Would you live in MENA if you had to?

[Henia 11]

Yes never say never Paliover. For me, even not being a teacher... teaching has been so rewarding!

I have noticed that here in Algeria, much more of those niqaabs (who wear the real full hijeb) are foreigners mostly from the UK. Sure women here wear those small dollie looking face veils but do that as result of the French revolution safety issues not the extreme Islam some people pratice worldwide. Off topic but it amazing me many if not most extreme Muslims are converts.

[Staashi 371]

Off topic but it amazing me many if not most extreme Muslims are converts.

That is often true in almost every religion where one converts...their zeal for their religion can turn into zealotry. I always say, "be passionate about your faith, but being fanatical can be damaging."

[Beauty for Ashes 257]

Yes never say never Paliover. For me, even not being a teacher... teaching has been so rewarding!

I have noticed that here in Algeria, much more of those niqaabs (who wear the real full hijeb) are foreigners mostly from the UK. Sure women here wear those small dollie looking face veils but do that as result of the French revolution safety issues not the extreme Islam some people pratice worldwide. Off topic but it amazing me many if not most extreme Muslims are converts.

Henia, I dont think its just the women pushing it. Sometimes the guys were really bad in their slacker regular muslim life , they get super extreme to make up for all the ####### they pulled when they were not practicing regularly. Also something to consider, sometimes they get alot of teasing and flack for marrying not only outside of their culture or someone inappropriate,,, lets say OLDER or whatever other reason, so if they dress her up in some over the top out fit with her face cutely faced in hijab, it becomes MY WIFE IS MORE MUSLIM THAN YOUR WIFE na na boo boo. No I am not joking. Then everyone goes MASHALLAH,, I WANT AN AMERICAN CONVERT WIFE and then oohs and ahhs and the whole mess.

My take on it is that I had a really good time before my last trip which consisted of sitting in peoples kitchens, washing dishes, washing sheeps heads, washing floors and being dressed up in my khomeini fashion outfit , then drug around from neighbor to neighbors house, sitting in their kitchens too. I get the whole thing< Henia, that men dont do that so why was I always with the same groups of women, neighbors etc. all sitting around ,watching soap operas and they werent allowed out of their house without an escort? The men got to cruise around. The slutty women got to smoke ( I am asthmatic so not like I wanted to) and wear regular clothes and listen to music and eat out and all the women I saw did the whole hang in the house thing after 6 pm and clean vegetables. I think in more wealthier houses, there would have been a different thing,,, I just didnt see that around his neighborhood. NO WOMEN were out after 6 pm , PERIOD. Men wandered around all hours of the night and day.

As far as English school, there seems to plenty of jobs for English teachers at the different language academies and I think they actually do pay pretty well. There are plenty of rich kids to go to the schools and people whos relatives send money back home to pay for it. Id do it if I lived there.

Back to what I said. I would if I wasnt married to the person I am presently married to. I see nothing exhilirating about cleaning chickens every night. NO

[palilover 1]

Off topic but it amazing me many if not most extreme Muslims are converts.

That is often true in almost every religion where one converts...their zeal for their religion can turn into zealotry. I always say, "be passionate about your faith, but being fanatical can be damaging."

You guys are very right on this. My personal belief is "Everything in moderation" and that goes for religion as well:)

[palilover 1]

haha Hanging in There you are too funny:)

Actually in the more conservative villages, it is just bad for a woman to be uncovered. She may not have to go in full niquab but at least have her hair and arms covered. It is considered shame for a man if his wife is uncovered. I don't know why this is personally. Maybe because he is seen as not having control over his wife? I don't know. That was not meant to be derogatory or anything but you know it is just the way it is is that the men "rule the roost" you could say. I don't know how tos ay that to be politically corrent, lol

anyways back on topic, how is IT looking in the middle east? Is it possible some non-engineer type, degree-less person can get a job in IT easily?

[Nasturtium 500]

haha Hanging in There you are too funny:)

Actually in the more conservative villages, it is just bad for a woman to be uncovered. She may not have to go in full niquab but at least have her hair and arms covered. It is considered shame for a man if his wife is uncovered. I don't know why this is personally. Maybe because he is seen as not having control over his wife? I don't know. That was not meant to be derogatory or anything but you know it is just the way it is is that the men "rule the roost" you could say. I don't know how tos ay that to be politically corrent, lol

anyways back on topic, how is IT looking in the middle east? Is it possible some non-engineer type, degree-less person can get a job in IT easily?

It probably has something to do with her not respecting him and herself as well as G-d. I know if I went uncovered, it would be a shame upon me for my husband which would likely turn into a shame for him socially. It's sort of like envisioning some woman going out and flashing her boobs at passing cars here. if that was some man's wife and everyone knew it, he would be totally embarassed and mortified.

[palilover 1]

haha Hanging in There you are too funny:)

Actually in the more conservative villages, it is just bad for a woman to be uncovered. She may not have to go in full niquab but at least have her hair and arms covered. It is considered shame for a man if his wife is uncovered. I don't know why this is personally. Maybe because he is seen as not having control over his wife? I don't know. That was not meant to be derogatory or anything but you know it is just the way it is is that the men "rule the roost" you could say. I don't know how tos ay that to be politically corrent, lol

anyways back on topic, how is IT looking in the middle east? Is it possible some non-engineer type, degree-less person can get a job in IT easily?

It probably has something to do with her not respecting him and herself as well as G-d. I know if I went uncovered, it would be a shame upon me for my husband which would likely turn into a shame for him socially. It's sort of like envisioning some woman going out and flashing her boobs at passing cars here. if that was some man's wife and everyone knew it, he would be totally embarassed and mortified.

yes thank you. that was a much better explanation than what I gave:)

[Henia 11]

Yes never say never Paliover. For me, even not being a teacher... teaching has been so rewarding!

I have noticed that here in Algeria, much more of those niqaabs (who wear the real full hijeb) are foreigners mostly from the UK. Sure women here wear those small dollie looking face veils but do that as result of the French revolution safety issues not the extreme Islam some people pratice worldwide. Off topic but it amazing me many if not most extreme Muslims are converts.

Henia, I dont think its just the women pushing it. Sometimes the guys were really bad in their slacker regular muslim life , they get super extreme to make up for all the ####### they pulled when they were not practicing regularly. Also something to consider, sometimes they get alot of teasing and flack for marrying not only outside of their culture or someone inappropriate,,, lets say OLDER or whatever other reason, so if they dress her up in some over the top out fit with her face cutely faced in hijab, it becomes MY WIFE IS MORE MUSLIM THAN YOUR WIFE na na boo boo. No I am not joking. Then everyone goes MASHALLAH,, I WANT AN AMERICAN CONVERT WIFE and then oohs and ahhs and the whole mess.

My take on it is that I had a really good time before my last trip which consisted of sitting in peoples kitchens, washing dishes, washing sheeps heads, washing floors and being dressed up in my khomeini fashion outfit , then drug around from neighbor to neighbors house, sitting in their kitchens too. I get the whole thing< Henia, that men dont do that so why was I always with the same groups of women, neighbors etc. all sitting around ,watching soap operas and they werent allowed out of their house without an escort? The men got to cruise around. The slutty women got to smoke ( I am asthmatic so not like I wanted to) and wear regular clothes and listen to music and eat out and all the women I saw did the whole hang in the house thing after 6 pm and clean vegetables. I think in more wealthier houses, there would have been a different thing,,, I just didnt see that around his neighborhood. NO WOMEN were out after 6 pm , PERIOD. Men wandered around all hours of the night and day.

As far as English school, there seems to plenty of jobs for English teachers at the different language academies and I think they actually do pay pretty well. There are plenty of rich kids to go to the schools and people whos relatives send money back home to pay for it. Id do it if I lived there.

Back to what I said. I would if I wasnt married to the person I am presently married to. I see nothing exhilirating about cleaning chickens every night. NO

Completely hyprocrical and insane that these men (here) flirt with the girls who wear the tight a## jeans and hooker stileteo heels ... make them their girlfriends taking them out to places like the Zoo in Alger (Ben Aknoun) and the discos to make out ... laugh it up ... marry some of them, but not always but when it is time to get married ... they do as you say, dress them up all religious ... she is pious kinda deal .... I have been to shocked at times when visiting the in-laws and some niqaab walks in ... she takes off the grab and low and below I see an undercover prosti #######!

And funny enough, husband mentioned to me several times (since I asked as a joke "why have you not forced me to wear that face thingie?" - not meaning the dollie but the total black bourka) his reply: In many places, usually the bled- countryside if a woman is wearing that, means she was very loose before marriage ... managed to find stupid man to marry her but now is in hiding! WAW that shocked me too! But I guess it makes sense from all the "Algerian" women I see here wearing that!

You are right about the after 6pm. I go (or rather went out pre-pregnancy) in the evening ... coming back after dark (max around 7-8 without husband)... and people of course talk alot sh*t. Personally, I donnot care since I know myself, I respect myself ... I took my daughter with me everywhere ... and of course my husband allowed me to! I know from myself, I started several waves here with my in-laws since they saw me going out doing the shoppping, having friends, going around town, etc ... and they all know me ... how I am! I am not weird or a hooker or loose or whatever you wanna call it! I am just ME! Husband accepts me for me and ELHAMDULLAH I have been blessed that he hasn't tried to change me into something I am not. If he did, surely I would not be here!

Paliover: Here too ... men take it way too personal if someone even thinks they cannot control their wives!

Not sure about IT in ME, but can ask my husband about IT in NA .. surely he would have some idea for me to pass along to you!