A friend starting a new life

[david uk]

I am quite emotional tonight...

I have a friend in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). He is Egyptian but his family lives in the UAE.

He has always dreamed of living in a country where he can express himself as an openly gay man (in the UAE you can be imprisoned for being gay, even on the hearsay of your neighbours)

He is muslim and proud of his religion, and sees no contradiction in his eyes between Islam and homosexuality, but felt he had to leave.

He obtained a visa to go and look for work in Australia as a doctor (he is just 26), and is boarding the plane as I write this to start his new life.

I have only ever known him on the internet, but we have spoken either on the phone or the internet almost every day for well over a year now, and he has been a huge support to me through some very dark times- I owe him a lot. Once we even had a three-way phone conversation with Dee which was fun :p

As he boarded the plane tonight to start a new life far away he learned that his mother has cancer.

He is not "out" to his family, but this must tear him up, to feel he has to leave and start a new life, and to leave his sick mother behind.

I will wait to hear from him tomorrow when he lands in Perth.

please send rudie hugs to Mohamed :)

[Rkitko]

Consider the Rudie vibes sent. I hope he has a good time in Perth, I hear it's a great area. (One day I'll get there!)

[Agnes]

Such a rough time, David. I'm sorry for Mohamed and his family they have to go through this. Rudie hugs on their way!

[lucille]

Mohamed will have no trouble getting work, particularly if he is willing to practise in a country town. They are crying out for GPs and are offering all sorts of incentives, from free housing to golf club membership. Perth is a lovely city, but I am not sure of the gay scene there. Is he travelling on from Perth because there is a much greater gay scene in the east. Anyway, he is welcome to get in touch with me via email or phone if he needs someone over here.

[david uk]

Mohamed will have no trouble getting work, particularly if he is willing to practise in a country town. They are crying out for GPs and are offering all sorts of incentives, from free housing to golf club membership. Perth is a lovely city, but I am not sure of the gay scene there. Is he travelling on from Perth because there is a much greater gay scene in the east. Anyway, he is welcome to get in touch with me via email or phone if he needs someone over here.

that's good to know Lucille, thanks

to be honest, we never did discuss why he chose Perth, but I do know he did look up the local gay scene on the internet.

[RedjackRyan]

I wish your friend well, David. Its tough starting over in a new place and with the added burden of his mothers illness on his shoulders i'm sure he'll need all the support he can get.

[aabram]

Consider it sent, David. It is no joke when you find out someone you love has cancer, as my sister died from same 6 weeks before Catherine was born (1989) Lavinia was diagnosed 6 months after Mr Abram and I were married in St Mary's Cathedral. It tore me apart. :( and I landed up with Post Natal Depression.

Annabel

[Ginny]

((Mohamed))

[Darlene]

Hugs, Prayers, and lots of rudie vibes to your friend David. It must be very difficult to leave you home, family especially a mother who has cancer behind. But even though he had to leave his home may he have a good life in Perth.
Peace, Darlene

[Eva]

Very difficult for him. Rudie vibes are on their way.

Eva

[GodSistah]

Good luck to your friend, David!

:)

~Andrea~

[Dee]

I have only ever known him on the internet, but we have spoken either on the phone or the internet almost every day for well over a year now, and he has been a huge support to me through some very dark times- I owe him a lot. Once we even had a three-way phone conversation with Dee which was fun :p

Have you heard from Mohamed yet David? Inquiring minds want to know that he got to Australia okay!

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/deemark/Emoticons/sun.gif

[david uk]

I haven't heard from him yet- not sure if his UAE mobile works in Australia (his last text message was from Dubai airport), and am pretty sure he doesn't have access to the internet yet as he will have arrived only yesterday.

He is renting a room in the home of an Australian couple- he organised that from Abu Dhabi.

I have no doubt I will hear from him soon :)

[Dee]

Thanks David. Hopefully he's just too busy getting settled and you'll hear from him shortly. We worry ... sometimes. ;)

[DaveM]

All the very best to him. And let's hear it for countries that allow people to be themselves, even though most have a long way to go yet.

[hoops]

thoughts and prayers are with him and his mom
peace
hoops

[david uk]

Just heard from Mohamed via sms chat... he is doing fine in Perth :)

he is still worried about his mother but is actively looking for work and starting to make friends :)

[aabram]

Glad to hear it, David. Just heard from my Nephew in New Zealand. He's coming over in July but can't get any further north than York. I'm waiting for more news about when that will be so that some or all of us can go down and meet him that day. Haven't seen them for 2 or 3 years and I can't wait :)

Annabel