The First Week

[RAKASA 0]

On the bread issue, I buy 4-6 loaves almost every week of the Pillsbury French loaf (in a can - in the fridge area of market, w/ the biscuits and such). We bake a loaf most days w/ dinner. Just crack it open, put it on a cookie sheet and bake @ 350 for 26 min.... perfect, fresh, hot loaf every time! I usually catch them on sale for about $2 each.

[Elva and Ehab 0]

I am so glad this blog was started. Thanks everyone for sharing your great ideas. I will use them.

[Donna A 4]

lets see. the first night we picked him up late at the airport so he slept. the second day we had a wedding to go to. the third and forth night we went to the pocono mountains and got one of those really really nice rooms. of course the fifth day we returned back home. the next day visited with parents and the seventh day i returned back to work. we were really busy the first week.

[~~~water~~~ 0]

I was so excited when my fiance was in the air omg.... I signed up for alerts and watched his plane travel from New york to SF. The flight was 1hr early he was so suprised to see me waiting. We married the next day soooo the morning was spent getting the marriage license. After we were married my bosses had made a really nice snack basket with sparkling cider and champagne flutes We went on a little day trip to see the ocean and redwood forests I had 4 days off work not enough. As far as adjusting He's been a great sport about trying different ethnic foods , thai was not a fav. sushi was ok He liked mexican and the american cafes but the african food cafe has been the clear winner. I am cooking a lot more than I ever have and he eats everything, but having pita and arabic pickles is a given. I also bought hummus and yogurt dip, I have even cooked him meat which is a challenge for a vegetarian. I love so much that he helps me with the dishes too

Its been 3 week now tomorrow it feels like we are settling in to our new life well. Arabic tv on the internet is great to. OMG they wanted so much for dish network.

My husband is even starting to like the dog!!!! He takes her for walks and is good with her even though its his first time ever around a dog. He liked the cat from the beg. "cause she is polite" but Lucy is a maniac of a dog that could even test the love of a dog lover. It was one of the hardest adjustment at home.

Its also really sad to see him homesick, I know that its normal but I feel sad when I feel him miss home The first days were the hardest.

I think most of all seeing your caring means more than anything you buy or have .....

Edited March 13, 2008 by ~~~water~~~

[~~~water~~~ 0]

arabic free tv link

http://www.channelarab.tv

[ya falaha! 0]

My husband arrived at about 11:30pm on a Wed. so we just went home and ate and went to bed. I made mouloukhia and rice that night. I had it prepared before I went to the airport. The next day we did nothing but lay around watching TV and talking. I took 10 days off work so in those days we really did a lot of nothing. Our outings consisted of going to the mall and out to eat. I went shopping the day before his arrival and stocked up on basics (like MK said)...pita, cheeses, mango juice, ice cream, meat, vegetables, etc. The first week I think I made koshary, pot roast with potatoes and carrots(HUGE hit!), lasagna, roasted chicken with potatoes and onions. Those are some of his favorites.

Like others have said, don't overwelm. Don't plan too much. You have your whole life to run around. Take the first week and just relax and enjoy each other.

[a1angied 0]

OK his plane arrived about 11 pm I believe and since it was in SF a two hour drive for me I had a suite at a hotel by the airport (helps with SIL is working for comfort inn) We got his luggage and went to the car after he smoked a cig. Went to the room he said he was not hungry he showered called his family to let them know that he was here and ok. ....The next day we went to wharf and ate fresh sea food and went sight seeing a little then drove home. My daughter was calling waiting to meet her step dad she was 16 and couldn't wait to take him to Wal-Mart so we went and spent a good hour there and bought all kinds of things, went to the 99 cent store and oh my gosh that was so funny I kept telling him we can come every week we don't have to get everything now. We have a grocery store that has mexican food and so that was the first thing that we ate as a family and he can eat it every night. He love cardne asada. My daughter hit it off with him from the very start as did my 18 yr old son. Shelia my so loved beagle dog (child) was a hit with Hasan from the very start. I am fortunate that he had a dog before when he lived in Kuwait so that was great. He loves her like I do. Thanks be to God since she is like one of my children.

The grocery list every week consist of lots of tomatoes, parcley, cilantro, lettice, onions, potatoes, hummas ( I buy at costco) we just add tahini sauce, pickles, olives, thin steak, lots of chicken, fish, falafal mix, and pita bread. He loves chicken hearts cut up with onion and tomatoes and he cooks that once a week. Lots of extra virgin olive oil! He likes alot of fresh vetables and fruits. Also the mexican pastries he eats every morning and shares bites with Shelia with his coffee ( I buy at costco and grind it turkish grind at the front of the store before we leave).

As far as not liking food well he likes pretty much everything, not picky at all. The water has never bothered him and he has not experienced any stomach discomforts. He adjusted so very well not really homesick at all.

The main thing that I buy at the imports store is tahini sauce, pita bread, falaful mix, pickles and olives and soemtimes I get his cheese but he said only to get it one time a month. I am fortunate that I work accross the street from the import store so we get fresh bread still warm from the store.

I am not sure how other men are but my husband said that I dont have to worry about getting hala meat because the closest store to get it is over an hour away and so very expensive.

One thing that my husband was so appreciative about was I had found the Mosque and so he was able to go to pray and met up with other muslim men. Also he wanted to enroll in ESL right away. So that might be something that might find out if he is intrested in and find out about them. He loved it cos he could go to school and I was going to work. he learned alot and that helped him so very much while he was waiting for his SS card and looking for work. A funny thing was that he met a guy that was from Maraccco and his wife was a member of VJ's. Small world. That man is his only friend and they got a job at the same place and it is a blessing.

My husband also said we didn't have to do everything right way we have a lifetime!

[tammy2688 1]

Bridget, even though you have to produce the police certificate, its fine, this wait is a GOOD wait!

Yes I am so happy this thread stared, it seems like a new day, a new beginning

Yes, along with the food ideas such as hummus, pita bread, etc, I encourage you to get him connected to a local mosque and ESL classes if he wishes while looking for work. It will be a wonderful reunion, Insha-Allah. I am praying for you and am just so happy that this day has come.

You know aside from all of the adventures and fun you and your husband will have, I think the most important moment is that moment when you can look into his eyes, and know he will be here the next morning. No worries of catching a flight back to US, no worry of trying to pack 1 year of life into seven days, Alhamdulillah. God is great.

Tammy

[doodlebugg 10]

Bridget, even though you have to produce the police certificate, its fine, this wait is a GOOD wait!

Yes I am so happy this thread stared, it seems like a new day, a new beginning

Yes, along with the food ideas such as hummus, pita bread, etc, I encourage you to get him connected to a local mosque and ESL classes if he wishes while looking for work. It will be a wonderful reunion, Insha-Allah. I am praying for you and am just so happy that this day has come.

You know aside from all of the adventures and fun you and your husband will have, I think the most important moment is that moment when you can look into his eyes, and know he will be here the next morning. No worries of catching a flight back to US, no worry of trying to pack 1 year of life into seven days, Alhamdulillah. God is great.

Tammy

Thanks Tammy

Yes esl classes are something we have looked into and then I found out that if he works for my company he can get them for free so I'm thinking maybe he should get a part time job here just for that benefit alone, you know? Plus it would give him time to get used to how things are done here before going for the job he really would like.

[Jenn! 918]

Bridget, even though you have to produce the police certificate, its fine, this wait is a GOOD wait!

Yes I am so happy this thread stared, it seems like a new day, a new beginning

Yes, along with the food ideas such as hummus, pita bread, etc, I encourage you to get him connected to a local mosque and ESL classes if he wishes while looking for work. It will be a wonderful reunion, Insha-Allah. I am praying for you and am just so happy that this day has come.

You know aside from all of the adventures and fun you and your husband will have, I think the most important moment is that moment when you can look into his eyes, and know he will be here the next morning. No worries of catching a flight back to US, no worry of trying to pack 1 year of life into seven days, Alhamdulillah. God is great.

Tammy

Thanks Tammy

Yes esl classes are something we have looked into and then I found out that if he works for my company he can get them for free so I'm thinking maybe he should get a part time job here just for that benefit alone, you know? Plus it would give him time to get used to how things are done here before going for the job he really would like.

Are you talking about him working in your actual building, or just for your company in a different location? If the former, I would *strongly* recommend that you reconsider that.

[polarbear 0]

The first few days for us were so packed that it took my remaining 2 days off of work to recover

His plane was delayed in NY for 4 hours, I spent a little over an hour in the completely empty airport with a friend for company waiting for him around midnight. The plane finally arrived and I think he forgot that he is so tall I would be able to see him coming bc I saw him duck into the bathroom before exiting the terminal I was waiting for felt like 10 min and was pacing wondering what in the hell he was doing... Too bad he was very respectful and only gave me a hug and held my hand but at least he didn't let go

I am muslim and we were not married so I had a friend with me and she was really quite and helpful and didn't mind at all being a third wheel We took him to the apartment that night to get him settled in and I was supposed to stay with my friend, but he wouldn't hear of it. He ended up sleeping on the hard, cold floor and my friend and I took the bed We were up for hours just talking and getting him settled and completely forgot the time. After waking up for morning prayer we decided there was no point in trying to sleep for just 1 more hour and went to get the marriage liscense. I have the athan on my computer and when it woke him up that morning he said he felt like he had never left Eypt... so if he is religous, that might be a good thing to have.

In Florida, there is a 3 day waiting period after you get your liscense until you can get married. Oh, and you both have to be present to get the liscense but I found a loophole about exceptions being made per the decision of the judge for extenuating cercumstances such as religion ect... It was a bit of a fight, but we had the person who did the liscense do the legal marriage at the same time and gave us 5 certified copies for 5 dollars each since we were getting them that day It was a Friday, so next we went to Friday prayer, a few friends from the mosque took us out to eat afterward and then we went back to the mosque that night to do the Islamic contract. We didn't even stay for the food, just long enough to say polite goodbyes He was snoring in the car on the way home that night.

The next two days we went to the store for foods he likes, I had hummus that first night. I went right back to work bc it was going into New Year's... but at one point he did tell me not to treat him special - I don't have to buy special foods for him or go out of my way, he's not here on vacation, he's here to stay with me. I still do special things for him and try to accomidate him, but then, he does the same for me

[tammy2688 1]

He will feel cumfort to be near you yes, there is plenty of time to get into a job he likes after a few months of adjustment, ESL and preparation. Bridget, only Allah knows what is in our future. Today is a wonderful day, a truly wonderful day, to hear the happiness in your voice, it is a good feeling. Never give up. Never. Insha-Allah you will have a beautiful reunion.

Tammy

Thanks Tammy

Yes esl classes are something we have looked into and then I found out that if he works for my company he can get them for free so I'm thinking maybe he should get a part time job here just for that benefit alone, you know? Plus it would give him time to get used to how things are done here before going for the job he really would like.

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

Kara, when you get the chance... i could reallyyyy use a good easy recipe for mouloukhia. I really liked it when Adams family made it for me to try. I wanted to eat that the whole time i was in Egypt. And I would love to surprise Adam and "try" to make it for him here.

I forgot to add about the food part... Hes gotten used to all the food here. He LOVES buffets! Chinese, Golden Coral, Sweet Tomato... where theres a buffet he wants to be there ! At home he eats a ton of bread and beans. He constantly wants liver and I only agree if he cooks it while Im at work bcz I cant handle the smell. I made toubouli the other day and it was delicious so I will keep making that for us. I need some other simple middle eastern food ideas if ya'll have any! -Tamara

[Nasturtium 500]

Congrats bridget and Kara! (just saw your ticker).

Anyway.

Working together can be good or bad. it depends on a few things like if you are his boss or how closely you work and how well you work together. Ammar and I met at work and worked well together,. i got him hired at my job where techincally I was his boss. That was OK, and we had some moments of terseness but also that was part of teh adjustment period since he started on 2 weeks after he came. Now he transferred next door and he's doing really well and stops in to see me.

Ask your Dh what he likes to eat and what he thinks he will want. Ammar said he wanted fruit and so I made a cake, a meal (and refridgerated it) and got fruit. Turned out he wanted cake and fruit.

That was all for day one, and the rest of the days he didn't do too much. We went out a few times around town and I took him to a state park and then up to my parent's house. We don't eat out as he doesn't trust anyone's food, but he did go out a few times by necessity (when driving up to my parent's house) and turns out he liked fajitas.

He also kept trying to sleep at weird times and I had to fight his jet lag.

[doodlebugg 10]

Bridget, even though you have to produce the police certificate, its fine, this wait is a GOOD wait!

Yes I am so happy this thread stared, it seems like a new day, a new beginning

Yes, along with the food ideas such as hummus, pita bread, etc, I encourage you to get him connected to a local mosque and ESL classes if he wishes while looking for work. It will be a wonderful reunion, Insha-Allah. I am praying for you and am just so happy that this day has come.

You know aside from all of the adventures and fun you and your husband will have, I think the most important moment is that moment when you can look into his eyes, and know he will be here the next morning. No worries of catching a flight back to US, no worry of trying to pack 1 year of life into seven days, Alhamdulillah. God is great.

Tammy

Thanks Tammy

Yes esl classes are something we have looked into and then I found out that if he works for my company he can get them for free so I'm thinking maybe he should get a part time job here just for that benefit alone, you know? Plus it would give him time to get used to how things are done here before going for the job he really would like.

Are you talking about him working in your actual building, or just for your company in a different location? If the former, I would *strongly* recommend that you reconsider that.