Category Archives: Memoir

The Best of Both Worlds, Perhaps?

Posted on February 23, 2009 by Marahm

The Best of Both Worlds, Perhaps? Twenty years ago, handfuls Saudi university students started graduating with a B.S. in  Medical Technology. They came to KFSH for their clinical internship, and I was fortunate to have initiated a few of them … Continue reading →

Posted in Home Life, Life, Memoir, polygamy, polygyny, Saudi Arabia | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

Cabin Fever in Riyadh

Posted on February 11, 2009 by Marahm

Cabin Fever in Riyadh 0R Living in Riyadh Before the Internet My daughters have near-native fluency in English, but sometimes they ask me about phrases they’ve never heard, like “cabin fever”.  Last week, one of them asked me about this … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Home Life, Islam, Life, Memoir, Saudi Arabia | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Conversation with Robert

Posted on January 12, 2009 by Marahm

Conversation with Robert My daughter Mai did not consider Robert a suitor– he was an acquaintance– so we were surprised when he made the effort to come for a visit while on leave from active duty in Iraq. Perhaps he … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Life, Memoir, Politics | Tagged | 11 Comments

My Whiff of War

Posted on January 9, 2009 by Marahm

On the morning of Jan. 16, 1991, my phone rang. The light of dawn had not yet entered my bedroom window. I answered on the second ring,  knowing what I’d hear. “The war has started! They’ve struck Baghdad!” The voice … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, Saudi Arabia | Tagged , , , | 20 Comments

Christmas Commentary

Posted on December 26, 2008 by Marahm

Christmas Commentary Many of us grew up celebrating Christmas, and some of us still celebrate. I often wonder how people feel about Christmas, once they have discovered its antithesis– loss, despair, alienation, anxiety, and grief. Yesterday my family celebrated Christmas … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Home Life, Life, Memoir | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Where is Your Husband?

Posted on December 12, 2008 by Marahm

Where is Your Husband? During the second year of my residence in Riyadh, I made friends with an American woman married to a Saudi. She invited me to her home, and I was thrilled. Finally! I’d get a chance to … Continue reading →

Posted in Home Life, Islam, Life, Memoir, Saudi Arabia, Uncategorized, Writing Memoir | Tagged , , , | 21 Comments

A Downpour in the Desert –My Hajj Story

Posted on December 5, 2008 by Marahm

A Downpour in the Desert –My Hajj Story Most Hajj stories focus upon the sense of awe and inspiration that arise upon gathering in Mecca with thousands of Muslims from around the world, to perform one of the five pillars … Continue reading →

Posted in Hajj, Islam, Life, Memoir, Saudi Arabia, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Of Eggs and Brains

Posted on November 2, 2008 by Marahm

Of Eggs and Brains Egg whites burst with protein, and yolks carry fats and cholesterol. All my life, I’ve loved eating eggs, but recently I’ve taken to tossing the yolks, reluctantly, on the advice of my doctor. I started to think about … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Memoir, Saudi Arabia | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments

Of Rosewater and Perfume

Posted on October 22, 2008 by Marahm

Of Rosewater and Perfume When I first arrived in the Kingdom in 1986 (as a hospital worker), I was afraid to leave the hospital grounds, for fear of getting into trouble with the local culture and the dreaded mutawah. The first two … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Memoir, Saudi Arabia | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Ramadan, oh Ramadan!

Posted on September 1, 2008 by Marahm

Never do I miss my life in the Middle East more than in Ramadan! This year, for the first time, I have blogging buddies in various countries, who will help reinforce the spirit of Ramadan simply by contibuting to their … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Islam, Memoir, Saudi Arabia | 11 Comments