Salaam from Houston, Texas

[Philomena 0]

Salaam Everyone,

Just thought I'd introduce us since we're new here at VisaJourney. I am happy to have discovered the MENA forum, as its always nice to have a community in which to share ideas and experiences related to the immigration process. I'm originally from Louisiana, but I live in Houston, Texas. My fiance is from Fes, Morocco. Here's a brief history/timeline:

July 22, 2006: Iysha has Shahada/Enters into Islam (on my 29th birthday Alhamdulillah!)

August 26, 2006: Driss and Iysha meet online

November 23, 2006: Driss and Iysha meet in Person for the first time in Morocco (I will never forget that big, warm, soul-quenching smile of his that greeted me at the train station!)

November 25, 2006: Driss Proposes to Iysha. (Thank You Allah!)

December 26, 2006-January 1, 2007: 2nd trip to Morocco

February 28, 2007: Mailed I-129F to Texas Service Center (transferred to California....for some reason)

March 2, 2007-March 16, 2007: 3rd trip to Morocco

March 9, 2007: NOA 1

Sorry about the drab black text color, but I can't seem to get the text font color button to work on my Macintosh!

I really enjoy reading the posts here; They are informative, inspirational at times, and so funny other times. InshaAllah I look forward to meeting others and sharing thoughts. Does anyone here hang out on the weekends at that hookah/shisha place Cafe Layal in Houston to listen to the live Arabic music?

Ma Salama,

iysha

[JODO 2]

Welcome to VJ! AND MENA

Edited April 3, 2007 by JODO

[doodlebug 3]

Assalam alaykum and welcome!!!!!

((((hugs)))))

What a cute couple you both make, alhumdulilah!!!! I'm from Boston but there are a few here from Texas who might know the hangout you're talking about. Wish there were places like that around here!! Good luck with the process!

[The_dip_sticks 0]

Welcome to VJ and our little world =0). Wishing a speedy journey!

[caybee 21]

There will be a Moroccan festival in Houston the first weekend in August, I believe. A bit far for us, but we're sure thinking about it.

Welcome to VJ, and best wishes for the rest of your journey.

[Aymerlu 3]

Welcome to VJ!

[brnidokiegurl 0]

Best Wishes

[amal 4]

Welcome to ME/NA! My family is getting ready to move to Houston here pretty soon. We are planning a VJ reunion at one of the Arabic restaurants once I've moved there. You should join us!!! Again WELCOME!!!

amal

[gonewiththewind 0]

welcome to VJ

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Wa alaikum assalam and welcome to the ME/NA corner ! Wishing you best of luck with your visa journey -- I'll add you to the cheerleading thread.

There are a lot of us in Texas -- I'm in San Antonio. A meet-up would be fun !

-MK

[cbd2cai 0]

Ahlan wa Sahlan!!

[mybackpages 0]

Iysha, Nice to see you here on the boards to talk to you again. I know Cafe Layal very well. Wonder if we have ever been there at teh same time?

As Mona said, there is a Morroccan Festivcal the first week in August in Houston- plans to be announced. I think everyone shold come to Houston and enjoy!

By the way- for others living near by- May 12 - there will be a mobile Moroccan consulate in Houston if there is something you need to take care of with them

[myfellah 0]

Welcome to VJ and good luck on your journey.

Doreen

[Visa4habibi! 0]

Wa alaikum assalam and welcome, Iysha! (((hugs)))

Funny thing, we share a birthday, plus my hubby's from Fes area. I've been to Fes a few times, think this time if I go (inshallah), we are staying at his other relatives house in Khemisset. I was hoping to avoid trip #5, but it's been 11 months since I've seen him last time and no good news from anywhere about him coming over.

So, tax return money will disappear pretty fast. Oh, well.

Good luck in your journey. Hope you've addressed the 'red flags' in your application (if you have any). There's a thread about them from yesterday and you can read all about them. Feel free to PM me or post your questions if you have any - I can't promise to reply, since I'm pretty sure I'd be out of here in about 2 weeks, but I still come here from time to time.

Tanya

[Philomena 0]

Walaikum Salaam,

Doodlebug: <<Fuzzie Wuzzie Hugs>> for your warm welcome and best wishes. You are so nice, MashAllah! I haven't been to Boston, but I have been to Vermont, and also I have a friend that lives in the Springfield, MA area. You are so lucky to have been able to file with the VSC; They are lightning fast;Subhan Allah.

The_Dip_Sticks: Thank you so much;Shukron. We are hoping for a speedy journey too, hopefully an interview by August, inshaAllah, when he'll be done with Law School.

Mona_Jamie: Thanks for the kindness. Oooooh, a Moroccan Fest in Houston in August? I am so, so there....

Aymerlu: Thanks for the welcome. Wow, what a beautiful henna photo. When I got henna done for the first time in November '06 to celebrate my engagement; I was thrilled....but the photo didn't come out! :-(

brnidokiegurl: Thanks for your best wishes; I laughed and laughed at the cow joke. Is it just me, or don't you just love that Arabic word for cow/cattle...."Baqarah"....oh it's music time.... somebody please break out the Bendir and beat the falafels out of that thing!

Amal: Thanks for the invite; I'd love to meet up with some "boardies" at one of the Arabic resturants in Houston. Have you heard of Dimassi's? I heard that they are really good and his daughter gave me a free buffet coupon but I haven't had time to try it yet. They have 3 locations, I think. The owner is a really nice guy from Jordan. I know some of his family, as aquaintances. Contact me when you come down, inshaAllah.

Just_waiting_for...: Thanks for the welcome; Cool Avatar. :-)

Wife_of_Mahmoud: JazakAllah Khair for adding me to the cheerleading thread! It's nice to know that there are so many others in Texas. Ditto....a meet-up would be fabulous. Would give us a platform upon which to build a local networking/support group, inshaAllah.

cbd2cai: Ahlan wa Sahlan Fiki! :-D

mybackpages: Thanks for the info. about the Mobile Moroccan Consulate. So you're a Layal Regular? Oh wow, maybe we have seen each other, lol! I've only been there twice though, with a friend mine who I used to work with. She is so much fun. Email me if you'll be there next Sunday....

Doreen: Thanks; We sure will need good luck, and Du'a!

Tanya: Wa Salaam Wa Rahma T'ullah! ((((fuzzies))))Thank you for the warm welcome. BarakAllah Fiki. Oh wow, we share a birthday....how uncanny! Fes is mesmerizing, isn't it? I love being in the mountains. If you go North to the middle atlas region, the air is so pure and the nature is amazing. Thanks for the advice about the red flags. I will read that thread. We are both a little antsy about the interview. He wants me to be there in person with him for the interview. Do they allow the petitioners inside? I am so sorry that it's been 11 months since you've seen your Habibi Dyalee. I can't imagine the emotional distress, but it's good that you're returning to him soon Alhamdulillah. Keep the faith, and don't give up. Sometimes that adversity fortifies your bond. Have you tried contacting your local congressman/woman for assistance? I read on this forum that it helps to write a letter sometimes.

Wow, you guys have really laid the couscous and chai on the table for us, thanks so much for everyone's hospitality here!

Ma Salama,

iysha