Dubai

Ahmed has been in Dubai over a week now, I'm so so so happy for this opportunity for him. It makes me happy that he can see another way of life now and know the world outside of Egypt, he finally understands my comparisons to American quality and standards as well as what its like to be in a place that spoils you hehe.

He really loves it there so perhaps one day we will move, I know the future holds lots of travel and new places for us so maybe it will be one place we experience.

His days are so hard early morning gym sessions, tanning by the pool and skiing all day hahaha really though the skiing is physically taxing but he takes it like a pro. When he returns to Egypt he will be an instructor as well as on Ski Patrol providing medical help during an emergency. I love that for him because it suits his nature he loves healing and helping people. I miss him terribly but 50 more days until he returns.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

We went to the ministry so I can obtain my three year residence stamp, by 8:30 am it was busy and hectic as usual. I love walking through there and seeing the cultural fusion.  Africans like Sudanese, Asians, Europeans, Americans, Various middle eastern countries represented like Syria (political refugees) Palestine (political refugees) Lebanon, Algeria, Morocco and more. So many different languages and varying fashion dashikis, kufi caps and Yoruba hats galore. After visiting several various windows and getting stamps we have to visit another government branch in our local area to complete the residence stamp so we will resume once the weekend is finished.

While waiting I starting chatting with a certainly nervous and out of place girl from America named Delta, it turned out shes married and in the process of getting her residence stamp. She just flew in yesterday from Oklahoma and Egypt has her on edge and unsure. They will be living in Alex. I spent sometime advising her and giving her words of wisdom regarding Egypt. Little tips and tricks that have helped me and explained that her feelings are typical for the west to east lifestyle adjustment. I gave her my email to keep in touch.

After we finished we walked behind the Egyptian museum to the microbus station and took a ride down the Nile Corniche. I love riding along this route because you are directly next to the Nile and you see lovely old architecture from the days of King Farouk as well as parts of the  Nile that allow me to imagine what the days of the Pharaohs looked like, how wild--lush and green the land was.
The reason for this route is because we were heading to the Chalet that Rehaims husband was gifted for the day from the factory he works for. It was a really love two story place, spiral staircase two bedrooms with a balcony that looks directly at the Nile river. There's a large community pool for everyone to swim in, and swim we did for hours. Ahmed doing his random flips and tricks into the water. He ran into an old student from the PKE giza branch while there. I was happy to swim and lazy in the water. I have missed swimming so much. One thing I noticed though was most of the people in the pool could not swim, the pool edges and shallow side were crowded with bodies of woman, children and a few men splashing about, laughing, being silly and genuinely having a good time!

                                                                 Me lol

                                                     View from the balcony

                                                         Zoro still napping lol

 My favorite part after swimming, laying in the lovely air conditioned room, looking out at the Nile as we drifted off to a nap. We woke up had a bit to eat, went and sat outside on the edge other river watching fireworks and party boats zoom by.It was a great day overall!

Nana

Today is one of those days of nostalgia, I miss my grandmother something terrible. She passed away a little over three years ago. She was in her early 70's seemingly good health and was attending college for early childhood education.  She raised me, the only mother I ever truly know. The only comfort in a (pardon my language) fucked up family situation.

I wish she could have seen what has happened in the last three years, see the person that i've evolved into. I hope she would be proud. I lost 60lbs, I became motivated and disciplined, I found love, I move abroad (a long time dream of mine) and now a baby on the way. I wish so much for her to be able to meet our child and hold them like her other grandchildren and great grandchild before.

I wish to hear her voice and listen to her words of advice on giving birth and childrearing and be able to ask her details about my birth story. Everything happens as it's meant to, I know this. I just miss you Nana and I'm thinking about you. I hope you are at peace <3

Our little bellpepper!

Sooo, it's finally time to announce our biggest surprise of 2016 for my lovely husband and I.
                                     I'm pregnant!! 

                                                   This is from our 11th week visit

 Today marks my 18th week, we are both excited and I'm so scared! Being first time parents and in a foreign country has definitely added to it but I've realized I must be open to the experience. Babies are big business here. Egypt has one of the fastest growing populations and woman have been birthing since the beginning of time so this gives me confidence. I have Ahmed as my rock, he's so easy with all of this trusting and knowing everything will be great.

I visited my OBGYN last week in the hopes the sonogram would tell us the sex but alas the babies legs were close and he or she refused to show us so hopefully our next visit will reveal the gender....but I still might keep it a secret for people and do a baby pool.

It's such an amazing thing to see the baby moving around in the sonogram. My first visit at 9 weeks I cried when I saw it...like everything became so so real. It's amazing what the human body is capable of and how this process happens with little to no intervention from people like no matter what it will happen as it wants, It's humbling and inspiring.

 wish us luck! <3

Busy Busy!

We've spent the past 4 days in Giza at Mohammad Tareks (DH's cousin), looking at flats in 6th October, exploring the city and eating lots of delicious food.  We have picked our flat, the first one we looked at with the open view. Ahmed called the real estate company and asked them to hold it for us, so he can go in and sign the paperwork for it. I'm super excited but also know the work begins once we sign the papers. Ahmed will be in Dubai soon so while he is gone I will start painting the bedrooms and accent wall in the living room. I want it to be so cozy for Ahmed when he returns because I know he will be launched into his work immediately. The Mall opens the beginning of September and I know it will be nonstop through the next few months.

We took Rania (DH's sister) to have her first hookah session, she asked about doing it a few days before and 6th October has a really lovely outdoor hookah lounge with comfy seats, dancing lights and great juices/ice creams.  They shared peach shisha and smelled oh so delightful. She liked it and was getting spacey and hilarious but she smoked too much and didn't love it anymore. I don't think she will be doing it again. It was a good time though!
I love the downtown area there are lots of shops and cafes, its super easy to walk and there's a beautiful grand Mosque. It was so vibrant while we were there, Ramadan puts people in such a happy mood and lots of good energy. Families and friends out walking, talking, laughing and just enjoying the beauty of life.


I had my first driving experience! I've been super nervous about doing it here because traffic is insane but I've been studying the ebb and flow for the 5 months I've been here. I feel much more confident with highway driving verses the city because of the level of congestion and tight spaces. I drove from the outskirts of the downtown to the highway. It was pretty natural feeling, I have to get used to the feeling of always paying attention for speed bumps. They are all over the roads and not colored to be visible. It was easy and I had no problems, we will see what city driving brings 0_0 lol

 MT directed me where to go and we ended up at a random patch of desert just outside of the city. I parked and we headed into the desert where a lone random mini mountain was. We climbed to the top and were provided with a beautiful view of the city lights. I loved it the air was so clean, the view perfect and the energy was relaxing. Ahmed and I sat talking about our future and making plans. We are both excited for what is to come...its been a heck of a ride the past two years and 2016 has brought the biggest of surprises ;)
After 30 or 40 minutes a random man in a galabya arrived mysteriously in the desert and walked up the mountain where we were. Ahmed told me he is an Arabian bedouin and he makes his home anywhere he wishes. He can happily live at this place with ease and comfort. I love that so much. We headed out to leave him to his peace and headed back to Giza.I love driving back into Giza and seeing the pyramids, they loom out where ever you go. Megaliths to the ancient world, mysterious and powerful.

At some point during our time we headed to The Mall of Arabia and walked around it. Ahmed needed to get some things to prepare for his trip and I had a little slice of home while there. Cold Stone Creamery...my love! it makes me happy to share these experiences with him. The man who prepared my ice cream put on quite a show tossing the ice cream ball into the air, flipping it around, catching it with different scoops. I haven't had a show like that in the states every so 5 stars sir!

Through exploring we were able to find some really great affordable home good stores to furnish our flat with.  I need to make a list soon to start preparing. I'm so ready and excited to move! I just need an internet job please God send me the right one. I need that cash flow to build up savings and prepare for the future. It's okay I know everything will come together as its supposed to and the right job will manifest.

Trust, Focus, Patience and then reward.

<3

Prickly Pear!

My latest obsession has been prickly pear, its widely sold by street vendors between 1-2 egp per oval ball. It's delicious street temperature or chilled. The vendor cuts off the top then proceeds to make a long slit down the side then across the fruit, essentially peeling it with less then three small swipes of the knife.

It's very reminiscent for me of aloe which I LOVE in drink form. I chop mine up to smaller pieces and mix it with a fruit juice, the one of preference has been pomegranate. I let my concoction sit in the fridge for an hour or so for the flavors to mingle and then I proceed to drink it all in 1 minute haha not really but I've learned to make big batches.

There are many benefits to the pear.  "Apart from the unusual name, appearance, and origins of this fruit, it also has a very unique composition of nutrients, including high levels of vitamin C, B-family vitamins, magnesium, potassium, calcium, copper, and dietary fiber. In terms of organic compounds, prickly pears have high levels of flavonoids, polyphenols, and betalains, all of which have a positive impact on human health."

If you have an opportunity give it a whirl!