Category Archives: Saudi Arabia

Are You Fasting?

Posted on August 11, 2011 by Marahm

“Are you fasting?” I hate that question. My friends in Riyadh used to ask each other that question all the time. The appropriate answer was, “Yes.”  An answer of, “No,” meant that the woman was menstruating or that she was … Continue reading →

Posted in Islam, Life, Ramadan, Religion, Saudi Arabia | 8 Comments

Gaining Weight During Ramadan

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Marahm

Oh-oh! I’m about to suggest something no one wants to admit— that it’s easier to gain weight in Ramadan than during any other month of the year. Perhaps I should qualify that statement, for those readers who are quick to say, … Continue reading →

Posted in Home Life, Ramadan, Saudi Arabia | 18 Comments

Internet Book Club for Middle-Eastern Literature in English

Posted on June 11, 2011 by Marahm

Blogs can be profoundly enlightening, properly educational, and/or entertaining for both readers and writers. After reading a number of them focusing on topics of Muslim and Middle Eastern concern, I asked myself, “What did I read before I read blogs? … Continue reading →

Posted in Art and Literature, Saudi Arabia | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The “Bismillah”

Posted on October 8, 2010 by Marahm

One of the joys of living in Saudi Arabia was seeing Arabic calligraphy, especially the “bismillah” and other  renditions of  verses  from the Qur’an,  expressed artistically  in various media.  “In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate” … Continue reading →

Posted in Arabic Language, art, Islam, Saudi Arabia | 5 Comments

More to the Kingdom and to Me

Posted on September 14, 2010 by Marahm

Monday, September 13, 2010 There is More to the Kingdom, and More to Me Judging from many comments made on English language blogs about Saudi Arabia, one might conclude that the Kingdom is nothing but a hell-hole– a prison for … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging, Islam, Life, Rant, Saudi Arabia | 9 Comments

The Anniversary

Posted on September 12, 2010 by Marahm

Sunday, September 12, 2010 Yesterday, The Anniversary It’s been nine years.I find myself thinking and writing about it more than I ever did when it actually happened on 9/11/2001. On that day, I went about my daily activities in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Depth Psychology, Islam, Life, Memoir, Religion, Saudi Arabia | 2 Comments

My Two Riyadhs

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Marahm

July 7, 2010 It’s the metaphorical Riyadh I need to find.  It’s the place– more spiritual than physical, more emotional than tangible— that will do for me what the actual Riyadh did for me. This is the message of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Depth Psychology, Family, Life, Memoir, Saudi Arabia, Writing, Writing Memoir | 3 Comments

Return

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Marahm

My blogging break has lasted more than a year. I’m not sure it’s completely over yet, but tonight an urge stirred, an urge to reconnect with my readers, the blog world, and ultimately to an aspect of myself that wants … Continue reading →

Posted in Depth Psychology, Life, Saudi Arabia, Travel | 7 Comments

In the Beginning…

Posted on May 30, 2009 by Marahm

In the Beginning… During my eighth month in Riyadh, 1986, I fell in love with an Egyptian man. He was Muslim; I was Christian. Neither one of us allowed that to get in the way of the natural course of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cross-Cultural Relationships, Engagement, Life, Marriage, Saudi Arabia | 23 Comments

Serendipity

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Marahm

Serendipity I liked the concept of arranged meetings for the purpose of evaluating potential marriage partners. Even though the meetings were stressful, they cut through a lot of crap that the American system of dating ensures before getting down to business. … Continue reading →

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