Ahhh, the Mall(s) and Ramez

As Salaam Alaikum my dear sisters~ I hope this finds you all in the best of health and eeman. So, I decided to just make a blog about being a Muslimah who by the Qadr of Allah was born in America and is now living here, in Qatar. Would you like to join me? My observations, my attempts, my learning lessons and good ol' rantings and ravings while trying to live in another country for The Sake of Allah? Well, if you would, come along now and I will try to share with you what goes on around me in between poopie diapers, screaming and crying, and good old fashion mayhem with 4 girls hanging on my abaya! Let us start at (probably not the best place) but the place where you almost HAVE to go, to go to the grocery store, THE MALL...



I'm going to, Insha Allah, break this down into categories, because yes, there is that much I took into my brain while out on I think 4 different exercions. Anyone who knows me, knows that I spend a lot of time when I was in America, in the car. AArgh, hated it!!! But, necessity to some extent with physical therapy, swimming therapy, dr.'s appointments and grocery shopping. I am so happy to report that thus far I have been out only about 4 or 5 times which I think is pretty good for approximately 3 weeks, considering I would usually go out that many times in one week in America!!! It is very nice here for one reason, if you dont want to go out you dont necessarily have too, need milk? Call the driver. Need bread? Call the driver (which by the way in our case his name is Muhammad) LOVIN' IT!!! Not having to absolutely tow 4 girls to the store for some yogurt? Yahhh!!!



Ok, so went to the mall 1. For groceries and 2. for Eid gifts.

Ok, when in AMreeca, I always wondered why they would always put the grocery store right next to the mall but not IN the mall. Really annoying when you realized you just ran out of wipes or diapers and you have to walk about 2 blocks outside in the parking lot to get to a store. Not here my friend!!! Some savvy business person rationalized, mall-store, store-mall. This person, in my opinion deserves some medal or something for this ease to the women. So here Carrefour is the WALMART of stores which is in the mall. Most things in ARabic and French, thats ok, food is food and yogurt by another name is still yogurt, right? While it takes me a little longer right now to find what I want, I am getting used to it. Have to convert everything in my unmathmatical brain from dollars to riyals, but its good for my brain I just divide or times 3 depending what I am trying to figure out and have an approximate which works for me.



Now, I will get into categories. Categories? Yes, because I have so many different observations in this short amount of time here thats what it will take me to remember what I want to say. So, if you want or have time, get coffee or tea, as you like and lets go to the mall/store and see what goes on!!! If you dont want to continue, delete and no hard feelings, eh?



POLITENESS IN THE STORES



REally doesnt exist amongst patrons, so dont expect it. In the old USA, (not as much anymore though) I would, even being covered and being the terrorist I am told that I look like, I would still get a 'excuse me' or pardon me'. Uhh, not here honey. Totally away from what my understanding of Islamic Etiquette is, but ok, maybe its just a given(?) I don't know, whatever. So ya, no niceties, except with the majority of employees--hold on here_-- GIVE YOU CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! CAn you believe it? I am 'madame' and in a lot of stores they will follow you to either hold or take your items up front for you. At first I was like, lady, why are you following me? Then when she offered to take my potential purchases to the register for me I almost hugged her! Alright, works for me. Another thing that is nice, you can kind of tell which owners may be religious by the silence (thats right, no blaring music!!!) in the store. I was actually in CArrefour and they were playing Ahmad Bakhtir, Dont let me go. rEally, I almost started crying, Nasheed in the store? Not Madonna? ALHAMDULLILAH!!! Actually, the girls and I were a shoe store here called "shoe citi" and a woman actually said, 'excuse me' ! You could of knocked me over with a feather!!! I felt like hugging her and kissing her, but she probably wouldnt have appreciated that too much, so I responded and smiled sooo big, only to realize that we were both wearing niqab and she couldn't see me smiling.

NANNY NANNY NANNY

As we are walkimg I see husband and wife strolling nonchalantly together, looking at whatever catches their attention in the store windows... with a caravan of strollers and children behind them. When I ask my MIL about this she explains to me that many families have 4 to 5 children at least and that for each child there is a nanny. Wha? Yes, it would be nice to walk calmly and socialize with my husband without constant interruption, but a nanny for each child? I guess if you got the money and dont mind someone else doing your work, well ok then... I personally couldn't do it, but that's just me...

ALL ARAB OR QATARI MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN PLEASE BEND OVER
While these major corporations in the US are crying about not having enough money are charging at a minimum double what we pay in the states for the same merchandise or knock off similars and the people are paying it just because it is 'western'. Ok, I know they dont have to buy it, but come on, its insulting to see the people taken advantage of in this way just because these corps. know the majority have money here so they are going to screw them out of as much of it as they can! It makes me think of The Prophet (SAWS) and his honesty in everything, but also in his business and how this rizq from Allah helped Khadija's business grow.

THE CAMEL'S HUMPS

And as we are out, and I am covered, black is better here. You don't see too much color with Abaya and some things I had purchased before coming that would have been totally acceptable in the states I wouldnt dare leave the house in here. So yes, I feel TOTALLY COMFORTABLE going out here. I flow into the sea of black abayas smoothly and function without a second glance, which is so refreshing and wonderful. As we are walking I notice that we are almost totally surrounded by what looks like the humps on a camel's back and immediately remember that this is one of the minor signs of the approaching Day of Judgement. They are everywhere!!!

BUMPER TO BUMPER

And a car wreck at every outing. Seriously, no seriously, I am thinking about sticking with a driver. I see plenty of women driving here and admire their braveness. I mean, I used to drive a taxi for crying out loud! Lived and drove in Boston and California, but I am sorry, they really really do not compare to what is called driving here. My BIL says they love 3 things in Qatar, roundabouts, making driving rules and then breaking driving rules. The rule is there are no rules and you GO!!! So if you have some road rage issues come on over my friend you will have plenty of people to go the rounds with here. My MIL told me that after the war the soldiers brought their wives and children here and, their families and so on so what once was maybe 10 cars on the road in a whole trip is like 10 cars passing you to get out of your driveway!

THE BRITISH ARE COMING AND YAHOOD AND EVERYONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER

Still trying to understand Why there is a Hardee's and Mcd's a mile from our house!? I mean, the food is soooo incredibly good here and you want to eat Hardee;s? I know there are a lot of Brits that come here to work, and Americans, but we have the yahood major restaraunts here buying not so great food and then they turn around and use the Muslims money to kill the Muslims? Somethin somethin somethin just ain;t right... we got Chili's, Fridays, DQ,Starbi---'s, oops, I mean Starbucks.. The infultration has begun.

and finally

SPIDERMAN AT THE MALL

Yes, I think I actually saw the real Spiderman at the mall. Did I tell you that I have an adorable 3 year old nephew here who LOVES Spiderman? Yes, he is 3. I want to make sure that you know that he is 3 and LOOOOVES him some Spiderman. Ok, so we are at the mall taking one of the girls to the bathroom for what seemed like the bizillionth time and out of the corner of my eye I see Spiderman. Confident, Swaggering up to the barista bar to get his coffee on. I didnt like look him but I caught a glimpse of him and made an immediate assessment that he knew he was the coolest guy in the place, that all onlookers eyes were on him because...he had on a leather coat with Spiderman on the back!!! A 20 or something year old with Spiderman on the back of his leather jacket. I chuckled to myself as we walked by thinking about my own son and how he wouldnt be caught ANYWHERE in a Spiderman jacket of ANY KIND. Ok, to each his own. So, as we have finished our shopping and going out to meet the driver something bright and unusual catches my eye in a row of motorcycles...Can you guess what it is? A SPIDERMAN MOTORCYCLE. Now, who do you think that belonged too? I am sorry, I could just hear the pick up line "Hey baby, want to come hang out a my place for awhile?" Ok, I know, sooo cheezy, but I couldn't help it...

Ok, done for now, its late and my littlest ones are finally asleep at 1 am! Yeah, not getting the sleep thing back on track AT ALL!!! BUt Alhamdullilah we are here and I am not complaining, I am finding out new things -like how to make a phone call= and just wanted to share with my girlies back in Sac and Mad what it is like for me, to live in a Muslim Country, Alhamdullilah!