My pro list for living in Amman

My kids will learn Arabic.

My Arabic will improve

My kids will learn more hands on Arabic 3adat

I will have Arabic neighbours, who I will say hi and hello, come over for coffee. A lot better than my neighbours here, not even one damned hello.

I might go to UAE and meet my cousins whom I have not seen since I left Lebanon in 1986.

I will travel to Lebanon and see my extended family that I have not seen since 1993.

I’ll go to Egypt and visit with my favourite hubby’s aunt. She should be in Canada next month, but I probably will not see herL

My kids will get to spend time with their father’s family.

My mother in law will get to see her baby’s kids whenever she wants to in that time. Hubby left Kuwait when he was 17, and since then he has not lived close to his family. He was in Germany for 14years and has been in Canada for the past 10years.

My kids will have Arab friends for sure.

I will be able to eat fast Arabic foods whenever I want. We will not have to go to MacDonald’s when we need to eat something quick. MacDonald’s in Amman does not have grilled cheese sandwich with the kids’ meal, and their MCchicken sandwich sucks! So not worth the 400calories! So my kids will not want to go and I will not want to either.

If I stay in Amman for the whole winter, I will not see snow for a whole year! But knowing my luck, Amman will have a record snow fall for this coming winter.

Winter will be cold, but it will not be –30 feels like –45 degrees Celsius cold. So I will not shatter my teeth whenever I step out.

I will be able to wear any pair of shoes I want in the winter, not only the ones that have gaps and designs at the bottom to so I will not slip on ice and snow.

I will get to meet some of the bloggers in Amman.

Ok I guess that is it; does anyone have anything else to add to my pro Amman list? I have a cons list as well; I will post it when I am ready to type it out.

Update

Summer had some good pros to add that are important to me too especially the maid one and the food delivery since we all know by now, I am not the best cook and I do not like cooking:

You can get a live in maid in Amman that will cost you about $200 a month and will do all the housework for you and maybe baby sit occasionally!

You can get food delivery to your home anytime you want other than pizza!

You can cater all you want if you have unplanned visitors, it does happen in Amman!! and you do not have to slave in the kitchen cooking for hours in case you plan to invite anyone for lunch or dinner! And remember, even if you cook, you will have the live in maid to clean after all the mess you make!

You can get kusa and small eggplants that is already cored and ready for stuffing! But you will have the maid to core it for you!

You can get mulukhyya that is already prepared for cooking; you might have to cut it if you like it na3meh instead of wara2! (althoug I get the frozen na3meh one here and it not bad)

You can get fresh Araby bread daily...anytime of the day! ( a big plus, since we all know how I had to drive all the way to Edmonton to buy some Araby bread!)

The little ways men can be annoying…

This post is more specifically about the little ways hubby can be annoying.

Few days ago I went to the video store to rent Pride and Prejudice. I took Ziad with me and of course he has to rent a video too. He chose Dr. Seuss’s Green eggs and ham. Does anyone see anything wrong with the movie title??

HAM!!! He had a problem with the word HAM! Sometimes for such a smart and open-minded man, hubby really surprises me.

Seriously to all the Muslim readers, do you have a problem with a video that mentions the word ham??

This is not the first time this issue about pigs came up. Whenever I get the kids books about farm animals, he starts with the sho hada, leesh jaybi hada lektab feyo sowar khanzeer?

For a while when he was younger, Ziad was very much into Pooh bear, so his room was decorated with pooh bear and friends items. He had huge stickers on the wall, and of course there were few with piglet on them. Piglet does not even look like a pig; he actually demanded I take them down. That did not happen of course, because that was a very silly request and eventually he forgot about them. I think it was one of his I just got up, and do not have caffeine and tobacco in my system so I will say whatever I want moments.

Ya3ni 3ana jad, this is so annoying! Allah forbad us from eating. He did not ask not to look at the animal and learn about it.

Ziad knows that we are Muslims and therefore we do not eat pork. I explained to him that Allah has asked us not to eat it, because pigs eat garbage and other yucky stuff. So it will make us sick if we eat it. Short and symbol, without the yucky yucky crab hubby was trying to pull. He now knows not to eat pork and to always ask if he is served meat. I do not have to ban picture, movies or anything with pigs to enforce the point.He is so cute; whenever they are giving out sample foods at Costco or Sobeys he always asks them “does this have pork? I cannot eat pork.”

Ya3ni seriously, does hubby think that if our kids watch charlotte’s web they will think yummy this pig looks delicious, I want to eat him?

This is another way of how I am not Arab enough. There is no way a woman who lived in the mideast all her life would allow pictures, movies, books of pigs into her house. Or so he says!

But really if we are going to get be so technical it means that lions, tigers and all the meat eating animals should be banned from our home, because we are forbidden from eating them as well. So why stop at the pig?

I admit, I was raised to be grossed out by pigs; I cannot look at something that has pork without being disgusted. But now I think it was very silly to raise kids hating an animal because we are forbidden from eating it. It is one of Allah’s creatures.

Off to Amman we go, to Amman we go, maybe?

This morning I was having a weird dream, I did some shopping, and other stuff and then I look over and I see a blazing fire in an unfinished basement. Not sure where, I am just hoping it is not my beautiful house in Toronto. Before I could find out where I was, I wake up to hubby talking to his sister on the phone. It was 4:00 am Saskatoon time what was he doing up so early? Damn, I wanted to go back to sleep and finish my dream, it was a nice dream, except for the unknown blazing fire, ok maybe it was a good thing I woke up, I hate fires.

So now we have found a place to live in Amman. It is not in the same building my mother in law lives in, but in the building hubby’s sisters live in. That is actually better, because then I can be without a car for a while. Did I mention how much I am prettified of driving in Amman? No stop signs, dowars, very little parking, uggh the list goes on and on…did I mention the crazy drivers and the so much honking and the no where to park?

This building is so much nicer and more mratab and I like the area better, and it is not off a main street. It is close to Amman mall, and there is lots of shopping close by. And did I mention that I could get rides from my sister in law and her kids when I need to so I might not have to drive in Amman, yeah OK I know I mentioned that, but it is worth mentioning again. I do not mind taking a taxi, they are so freak in cheap, and I will not have to drive or park in Amman.OK fine I do hate taking taxis and I love my car, I loooooooooooooooove my car, yes I really really do love my car, a big mwaaaaaaaaaah and a hug to my baby. But I love my car in Canada, where driving is actually a peaceful relaxing experience. When I need to relax I hop in my car and drive for hours, I love driving on the highway when it is not busy especially on nice summer days; hubby and I have our best conversations while driving, this is why we love road trips.

Seriously though is it possible to live in Amman without driving?? I am having nightmares about this! I do not want to drive in Amman!! But I cannot live without a car! I love the freedom of just hopping in the car and going wherever you want. And really I could be there for three to six months max, I very much doubt that we will be able to stay for the whole year. Not that I will not like living in Amman, I am sure I am going to love it. BUT, there is no way hubby will be able to tolerate us being so far more than that. So it will not be worth it to buy a car, for that little time.

So yay, I guess we are going to live in Amman, maybe! And damn it, I do not want to go there fat, so I gotta hussle up and lose those stupid winter 10lb, wish me luck!

Annoying People

I just got off the phone with my friend. She has been married for 11 months; she got married last June. We are chitchatting and she tells me that the inevitable has already started. She is already being asked about when she and her husband will start a family. I am not sure it is not this bad, but she says wherever she goes, weddings, mosques, friends and family gathering she is asked when they will have a little nono. They have not even celebrated their first year anniversary yet for god’s sake, khalas leave them alone!

I would understand family member wanting grandkids, nieces, nephews, cousins, but to strangers, really what the heck is in it for you? And really, you do not know, maybe they are trying and it is not working, so why make them feel worse about it??

I am sure it is just an Arab thing, I’ve never heard any of none Arab friends complaining about this! Ok maybe it not just an Arab thing, I am sure the are other cultures who nag about this as well..

I remember going through this and OMG was it ever annoying. Hubby and I decided to wait for at least one year before having children. We really wanted to get to know each other better, and to do fun things together. It was important especially for me, as I come from a somewhat strict family and I was not allowed to do lots of things. So hubby and I got to lots of fun stuff. We travelled a lot, we partied, and did what couples only did, we had lots of fun and I am glad we waited.

In those 3.5years before we got pregnant at every gathering I had to hear about it, some even suggested I see a doctor about it. We were working on preventing pregnancy, I do not know if we do have fertility problems or not, but for some it is hard to understand that not everyone get married and they start working on having kids from the first day. Ufff!

It was especially hard for my in-laws. Every week my mother in law would call and ask, do you have anything on the way yet? She said just try to have a baby now, jarbo 7alkom, and then wait to have another baby. Hmmmmmmmm wouldn’t that kind of defeat the purpose? Once you have one, it is not different than having 2 or 3 really. Apparently my mother in law was being tortured more than I was by family in Syria, making her feel bad, that maybe her son or his wife are not fertile, which alhamdoullah was not the case, actually we had our first son the first time we spontaneously said what the heck, lets try and see, and with our second son the month we decided to get pregnant it happened.

As much I love my kids, I am glad we waited those years. It was so much fun doing all those adult things. Now when we do things it is more kids geared, and forgot about spontaneous road trips, which hubby and I are famous for. One minute we would be driving around Toronto, and in few hours we are in Montreal or few hours away from home in northern Ontario. Now there is no way we could do that. Our trips have to be planned with kids’ entertainment here and there.

So now my poor friend has to endure this, and the do not have an plans to get pregnant soon. Of course it will not stop after the first baby, the minute the baby is born, starts the so when are you planning on having a second, do not wait too long, have them all together, blah blah blah..then the second baby comes, and they start asking about the third and so on. Ya3ni 3an jad, I do not understand what it is to them, why can’t they just mind their own business? I am at the when are you going to have a third baby stage, and I am being scolded for waiting too long, OMG my baby turns three in July and I still do not have a third, what am waiting for, until he turns five, maybe sho feeha ya3ni?

Eyes

After getting Lazik a month ago one of my eyes was red. Not normal eye red but blood in the eye red, I know ewwwwwwwwwww! It had to happen to me, ya3ni five other people had the surgery at the same time, and their eyes came out white but not mine. Anyways alhamdoullah, it did not hurt; it just looked freaky! Slowly the redness went down shwai shwai and now a month later my eye is as white as white milk? Well, with the brownish circle in the middle of course.

One day I stupidly researched the red in the eye after online. Note to self, never ever search online for medical stuff! There was a question posted about the flab getting dislodged :o That freaked me out; I did not even read the answer. When I went to see my eye doctor (who is a hottie!) to check that everything is in order with my eyes I asked him about this.

Me: I was reading on line that the flab might get dislodged, is that true?

Doc: well it is very rare, I’ve only seen it happening twice, but it was caused by a sever trauma to the eye, one guy was playing hockey and the hockey buck hit his eye, and he other had something to do with a dog’s nose

Me: *in shock* so it is true!

I went home and I was super paranoid, no one was allowed near my eyes. So the next week I went in to the my doctor again to check my eyes and I aske him about this again

Me: so let’s say the something happens and the flab does get dislodged, how does it look like, so I know what to look for.

Doc: *annoyed* the flab is stuck to your eye, it will not come off, it is stuck there, for it to come out you have to get a knife and cut it!

Me: o ok, so if someone accidentally hit my eye, it will not come off.

Doc: No it will not, it is stuck to your eye.

Me: OK, now that is the answer I am looking for, thank you

Well why did he not just give me this answer the week before, making me all paranoid. I am trying not to think about. And well I am safe, I do not play hockey and from now on will never go to a hockey game (unless my sons decide to play it, but by then I’ll be over this flab dislodging paranoia inshallah). I do not own a dog, and I am terrified of dogs so no dog’s nose is coming near my eyes or me.
:o)

Taxes all done!!!

yippy...I can sleep tonight!!!! It only took two days. I have not filed them yet, I want to check and make sure everything is ok. I will file then on the weekend so hubby can look them over and check if he is satisfied with his return. We put lots in RRSP's this year, so our tax to be paid is not heat attacky!:) The GST is a bit high, but we paid throughout the year so it is not too bad.

I feel bad though, I could not work on taxes at night because my pc is in the bedroom, and lately the whole family has been sleeping on my bed, so I do not want to wake the kids up. So for the past 2 days I have neglected my kids like crazy. I did not read to them at all, no hullaboloo games, I did not help my 2.5yo with the puzzles, but the az3ar suprised me and he did then on his own, and even though the weather was nice we did not make it to the park or the gym. So the kids are bored and im feeling fat, but it was all worth it. Taxes for 2006 are done!!! I will start 2007's in March next year, damned procrastination! I probably will not start then untill after mid April like I do everyear, but hey this time they are done and ready to go April 17th, a big improvment than the previous year's April 28.

phew, a huge weight off my chest. I can sleep tonight! Ok fine, so I was not losing sleep over it, but you know what a mean.

Arab generosity ??

Why why do Arab men have to do this?? Whenever we go out to dinner or coffee with our friends at the end of our stay hubby and friend’s hubby have to fight over who pays. OMG it is the most annoying thing. Same thing when hubby goes out with any of his friends. Can they not just make a schedule and decide who will pay each time before hand and spare themselves and others the hassle? This is why I love going out with my Canadian friends, unless someone is inviting the other to celebrate something, everyone pays for what they ordered, no hassle, no embarrassment khalas nice and simple, no one owes anyone anything.

One of the things that make me not Arab enough according to someone is the fact that when I have guests I offer them food, drinks and if they refuse I do not push. Ok you do not want it fine. I am not a mind reader; I do not if they are refusing to take what I am offering because they are shy or whatever, when they really do want it. When I invite people for dinner, I say tfadalo and I do not watch if people are filling their plates to the max or how much they eat and I do not push them to eat more. I invited them to eat, so they should, the food is there and plentiful why do I have to keep on bugging them to eat? Ya3ni am I to suppose to assume they are mest7yeen?

I hate it when people do that; I have been forced to eat more than I need so many times at friends’ houses. Khalas when I am done eating, I’m done, I did not stop eating before I was full in hopes that host is going to ask me to eat more. Wala mani mest7eyi, I’m just full, and then I have to put some more in my plate and force it down my throat, ya3ni lasho kol hadi leglabeh?

The other when we went to Edmonton, seeing how we do not have any Arabic stores in Saskatoon, I brought out friends some Araby bread and some stuff they requested. Hubby did not want to take any money from them. One friend was ok with and was persuaded with just few la khalas mish benatna and he took his stuff and thanked us, his wife called and thanked me for the gebna roomy she has been craving for a while. It is not big deal. The other friend would not accept it, hubby told him la khalas mish benatna, blah blah and he insisted but he did have cash. The next morning his wife calls me and I can tell that they have had a fight over this, and eventually she came over and brought $30. Their stuff cost $24.5, so now I have to give her back $5.5. Anyways, hubby was annoying with this, khalas some people do no like this, so after the third no I have to pay you take the money and end it. And our friend was even more annoying; khalas if you feel so strongly about it you can pay us back in a different way. Next time you go to Calgary or Edmonton just get us some stuff, or next time we see you get a small toy for the boys, anything. Bas ya3ni it should not be a big deal.

It is much easier dealing with this matter with our Canadian friends. No mish benatna wala bateekh and no wasting time arguing about paying. If I owe my friend a quarter I give it back to him/her and he will take it without no it is ok crap. And when someone at the office goes for a timmy’s coffee trip they collect money before leaving, no I pay now, you pay later crap everything is out in the open. Makes life so much easier!