The daily chronicle of my family as we embark on our quest to relocate from New York to Cairo... the impending journey to get there and the daily lives of myself, my husband and our four children... and other random thoughts while living in Cairo!

Looking to make contact with other Muslimahs who are like myself with small children living or will be living in a foreign country.

I invite you to share the experience with us as we try to make this happen!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Yeah... I know.... went missing again!


Salaam Alaikum everyone!

Yea.... I know.... it's been a LONG while but I've been incredibly busy with daily life and all my babies. And I've also found it much easier to jot a quick blurb on Facebook... with life being the way it is, I only have a quick sec to post something and keep moving!

But I must tell you, I've been pretty much up to date with info on the daily lives of some of the sisters here on Blogger since they post daily on Facebook as well: some have added new additions to their families, others have had their first arrival (MashaAllah!) while others are dealing with family issues and some are still battling their demons, psychologically speaking.

Egypt has improved immensely since my last post- I have basically surrounded myself with expats and I have 2 really good Egyptian friends so my inner circle is tight and I'm in a good place right now, Alhumdulillah. After all that initial drama, I finally have some relief, some peace of mind about my state of "being".... so overall, I feel like my old self again!

My Papito is 3 months old now- yes. Three months have flown by and the Naughty Princess and Big Papi started school the beginning of October but since this past Sunday, school has been shut down until December 1st (alledgely) since a few boys in the primary area have been diagnosed with swine flu... we're supposed to have a meeting next week at the school to discuss how we're to handle their work load while they're out.... so I guess we'll receive a complete lesson plan to follow until school resumes. Gotta keep them busy.... especially since both of them are doing exceptionally well, MashaAllah! :)

Planning a trip home, InshaAllah, while they're out- hopefully, I'll be successful in finding some decent fares- and I plan to use my frequent flyer points to purchase at least one ticket .... I gotta buy more than a few! Thank goodness, I only have taxes to pay on Little Papi and Papito!

My family and friends are eagerly awaiting the actual arrival news so I need to get crackin' with my ticket search.... and this is the start of the busy holiday season so tickets won't be cheap- but just landing in New York and being able to smell my city is worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY! Must haves when I get home: Junior's cheesecake from Brooklyn, a bacon & egg sandwich from Al-Noor halal deli on 4th Avenue in Brooklyn, a FEW containers of Haagen-Dazs (well, gotta make up for ALL those months I wanted and couldn't get it!), a Nathan's hot dog with some fries and a REAL Pepsi down in Coney Island, have some delectable orange beef with fried rice and yummy spring rolls from my favorite Chinese restaurant and consume enough pizza at my favorite spot, Gino's, to last me for a year...... LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL.... but I'm not kidding! And a visit to my nail salon for a SERIOUS manicure/pedicure and an elaborate hands, legs and feet henna job at my favorite Indian henna palace! NO ONE does it like this sista........ unless your name is Ashkumar (professional world reknown artist)!

Okay.... gotta run as it's lunch time for the rugrats.... and I'm waiting for the Olympic man to come service my washer/dryer for the 2nd day in a row: he checked it yesterday, it started to work with no problem.... as soon as he left, it had an error message! So much for expensive, state of the art machinery.... oy!

Everyone be good and safe.... take care of yourselves and remember to love each other... even if someone doesn't love you back!

14 comments:

Asiya said...

Great to finally hear from you Anisa! Glad to know your and your crew are doing well and adjusting to life here in Egypt mashaa Allaah. I'm still waiting to meet you sister...I saw some of your bath salts at the salon day here in Medinat Nasr a few weeks back. Mashaa Allaah that stuff smelled delicious!

Sorry to hear about the school closing, I'm dreading the day they send the notice home with our kids about their school!

I pray you have a safe trip home...eat some Haagen-Daz for me, lol!!! I love that stuff, lord knows I do, so I know how you feel.

Now you got me thinking about home foods...chicken wings and mumbo sauce....mmmm lip-smackin' good!

Empress Anisa said...

Ahh, yes- my smelly salts at the cafe! I haven't made it over there in a while but if you send me ur mobile or email, I will send you mine so we can hook up... did you have your hair done that say? Umm Layla and Umm Yamina are very good, MashaAllah!
Yeah, can't wait to touch that New York concrete.... let the food fest begin! (and about 10 pounds later.... lol)

HF said...

Just wanna say : LOVE YA!

Empress Anisa said...

Habayeb- I love you too, my sista! Hope all has been well with you and yours... <3 <3 <3

ModestJustice said...

Masha'Allah and congratulations on your newest addition! (I hadn't seen your August post) :DDDD
I totally thought you disappeared on us, but so glad to hear from you!
Take care sis, you AND your adorable children!

Empress Anisa said...

Modest: Yeah, kinda disappeared but I want to try to post something at least every 2 weeks, InshaAllah, we'll see how it goes!
Hope all has been well with you and yours.... hey, what ever happened with your friend- you know the one at school who was posting pics, non-Hijabi style? Did you ever speak to her about it? And what was the outcome?

Asiya said...

Anisa, I will send you my mobile inshaa Allaah, just need to poke around your blog to find your email addy :)

Yes I got my hair done that day mashaa Allaah. And yes we've got some talented hair dressers her in Egypt mashaa Allaah wal hamdu lillaah.

Michelle Therese said...

Three months! WOW! When our daughter was born last year it felt as if those first three months dragggggggged byyyyyyy... they were SO sleepless! And then she started to sleep through the night and oh what a relief haha!

So glad to hear you're doing well and you're finding your niche in Egypt!!

I'm due at the end of January with our twins. So exciting!!

Empress Anisa said...

Asiya: the email: cococherokeegirl@hotmail....and yes, MashaAllah, the hairdressers are good! Both sisters do my daughter's hair.... and it's definitely a blessing to have them here!

Coffee: the three months flew by! It's scary how quickly time is moving- before we know it, he'll be 1.... thank goodness, all my children from day 1 slept through the night. They would only wake on occasion to feed and right back to sleep! :)
January will be here soon... so, just how BIG is that belly???

The Gori Wife said...

Glad to hear everything is going well for you. We may cross paths in NY, you coming in and me going out! Oh and we just went through the swine flu in my own house and we're all fine. InshaAlah you guys stay clear of it, duas for you and your little ones.

Empress Anisa said...

Gori Wife: Well, I didn't make it to New York yet as of this post- the plan is to wait til after New Years since the ticket prices are crazy!!! I've sought but the prices were in the $6000 range so we can wait as I'm not unloading that kind of cash to board since it ain't an emergency.... a couple more weeks won't hurt.
Glad to hear all of you made it thru your swine flu episode... yes, please keep us all in your duas as we remember you in ours! <3

Aneesah said...

Machallah
when i came across your blog i started to laugh my name is Aneesah and im married to an Egyptian with two kids, Im thinking of relocating to Alex Egypt for the kids, also originally from Queens. I wanted to know where is the salon you go to for your henna in Ny I would love to check it out.

Francesca Najea Lujan said...

As-Salaamu-Alaikum,

Take me with you on your eating spree! I can't wait until you come home!

Love,

Najea

Empress Anisa said...

Aneesah: Give me a little time to find the sister's card and atcual address but it's located on Liberty Avenue in South Richmond Hill- I dunno if you're familiar with this area but it's right by JFK airport. I believe she's on Liberty and the nearest corner street is 127th- I get it and get back to you. It's funny when you live some where you don't pay attention to details- I just used to pull up to the block and jump out the car.... lol

Najea: My beautiful Hijabi Couture Queen! Yes, most def, you can accompany me on my eating spree!!! Gonna try to lose a couple of pounds now so I won't end up packing on too much extra weight from that good food, InshaAllah! We're looking at coming home sometime in January/February as the ticket prices now are ridiculous- $6K from Cairo to New York roundtrip right now.... so we'll wait til after the holidays. Looking forward to seeing you.... smooches