradiction here is not a fault of Islam. It comes from the fact that there are 2 sources that dictates the traditions, habits and behaviors here. These two sources are the religion, and the inherited culture of the Saudis. What happens that while we TRY to abide by Islam we mix it up with what the culture dictates. And here comes the contradiction and the confusion.

Here in KSA, (and I am talking about the current time not any time in the past as things are dramatically changing here) they don’t claim that it is an Islamic decision to forbid women from driving. But they know that for the time being, this is the best to be done. Why? Because this law has been stated long time ago, so drivers are not at all used to the idea of a woman driving. Hence, in meantime, it would be a dangerous decision to allow women to drive as they will be attacked and pushed to accidents by other drivers (bear in mind what crazy drivers they are). Therefore, since great changes in culture and mindsets can not be achieved overnight, a transition period is needed, until minds are shifted and it becomes socially acceptable,. This is not to say that the as-is situation is perfect. I am just trying here to make things a bit clearer about the reasons why things happen the way they do.

I still have so many things I would like to discuss and much more positive aspects of the KSA. But it will become a very long post and might turn into a boring one. So I will cut it into multiple ones. Hopefully the next one will include some pictures.

In the upcoming posts, I intend to speak about the "Abaya", things you can do in KSA, faces of technology that is applied to make life easier, women's work and many more. To make this a comprehensive exercise, I will as well speak about the weak points that can make your life miserable.

The one point that I will try to remind you about in this series of posts is that no place is perfect. And wherever you come from, you were not in heaven. You were in another place which yet has its pros and cons. And since you left it and decided to live in KSA, then it's because you have seen that at least for the time being, and in one or more aspects, KSA is better for you than any other place you could be in.

From KSA

So It's been one week today!

It's pretty cool. So far I am enjoying my time very much. I know it's still early to judge.. but so far,,, I like it!

I'm still not 100% setteled.. I'm not yet cnnected to the internet.. so it will be a while till you hear from me again. But I can brief you a bit!!

Jordan planet, Allah ysahel 3aleeh :), actually did us smething good. Yesterday we visited Hani Masoud's Family.. They are soo nice and we were so happy to meet them, Thanks JP for introducing such nice frends!!

The other day we visited Sari's friends.. and you know how small the world is.. His wife's uncle is my Dad's best freind, and she herself is a former student of my mother!!!!

what else can I tell you about KSA? I'm leading a lazy life,, which I love!!!!
And yes, I cook!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Off to KSA!!

Yes, FINALLY!!

Today I got my visa stamped on my passport!

I'm leaving to KSA tomorrow!!

SO this is my last post from Amman!!

Wish me luck!! You are more than welcome to visit us anytime! If you insist!

Did you grow in Amman in 80's and 90's|

then you can relate to the following:

>>- You watched Al Manahel everytime it's on, and you know what does
>>"Aqwa men
>>al Shadda, Ahda2 men Al Sukoon" means!
>>
>>- You can recite the theme songs of Jongar, Grendizer, Al Rajol El
>>Hadidi,
>>Lady Lady, Sally, Adnan Wa Lina, Al Haddaf
>>
>>- You watched: Captain Majed, Sandy Bell (even if you're a boy),
>>Judy
>>Abbott, Bell wa Sebastian, Al 7oot El Abyad, Lady Oscar (bass
>>balash lady,
>>abu el shabaab), Labeeba (who we never tend to know she got hair
>>for hands
>>or hands for hair), Sonbol, Tamtamm, Jazeerat El Kanz, Maymouna, Al
>>Ra7alou
>>El Sa3'eer, Flona, Sindibad, Tom Sawyer
>>
>>- You watched Eftah Ya Semsem, and later on in your life found out
>>it's the
>>Arabic version of Sesame Street.
>>
>>- You know the two flavours of 'Shokalatet Moody'. Yellow and Pink
>>
>>- You bough from Dukkaneh:
>>Dam3a, Zaki, Double Wheel, Tootoo (Tweety), Raas El 3abed, SB
>>3elket
>>Ma5addat, Roco, Tiger Chocolate, Shebs Ringo, Askimo, Shukala
>>3ammar, 3elket
>>Mentaad, Halawani Shebs, Baskoat Marie, Katakeet, Mr Shebs (not
>>CHIPS, SHEBS
>>- haha), Petra Ice Cream (the 'expensive' one with double layers),
>>the red
>>ULKER chocolate with the cubes.
>>
>>- You know the tune the Cotton candy man does (Sha3r El Banat)
>>
>>- You played Ghommayeh, 6ummayeh or whatever you call it and when
>>you touch
>>the 'place' you say "Kummesteir" and 'til now you don't know what
>>the hell
>>it means!
>>
>>- You know "Al 7ezam El Azraq" and you own at least one VHS or
>>Betamax (â)
>>by them. WWF wrestling matches
>>
>>- You had a crush on 3aroob Sobo7 (if you're a boy) with her show
>>"Waqt El
>>Mara7" and if you're a girl, you had a crush on the
>>always-wearing-a-cap
>>goalkeeper in Captain Haddaf.
>>
>>- You sang "Happy Nation" and "All That She Wants" and thought
>>you're
>>dead-on cool!
>>
>>- You drew Fido Dido at a certain phase of your life
>>
>>- You had a pair of big white sneakers, and most of you had Reebok
>>Pump.
>>
>>- Atta-Ali and Jabri were the best restaurants in town.
>>
>>- You ate "7alaqaat El Basal" (onion rings) in Funny Bunny
>>
>>- You had a SAKHR AX170 Keyboard and you played on it night and
>>day.
>>"Masafa" was written next to "Space".
>>
>>- You had an Atari, and somewhere in your house you still have that
>>Joystick
>>somewhere in the house.
>>
>>- You know Abu Yousef, and you can at least sing one of the three
>>songs of
>>his
>>
>>- In the back of your mind there's a song called "Tgool Ahwak" by
>>an ancient
>>Jordanian band called Mirage
>>
>>- You know that Atta Ali has 46 Ice Cream flavours! Beat that
>>Baskin Robins!
>>
>>- You attended weddings in Jabri, at Knafeh from Jabri, ate actual
>>food from
>>Jabri and ate the Nestle-Lion-Imitation Tiger Chocolate (by Jabri
>>bardo!)
>>
>>- You know the tune of "Fares El 7alqa" from Yes3ed Saba7ak, every
>>Friday
>>morning on Jordan TV.
>>
>>- You thought that "Ya Ayoha El Maleko El Ajal" by that Sofia woman
>>was the
>>new Anthem for Jordan, haha
>>
>>- You remember the bookshops in Amman celebrating "Al 3awda Ela El
>>Madares"
>>with you buying stationery.
>>
>>- Your family had a workshop in the house, laminating your books'
>>covers
>>with what is called "Tajleed Contact"
>>
>>- You took ages to pick the 'suitable' name labels for your books
>>
>>- After laminating the books, you go to school with some having
>>bubbles in
>>them. And you know what you did in class with these
>>
>>- You never called the Jordanian sole channel Jordan TV, it was
>>always
>>"Amman"; and you watched American movies on "3amman El Tanyeh"
>>
>>- "Yahya El Thakaa2!"
>>
>>- You know three bees: Zeina, Nahool and Sewar el Asal.
>>
>>- "Ayaseeeedi, Romo Yalla Hat"
>>
>>- "Bestek Bestek Bestek NAW, Shukalata Jersey makla el GAW"
>>
>>- You Had nightmares about Abu Shakoosh
>>
>>- You wore "Boat Amigo Bedwi w Betfi", and walked proudly in the
>>Jordanian
>>streets
>>
>>- You know "Go Ninja, Go Ninja Go, Go Go Go Go", Ferkat Sala7ef El
>>Neenja
>>fee Mat3am Garfields.
>>
>>- You actually saw a Monkey in "7adiqat al Tuyoor"
>>
>>- You know the song "The Final Countdown" as the theme for Dehanaat
>>National
>>(National Paints)
>>
>>- You actually called Abu El Dahab center "El Dobb" cause there's a
>>big
>>Panda there
>>
>>- You consumed Zeit and Za3tar sandwiches in school that could feed
>>50
>>families for 10 years
>>
>>- Your local Disney Land was Mujamma3 Bank El Iskan
>>
>>- Your other Disney Land was Luna Park
>>
>>- You cut your classes in school to go buy Falafel sandwiches from
>>the
>>restaurant next to the school.
>>
>>- You had (and may still have) "Kharabeesh 13, 14, 15 and 16"
>>cassettes.
>>
>>- Your third Disney Land was Da3saan Lel Tarfeeh
>>
>>- Shebs Disco, colored fingers. And Shebs Bitza, rings for your
>>fingers
>>
>>- You watched the Quran in the morning, just waiting for it to
>>finish so
>>you'd watch morning cartoons.
>>
>>- You watched "Sameed" before school, and wondered how tyres
>>actually taste
>>like!

P.S I got this by email and made my laugh so hard... thought it's worth sharing. I had no time to check other blogs so I don't know if anybody did before me!