The Pilot's Wise Thoughts (nothin special, don't bother)

After Eid prayer my homesick brother said,"I don't understand your dad. All people come to the states to make money, your dad comes to spend money. If he invested all the money he spent in the states, we would've been millionaires, and we would have not been here now. I just don't understand why he so want to come to the states." I don't blame my brother for saying that, and I excuse him; he is very homesick. These first few months away from home are the hardest. Honestly, he wasn't complaining about our dad. He was just complaining about the states. Well, we both agreed that our dad will never move here. He just can't live here. Then, we moved on to another related topic. Before I move on, I have to say few words about our dad.


My brother was right. My dad really spends money in the states much more than he actually makes in the states. However, dad doesn't really talk much about his business, so really can't judge. His business is always a vague mystery to us. However, I have to give props to the guy. I see him as very successful business model, and I dream that I'll make his success.

He is the oldest brother. When my grandpa passed away, he only left them debts to pay off, which almost automatically goes down to the eldest son. Dad paid off the debts, helped my uncle to land a job, which is taking him to the stars, now. As for the youngest uncle, my dad put him through med school in Romania. During this time, my dad was a young engineer in Saudi starting his family. He helped both of my uncles in every possible way, seriously! During all that, I don't think he ever didn't deliver any of our needs. We weren't living fancy life. But I allhamdulillah, never felt in need, even in the times that we knew he was going through rough times, business wise. We were spoiled, yes, but different kind of spoiling. My parents taught us that if we don't need something, there is no reason to buy it, no matter what it's price. Using the same logic, if we wanted to buy something, we have to have a need for it! After that, he put my brother through med-school, paying all my freaking UT expenses, and putting my sister through college. Looking at those givings, I think none of his children has the right to complain about how he managed his money. I'm sure my bro didn't mean it that way, but just came to my mind. Allhamdulillah, we are living a good life. We don't need to be millionaires to live a good life. That's all said, I have nothing to add other than being grateful to Allah swt, and ask Allah swt to help me thank my parents enough, even though nothing would repay them. None is perfect, dads included. No matter what, I only say the magic word, Allhamdulillah.


Later in the same ride back from Eid Prayer, my bro wondered why some people accept to come to the states and live at the bottom of the society pyramid. He claims that there is no logical reason for anyone to willingly immigrate his home. Again, my bro is very homesick. When it comes to people immigrating to the states I categorize those people on a scale: foolish to wise and in between. Foolish people are those who come to the states to live the f!$ American dream, with no idea what they will do. An example of the foolish category are two cousins of mine came to the states. Well, both of them barely passed high school in Jordan, and they insisted to study in the states! Their families sent them without any contacts with any school, like if schools will fight for them! Moreover one of them had actually came on a visiting visa! The latest news I heard about them, one of them is unemployed doesn't go to school, and does nothing. The other, works in a gas station. WHY THE HELL DID THEY COME! If the same people strive and struggle back home as much as they do here, our countries would be in a different situation.

On the other extreme of the spectrum come wise people. There are few genuine wise reasons to immigrate from your home country, however, I have to admit that those reasons are common in the arab world. For example, if someone knows that he and his family are in danger because of political reasons or crap like that (of course, this doesnt apply to Palestine. This is another story). Or if someone with a profession or a degree had absolutely not found a job in his country, or many other reasons. I have found from my own observing that those "wise" families actually are the best families in the Muslim society. Somehow, they find the strength to save their religion, and find the delicate balance between religion, old traditions, and the westernized society. They are really living how islam taught us to, thus being the best people in the society.

You wonder where does the pilot fall? I don't kno. Think what ever you want. I chose to be here, and I have to live with it.
In conclusion, there is no one with dignity comes here to be the trash of the society, just cuz he can live a lil better than he would in his home. All cases, he is the trash of the society, but when he is the trash of a society that he doesn't belong to, that's really bad.


Later on in the evening, Omar, Ashraf, and Ala'a were into some arguments that I didn't care taking part in. I was hearing all what they said, though. "I only had my sister," Ashraf
explaining how hard was it for him to come here. I looked at three of them and smiled. The three of them were setting there complaining how hard it is for them, and how they hate it. Well, all of them had someone with them. Ala'a has an uncle in town, and he grew up in the same village that Ashraf grew up in. Ashraf had his sister, and her husband, which happens to be his cousin. My bro came here and I'm technically helping him through it. When I came here, dad stayed with me for two weeks into school then left. When I dropped off dad at the airport, that was the only time I saw dad's wetty, watery eyes. Then I only had Allah swt. My mettle was tested, dunno if passed or not. Anyways, every time I remember those days, heart hurts, and I'm sad.

Sometimes there is an advantage of being away from your beloved ones. You only remember the sweet good times.

Enough wise thoughts from the pilot for today...

Today, I cooked ma2looba (aka up-side-down !) It came out good. Now, I can bake and cook!! Oh, and Sabir wrecked his car in his way to Austin, he is fine. I, though, wish I can say the same about the car. I picked him up, and he is staying at my place for the weekend.

The Pilot thinks that if he doesn't go flying soon he will die ...
The Pilot thinks that he is over his head into this blog, he no longer can communicate with humans ... it's all good, since The Pilot is Language-impaired ...
The Pilot is listening to Burning Heart-Survivor...