What was it like to see him for the first time?

[Mithra 1,185]

I arrived at the el Nozha airport in Alexandria at around 2am after having traveled for about 24 hrs (14 hr layover in Frankfurt yikes). It was the teensiest airport I'd ever been in. I didn't realize ppl had to wait outside to pick up passengers so while in line for customs I scanned the area and got nervous because I didn't see my soon to be husband. I finished with customs and was met by a man with one of those luggage carts asking if I wanted help with my bags. I was so out of it so I was very thankful that someone offered to help. I pointed out my luggage, the man collected it and pushed it to the exit for me. I gave him $5 USD and was on my way. Again I scanned the area and spotted a tall man waving. It was him! He came over to me, stuck out his hand and welcomed me to Egypt. I ignored his hand and hugged him lol. He then took my hand and led me to the car. Once inside the car I asked what was up with the attempted handshake. He told me he didn't want to seem too forward or make me feel uncomfortable. He also told me he was happy that I hugged him. . It was all pretty surreal. We drove to his family's home and I met his parents and sisters who were all up waiting for me. I thought it would've been way awkward staying with ppl I don't know but it was totally cool. It did, however, feel like I was in another world.

Edited June 24, 2012 by Mithra

[R and F 34]

I arrived at the el Nozha airport in Alexandria at around 2am after having traveled for about 24 hrs (14 hr layover in Frankfurt yikes). It was the teensiest airport I'd ever been in. I didn't realize ppl had to wait outside to pick up passengers so while in line for customs I scanned the area and got nervous because I didn't see my soon to be husband. I finished with customs and was met by a man with one of those luggage carts asking if I wanted help with my bags. I was so out of it so I was very thankful that someone offered to help. I pointed out my luggage, the man collected it and pushed it to the exit for me. I gave him $5 USD and was on my way. Again I scanned the area and spotted a tall man waving. It was him! He came over to me, stuck out his hand and welcomed me to Egypt. I ignored his hand and hugged him lol. He then took my hand and led me to the car. Once inside the car I asked what was up with the attempted handshake. He told me he didn't want to seem too forward or make me feel uncomfortable. He also told me he was happy that I hugged him. . It was all pretty surreal. We drove to his family's home and I met his parents and sisters who were all up waiting for me. I thought it would've been way awkward staying with ppl I don't know but it was totally cool. It did, however, feel like I was in another world.

Yes that feeling as if you have stepped into another world. And people staring at you as if you are from another world.

[msheesha 548]

Wow. You guys have really good memories!! As I'm reading everyone's, I'm realizing I don't even remember if we hugged or shook hands or what when we first saw each other. I remember being at JFK airport and considering backing out in a moment of panic before I got on the plane. I remember he had beautiful flowers waiting for me. We stopped at his parents' home for breakfast before we left for Marrakesh for a few days to spend time together alone. I thought his parents were wonderful and as we were driving to Marrakesh I knew he was the one for me.

Eta- my husband says we kissed on each cheek when we first greeted each other at the airport. I still don't remember but I'm sure he's right.

[msheesha 548]

Re: people staring - I never noticed that ppl were staring. I've been to China and the staring there was much more obvious than I noticed in morocco.

[Mithra 1,185]

I definitely noticed staring in Egypt particularly on buses and trains. It was mostly younger kids doing it if I recall correctly. I wore very conservative clothing and was very quiet in public so I know it most likely wasn't what I was wearing or how I was behaving. I'm going to assume it was because I looked different and they were curious. It wasn't that type of impolite staring it was more like curious staring if that makes sense.

[meno-is-mine 37]

I really enjoyed reading all these stories!!!

Our first time meeting was a little different. We had no prior relationship b4 our first meeting. My family and I were on vacation in Egypt and he asked to come over to meet this girl he'd heard of thru mutual friends. I was so nervous when I saw him. He was already seated in our living room when I walked in (like 45 min later!) LOL. anyway, i sat on the loveseat across from him. We chatted each other up a little, small-talk, nothing heavy. We would steal a look when the other wasn't until we locked eyes finally. it was very funny and awkward. He just kept looking at me as we talked and there was something in his eyes that was captivating. I saw him looking off to the balcony area at one point and i thought "Am i boring him?!" and later he told me that he was giving me a chance to look at him thoroughly without being embarrassed... HAHAHA After that first "meeting", we'd meet up some more until i had to travel back home to the states. I had agreed to get to know him for the next year (until the next summer when we'd go back to Egypt again). I insisted on no formal commitment or anything. He wanted to have a mini-engagement but i wanted a no-commitment kinda thing where it was easy and chill. (He still insists we were engaged during that year and I'm like whatever. LOL)

Seeing him again the next summer felt like another first time meeting. Since it was the first time I'd be seeing him since we fell in love and got to know each other over the past year. He came with a beautiful arrangement of chocolates and was dressed in a sleek lavender shirt with black slacks (I'll never forget how sharp he looked that night!) We made eye contact and it was so different this time... i loved him this time around... we talked (no touching yet!) We spent the next few of weeks planning for our ceremony/party. After the ceremony we walked out hand-in-arm of course (FINALLY!)... spent the summer together hanging out when we could...

I was leaving for the States again in September. He had spent the night over since we were leaving right after the morning prayer. The drive to the airport was horrible. I was sobbing the whole time. He was holding my hand and I was just sobbing... at the airport, my family had gone thru and I stayed behind to say my goodbyes with him... i was SERIOUSLY waiting for him to pull me into a long hug (at least!!!) i know a kiss was out the door, but in the end i got squat!!! ... he was almost in tears i could tell, but no hug or anything!!! i think we were holding hands (unbless i conveniently made that up in my head to not feel so bad) I told him, "What, no hug or anything?" and he tells me, "no there's too many people here and ur dad is right there"... i was too emotional and in shock that he didnt see me off the way i wanted (i was so disappointed!) he told me to hurry cuz my family was ahead of me... still shocked, i pulled my hand away from his and walked away... when i got home and called him to assure him we landed just fine, i told him how i couldnt believe he wouldn't hug me even... and he's like "its improper" ... i told him that in an airport ppl see each other off and no one is waiting around to see if the other is doing something "improper" ... later he sarcastically tells me, "fine, next time we'll makeout in front of everyone"... grr, he drove me crazy that day but whatever, i love him...LOL still like to bust his chops over that

HEHE, thats our story!!!

[meno-is-mine 37]

I definitely noticed staring in Egypt particularly on buses and trains. It was mostly younger kids doing it if I recall correctly. I wore very conservative clothing and was very quiet in public so I know it most likely wasn't what I was wearing or how I was behaving. I'm going to assume it was because I looked different and they were curious. It wasn't that type of impolite staring it was more like curious staring if that makes sense.

me and my husband were standing in the metro train once. it was super crowded so we were standing kinda close (our bodies weren't touching though) but apparently we looked too cozy cuz I looked over a couple of times and noticed many people were staring at us!!! i was like #######!!! lol

[Nasturtium 500]

Re: people staring - I never noticed that ppl were staring. I've been to China and the staring there was much more obvious than I noticed in morocco.

Staring was obvious in Jordan. Eventually, I figured out how to blend in and be invisible.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

I also initially met my husband in person, and at the time I had no idea that he would become my husband, so it wasn't like the Roberta Flack song crescendo-ing in the background. But before we were introduced, I remember when I first saw him when he walked into the office where I was and thinking he must be an international or an Israeli, because he had long hair (this is very unusual in Palestine.)

Later meetings, after we had established our relationship, were much more romantic. It's a long and grueling trip (usually involves about 18 hours of flying, sometimes a lengthy layover in Europe, and always an overnight stay in Jordan before setting out to cross the border the next morning. After all that, it takes the better part of the day to get across the border and navigate through the numerous checkpoints and closed/blocked roads while driving what should be like a 45-minute trip to Ramallah... so you're completely fried when you get there.

Anyway, I remember one time I had just walked through the Qalandia checkpoint (the big checkpoint outside Ramallah) and was scanning the crowds milling around without seeing him and was starting to wonder where he was, when suddenly I felt someone behind me just suddenly grab my hand. My head whipped around so fast like ####### ?! Of course it was him - he saw me first - ajnabiyya sticking out like a sore thumb... caught me totally by surprise. He said I held his hand so tight I almost broke it. He was quite daring and even gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, right in front of everybody . We got into a service (taxi van) but it had hardly any empty seats, so I found a place in the back with some ladies and he sat next to the driver. I was staring at him, like boring holes in the back of his head with laser beams coming from my eyes... sure enough, he felt it and turned right around to look at me. Sparks !

I didn't notice people staring at me very much, at least in the city - they are too used to seeing all sorts of internationals and journalists. You get a glance, and then they respectfully look away after perhaps a nod or a saba7 al khair. There was a little "looking" in the villages, but most people were careful to not be overt about it (especially men - most guarded their gaze pretty well.) Except the kids of course - they always stare at strangers. And of course his family wanted a good look at me.

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

I flew from Atlanta to Frankfurt, then there to Cairo. The plane in Frankfurt had an issue and we all had to get off after almost 2 hours of being on it waiting to figure out what was exacty wrong. I was tired as all get out and a hot mess literally with my hair since we didnt have any ac while we waited on the plane for 2 hours! I called Adam and told him I would be later than what was scheduled and he was waiting in Cairo already. I had told him I was going to be wearing bright green pants with a bright red shirt (so he couldnt miss me) lol

Finally made it to Egypt, got my bags & noticed that everyone was so helpful and wanted to bring my bags out. They all wanted money I noticed,bcz they were asking for just $1... I told many no no I got it, but I did let one guy bring it out the door of the airport.

I called Adam & told him I was heading outside. Went outside and didnt see him until like a 3rd bus and he stepped out and came towards me with a huge smile . I kept thinking in my head "No PDA, no pda!

He went to give me a greeting with a cheek kiss but I got scared from the NO PDA and I turned my head and he kissed my neck. That was awkward! lol He had told me he had a limo for me and then I find out its only something similar to a camry with ac. I told him wait til he sees a limo in the USA!

He had his sister & best friend with him and we headed from Cairo airport to Alex. His friend drove and Adam & I got to sit in the back seat. We had dinner at his grandparents house that night & thats where we all stayed the whole time i was there. I slept in the room with his mom & sister but had my own bed. He slept in his grandparents livingroom on a mattress on the floor so he wouldnt have to go all the way to his parents house.

I remember the first movie we watched together was Titanic. He turned to me and told me that people tell him he looks like Leonardo Dicaprio. I Laughed out Loud at him! We held hands almost every time we went out wherever we went. We did kiss but not in front of his family until on our wedding night when we had a celebration party with his family & his best friends family in the northern sea coast. Took pictures of us together and we did kiss for a picture. Everytime we would go walking in Montazah Garden with his best friend & his sister we would walk hand & hand and be 100 feet ahead not even paying attention we were with them. Even now when we go out and hold hands I'll tell him "Remember Montazah!?" We went swimming in Alex and I remember him holding me in the water. Such sweet memories! Im so in love with my husband & so thankful and blessed to have him forever!

Edited June 24, 2012 by ~PalmTreeGurl~

[abbi627 43]

I have really enjoyed reading all of your stories. And I am counting the days until I will have my own "first meeting". Of course I already have a feeling I know what will happen: I will freeze, not be able to speak, and/or trip and fall flat on my face LOL. But whatever happens I can not wait for August to get here!!!

[Mithra 1,185]

I wish you well and hope your first meeting is all that you imagined it to be minus the falling on your face. you're lucky you only have about two months to wait. I bought my ticket 5 months in advance the first time. the wait was crazy!

[abbi627 43]

I don't think I would make it through a 5 month wait. Some days I just want to jump in the Atlantic and start swimming in the general direction of Morocco LOL. Thank you all for the good wishes and for all of your stories. I have really enjoyed reading them all. And once I get there I will try to post and let everyone know I made it and let you know whether or not I fell on my face!

[Peace.... 281]

Well most here have seen the other person online before actually meeting in person, but not with us. We actually met eye to eye on my first visit. I know it sounds strange of chatting for months and never seeing the other person except through only pictures that we posted. Before I met Mohammed online, I had already purchased a ticket to morocco for a little getaway with some Moroccan girlfriends that live here in the states and they were goingt to be my guide to all the cool places to see the first few weeks. During my time of waiting for my trip, I asked some questions on the website where we met about places to stay in Casablanca, and this is how we began to talk. Mohammed was very kind and gave me all kinds of good advice and safety rules lol. I added Mohammed as a friend and a week passed by since I was online, and one night after logging on, I found a message on my page asking...are those really your eyes lolllllll. Mohammed was referring to the color of my eyes and if I wore contacts. This is how it all begin. Every other night we said hello and talked for hours and hours but he never asked could he see me live nor did I, we both were a bit shy I guess. After about two months of chatting, one night he asked if I would possibly have time to maybe see him while on my visit in morocco, I said with all hopes we can have some coffee together at one of the local coffee houses I have heard so much about. We agreed and then he said, can I see the person I am to meet on Skype? I said, nope, guess your gonna have to just wait another month since we waited this long. He agreed and I was impressed that he didn't push me into something I didn't feel comfortable with anyways.

After traveling around morocco and enjoying my time with some friends, I finally setteled into my room in Casablanca days prior to my departure. I called Mohammed and he was so surprised to hear my voice as he thought I already left morocco. I asked if we could meet this evening for coffee and his reply was yesssssss with so much excitement. I told him of my hotel location and he said I don't think I will be able to meet you there lol, I said why it's not as if your coming up to my room lol. He said, okay I will have them ring your room upon my arrival. Phone rang one hour later, butterflies start flying in my stomach, and front desk said ms.xxxx you have a visitor in the lobby. OMG I was a bundle of nerves to say the least as I got off the elevator and there he stood with a beautiful smile and I just melted. His first words were Wow as he looked into my eyes and said so nice to finally meet you. We left the hotel, went to have some coffee, I think I had at least 6 little glasses of coffee to just calm my nerves, then I got hyper and talked his ears off, and all he did was laugh at me and said this is why you sip the coffee and not drank it as if it was water.

We took a taxi to the beach, thought my life was over once the driver started driving, and Mohammed just giggled the whole way to the beach. Next day, met his family and said my goodbyes.

I left morocco feeling a bit sad and had wished we had met earlier in the weeks before. Once I got home, we talked via online and I had to see him again, so Skype it was until my next trip which was soon there afterwards and many more to follow.

Now married, we are just loving each day together as if it was the first day we met.

[Mithra 1,185]

I wouldn't say most since a lot of ppl met in person. Also, exchanging photos isn't much different than using webcams. Its still sharing what you look like online only not in real time. Personally, I felt more comfortable seeing my intended in real time because A. I knew that was really him (voice and face matched and all) and B. I don't feel safe putting a photo of myself out there like that. Just in case he turned out to be a creeper.

Edited June 26, 2012 by Mithra