Reflections in Riyadh

Alhamdulillah, after one month I finally got hold of an internet connection again, but not at home. Well, things here, as we quickly find out, don't get done as soon as we'd like it to be. We are now in Jeddah again as Habibi has work to do, and since schools are closed for OPEC meetings in Riyadh, we could tag along.

Since the last time I blogged, we are now settled in a decent place we could call home. We moved on the night of Eid, and was still shopping for our bedroom sets that night when it (eid) was announced. Our living and dining room furnitures only came 2 weeks later and now, we are good to hang out in Riyadh for the next few years. We're not sure either if this is IT or perhaps we will move to another bigger compound next year if there is availability. Villas in compounds in Riyadh are as rare as belacan these days. Alhamdulillah, I have great neighbours in our small compound of 6 individual villas. Only 5 are occupied at the moment but one of them is almost technically non-existent as the couple seems to be shuttling around the world and their house in Cyprus. My next door neighbour is a very chirpy interesting and beautiful Lebanese lady and her family who also like me, just came to Riyadh. Although Nihad has lived here before, it is still hard for her to adapt to life here with her children. The old german man, Hans who lives opposite us comes over often for a cup of coffee with Nihad in the morning and shares her passion for playing piano. I get a lot of inspiration from my new friend/neighbour Nihad who is always bubbly and optimistic. We talked about everything and we used our sons who happened to be of the same age, as an excuse to sit at the front porch and chat. We invited all the neighbours over to our place just last week and had a great time getting to know each other and the men exchanging opinions about working in Riyadh.

Just yesterday, I had a brilliant idea that I'd like to work on during my time here in Riyadh. Of course aside from my husband, Nihad is my new confidante who gives me confidence and ideas to work on my new little project. Afterall, I took up her advice about making money here because as she puts it..."If you have something or a skill to sell, you can make money here". SO why not... I thought. I promise I will talk more about the project once it becomes more than just an idea.

I've also seen positive changes in myself since moving here. No longer depressed, I'm a happier person in the morning too. Binti is finally in a school that I'd like her to be in, international curriculum but Islamic based, with arabic as 2nd language. Perfect. What else can I ask for for the little girl. (only that she finishes her homework!) Alhamdulillah. Ibni is happy hanging out with his next door Buddy, Ziyad.

Not long afterwards, I meet a group of Malaysian families all at once in an open house held on the rooftop of their apartment. It was like being in Malaysia right in Riyadh, amazing. The aroma of rendang, satay, soto, lodeh were wonderfully mixing like a magic potion in the cool breeze. I couldn't possibly get to know everybody on this day and my habibi ended up babysitting the kiddos while I do my social networking. A week later, I was invited to join the ladies in a religious class they hold every Friday at the apartment building. Alhamdulillah, Allah is most generous with me. I really love spending my time with friends learning and discovering new things together.

As if this isn't enough good news ... my childhood friend Lilah got a job in Qatar and now based in Doha, which is not that far away now. Mashaallah , how Allah plans.

I reflected on these gifts from Him and how timely it was. Subhanallah. If I were to come to Riyadh immediately after marriage, I would not have liked it. I would have hated being in the Black Abayya or confined in my house. But Allah is so Great. He sent me instead to Europe where I could be anything and do anything, yet I was stucked and fell depressed because I had to be dependent on my husband (language factor). I also couldn't move by myself as I can't drive in Europe so I had to depend on friendsto go out. As a result, I did not get myself adapted going out with the 2 children by myself. Coming here, nothing much has changed in that aspect, and I am fine with that. However, the perks now includes having to just call for groceries, food, maintenance and not having to leave the house. If I were to wear the abayya 5 years ago, I would have hated it, call it an Oppression and will be telling bad things to people who expects me to spill it and have them nodding their heads going 'See lah, this muslim country, what they do to their women, etc etc...' However, I really love the Abayyah much to the disappointment of Hans who cannot believe what I just said. I feel I could be free wearing anything underneath and when I go out, I'm happy to confine with Allah's laws. He didn't understand why I have to run in and get my hejab if I find him within the compound on a weekday afternoon. He told me not to worry and that he doesn't mind. It didn't take much guts to tell Hans that 'I know you don't mind, but I DO'. Hans don't seem to want to elaborate or discuss further, preferring instead to chat with Nihad, so I usually leave them alone. Since I donned the abayya, I have much interest to look better inside the house, now I'm already thinking of having my hair permed and henna-dyed. I got better clothes and flaunt them around the privacy of my house. No more crummy old bleached out t-shirts which sometimes have holes in them to wear around the house. You really can't stop a woman from wanting to be beautiful, and finally, I want to look beautiful for MYSELF. It's great to look great for myself and for my family and not the other way around (public). With less concentration on what to wear when I go out of the house, I concentrated instead what I should be wearing INSIDE the house. IT just feels great. Of course, Habibi is liking the change in me, always referring to Germany as our incubator. It amazes me that even after 5 years of wearing the Hejab, I keep discovering new things about it. (Hence my keen desire to work on the Hejab site, as soon as I collect enough funds for it).

We passed Makkah again last night but to pray Maghrib/Isha and also did tawaf with our kids around the kaa'bah. The kids gets to touch and kissed the Holy Kaabah. After prayers, we just hanged out around the circumference of the kaabah while the kids were happily playing, running and lying on on the marble floors of the Grand Masjid'il Haraam.

So far so good Riyadh. Early next year, I will have myself enrolled in a school to learn Arabic and religion and this will take most of my time away, inshaallah. Alhamdulillah, I am on the road to doing the things I wanted to do if I come to a muslim country. My prayers were accepted, Allah Akhbar, ALhamdulillahirabeelalameen. Allah is great. It took a few years before it was accepted, but those few years were very important so as we see the beauty of this present gift. He is the Best Planner, Subhanallah.

Allah, I am always humbled by your generousity and mercy on me. I am thankful with every beat of my heart. I know that with all these gifts that you bestowed on me, I have a duty to fulfil, and I pray to you O Allah, give me strength to fulfil them. Give me patience and have mercy on all of us when we face difficulties.