The Nomad Mum's Diary

By lindo - About Me - E-mail this page - Add to My Favorites - Add to Blog List - See other blogs in Family & Parenting

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Wit and wisdom from Arabic proverbs- family and marriage

About marriage: Better to be single for life than a widow for a month. For your husband: it is what you let him get used to that shapes him, for a son it is how you raise him. Men are like olives, they are not sweet unless pressed. Trusting a man is like trusting water to stay in a sieve. Walk (behind a casket) in a funeral but don’t get involved in arranged marriages. Propose on your daughter’s behalf not on your son’s ( seeking a good husband for your daughter is more important than finding a... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Shukran fellow Blogiteers

For ancient Arabs bliss required three things: water, greenery and a beautiful face. This painting is one of my earliest and it is called Blue Velvet. The green and blue are the water and greenery, and you, my blogging friends are the beautiful people that bring light to my existence with your creativity and kindness even though I do not know what you look like. God bless you and may your lives be filled with bliss and joy. Sign in to see full entry.

Light at the end of the tunnel

Hi everyone, thank you so much for your encouraging comments and your prayers, I feel so much better already. I went to a dermatologist and she prescribed some medicine that gave me instant relief. I have just swathed myself in insect repellent from head to toe hoping to have a bite-free night. My back feels much better so I should be in action in a couple of days’ time. Again, your kindness is what got me through this rough patch. Hugs and kisses to you all. Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Who said things can't get any worse?

I told you in my last post that I have a bug problem at the house, and the funny thing is that I am the only one who seems to be suffering from it. Adam slept by my side last night and when we woke up this morning I was covered in red inflamed bites while Adam had none. I had to examine my back in the mirror just to be sure that my mind (and skin) were not playing tricks on me. I itched and scratched all morning and all afternoon, as I would twist to reach the furthest parts of my back I... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, June 9, 2007

No rest for the wicked!

I am having a really bad week. Three days of domestic turbulence had left me emotionally, physically and mentally drained. On Friday I hurt my back while picking Adam out of the bathtub so now I cannot make the slightest move without screaming in pain. You would think that I would stay in bed till my back got better, but it is swarmed by small bugs that look like crawling sand particles. They had crawled through the window behind our bed from a pigeon’s nest outside in the balcony. Not only was... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, June 8, 2007

The Best Boozha

Lattakia is famous for its hot humid summers, the temperature may not be as high as it is in Aleppo and Damascus but here it feels like a steam bath because we are on the coast. April was a mixed bag of rain and heat, May was perfect: warm but with refreshing breezes. From now on, though, things will only get worse and soon stepping outside before 7 pm will be suicide. When summer is here the asphalt starts to reflect light like a mirror, the air feels heavy and a small shop in Hanano Street... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Bidwiyya (the Bedouin girl)

Sorry guys I won't be able to blog or comment much due to a domestic situation, but i'll do my best. Here is a painting by Abdel Razzag Al Rayyani entitled " the Bedouin girl". As the title suggests it shows the traditional costume of the Bedouines from Libya's western region. There is huge difference in dress and jewelry (namely in the use of silver instead of gold as well as the fabrics and the headdress). See you soon. Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

The Holi land

The “Suddarah” (a lady in formal Tripolitanian dress) is a sight to behold. From her embroidered chemise to the velvet waistcoat with silver piping and buttons that peek from underneath her starched Holi. The scarf that hold her hair back is of the same material of the Holi: striped silk with silver threads woven into it. She is decked in gold jewelry from head to toe, literally: the crown-like Shimbeer that sits atop her scarf is encrusted with pearls and precious stones, multiple necklaces... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, June 3, 2007

And speaking of weddings…..

As the first wedding I have attended as a family memeber here in Syria, I got to compare the way these two cultures tackle this important event. My sister-in-law’s wedding was very different from that of my Libyan cousins: it was smaller, easier to organize, it cost considerably less, and it wasn’t as much fun. I remember when my cousin Hannan got married, they were applying henna to her hands and feet and had her lying on her back with pillows under her arms and legs until the henna patterns... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, June 2, 2007

A typical Syrian wedding

Hello everyone. I would like to apologize for not posting much last week. Adam’s accident really freaked me out and I have not recovered fully from the scare. My sister-in-law’s wedding was on Thursday, a joyous occasion but not completely stress-free. She is the youngest in the family and the fifth sister to marry out of a total of six girls. The 6-months engagement was the usual roller coaster as the two families butted head over every single detail.There were mixed signals on whether this... Sign in to see full entry.

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