Wednesday 28 January 2015

FOOD FOR THOUGHT


This is a universal quote and I like it because it can relate to anyone. Muslim, Christian or non-believers. I believe that every night when you go to sleep, the Angel of Death asks Allah (God) whether your time is up and every morning when you wake up God has told the Angel of Death it is not your time yet. Hence why we like to say Al Hamdulileh and strive to make the days count. 
Each day is a blessing, another chance for you to ask for mercy, another day to see the sunrise and set, another day to see your loved ones and another opportunity to learn, give charity, become closer to God, pray and any other good deed you can think of. 

We all go through hard times in life, we all have secrets, we all have family troubles, we are so unique yet identical at the same time. Life is a journey, it is yours, it was given to you. How amazing is that miracle. 

A story about me, I almost died when I was being born. Al Hamdulilah. I don't know the exact story, however my mum told me that her 3rd pregnancy was a miscarriage and she was told by doctors that she cannot conceive again for medical reasons. My mum felt fine about this, she already had two children and was grateful enough. However a year later, she fell pregnant, the doctors were shocked and could not understand how it was possible. That baby was me. They were not sure if I would survive, however everything went fine until labour. They had to do an emergency cesarean on my mum to save my life. Al Hamdulilah we both survived. 

For the babies who don't survive, Why does God take away babies and children? I pondered about this question a lot, it never made me believe in Him any less and I always understood that everything happens for a reason. Although, saying that I have never had to experience my baby dying. El Hamdullilah. So after thinking, I have come to think that God doesn't take babies away. He takes them to Janah (Heaven) because every child who dies goes to Heaven. Therefore he has saved the child for something better, only God Knows for He only chooses the best. He knows that it was the best thing and we only find out later. There is no direct answer but this is just what I think. Some parts of life and some of our questions are simply only God Knows. He is the creator of everything and that is the miracle. 

What do you do to make your life count?


Everything in Moderation

If you enjoy a Starbucks coffee (I really do) with a few hundred calories then have one, but make sure to drink green tea/lemon water for the rest of the week. e
If you enjoy wearing heels then wear them however walk bare foot the next day to give relief.
 If you enjoy shopping and spending money then treat yourself but give charity afterwards. If you don't exercise and going to the gym is your worst nightmare then go walking with a friend, it is a good chance to catch up and you don't even know you are exercising. 
If you like to read magazines, no problem just remember to read about important things aswell (Quran, politics, your studies.) 
If you like to work many hours a day to provide for yourself or your family, that is great but don't forget to live. Your time means everything, spend as much time as you can with family. Anything that you like to do, do it in moderation. That is the key to not wasting time, to live a healthy and happy life and to keep yourself appreciating life and "the good things." 

A great motto in life is everything has a limit, do not overcompensate in life. That is why Muslim people love the month of Ramadan; a new chance to start over, to appreciate every drop of water and every bite of food! It is truly the most gratifying feeling. 
Before I became Muslim I never understood fasting and didn't think it would even be possible to fast for so long during the hot Summer months! I did have huge admiration for those who did fast as their religion meant to much to them.
Last year I fasted for the first time for around 5 days. I know it wasn't the whole month so I haven't felt what it feels like completely, however those 5 days I learned so much! It wasn't as hard as I had thought, I was doing it with my Egyptian family, kids and adults, which created a team spirit and was very encouraging to carry on! 
I have never before felt real hunger or real thirst and so when it was time to eat/drink I was so happy and remembered all the millions of poor people in the world who have to walk miles per day for water and how lucky we actually are!
I am looking forward to next Ramadan to hopefully fast properly Insha'Allah.

Tuesday 27 January 2015

Wishlist #1

Shopping and where I live don't really belong in the same sentence. Certain things you can buy easy and at a good price however the majority of the things that I love to shop for are simply not here or far too expensive and not worth it! 

Here is a list of things which I really wish to buy and have to wait until Im back home in the UK.

 *ASOS.com

 *H&M Home

 *H&M Home

 *New Look.com
*SADOQ.com

Reflection

My mind has been over-thinking so much recently, I sort of think about every part of my life in detail and dream about how things should be.

I really want a lot of things in my life, however I trust that God is looking over me and He knows when the best time is for me to receive my worth. In the meantime, count your blessings, never compare yourself to other's because you never know thier story. Look around you, look how far you have come, give yourself some gratitude and don't be sad. Everything you want will come in time, at the exact moment it is supossed to and if not it was never meant for you anyway. Tawakkaltu Ala-Allah (I put my trust in Allah)

There is always a crack of light in the darkness. Find it.

If you want to be successful in the things you do. If you want to travel, open a business or get married then beware of telling the creation. The prophet said "Be discreet in order to achieve what you want, for everyone who is blessed is envied."

If you wake up this morning with more health than illness you are more blessed than the million people who won't survive this week.

Hope everyone is having a great week! Keep smiling.

Monday 26 January 2015

Prejudices of Being a Muslim Woman

Their guidance is not your responsibility, but God guides whom He wills. Any charity you give is for your own good. Any charity you give shall be for the sake of God. Any charity you give will be repaid to you in full, and you will not be wronged.

This is from Quran and I feel privelaged, to say the least that I am being guided in my Adult life. Here are some points which I feel, some people are thinking about me, or other Muslim women around the world. Here goes...

- We all wear a Burka or atleast a Hijab
- We only like other Muslims 
- We are stuck up and think we are better than everyone else
- We are non-educated
- We all stay at home to tidy and we are not allowed to work
- We are not allowed to drive
- We are forced into an arranged marriages
- We don't have cars, we get around on camels
- Being Muslim somehow stops us from enjoying life the same
- We are potential suicide bombers
- We don't belive in Christianity and Jesus
- We are not allowed to listen to music

I'm sorry for the underlying tone of sarcasm in my points however sometimes this is how ridiculous I find people's opinions and prejudices of Muslim Women, especially from the Middle East. I can tell you that it is all wrong, probably everything you have ever seen on the news or read in the newspaper is biased at the least and mostly artifical. 
People should differenciate Muslim people from Islam the religion, Muslim means we are people who follow the guidance of Islam and everything in Quran (The Holy Book) is perfect, however that does not mean Muslim people are perfect. 
My friend once said her biggest achievement was becoming a Muslim and I can't wait to say my Shahada and become a Muslim Insha'Allah (God Willing). 
Let me know what prejudices you have faced? I realised living in the East and the West will have completely different opinions on this and thankfully I am British however living in the Middle East has opened my mind Al Hamdulilah (Thanks be to God).


Confidence | Being a faithful Muslim

"You are where you're supposed to be at this very moment. Every experience is part of God's divine plan." This is how you begin to be confident, you are walking on this earth, you are reading this blog, you are alive and your heart is beating because that is all part of Allah's plan and He is the best of planners.

"Climb the mountain so you can see the world, not so the world can see you." Like becoming Muslim or doing anything Good in the religion, it should be between you and Allah. Your journey in life is only yours for in the end it was never about them anyway, you will be judged for your life with no one to intervene for you. Be the best person you can be and never compare yourself to others for their journey is their own and Allah only made one of you for a reason.

"When we disobey Allah, we can pretend to be happy, but inside, we're very unhappy. This is fitrah. We all know this feeling." This feeling is the best feeling in the world. This is because you have not forgotten your existence and is the first step to repentance. Allah knows our intensions and is the most merciful. Don't be too hard on yourself and take it one step at a time as none of us are perfect but we might be able to learn a little thing from each person and that includes mistakes. One of the reasons why I love the people I do is because they make mistakes. We are human. May God forgive all of us.

"The two most important days of your life are.. The day you were born & the day you find out why." Probably we have all felt lost in life. We may have everything we ever wanted yet something is missing? We may have fell away from our religion, we may have no religion, we might feel pressure to be the right person, say the right thing, do the right deed. No matter what's going on in your life, as long as you never break your faith and belief in Allah you will find the answer.

"If you wait until you're ready, you'll be waiting the rest of your life." This applies to us all and is difficult to fathom. We need to stop putting things of because life is busy, we need to use our knowledge to our advantage and sacrifice a little of our time for the One who created us and for the people who love us most. For every feeling, good or bad, He is there to guide us. Embrace it.

Job Interview Techniques

When you walk into that interview, head held high and smiling, you should be confident, you should be proud, they invited you for the interview, you know you are good enough and beneficial for their company so always have in your mind that it is 50% their decision and 50% yours aswell.  For sure you have only applied because you know you can do it. (This is not advised if you have applied for NASA without any background in space or science) HAHA 

Even if you lack experience, do not let it hold you back. Most skills can be translated into other fields. When I went for an interview for one of the best hotel's in the world, without the experience to do the job I was applying for I didn't expect to be offered the job, I was thinking "what have I got to lose?" And so, all the skills that I needed for the job, I had however in different forms and the rest I was taught during my training. 
This was the biggest confidence boost I have had and we will all get a similar feeling or proud moment in life. We should remember that moment and your self admiration then use it for any job that you desire. 

As far as preparation for the interview goes, I would advise it. How much you advise depends on you. I like to know a few facts about the hotel/company I am applying for. I like to know the person's name who invited me for the interview and I like to read their customer feedback to show my interest and how I plan to help their brand. 
However, I never have robotic answers ready as they hardly ever ask you what you think they will ask you!  

Lastly, the most important thing is to smile, relax as it helps your body language appear cool and collected, smile more and be yourself. 
AND if you DON'T get the job. Say Al Hamdulilah (Thanks Be to God) because I promise you, if something is not meant for you it's because Allah (God) has something better in mind. Nothing is ever taken away from you unless that was the BEST option. He is looking after each one of us and He is the best of planners. 

Let me know your interview tips? 

Sunday 25 January 2015

Muslim Fashion

I think we all agree that being modest is the ultimate goal, whether some Muslim women wear all black and cover even their fingers and other women wear a turban and some wear headscarf and some wear nothing to cover their hair and only cover their chest. 

I find it difficult to cover up completely and still look like me and feel comfortable. I found DINA TOKI-O on youtube who's style is lovely, so shique and modest yet still a look I can relate to. If I am honest, I am still a woman and we are all concerned about how we look - becoming Muslim will not change that. 

Another great role model, especially on how to dress for me is Habiba Da Silva - you can search these women on Youtube as they are great!!! They are women who believe in their religion firstly and at the same time, maybe unintentionally, relate universally even to non-Muslim women. I really admire your courage and your bravery to wear leggings, trainers and a long skirt I think it looks great!!! 

I think one of the greatest things about Islam is that women are important, we are given rights and with those rights comes responsibility. We have to protect what is ours and be proud of it. 
Since becoming Muslim I have struggled with my dress sense. It was a slow process and is still a process. I have had to be creative and instead of binning my entire wardrobe as it is "haram" I have kept most and found other ways to wear them!

I have still not found the courage to wear the hijab, some are very beautiful and some women look amazing in them. I feel strange and a little panicked when I think about covering my hair. Does anyone else have this feeling?

I am looking forward to any tips that you may have and hope you enjoyed my post. 

Saturday 24 January 2015

My First Job Abroad

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October 22nd 2012. The day I left my home in the middle of the night unsure what would happen next or what to expect... However all during the flight I felt excited and somewhat peaceful and calm! Occasionally if the thought of me bring sold for body parts or any other dramatic thought which popped into my imagination I simply did not let it. There was a voice in my head telling me everything will be ok...



My first job abroad was a Kids Rep or Children's entertainer. I was solely in charge and responsible for a Children's Club inside a 5* Hotel. WHAT?
I had no idea about children, I felt like I was the child not the other way around. However, it turned out to be the best experience of my life. I was a natural, I clicked with every child which came through my door and made it feel like a fun, homely and loving place for them to come. I met thousands of children and helped to make their holiday as fun as possible.
I also learned a lot about myself and my capabilities. Due to working under pressure of strict management and high expectations I learned how to come out of my shell. I performed dance and comedy evening's on stage, I talked on a microphone during mini-disco and I learned to approach any person and start a conversation without fear. All of these things did not come natural to me and took a long time to get used to! I literally look back now and laugh so much.

The best part of the job was meeting people, like me, working abroad and sharing a life with. I had different room mates throughout my 15 months working in the company and various people left and joined the team however there were a few I simply clicked with and will remain friends with forever. They were friends through thick and thin! Through every "punishment" and every laugh and every early morning/late night we stuck together!



My first job in Egypt was demanding, tiring, fun, crazy and the best job to start any career as it indeed gives you skills which you will take with you through all parts of your life.

If there is anyone considering or maybe wishing they could work abroad, I would advise you to just do it. There is nothing stopping you and you will never regret it. You will be tired, homesick, angry, you will meet people you clash with, you will be pushed to your limit however it will all make you a greater person and provide you with some great memories to look back on!



Good Luck!! 

Friday 23 January 2015

My view on Terrorism

When you think of the word terrorist, what image crops into your mind? Something along the lines of a man, with a beard, dark skin, angry complexion with a weapon and possibly kissing the Qura'n. Would I be accurate?
The terminology of the word "terrorist" is simple: Common definitions of terrorism refer only to those violent acts that are intended to create fear (terror); are perpetrated for a religious, political, or ideological goal. All you have to do is open google and type in terrorist and you will see for yourself. It is plain and simple that a terrorist could be anyone on this planet but the media and the government convinces you to believe that if you kill someone in the name of religion then you are a terrorist, i.e you killed for religious reasons therefore countries as powerful as America invade Iraq in 2003 that was for political reasons yet no one accused the president of America as a terrorist, it was implied that the leader of Iraq at the time, "Saddam Hussein" was the terrorist.
My point is appearance can be deceitful, in the year 2015 how can one be so shallow as to judge someone based on their appearance. 
A woman wearing a burka and covered head to toe means she is following Islam however only God knows what's in her heart and how good a person she is. Yet a lady choosing to wear clothes and not cover herself completely may have a kind heart and is more religious. Only God knows; my point is don't assume you know a person based on what you see. 
In a general manner don't let the media corrupt your mind, they use clever terminology and are very much biased so you never get to see both sides of the story. 
My advice? If you are scared of Islam/Muslim people then get to know some. You will see that 1.6 billion people in this world are good people who only care about making sandwiches and getting their kids to school on time and praying to God. It's really as simple as that and there is nothing corrupt about their faith. I know first hand. 
Islam states that if you kill one single person it's like killing the whole of mankind and if you saved a life, it's like saving the lifes of all mankind. This is a very good thought to keep in mind the next time you read in the newspaper or see on the news that a terrorist has killed someone. 

What do you think?


* Here is a picture of me and my friends looking like terrorists, ironically taken on 11.09.2013

Living in Egypt


My story began when I was 20. I quit my job (call centre) booked a one-way flight to Sharm el Sheikh and never looked back. Literally. 
There is no place like it, some days I hate it and some days I love it. That is life. There are some parts you simply cannot compare with living in the UK and in other ways it makes me miss my home.
Some things I love are, the culture, the weather and the picture perfect sky. Every single day I am happy to wake up to sunshine, good temperatures (Although in the Summer months you sweat a lot as it's up to 45 degrees) There are many good people, Egyptian people are polite, friendly and very hospitable. 







Life is simple and more easy! You only have to walk a few minutes to the beach, to the shops, to Starbucks, to a restaurant etc. 
The cost of living is more cheap! I used to take a micro-bus to work every day it was a 20 minute journey and cost 2 L.E which is around 16p in GBP. Can you imagine in the UK paying 16p for anything never mind a bus journey. LOL. 
I love my apartment and my life here with my partner and have a few selected, great friends! 

The difficult parts which can happen in day to day life, some things I struggle but try to embrace are...

The men. Some days when I leave the house I feel like a prostitute by walking through the street. Men staring, whistling like I am a cat. Smiling or being patronising. I fucking can't stand it. Why does this happen I will never know! But I know that I will never ever raise a son like that. My son will respect all women no matter what they look like or do. Especially one who is just walking and minding her own business. I dress modestly, I pay no attention to anyone and I am never loud in the street and it can still happen (not always mind you.) For a long time it used to make me so angry and upset, I would even cry once I got home because I couldn't understand why. 
After some time talking with my partner, I have come to a little bit more peace with it - I simply say in my head "God forgive you" As it is actually a sin for any man to look at you more than once or in any lustful kind of way. This helps me in times when all I want to do is scream at them or smack them hard across the face. HAHA. 

I have even began asking God to help me and I believe it is working. More often than not I am left alone without any hassle these days which I love! 
In life there is good and bad, in people there is good and evil you and no matter where you go in life it will have good parts and bad! Therefore, I am truly grateful to live here and hope nobody feels threatened by what I have written about "The Egyptian men." Ofcourse, there are good, respectful men aswell hence why I am engaged to one. I am under no illusion how different Sharm el Sheikh is compared to other parts of Egypt aswell. If you are a tourist visiting Sharm, you also have nothing to worry about - it just changes when you live here. An average holiday is 2 weeks and you are not used to "hassling" which by I don't mean physical just stupid comments which most tourists would either find amusing or threatless as it doesn't happen often. Only as a citizen, you face it every single day does it start to annoy you. 



I really don't want this post to be negative about the Egyptian people in any way. My future children will be Egyptian and I am no way racist, just the point of view of a British girl living abroad. If you are thinking about coming to Egypt do not hesitate it is an amazing country!

*All pictures are my own

Thanks for reading my post! If you have any questions leave a comment below xxxxx

Thursday 22 January 2015

50 facts about me

1. I have a Russian name.
2. I moved to Egypt at age 20.
3. I can speak Egyptian Arabic quite well.
4. I loveeee to sleep.
5. My mum nearly died of Thyroid Disease when I was a child. 
6. I met my first & only love when I was 20.
7. We got engaged when I was 22. 
8. Insha'Allah we will be married this year.
9. I don't like fizzy juice. It chokes me.
10. I love cats. 
11. I love candles.
12. I have a very small amount of friends.
13. I see my family once or twice a year if I'm lucky.
14. I love kids.
15. I like to listen to an Egytian singer called "Sherine" even though I don't have a clue what she's saying lol.
16. I drink Green Tea constantly.
17. When I was a kid (around 8) I pushed my brother into a pond lol.
18. I always ask questions and question everything.
19. My dream is to travel the world. 
20. I was born Christian and changed to Muslim.
21. I have never smoked in my life - and would never. The thought makes me repulse.
22. I love wearing make-up.
23. I read Qura'n.
24. I am vegetarian (But i eat fish).
25. I have never ever ate a hamburger from McDonald's.
26. I love oreo milkshakes.
27. I love shopping.
28. I believe in giving charity (I wanna do it more often).
29. My partner puts the biggest smile on my face.
30. I have 2 older brothers who I am nothing like but love lots.
31. I have a gorgeous neice who I love to bits.
32. I have another neice whom I have never met... 
33. I work in the hospitality industry.
34. I like helping others, whether at work or in personal life.
35. I have a swimming pool outside my apartment. (People might assume that means you are rich, I am definetly not rich).
36. I am obsessed with eyebrows, mines are naturally thick.
37. I used to eat bread and tomato sauce as a child lol. 
38. I love receiving flowers.
39. I believe in equality and human rights.
40. I love fairy lights.
41. I love taking pictures.
42. I love flying, it's so exciting.
43. I was inspired to write this by Graciefrancesca.com 
44. I am Gemini. (Half sane/half insane) Lol
45. I like to talk. A lot!!!!!! If there is no-one to talk to, then I write.
46. I like starbucks coffee and have one near me. 
47. I trust God, in everything He plans for me and like to say Al Hamdulileh (Thanks be to God) for everything. 
48. I don't like dogs, they scare me and always wanna chase ME for some reason. 
49. I love curly hair. 
50. I pay my own bills and like to be independant. 




*Both pictures are my own 


Thank you for reading my first post and hope it's interesting. 

Smile

Hello! Sallam Alaikum! Ciao! Privyet! Wherever you are from, welcome sincerely to my blog and thank you for reading. 




My first entry will be a happy one. Blogging is what makes me happy, therefore let's start in the most positive way which Insha'Allah (God willing) will carry on through my blog.




My plan is to let my blog flow and write about everything and hopefully inspire people! I love my religion, I love God, I love my family, I love travelling, I love food, I love being inspired and inspiring others, I love honesty, I love nature, I love improvement in every form, I love children, I love the elderly, I love reading, I love creating memories and I love a whole lot more! 


Looking forward to blogging and sharing my experiences with you all! 

God Bless you all. 

Larissa xoxoxoxox