Friday, March 17, 2006
Nothing Ever Stays the Same
Lately, I've been reflecting on how far Karim and I have come in the past year, and 
I'm completely astounded. Having read a few posts that I made a while back, I can't help but wonder if I would have been so whiney if I could have understood the idea that "This, too, shall pass!" I was, however, impressed that I survived it at all. However, as the saying goes, "hindsight is always 20/20".
When we started out here, we were "bunking" with Karim's uncle on the other side of our rather large metropolitan phenomenon, wondering where we would be working. Within two weeks we were moving into a "hotel" that was willing to allow us to take up residence on site while Karim worked as a night auditor. Although it was an awful job with an evil task-master at the helm, we weathered it. After a few months of that "hotel", we were transferred to a "motel" just off the freeway, further east where we had to endure the foulness of drug dealers, prostitutes and the same evil presence that presided over the last one. During this time, however, we were able to save enough to buy our first car, Mable, the Sable, after which I was able to work and got a job at Anna's. My job enabled us after a few more months to make the much anticipated move into an apartment, however small, and to remove ourselves from the filth of long-term motel life. It is my intention in life never, ever, (I swear on everything!) to live in such a place again. We moved into our apartment in August, and since then have acquired the Mercedes, Karim's 1986 190 series baby. (It needs a little spit and polish, but then it will be worth something.) In November, Karim gave his two weeks to the King of all Fleabags, and went to work for a rather large Hotel chain with a beautiful reputation. However, they let him go, for, in my opinion, racist reasons (his co-workers were "uncomfortable" with him) right after the Prophet Mohamed Cartoon incident. But, he took a job in another place, working with people from his own country the very next day. In January, I became a certified substitute teacher (with an evil laugh) on the weekdays, while still working Anna's on the weekends, and have finally, this month been given the promotion I was promised in August. (We just have to adjust the thinking on pay.) We traded in Mable the sickly Sable for a Newer Ford Taurus wagon, which, although it has a couple of issues of its own which aren't serious, gets me to and from work every day wonderfully. (I have yet to name it, but I'm leaning toward "Horace the Taurus"--or should I keep with the Egyptian theme and go with "Horus the Taurus"?)
The only reason we are moving "upward" is because Allah has seen fit to allow it. It has nothing to do with us, and nothing to do with luck. Had God chosen, we would have remained in the motel, twitching and bitching, for the rest of our days. However, He has heard our cries and given us tiny wings with which to move through our lives. I am so thankful that, even though we do live on a fairly modest income, we are able to pay our living expenses and go out to eat once in a while. I am able, finally, to dress my home in a personal way, rather than "make do" with what exists. Karim does not have to "jump-to" whenever the phone rings, hoping it isn't the "boss" calling him to work a double. Both of us may be stressed from our occupations, but the stress is nothing like it once was.
So, from point A, "immigrants" just off the boat with, literally, $100 to our name, to point B, living independently, owning two vehicles and working three jobs between us, we have clearly improved. It's nice to be able, once again, to walk into a store and buy something simply because I want it (within reason, of course).
SubhanAllah! Praise God!
I'm completely astounded. Having read a few posts that I made a while back, I can't help but wonder if I would have been so whiney if I could have understood the idea that "This, too, shall pass!" I was, however, impressed that I survived it at all. However, as the saying goes, "hindsight is always 20/20". When we started out here, we were "bunking" with Karim's uncle on the other side of our rather large metropolitan phenomenon, wondering where we would be working. Within two weeks we were moving into a "hotel" that was willing to allow us to take up residence on site while Karim worked as a night auditor. Although it was an awful job with an evil task-master at the helm, we weathered it. After a few months of that "hotel", we were transferred to a "motel" just off the freeway, further east where we had to endure the foulness of drug dealers, prostitutes and the same evil presence that presided over the last one. During this time, however, we were able to save enough to buy our first car, Mable, the Sable, after which I was able to work and got a job at Anna's. My job enabled us after a few more months to make the much anticipated move into an apartment, however small, and to remove ourselves from the filth of long-term motel life. It is my intention in life never, ever, (I swear on everything!) to live in such a place again. We moved into our apartment in August, and since then have acquired the Mercedes, Karim's 1986 190 series baby. (It needs a little spit and polish, but then it will be worth something.) In November, Karim gave his two weeks to the King of all Fleabags, and went to work for a rather large Hotel chain with a beautiful reputation. However, they let him go, for, in my opinion, racist reasons (his co-workers were "uncomfortable" with him) right after the Prophet Mohamed Cartoon incident. But, he took a job in another place, working with people from his own country the very next day. In January, I became a certified substitute teacher (with an evil laugh) on the weekdays, while still working Anna's on the weekends, and have finally, this month been given the promotion I was promised in August. (We just have to adjust the thinking on pay.) We traded in Mable the sickly Sable for a Newer Ford Taurus wagon, which, although it has a couple of issues of its own which aren't serious, gets me to and from work every day wonderfully. (I have yet to name it, but I'm leaning toward "Horace the Taurus"--or should I keep with the Egyptian theme and go with "Horus the Taurus"?)
The only reason we are moving "upward" is because Allah has seen fit to allow it. It has nothing to do with us, and nothing to do with luck. Had God chosen, we would have remained in the motel, twitching and bitching, for the rest of our days. However, He has heard our cries and given us tiny wings with which to move through our lives. I am so thankful that, even though we do live on a fairly modest income, we are able to pay our living expenses and go out to eat once in a while. I am able, finally, to dress my home in a personal way, rather than "make do" with what exists. Karim does not have to "jump-to" whenever the phone rings, hoping it isn't the "boss" calling him to work a double. Both of us may be stressed from our occupations, but the stress is nothing like it once was.
So, from point A, "immigrants" just off the boat with, literally, $100 to our name, to point B, living independently, owning two vehicles and working three jobs between us, we have clearly improved. It's nice to be able, once again, to walk into a store and buy something simply because I want it (within reason, of course).
SubhanAllah! Praise God!
