Immigration.

My husband and I will be going to New Orleans on October 4th. He has an immigration appointment on the 5th, and I’m his sponsor so I have to tag along. He has been in America on a worker’s visa for 7 years, so he has not been able to see his family for that long. The immigration officer will interview me and my husband, and he (or she) will ask us a series of questions, to determine if our marriage is a real marriage, which it is :-). Then, if everything goes well and we “pass”, it will take about a month after the interview for him to get his green card.

I am a naturalized citizen, and I feel blessed that I had to experience the immigration process in the United States. Otherwise, I do not think I would have appreciated my citizenship as much as I do now. It’s a long, complicated, annoying process, but totally worth it. My family migrated from Lebanon when I was a year old, so I had to wait until I was eighteen before I could apply for citizenship. One year abroad made me wait such a long time to become what I knew I always was—an American. I’m proud to say that my family and I all came to this country legally with green cards, because that doesn’t happen often. The only thing harder than the immigration process IN America, is the American immigration process over-seas, where you apply at the American embassies. Living here has been a blessing, because we have had better opportunities, and we are more financially stable than our family that is still in Lebanon.

In January, my husband and I will be going to Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Bombay, India. YAY! I am so excited. I have always loved traveling, but traveling with my husband is a whole new experience. I am happy we will get to travel together; it will be like a third honeymoon. Also, he has been to a lot more countries than I have, so traveling with him should be tons of fun. My husband grew up in Dubai, which means I couldn’t have picked a better person to go with. Since I am planning on living in Dubai after college, this is the visit that will either make or break my opinion of Dubai life. My in-laws are social people, and I’ve heard they enjoy going out a lot. I really hope I like it there.

Random Thoughts.

Ramadan is over, and I have 11 days of fasting to make up (check out Dana Bader’s blogger for information regarding Ramadan). It has not been hard to fast, but everyone in my family thought it would be, because it came during the hot August weather this year. In fact, it was the easiest Ramadan I can remember fasting.

Eid, the 3 day Muslim holiday, started this past Sunday; I spent it doing homework and working on a research paper. Then Monday and Tuesday I went to class. Fun, fun. However, my husband and I went to a friend’s house Sunday afternoon for a night-time bar b q. It was great. I was the only non-Indian at the whole get together, but I didn’t feel left out. My mother and sister are still having fun in Lebanon; I know they spent a nicer Eid than we did here. I love living in American and being Arab-American, but I just wish I could change the way Eid is celebrated here. To understand how I feel—Could you imagine celebrating Christmas in Saudi Arabia?

I feel sad being so far from my mom. My mother is my best friend, and I’m used to having her presence around. She’ll be coming home soon, so I can’t wait, and the only person more excited about her coming back is my husband. Good mother-in-law—son-in-law relationships are hard to find, and I feel blessed that my husband and my mom have a GREAT relationship.

It’s usually after I leave Lebanon that I miss it so much, and yet I hate Lebanon when I’m there. Blugh, the traffic is so horrible, and the weather is so hot, and in the winter, traffic is the same, only it is freezing cold weather. Then I remember the nice people that will bend over backwards to be “at your service”. Is it in their nature or is it the American dollar talking? Is it just me or does it seem like customer service has completely disappeared in Shreveport?

End of 4th week.

Well, the fourth week of school is coming to an end, but it seems like the work is never ending. I’m not slacking, but I feel like I am barely able to keep my head above water. I’m glad a month has elapsed since the first day at school; I’m ready for this semester to end. It has been a good week overall, Dana and I got our brief presentation for management out of the way. If feels so good to be done with it. I was so nervous though, my hands were shaking. I’m not sure why I was so nervous during the presentation; it was the 100th “speech” I’ve had to do in my life. I was so nervous, I forgot how to spell “discount” on the board. Yes—DISCOUNT! Oh God, how embarrassing.

I’ve been extra busy this semester. This month we opened a third kiosk in the mall, and it was probably a mistake. A mistake I’m hoping will pay off in the end—literally. Plus I probably shouldn’t have opened it in September, the slowest month of the year. There are advantages and disadvantages of having kiosks over in-line stores. In-line stores in the mall have to pay for their electricity and all maintenance to do with their stores. AC breaks down, too bad, you got to fix it. Toilet not flushing properly, too bad, you got to fix it. Ceiling leaks when it rains, too bad, it’s your responsibility to fix it. The in-line stores are also big, and they have to be filled up with more merchandise, so more money is invested in those stores. Kiosks are good for people who are looking to make money, but want to avoid the big investment. I was able to open my kiosks without borrowing a dime from the bank, or anyone else for that. Of course, I worked hard for five years and saved all the money I made. I didn’t have much of a social life, but I’m glad I had enough discipline to avoid spending money for temporary joy. Now I enjoy almost all of my days, I constantly go on trips. My husband and I go out about five times a week. About the only disadvantage I see having a kiosk versus and in-line store is that I don’t get the comfort of a private store. We have to use the mall bathrooms, well I don’t have to, I know a lot of people in the mall, and I just go use the bathrooms in their in-lines. Also, I pay higher rent than in-lines.

Being in the retail business, I’m excited about the holidays coming up. I, obviously, like the holidays because customers are spending more money, and they aren’t hassling me about “what’s the best you can do on the price?” Also, the mall is full of people during Christmas. I love seeing a lot of people walking in the mall. I’m in the mall as I write this, and it is so depressing to see the mall dead. It seems like all the money we make during Christmas goes on rent, which triples during November and December, and on taxes in January. Plus I’m a cash paying LSUS student, so I also have spring’s tuition. Because of the expenses, we don’t save anything from the money we make during the holidays. Hopefully this year will be different.

2nd week of school.

Its the start of the second week of school. I have to admit that for a Monday it hasn't been so bad. I'm just on a break between classes, one more class and I am done with school for a day. However, I won't be done with schoolwork any time soon. I plan to go sit in those clostrophobic little rooms in the library so that I can concentrate.

Ugh. Last week was really hard for the first week of classes. I have so many "active" classes, you know, the ones that require way too much energy from you. My MADM210 class feels like a 400 level class, the professor has us packed down with work. Absolutely no room to breathe. Small (and I mean small) overview of the course:

A) Interview of business professional, then writing a paper about it.
B) Creating a career portfolio--resume, recommendation, and participation in a mock-interview.
C) Self-assessment memo- self-evaluation, give the reader a complete picture of your contribution to class discussions..etc.. (Talk about bragging rights).
D) Individual presentation to the class. (I'm having a panic attack already), and aparently we'll do case presentations throughout the semester.
E) Business research Term Project-- 6 page single spaced paper, with a minimum of 12 sources. Then an oral presentation.

Now this list does not include the quizes we will have often, nor the moodle assignments we have due every Friday. I know everything in that class is to help us in the business world, and don't get me wrong, I appreciate it 200%, but I feel this should be a 2-part course, maybe a 210 and 220! I'm getting a headache just thinking about everything I have to do for just ONE of my classes. I guess this is growing up.

I think I am in desperate need for some prayer :-)

Get Outta My Head!

I don't know why.... but I have that freaky phrase from The Silence of the Lambs stuck in my head. "It rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again".

Close Call.

When someone converts to Islam, they are allowed to keep their name as long as it is not offensive to the oneness of God (the basic belief of Muslims). I was born Muslim, so I didn't think I would ever have that problem. While I was researching the meaning of my name for the diagnostic essay for English, I came across a website that said Nivine meant "the saint worshiper".

I looked for two days for another website and in baby name books for a different meaning to my name. I found nothing. I was sad, and I was stressed. If I could not find another definition, I mean a real interpretation, I would have to change my name. I was almost in tears. I couldn't, and still can not, imagine being Nivine one day and then being Samantha, Renee, or Ruth the next. It would be as though I have lost a sense of my existence, and not to mention all the paperwork I would have to fill out to change my name.

I gave up hope, then I started to look at various websites to find another "stand-out" name, one I wouldn't have to change later. My sister, Fatima, found an Arabic baby name website for me. I scrolled down to the "N" section; I figured I might as well find another name that starts with an "N".

I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT! THERE IT WAS! As I read: " Nivine-- originated from the word Nivea, meaning snow-while like the moon", I felt this overwhelming joy. It had to have been the happiest day of my life! I never realized how attached I am to my name, until I lived through this experience. This is proof that we do take the small thing in our life for granted.