craving: to hug my in laws
Finally the day had come, the day I had been waiting so eagerly since I married the man of my dreams. I was gonna meet the most amazing parents who raised my husband and who made him in to the man that I love. So much was going through my mind, I never thought this day would come. After living in Germany for almost five years, I patiently awaited to hug my mother in law and thank her for raising such an amazing man. I waited to tell her my thoughts and feelings all these long years. It was finally gonna happen. I had so many feelings going on, I made myself sick.
The morning we woke up to come to UAE, was the morning I'll never forget. I kept telling myself everything will be okay, I had to psyche myself out, or else I would end up throwing up. I didn't want that to happen. I was pretty quiet on the flight and my husband kept comforting me and assuring me everything will be GREAT, they love you already and will love you more when they meet you. I just smiled and was still thinking in my mind, Wow my life is gonna change so much. Will they like me? Even if I've talked to them on the phone all these years, several times and they confirmed their love for me when they accepted me. I had to keep trying to tell to myself, everything would be just fine. Have faith in God.
By the time I knew it, we were there, in Dubai. Ekkkk. My husband wanted to surprise everyone so we got our luggage and we took off to our destination. Here we come! and no turning back. I remember so vividly looking at everything with wide open eyes and I was amazed that this was the United Arab Emirates - the Middle East. I was in shock. Yep, my culture shock had begun. What a road to go. I had never in my life imagined that a middle eastern country can look and be as advanced as United Arab Emirates was/is. I guess you would call it, ignorance on my part. I seen tons of pictures, but pictures don't capture the amazing sites "In person" that UAE has. Dubai is as busy as NYC; if not more. We rented a car and we were off to meet my family. The family I would and love for the rest of my life. It was finally gonna happen.
We turned on the street my husband grew up at. The house was seconds away. My stomach was turning and my heart was racing. I can't turn back now. I joked with my husband to just leave me at a hotel and when I am ready I'll call him so I can meet the family. He laughed and said, he'll carry me to his parents house and not let me go. Oh man, I was so nervous I could of just got out of the car and ran the other way. But, it was over 100 degrees and I would be in trouble if I did that. Plus I didn't know my way around. So, that plan was out the window.
I finally saw the house that we were going to live in. The villa right next door was my in laws and I can see my brother in laws looking out their bedroom windows. I quickly followed my husband into our villa. He carried the luggage up and me and my daughter were way ahead of him. I was already breaking a sweat. We entered the villa and I looked around and was still in shock from seeing everything else. He showed me around. It was pretty nostalgic seeing a place where my husband grew up and knowing this had been my in laws villa months before we moved in. For some odd reason I sat down and just started bawling my eyes out. My daughter quickly said, "Mom, what's wrong?" I looked up and said, I don't know. I guess I was over whelmed and very nervous. This was the only outlet I had. To cry.
My husband had went to my in laws to greet everyone, I told him I can't go looking like I had run a marathon. I'll stay and take and get refreshed. He came back and seen me crying. He was worried and wanted to know why I was crying. He made me feel a lot better and told me everyone is excited to meet me. By this time I had made a run to our bedroom, which my in laws set up, we shipped our bedroom set from the states. I felt a little more at home seeing something familiar in the villa. I still had to process everything into my mind. This is the country I will spend the rest of my life at, I am really in the Middle East. I will never go back to the States to live. I think it started hitting me then. Remember I hadn't met my family yet. I heard a knock at our front door and looked out the peep hole, there stood a woman wearing a hijab (scarf on her head) and carrying something really big. I opened it and she handed it to me. I set it down. My husband came out of the other room and lifted the hot pot, his mother sent us some Briyani with meat. I couldn't eat anything. I had to go shower and get ready to go meet my in laws. Mind you, everyone was there. My heart was still racing.
I got ready and off we went. It's a hop skip to their villa. So, I was thankful that I wasn't going to sweat. I didn't want to go in there looking like I had just come from swimming. gothic','comic sans ms',times,'times new roman',serif;"Peace - that was the other name for home. ~Kathleen Norris We got to the front gate and walked in and I was shaking, literally shaking. I look back now and laugh at myself. Since we don't mix ( Men and women ) I was lead by my in laws maid to the woman's majils ( woman's sitting area ) I walked in and there everyone was. I got greeted with the biggest hug and kiss by my sweet lovely mother in law. I could of stayed in her arms forever. I wanted to cry, her hug was like my mothers. I felt at home. My sister in laws and my husband's sisters in laws, made me feel so good and comfortable. All that worrying was for nothing. I guess I'll always remember the first days I came to UAE. It seems all like a dream now. I thank God everyday for this awesome blessing. My in laws never seize to amazes me. I love them with all my heart.
May God bless them and give them good in this life and the hear after and reward them both ameen final whisper: Right there, in my Mother in law's arms , I knew I was finally home.
