Algerie Update

[Henia 11]

Esalaamu Aleikum/Salut/Hello...

I hope everyone is doing well this Ramadan, and enjoying the time to learn more of our deen and spent quality time with our families.

Today, I went with my husband on the bus, we went together all the way to Ben Aknoun where his job is... from there we parted, him to work...and me to the HU embassy. It seemed like an easy task but took me quite awhile to find my way. It dawned on me, why did I take German in primary not French? Hehehe... hmmm well it seems I am adding learn French to my to do list.

Elhamdullah I found the street it was located on Avenue des Fréres Oughlis. As I was walking to my dismay an older women had fallen down... seemed everyone was running to help her. Elhamdullah for that. I stopped to make dua as really I could not anything else but that...inchallah it is equal to more.

Finally at the embassy, they gave me the run-around yet again...telling me yet again about the life in Algerie and how it is not for European (or any foreign women). Uffffff and another Ufffffff... I waited there more then an hour before I got my translation. I was almost PO by then... by all the BS and run around!!!

Then I asked for gaurd for directions to bus stops to Tipaza.Elhamdullah it was easy to find and I walked down this very steep hilly road to find it right next to Djezzy mobil shoppe. I walked around totally stuned in my lack of knowing anything, almost ...well no, not almost REALLY wanting to call my husband to come for me... but hehe I didnt have a telefon elhamdullah I thought...I can do this, just ask around for the bus to Kolea, someone will inchallah help me. Elhamdullah I asked a man who I assumed was the ticket collector as he was adverting a bus to Zeralda. He pointed me to the right bus and I got on. I sorta knew the protocol from the morning...get one, sit down and wait for the man to ask you where you are going, then pay him... I told him in my so weak arabe/french, Please I am going to Kolea centre... can you help me? He smiled and said saha. I saw that as a good sign. The road was smooth one which I quite enjoyed. Finally as we entered Kolea, I saw the sign saying welcome to Kolea, I breathed a sigh of relief...I am here elhamdullah. The man signaled to me this was my stop in the centre of the city, so I got off. Elhamdullah again, I knew where I was... I was the super maché and the masjid...ok I was doing good. I walked north to find the Café Numedia, which then I knew I would pass the home of my husband's cousin, so then I should keep going north until I reached the cadeaux shoppe of husband's other cousin, then turn a left until I see the tropical fish shoppe, then boulangerie where my street is located. ANother even bigger sigh of relief... ELHAMDULLAH I traveled alone in Algerie safely. I called my husband as soon as I was home, and he was so so surprised I made it home. He said he was joking when he said to go home by myself... and could hardly believe I did it alone. HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY O snaps... I can hardly believe it myself...

Allah Maaki everyone and have blessed Ramadan!

Ashadu anna la ilaaha antastaghfiruka wa itubu ilaik.

Please forgive me for any mistakes I have made.

Anything good I have said or send to you all is from Allah, the mistakes are mine.

Jazak Allah kheiran, walaikum salaam wrt.

[ya falaha! 0]

Dag you are one brave gal!

I'm happy to hear everything is going so well for you alhamdulillah

Ramadan Kareem ya ukhti!

[doodlebug 3]

WOW!!! I would have cried the whole time due to intense fear!! lol

[Henia 11]

YE believe I waa about to... and I didnt realise my husband was joking when he told me to home after finishing at the embassy. He wanted me to go to his work afterwards...but it seems I didnt get his joke. Hmm he seems to do that to me alot...

Thanks Doodle and Kara for the warm wishes...Ramadan Kerim to you too...

[sarah and hicham 3]

Hi Henia! I'm glad to hear from you!! Ok I am dying to see your wedding pictures but I can't find them. Please help me!

Take care and congrats on the voyage.

Sarah

[Henia 11]

Hi Henia! I'm glad to hear from you!! Ok I am dying to see your wedding pictures but I can't find them. Please help me!

Take care and congrats on the voyage.

Sarah

Hello Sarah... Nice to hear from you too... Ye having great time here in DZ... I donnot want to know...

Well go to this www... http://360.yahoo.com/my_profile-EVQczOk1er...bO6yvntw--?cq=1 and add me ok

[sarah and hicham 3]

Thanks Henia your pictures are beautiful!

[morocco4ever 63]

Wow, I am impressed!

My husband teased me my last visit saying that I could find my way to his house from the airport. Okay, I know where to go to the train from the airport and I know how to get a taxi, I could even say his area, and once the cabbie took me there I could guide him too his house. But the fact is, I still wouldn't do it!

Way to go!

[snz1802 0]

You are a brave one, very brave, congratulations on your journey and success on finding your way around, I am glad you are having such a wonderful time.

Stacey

[Henia 11]

Thanks Henia your pictures are beautiful!

Thanks Sarah, glad you liked them. I added you today to 36O. Esalaam to Hicham form us!

Wow, I am impressed!

My husband teased me my last visit saying that I could find my way to his house from the airport. Okay, I know where to go to the train from the airport and I know how to get a taxi, I could even say his area, and once the cabbie took me there I could guide him too his house. But the fact is, I still wouldn't do it!

Way to go!

I have always been very independent and here in Algerie I have a handicapped, which bothers me so much... so I am trying anything anyhow to overcome that.

You are a brave one, very brave, congratulations on your journey and success on finding your way around, I am glad you are having such a wonderful time.

Stacey

Hey Stacey, hmmm so glad to see you have a new pic on your signature...on cloud nine...Congrats..jumping for joy for you...Plz keep me updated on when Zaeem arrives...if you make a post and I donnot reply means I was not able to get online, so then plz PM me so I know... My husband and I are praying for you daily... Zaeeeeeeeeem when are you coming to the US already???????????? Stacey is waiting........ BTW thanks for the warm wishes !!!

[jazair 0]

YE believe I waa about to... and I didnt realise my husband was joking when he told me to home after finishing at the embassy. He wanted me to go to his work afterwards...but it seems I didnt get his joke. Hmm he seems to do that to me alot...

Thanks Doodle and Kara for the warm wishes...Ramadan Kerim to you too...

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Awwwww I love your updates, Henia You are doing great ! I've had to travel alone through Jordan and the West Bank many times, and I will never forget the first time... it really builds your confidence to navigate around a foreign country without help. Way to go !!!

-MK

[sarah and hicham 3]

This reminds me of the one time I left our hotel alone to cross the street and use the payphone. Someone tried to steal my purse and that was the end of that! haha. Good job Henia, be careful!

Edited September 28, 2006 by sarah and hicham

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

This reminds me of the one time I left our hotel alone to cross the street and use the payphone. Someone tried to steal my purse and that was the end of that! haha. Good job Henia, be careful!

That's terrible !

I have to say that I have found people to be very honest in the West Bank -- at least the ones I've been lucky enough to encounter al7amdolillah.

One time in the West Bank, loaded with bags, I accidentally left one on the service (minibus/passenger van that serves for mass transit) and started to walk away -- it contained a very nice camera and other valuables -- the other passengers noticed it and alerted the driver, and he came after me to return it.

Another time on a service, I inadventently paid too much for the fare. (Everyone passes up their money to the driver, and he passes back the change in a big handful. Each person picks out their change, and passes it on to the next person.) I had passed up 5 shekels. Thinking the fare was 3, I only took 2 shekels from the change. When the change finally reached the last person, he found an extra 1/2 shekel. Well you would think he would just keep it -- it's only worth about 12 cents -- but nooooooo. There was an intense discussion of how an extra shekel could have possibly gotten into the pile. The driver said noooo it wasn't his. So the passengers in the back seat started checking with each person to see who had paid too much. They would not rest until they tracked down who it belonged to, and returned it.

-MK

-MK

[sarah and hicham 3]

This reminds me of the one time I left our hotel alone to cross the street and use the payphone. Someone tried to steal my purse and that was the end of that! haha. Good job Henia, be careful!

That's terrible !

I have to say that I have found people to be very honest in the West Bank -- at least the ones I've been lucky enough to encounter al7amdolillah.

One time in the West Bank, loaded with bags, I accidentally left one on the service (minibus/passenger van that serves for mass transit) and started to walk away -- it contained a very nice camera and other valuables -- the other passengers noticed it and alerted the driver, and he came after me to return it.

Another time on a service, I inadventently paid too much for the fare. (Everyone passes up their money to the driver, and he passes back the change in a big handful. Each person picks out their change, and passes it on to the next person.) I had passed up 5 shekels. Thinking the fare was 3, I only took 2 shekels from the change. When the change finally reached the last person, he found an extra 1/2 shekel. Well you would think he would just keep it -- it's only worth about 12 cents -- but nooooooo. There was an intense discussion of how an extra shekel could have possibly gotten into the pile. The driver said noooo it wasn't his. So the passengers in the back seat started checking with each person to see who had paid too much. They would not rest until they tracked down who it belonged to, and returned it.

-MK

-MK

Morocco seems to thrive on tourists. I hate shopping there because once they see me the price triples instantly. Taxi drivers will charge you way more if you're a tourist. It's so annoying. When that person tried to steal my purse there were like 50 people watching, none of which even moved one inch. I wa slike hello can someone help me!!!!!! Later I got into a taxi and the driver said I saw what happened earlier and good for you to pull back and not let him take your bag. I asked him why he didn't offer to help or call the police nearby and he just laughed. I better stop before I get more angry.