Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Back on the Wagon
Hey there - my parents were visiting the last two weeks--we had a truly wonderful time-- and I've been on a bit of a hiatus from all things computer. But, I'm back and am going to try to catch everyone one up on what's happened to date so I can start getting into the here and now. That being said, I think one of the best ways to catch up is through pictures. The next few posts will be primarily images with some text. enjoy. k
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Retrospective: August 17th, 2009
This story doesn't really have a beginning because to REALLY start at the beginning would go too far back, but, here's a brief overview.
In July of 2005, I started working at FINCA International where I worked for the following 4 years; my interest in international relations and conflict resolution growing with each year of employment. In September of 2008, I started dating a man named Hisham. Born to Palestinian parents, Hisham subsequently lived in Kuwait, Cyprus, Jordan and the United States- where we met through a friend at a DC bar. There's more to that story but I'm going to save that for another post:)
Hisham and I dated in Washington DC for 7 months from September 2008 until March of 2009. It was a truly wonderful 7 months - Hisham was refreshingly devoid of game playing and disarmingly mature, not to mention funny, handsome and an excellent cook. In late march 2009, Hisham traveled to Jordan to visit his family for a two week vacation. Soon after his arrival I received a gchat that his return visa to the United States had to undergo "administrative processing" that may take longer to process than the two weeks he was slated to be on vacation.
A series of deadlines followed, and at each, rather than a lovely American stamp in his passport granting re-entry, we were faced with more processing. I know that compared to many people and families who face immigration issues, this situation is quite mild. Also, I took some comfort in knowing that this experience was a lesson in compassion for me: many have to deal with visa processing throughout their respective lives.
The most challenging part for me was not knowing when he would be able to return, and, not knowing, or being able to find a suitable answer to the seemingly simple question: What does administrative processing mean? What does it entail?
I'm not going to get into the nitty-gritty of the visa process, suffice it to say, that though I asked--many a qualified person, many a time-- I never received a suitable answer and the weeks drug on. The most challenging part, for me, was the ambiguity. I could do long distance, but not knowing when the situation would end was hard to sustain. We finally decided to set an internal deadline, a date by which, if he hadn't received his visa, we would decide I would move to Jordan. We decided on August 17th.
What liberation followed! We had taken what control we could and just had to wait for the 17th.
Well, if you've read this far you know what happened next. His visa was still processing on the 17th. We decided I'd come. I rented a POD. Resigned from my job. Bought packing tape. Dismantled both of our apartments into labeled cardboard boxes. Then we finally got what we'd been waiting for: in late September, about a month after our internal deadline, Hisham received his clearance to return to the States. What followed was, I think, one of our most important conversations to date, and, as I said....we decided to live in Amman. On Oct 21st, I flew to Amman.
(Image: night falls over Amman the terrace of books@cafe, one of our favorite spots)
In July of 2005, I started working at FINCA International where I worked for the following 4 years; my interest in international relations and conflict resolution growing with each year of employment. In September of 2008, I started dating a man named Hisham. Born to Palestinian parents, Hisham subsequently lived in Kuwait, Cyprus, Jordan and the United States- where we met through a friend at a DC bar. There's more to that story but I'm going to save that for another post:)
Hisham and I dated in Washington DC for 7 months from September 2008 until March of 2009. It was a truly wonderful 7 months - Hisham was refreshingly devoid of game playing and disarmingly mature, not to mention funny, handsome and an excellent cook. In late march 2009, Hisham traveled to Jordan to visit his family for a two week vacation. Soon after his arrival I received a gchat that his return visa to the United States had to undergo "administrative processing" that may take longer to process than the two weeks he was slated to be on vacation.
A series of deadlines followed, and at each, rather than a lovely American stamp in his passport granting re-entry, we were faced with more processing. I know that compared to many people and families who face immigration issues, this situation is quite mild. Also, I took some comfort in knowing that this experience was a lesson in compassion for me: many have to deal with visa processing throughout their respective lives.
The most challenging part for me was not knowing when he would be able to return, and, not knowing, or being able to find a suitable answer to the seemingly simple question: What does administrative processing mean? What does it entail?
I'm not going to get into the nitty-gritty of the visa process, suffice it to say, that though I asked--many a qualified person, many a time-- I never received a suitable answer and the weeks drug on. The most challenging part, for me, was the ambiguity. I could do long distance, but not knowing when the situation would end was hard to sustain. We finally decided to set an internal deadline, a date by which, if he hadn't received his visa, we would decide I would move to Jordan. We decided on August 17th.
What liberation followed! We had taken what control we could and just had to wait for the 17th.
Well, if you've read this far you know what happened next. His visa was still processing on the 17th. We decided I'd come. I rented a POD. Resigned from my job. Bought packing tape. Dismantled both of our apartments into labeled cardboard boxes. Then we finally got what we'd been waiting for: in late September, about a month after our internal deadline, Hisham received his clearance to return to the States. What followed was, I think, one of our most important conversations to date, and, as I said....we decided to live in Amman. On Oct 21st, I flew to Amman.
(Image: night falls over Amman the terrace of books@cafe, one of our favorite spots)
Thursday, January 28, 2010
My First 100 Days
It is high time that I start this blog. As of today, 28 January 2010, I have been in Jordan for 100 days! Just counted! No wonder I have the itch to write about my experiences here so far.
I moved to Jordan in October of 2009 following a course of fully unexpected and trying circumstances: my boyfriend Hisham's re-entry visa was delayed for 7 months, during which we decided I would move to Amman, Jordan, to join him. Of course, after the extended visa limbo, and after I'd resigned from my job and packed our respective apartments, he was approved for entry.
We decided I should come anyway.
My 5,840 mile move has lead to much joy, challenge and adventure: in the last 100 days I got engaged, got married, hired a carpenter, fired visited four new countries and started freelancing. Given the compounded newness of my life right now (living in a new country, my first year of marriage, shifting and maybe changing careers) it's really important to me that I chronicle my experiences, and, share them with you, my friends and family.
In these first 100 days I have been hesitant to write about my experiences, partly because I was still processing them myself, and, partly because I wanted to be sure that I communicated everything with full context; the Levant region is so frequently stereotyped and pigeonholed that I wanted to be sure that I didn't misrepresent this region, this country and it's people. I still feel that way, but, it is impossible for me to control your reactions, and, impossible to fully communicate ALL context to you. Finally, my friends and family are simply too important to me to NOT know about this time in my life. Plus, you guys know how I love to communicate :)
On that note, I'd like to clarify something: Yes, Hisham and I did get married here in Jordan! I'll tell you all about that process which was rich with anecdotes.
However, I had a hard time imagining getting married without my friends and family (and Hisham's US friends and family), so we will also have a US wedding when we get back from our adventures. This is really the quick and dirty version but many of you have asked about it so wanted to get it up in the first post.
(here we are the night we got engaged)
On that note, I'd like to clarify something: Yes, Hisham and I did get married here in Jordan! I'll tell you all about that process which was rich with anecdotes.
However, I had a hard time imagining getting married without my friends and family (and Hisham's US friends and family), so we will also have a US wedding when we get back from our adventures. This is really the quick and dirty version but many of you have asked about it so wanted to get it up in the first post.(here we are the night we got engaged)
Also, I'm hoping this might be of some use to other American women moving to Jordan or elsewhere in the region who are living and working here for the first time or....are also perhaps getting married to a Palestinian Jordanian?
I hope you enjoy it!
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