Category Archives: Memoir

Garbage Cats

Posted on August 27, 2008 by Marahm

Garbage Cats– that’s what we called them. The women who lived in the housing compounds at King Faisal Hospital and Research Center in the 1980’s called them garbage cats because they lurked around the big green dumpsters positioned along the … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Memoir, Saudi Arabia, Writing | Tagged , , , | 19 Comments

Do You Want to Know How I Got Rid of Them?

Posted on July 6, 2008 by Marahm

  “Do You Want to Know How I Got Rid of Them?” At first, I tried chemicals. Raid was readily available at the corner convenience store, in several formulas aimed at various vermin. Cockroaches weren’t the only pests in the … Continue reading →

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

Do You Want to Hear a Cockroach Story?

Posted on June 29, 2008 by Marahm

“Do you want to hear a cockroach story?” This is the way my friends and I would sometimes begin phone conversations. We were all Western women, stay-at-home moms married to Arabs. We were happy with our families and our status … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, Saudi Arabia | Tagged , , | 59 Comments

Learning Tajweed, Part Five

Posted on June 18, 2008 by Marahm

 Learning Tajweed, Part Five My tenacity brought a big blessing. I inserted myself firmly into that madrassa, never missing a day, and always fully prepared for the lesson. I was surprised to discover that most of the ladies had no … Continue reading →

Posted in Arabic Language, Islam, Memoir, Saudi Arabia, Tajweed | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Father’s Day in the USA

Posted on June 15, 2008 by Marahm

First Father’s Day Without my Papa  Since I can no longer express my love and appreciation for him directly to him, I’ll do it here. The following poem epitomizes my father’s lifelong attitude, a guiding principle that he applied to … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Learning Tajweed, Part Four

Posted on June 11, 2008 by Marahm

Reinstated At home, we poured out the whole story to my husband, who then said,”I know the husband of the mudeera. I will go pray Isha with him and find out what’s going on.” He was gone longer than usual … Continue reading →

Posted in Arabic Language, Memoir, Saudi Arabia, Tajweed | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments

Learning Tajweed– Part Three

Posted on June 3, 2008 by Marahm

Kicked Out! I spent a fruitful term sitting in the circle with the “literate” ladies.  We read, but the class focused on memorization. That was fine. I wanted more, however.  I knew that tajweed had rules of its own apart … Continue reading →

Posted in Arabic Language, Islam, Memoir, Saudi Arabia, Tajweed | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Learning Tajweed, Part Two

Posted on May 25, 2008 by Marahm

  The class met every weekday after Asr prayer til Maghreb. Basically, it was a memorization class. The teacher would recite a phrase, and we’d repeat it in unison. When her sensitive ear perceived improper pronunciation, the offender was singled … Continue reading →

Posted in Arabic Language, Memoir, Saudi Arabia, Tajweed | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments

Learning Tajweed

Posted on May 22, 2008 by Marahm

Hijab, women’s rights, Islam, and East vs. West are subjects that never fail to stimulate a good, often repetitive, conversation. Learning Arabic is another such topic. I am tempted to repeat my laments about my failure to achieve fluency, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Arabic Language, Islam, Memoir, Saudi Arabia, Tajweed | Tagged , , , | 23 Comments

Diversity Sessions

Posted on May 13, 2008 by Marahm

fractal compliments of Susie of Arabia Like many large, American organizations, the one I work for recently decided that diversity in the workplace needs to be celebrated. We now attend semi-annual meetings for the purpose of learning to appreciate diversity. … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, Saudi Arabia | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments