tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69881963421218603422024-03-05T19:25:20.458+00:00Diary Of An Arab GirlThis blog is a diary from an Arab Girl, me, who would like to share her views and ideas with people from all over the world.Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-65426603809895778442010-06-18T13:56:00.001+01:002010-06-18T13:58:44.836+01:00update<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:'Segoe UI';font-size:12px;">------><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 12px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; "><a href="http://on-top-of-the-box.blogspot.com">http://on-top-of-the-box.blogspot.com</a></span></span></span>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-466771721348361982010-01-29T11:08:00.003+00:002010-01-29T11:10:03.247+00:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Segoe UI';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Segoe UI';"><a href="http://on-top-of-the-box.blogspot.com">http://on-top-of-the-box.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></span></span>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-49774513821649975892010-01-02T00:43:00.003+00:002010-01-02T00:45:19.130+00:00New post<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">All my posts are in <a href="http://www.on-top-of-the-box.blogspot.com">www.on-top-of-the-box.blogspot.com</a></span></span>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-70438289160020010332009-10-19T12:56:00.004+01:002009-10-20T13:23:10.656+01:00New Blog<p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hey everyone! I moved out of my room, l moved out of my house, I moved out of my country and I moved out of this blog. Don’t worry, I’ moved to another blog. The reason is, when I really think about it I don’t see myself as an Arab girl. Please don’t misunderstand me I am an Arab girl, no I’m a proud Arab girl, I’m proud of being an Arab, I am proud of my Arabic language and I am proud of my religion. But the truth is I am not only an Arab. It is impossible to walk around with only half of your soul or half of your body. This is pretty much the same, I can’t walk around with half of my identity, I could but I refuse to. I am who I am because I am a Muslim, an Arab and a German. These three aspects form the way I live, believe and think. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So this is the link to my new blog, please check it out, and let me know what you think. It really encourages me to write when I know my chatter interests someone. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 42px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><a href="http://on-top-of-the-box.blogspot.com/"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://on-top-of-the-box.blogspot.com/</span></strong></a></span></span></span></p>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-52684312402400435812009-09-19T19:08:00.007+01:002009-09-23T21:13:33.719+01:00Off to London...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Hey Guys, </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I am so sorry I haven't written in ages, but the past week was crazy. I was working full time and getting ready for my studies in England at University of Exeter, which is meant to start next week, but apparently there was another plan for me. Two days ago I called the university to ask why I haven't received any information about my accommodation, the answer was "you don't have any accommodation", even though I paid the down-payment and booked the room. Even my accommodation was conformed to me by phone last week. I would have gone next week and would hear the news there, standing with my luggage at the door steps. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I was very devastated to hear this but now I think it is to the best, I'm not saying that the uni isn't good and I do think I would like it there, but it didn't work out. Anyway, for the past 3 year I wanted to go to London but some how we got to Exeter but now I am going to London. I'm going to Brunel Universit in London tonight. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I called Brunel the day before yesterday and they accepted us both my friend Zainab and I. Since Brunel are starting classes on Monday, I had to re-book and change all my plans so we are going tonight. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I planned my next 3 years in a matter of a few hours, and took spontaneous decisions that effect the next few years of my life. I am not normally like that and it is scary a little bit. But I have faith in god and I believe everything is to the best. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Anyway I have to get ready now, you will "read" from me from London. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">P.S: Happy Eid to all and many happy returns for the coming year. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-9686233296543110242009-09-09T18:46:00.009+01:002009-09-10T06:54:07.435+01:00Laylat Al Qadar, night of decree<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>Tonight is one of the nights of Al-Qadar, Layali Al-Qadar in Arabic. This is the night where the first verse of the Holy Qaran was introduced </b></span><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>to Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him & his family). <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:Georgia, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:verdana, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" >This n<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:Georgia, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:verdana, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" >ight is so special for Muslims, because in our belief, in this very night the prayers and whishes of people are being heard, and that people who seek forgiveness are given a guiding hand. This night is a beautiful night to renew your faith and your strength in your religion.</span></span></span></span></b></span></div><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>This special night is spent with religious <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:Georgia, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:verdana, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" >ritua<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:Georgia, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>ls such as praying, reading the Holy Quran, and reading Duaa </b></span><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>(supplications), and ask help with health issues, money issues or any other issues that people are facing.</b></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b></b></span><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>It is also preferred to do those special rituals in groups to strengthen one another. A lot of things in Islam are preferred in groups, we humans need people around us, some of us admit to it and others don’t, but the truth is we do. Sometimes we are surrounded by 1000<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:Georgia, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:verdana, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" > people and we still feel alone, and that feeling scares a lot of people so they ignore it because it is easier. Why shouldn’t we share everything that we can share? Even our faith, it makes it stronger and more beautiful.</span></span></b></span></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>But in this night after spending a few hours<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:Georgia, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:verdana, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" > wi<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:Georgia, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:verdana, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" >th family and friends praying, reading the Quran and the Duaa (supplications), I like to spend a few hours all by myself with my own prayers and readings. Sometimes it is important to do things alone, to make our own steps, to take time to confront our weakness, fears and selfishness.</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>This night is a perfect night for new beg<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:Georgia, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:verdana, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" >innings, to start giving more attention to our faith and beliefs, and to give<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:Georgia, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" > less attention to our selfish wants and needs. Not only our mind and body has needs and cravings but our soul too. This night is a good night to start spending a little more time in thinking.</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b></b></span><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>This night has a beautiful atmosphere, everyone is up till the early hours of the morning to pray and step away of all the material things. Some people like to do special rituals and acts that mark a fresh beginning, and this night is perfect because of all the religious s<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:Georgia, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:verdana, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" >pir<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:Georgia, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" >itual rituals, the beautiful atmosphere and the history that lies within this night. In some way it is like the New Year’s resolutions that people make every year to start over with themselves.</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>It might be hard to understand for people that have not given much thought about religion and faith, but I see this night as a good night for also none Muslims or none believers to start a fresh beginning. You might think why do I need a fresh beginning for? I don’t steal, I don’t lie, I don’t cheat, I don’t do drugs, I am not aggressive and beat my fam<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:Georgia, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>ily or other people and I try as much as possible not to use bad language. W<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:Georgia, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" >ith fresh beginning I mean a fresh beginning with the simple things. They are so simple and small we don’t think about them, such as being rude and hard on our little brother, sister or even our selves, or using so much water for showers and brushing our teeth, or not appreciating the things our family and friends do for us and taking them for granted, or throwing half of<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:Georgia, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b> the food that we buy in the rubbish bin while others haven’t had a warm meal in a week. </b></span><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>This night is perfect to take an oath with ourselves to spen<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:Georgia, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" >d a few moments thinking. You could do the coffee in the morning for your dad when he’s running late for work, or buy your little sister that T-shirt she<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:Georgia, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" > loved but was saving the money for a DVD, or send an SMS to your friend saying “Hey, what are you up to?” just to show that you care, or to do the laundry once in a while. Consider it an invitation to turn the page, Musli<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:Georgia, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" >m, none Muslim, whoever you are, where ever you are.</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b></b></span></o:p></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>You might think, what is she babbling about? It is supposed to be something religious, right? Well, our religion is a way of <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:Georgia, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:verdana, fantasy;" class="Apple-style-span" >life. There are two sides to it, one is between us and our creator and the other is the life that our creator has given to us, which includes people, work, ambitions and etc..</span></span></b></span></span></p>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-86050887596393384402009-08-20T22:03:00.012+01:002009-08-21T13:26:44.763+01:00Ramadan Kareem<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwu3tlvzTv88078UUcM5RZwjLgOajmEqxo-39VOKe_KkghkWcyrHf_gABB0r59tv4C4BpEw4rzBZPlPI8AzQbmLuqGwTCIw3IWtHLA6zu_97dcIQhSxQ2eQbmBvBNxraXtkM-F1fha4Nc/s1600-h/aRamadan_1.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwu3tlvzTv88078UUcM5RZwjLgOajmEqxo-39VOKe_KkghkWcyrHf_gABB0r59tv4C4BpEw4rzBZPlPI8AzQbmLuqGwTCIw3IWtHLA6zu_97dcIQhSxQ2eQbmBvBNxraXtkM-F1fha4Nc/s200/aRamadan_1.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372378030140138898" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>Today is Ramadan, Ramadan is the 9th month in the Islamic calender which is called Hijri calender. In the Islamic calender we don't have fixed dates, so the month starts and ends according to the moon. So there are two ways to announce that R<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana, fantasy;">amadan has started, some by sight and others use astrological to mark the new month. As for me and my <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana, fantasy;">family we relay on modern technology because it is capable to give the exact birth of the moon. But others relay on their sight to mark Ramadan just like the days of the prophet (peace be upon him). So there are always some people who start Ramad<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;">an earlier and others later, this is very sad because it would be beautiful if all Muslims would start together on the same day. But those slight differen<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana, fantasy;">ces of one or two days don't matter because in the end Ramadan is Ramadan.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>To none muslims Ram<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana, fantasy;">adan is just a month where muslims don't eat during the day and make up for it in the night. Let me explain what Ramadan really is. In this month over 1400 years A.C the holy book the Quran was reveled to mankind. In this month we fast from sunrise to sunset, to remember the poor and hungry and learn to know how lucky we are and sta<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana, fantasy;">rt to appreciate the little things that are so easy to forget. In t<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;">his month we try to use less bad language, even though we should do it everyday all the year. In this moth we can see and feel how people are caseous about their actions and slowly see what they were doing an<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;">d how it effects them and others. In this month people start thinking about the things that really matter in life and try to step away of al<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;">l the material things that keep us in chains. During fasting hours people<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;"> don't have sexual activities, to <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;">learn that humans don't just have physical, emotional and humanitarian <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;">needs but we have spiritual needs and needs for our minds and our souls. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMXUnjg9ynDRO6R7ud2821ui8v4Sm39o1pI2dcvLKUFP6tm1jvOIikc8kUQ4XHMOqmMQ3coP9ex7QNnTB2g7Xj_kUfaIe4JG8zV1x-Z0YMfXY20Que3vA8RB5S-Fhlwk4OF_TxIedMxA/s320/27.jpg" /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, fantasy;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>So this months is so holy for us for many reasons not just because the Holy Quran was reveled this very month and not just because we don't eat all day. This month is to start thinking with our brains and most importantly listening to our hearts. To start thinking about what we did, what we do and what we could do, not just for us but for others. To start listening to our heart, because always at some point of a persons life sooner or later, we start questioning where we came from and how come this world is they way it is. People start asking these questions if they never gave much thought to it, but also people who have been practicing their religion all their life. Because at the beginning you just copy what you are taught but one day you will have to find your own way to make it your religion not your parent's that you follow. This month is to build up a relationship with your creator, to build up a relationship with your inner self, and to begin fresh with not only phyiscal strength but also mental & spiritual strength. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, fantasy;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;"><b>P.S: Children, people who are sick and elderly people who are not able to fast, don't need to fast. As for the sick people if they can they must pay an amount of money to feed poor people. This helps them feel that they are doing something unselfish in Ramadan and share this holy month with us. </b></span></div>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-7858073676870159642009-08-18T05:44:00.021+01:002009-08-18T19:39:54.128+01:00Sami Yusuf Live Concert In Bahrain<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu957d7T9oQMi2nQyrlbEs-dFbKruZAljiGrxEqdKdfGodr7Zi3lY7wjo9qpoOLq-NVwRdxun9QhXf4j2ZguOlryLXiJS9g70b9G0nSL2unhjXfFaVYbr-aWuiv30uN8vAToFjv1ImRnY/s1600-h/P1190036.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu957d7T9oQMi2nQyrlbEs-dFbKruZAljiGrxEqdKdfGodr7Zi3lY7wjo9qpoOLq-NVwRdxun9QhXf4j2ZguOlryLXiJS9g70b9G0nSL2unhjXfFaVYbr-aWuiv30uN8vAToFjv1ImRnY/s200/P1190036.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371319742711749986" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Yesterday was the best night of the summer. </span></b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Sami</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Yusuf</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> came to Bahrain and gave a live concert. He sang all his popular songs, like </span></b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Hasbi</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> Rabbi (my favourite song), Free (A song I love), Teacher, My </span></b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Ummah</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">, etc.. An orchestra was playing and each musician came from a different country, for example the two guitarist came from England, the drummer was from New York, the violinist was from Cairo, the other musicians came from Germany, Lebanon, etc...</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The concert hall was full. So many people came. To be in the crowd and to feel the thrill was so amazing. When the lights went off everyone was clapping and yelling. Everyone was so excited. I swear, I felt like I could feel everyone around me getting tense while my own heart was racing madly.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">You know what, when Sami Yusuf came in you can't help but like him. You know why? When I see any concert on TV or </span></b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Youtube</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> for any singer Madonna, Britney, </span></b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Rihanna</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">, etc... they come on stage with a huge show for everyone to admire them but with </span></b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Sami</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Yusuf</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> it was different. A very humble, down to earth man came on stage, bend down slightly and gave the audience a very warm smile. That was the star of the night. His entrance wasn't a huge show but the effect that this humble person left on us was </span></b><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">tremendously huge.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">While he was singing everyone was singing along with him but the best part was in every song where he said Allah or </span></b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Muhammed</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> or </span></b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Mustafa</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> we all (girls and guys) would stand up, throw our arms up in the air and scream with him. The atmosphere was infectious. We all were one and the same, just Muslims, not </span></b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Shii</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">, </span></b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Suni</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">, </span></b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Hunaifi</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">, etc... </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">In the concert he sang the song that is dedicated to us Muslim girls called free. If you don't know it you must put it on your to do list because you have to check it out. It is about the "</span></b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Hijab</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">" scarf. While he was singing it, I saw a lot of girls with tears running down their cheeks. We just couldn't stop it. Listening to this song just renews our power to carry the </span></b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">hijab</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">, because the truth is wearing the </span></b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">hijab</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> needs power. Some need a lot of power and others need less power but in the end it needs power. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">A lot of people think that this kind of way to express your yourself and your religion is not religious but the opposite of religious. Some even think it's wrong because those sounds take people away of being spiritual. But I think otherwise. For me </span></b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Sami</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Yusuf</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> uses music to promote the message of Islam and encourages us youth to be proud of our religion and identity. You see a lot of our Muslim youth listening to other types of music because they like it. Youth today wants to listen to music, and the good music is offered by none Muslim singers and artist. Why shouldn't we offer the youth want they want in an fun Islamic way. There is no use forbidding them to listen to offensive, sexual oriented and bad language songs because they will do it anyway and will be pulled away of their religion more & more if the Muslims don't offer a good substitute, and I hope Sami Yusuf is just the beginning. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Anyway my hands hurt from clapping, my lungs hurt from singing along and I have a headache because I got back home around midnight and woke up at 5 a.m for work, so all in all my I'm really tired, but last night was worth it. </span></b></div><br /><div align="justify"> </div>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-32395539829113542532009-08-12T18:27:00.002+01:002009-08-12T18:31:09.740+01:00Unemployed Was Yesterday<div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>I joined the working forces. I work in an office were I help out by doing anything to take the load off. Well, I try. So I do a little book keeping, filing, printing, filling application and calling people to do this and that. I am told to do this and that, things I never heard of or know less than nothing about, so I ask a million questions which might or definetly annoys people around here, but hey when I am going to do something I want it to be right. But it gets better slowly.</b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><br /></b></span><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>Well, that work is from 8 a.m to 4 p.m but I have another job too, back at home. Since I'm moving out next month my sister is going to get my room. She wants a different colour for the walls. So our job is to get everything out of my ex-room and paint the walls. So all my things are moving to the guest room which is not in the house it self. My family seems to find it quit suitable that I'm moving out, ugh. Anyway, the guest room is my room now, so when ever I get back from England I have somewhere to stay. In the past three days we managed to get all of my things out, I found things that I was looking for and couldn't find and I found things I didn't even know I had. Seriously we humans buy things that we don't need, the problem is we think we need them. Once upon a time, people needed water, food,air and shelter. Now we need flash pink pens with glitter for school, a sock for the phone, etc etc...</b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpgqYoUyJt7AHWL-s_6saw_CLayfV7eqQYsN7abUGXDQnXZCkOF4MjyGW4JgfaYcTj8t6-Wz-_GyfUQQxwDZyaKyS7teVKSrLmpFJl29LNQkI0vnBKk4uoo58nmh7myF3bCkb4X-eMQc/s200/P1180923.JPG" /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>Taking all my things out.</b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKmN0YxFixxomdQAHtjwBZ_04qF5g2WvJZPJrGNaL06VeZWAg5QdLb-HppeFGY3-4JTO6HBHq9XVluOxViP21N-VSruOowZ7S-L-n1_Fc8PpKzKhrrTL3gfhv-Fu0cavh9FWH9KvrRxs/s200/P1180926.JPG" /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>Working on my sisters new room.</b></span></div><div><div align="justify" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div align="justify" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiul8T3sN5XoXzv3-oxBaYPrHmy10JF-mtXvTpg18muHP1lX4a4jzGErYjHrxMsZRNclKBGMeMlyS0HTZOOgFHyIcfpvgxvZp5VkQz01-9UXaV7YwMq-Loqfk1zuICsKWyrVGxTzsJrMY8/s200/P1180928.JPG" /> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pLtfY5tV6TvKbes9rJ71cFWbkQu9jG8ykzuf3u_wkoZvB4DtF48PnqI6gaFSA8bkUdqT7vqAdABCnYm8qKPZyWyKgO70gK3TeChhwxkXBtVjqlTJG-ARNoEzL4smQ9Xsozu5x0YR274/s200/P1180929.JPG" /></b></span></div><div align="justify" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>Ex-guest room/ my room.</b></span></div><div align="justify" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div align="justify" style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>We are starting with painting next week, I'll show you how my ex-room room (new sister's room) will look like.</b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>To be continued...</b></span></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div></div></div></div></div>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-53223673434373131292009-08-11T10:38:00.008+01:002009-08-11T20:41:33.077+01:00Sick<div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>The last two weeks were pretty messy. I got the flu, a really bad flu. I </b></span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>stayed</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b> in bed for 3 days straight. My family got really worried because 3 weeks back I came back from Germany so I might have got the swine flu, but after 3 days I was back to normal. In those 3 days I spent my time either sleeping, reading or </b></span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>watching</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b> "Prison Break" all over again. In only 3 days I managed watching all of season one. Being sick ain't that bad aye? </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>Probably you are thinking, didn't you go to the doctor? Well, I don't do doctors. They have a very important job and they are doing a lot of good but I hate going to the doctor. The reason is, when I was 4 years old I got a really bad flu, my </b></span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>temperature</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b> was 41, my mom took me to a doctor who freaked me out and to this very day I hate going to the doctor. I only go to the hospital for very serious things, which I never had to go to, thank god, or for example when I broke my leg, or I go to visit other people and I enjoy it when we go to see a new born baby. Otherwise, my </b></span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>receipt</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b> for every illness is sleeping and </b></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>panadol</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b> or </b></span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>aspirin</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b>.</b></span></div>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-46128237333484327952009-08-01T00:37:00.007+01:002009-08-01T01:08:30.033+01:00Here, Now, this Moment<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifTTYJV_hMOzEiJCoqY6_P7LfT6VK3dtCfUHwOhd0IS3Ye2n3gxCloINi1PW4g4HqoZK2ADUqrbF9Y_mYvq4nlm7-HldsnhqBpb0esHpHLU3Mf9rU2N3ayfldLdAt_ONklrJPXVYS7wg/s1600-h/RightNowSqure.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifTTYJV_hMOzEiJCoqY6_P7LfT6VK3dtCfUHwOhd0IS3Ye2n3gxCloINi1PW4g4HqoZK2ADUqrbF9Y_mYvq4nlm7-HldsnhqBpb0esHpHLU3Mf9rU2N3ayfldLdAt_ONklrJPXVYS7wg/s200/RightNowSqure.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364780363059642626" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">My mom walked into my room this morning, put a DVD on my desk, said "watch this" and left the room. So tonight my friend and I watched it. It is called "Peaceful Warrior" based on the book "Way of the Peaceful Warrior". </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">While watching the movie I realized that the message the movie is trying to give is quit important, it is a topic that I ignore, now that I am actually thinking about it. I realized that I am not really living the "now". For example, when I was in high school I was waiting for the summer holidays to start, when the summer holidays started I was waiting for the day to leave for Germany, now that I am back in Bahrain I am waiting for the 26th of September the day I will leave Bahrain and go to England to start university. These are just a few examples. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">What a waste of time? From school start after spring break were 3 months that I didn't actually "really" live, from the beginning of the summer holidays until I left for Germany were 2 weeks that I didn't "really" live, from now till the start of university are two months that I could waste. I must remind my self to live the moment, the right now, and the right here. It is actually quit weird, I am waiting all this time because I think I will have what I want then, that I will like it more, or that it will be more exciting, while me Mariam, I am the same back then, now and tomorrow. </span></span></div>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-12972914322525569812009-07-26T12:25:00.006+01:002009-08-20T06:53:34.878+01:00Raising Good Daughters<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The only thing that a girl really owns is her reputation. I hate hate hate this sentence. Every girl has her own special qualities that she owns. Please don't get me wrong, it doesn't mean that she can do what ever she wants even though it is wrong. But this sentence puts girls in a little box. This is not how to control girls, they will one day break out. Well, they are breaking out. </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Recently I met a few girls who locked themselves up in little boxes because they are afraid of harming their reputation. Very simple things scare them. For example, when someone jokes around and tells them they like some guy that doesn't exist to tease them. Or they are afraid to be seen in some mall, because the uncle of the cousin of their father doesn't approve, when their parents actually don't mind. Or they are afraid to be seen talking to some girl who people are saying a lot of rumors about even though they might not be true. Or they are afraid to have a friend that doesn't wear the hijb (head scarf) or Abya (traditional clothing), even though she is a really nice person. </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">What bothers me the most is when the daughters argue "why not" with their families the answer is "The only thing a girl really owns is her reputation". This method is not going to work for much longer I assure everyone. A lot of girls don't abide to those rules anymore because: </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">1) they don't want to be controlled. Parents with some brains would explain and discuss the issue and I am sure it does wonders because it works with me.</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">2) Parents are afraid of the new, they don't realize that their children don't live like they did, their children's generation is another one. </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">3)Parents think they are protecting their children, when the only way to protect them is to educate them. </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">4) The girls want to think and make their own decisions, they refuse to be told what to do and what not for no reason. </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">5) The family is afraid that people will say that they don't know how to raise their daughters properly. </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But I am happy to say that this only applies to a small number of girl nowadays. Some people abide these rules because they are afraid of the people's split tongues, and some because (even though they are Arabs) they can't differentiate between religion and tradition. </span></span></div>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-87144773691962023472009-07-23T15:34:00.004+01:002009-08-01T01:01:04.639+01:00Back<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Hey I'm back. My room looks like a bomb just exploded in it. The weather is so hot, I could fry eggs on the car. My e-mail address is locked for some reason. All my clothes need to be washed. Welcome home Mariam.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-90729829471986340482009-07-08T13:20:00.002+01:002009-08-01T01:02:51.349+01:00We love to entertain you<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Back in Bahrain we don't have MTV, so I catch up on all the crazy when I'm here. The shows are all about looks, body, sex, .... umm that's about it. It's so superficial, I can't picture the lives of those people. Being fit,hot and sexy is all that matters. It's brain washing right in your house. This is the modern age.</span></span><br /></div>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-60339607181228083812009-07-07T13:00:00.003+01:002009-08-01T01:03:13.129+01:00All eyes on me<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What would people think? This question is probably one of the most asked questions. Dose it matter? Actually not, but the truth is, it does.<br /><br />Here in a small vilage in Germany, where ever I go all eyes are on me, in the supermarket, cafe, shop, srteet, or when I`m riding my bike all eyes are set on me. I`m wearing my jeans, a shirt and a piece of cloth over my head. I guess this is why.<br /><br />Sometimes I feel like I want to hide in the house away from all the eyes. But I still force myself out. Some people look at me and smile and I wan to hug them for that, but others don`t. It doesn`t hurt though, I guess because years back i decided that it will not hurt me.</span></span><br /></div>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-67181098701074130372009-06-18T14:48:00.004+01:002009-08-01T01:03:39.884+01:00Off For A While<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I had a really busy week. I spent the whole week as a volunteer in an English Summer Camp for orphans. It is organized by the American Embassy, who brought Scott our coach from America. I spent 8 to 9 hours a day playing games with the kids so they could pick up the language but mostly it was about having a good time. But it was so tiring, kids equal work. I came back home, dropped myself on my bed and fell asleep straight away for a week but I enjoyed myself too.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anyway this is my last post for some time because I am going to Germany tonight to visit my grandparents there, so I won't be able to write. Just so you know I'm coming back on the 21 July.OK, I have to go and pack my bag. Bye. </span></span><br /></div></div>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-71060455726177198462009-06-12T22:08:00.010+01:002009-06-12T23:43:39.750+01:00The Secret Lives Of Arab Teens<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkJZOKDKZLbo0ZORQkd4bOxSo6tQA4CNloIaxGg_FUVVzihOCnLn3kT7IfqKX8kv4bmDJ-71CcJQu4uwjQMikZr9XG_zInqhMVHwPcQpY4QQhzPui0ogWvkUARrGCqSeGyg0mhEFJPMg/s1600-h/sound-wave-cell-phone-chargerjpg-thumb"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkJZOKDKZLbo0ZORQkd4bOxSo6tQA4CNloIaxGg_FUVVzihOCnLn3kT7IfqKX8kv4bmDJ-71CcJQu4uwjQMikZr9XG_zInqhMVHwPcQpY4QQhzPui0ogWvkUARrGCqSeGyg0mhEFJPMg/s200/sound-wave-cell-phone-chargerjpg-thumb" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346568611878191330" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">The three main electronic devices: laptop, iPod and mobile. If I had to give up any of them, I am 100% sure it would be my mobile phone, its piratical and can help out in some tricky situation but still this is what I would give up after all, they are house-phones and pay-phones.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But ask 90% of the girls in Bahrain and the surrounding countries, I think they would give up oxygen before they would give up their mobile phones. The reason for that is Mr. secret boyfriend. Yup, it's not right in the islamic point of view, it's not right in the traditional point of view. But I am not here to say what is right or wrong, I am just saying what is going on. It is not accepted with our older citizens but normal with our younger citizens. And it is loved by our telephone companies, because they are making money like crazy. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Girls as young as 12 years old claim to have found their true love. But I think it is sad, I mean yea they might think the whole thing is exciting and they might find a kick in having a dirty little secret, but and there is a big BUT to it. Is it really worth it? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Most of the so called relationships last for a short period of time, if you can even call them a relationship, because I don't consider a phone relationship actually a relationship. The phone is just like the internet, you can pretend to be who ever you want to be, just because you can. A lot of people might think of it as a sign of modernization because they are copying the west. Is copying modernization, hmm? Big Question mark there. And then again, in the west most couples that don't see each other and have to carry on with their "relationship" on the phone break up most of the time anyway. And then there is this feeling of guilt, and I know most of the people do feel that way. Guilt is one of the ugliest feelings ever. I am not sure about the rest of you, but I'd rather feel tied down than guilty. Then there is the secrecy, when you have to hide something then it is not right. And I think a relationship should be right or it's not worth it. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">How does it happen? Well, the girl and the guy are in some mall, they shoot looks, then the guy throws a little paper with his number at the girl, faltering right? Hmm, questionable. Or they small talk and exchange numbers. I don't know about the guys but the girls hide in their rooms, bathrooms to talk. They talk mostly nights. And when people are around they use girl tenses so the family would think it is a "girl" friend. They save the guys number with a girls name. This is the common way, but I guess there are a million other ways. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Where do we learn all this? Movies. True love. The thing is life is way different than hollywood. Catching stories of how they met and how perfect everything is, and the imperfectness is still so nice somehow, don't you think? The amazing love story, where prince charming gets to fight for her. Well, ladies it's not that way. Of course for every rule there is an exception but that leaves the rest which is 95% the rule. (ha ha, I have that rule from the movie "he's just not that into you".) And I know that, because 99% of the people I know who have secret boyfriends break up, marry other people, get bored, get caught or spend all the time fighting about nothing. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">No offense, everything I said is just a personal view and not a judgment. This is just how I see it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">P.S: read the book "Girls of Riyadh" by Rajaa Alsanea.</div>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-82342506997007087452009-06-09T18:52:00.005+01:002009-06-09T20:06:17.250+01:00Our Graduation Party<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Our graduation party was so great, amazing, perfect.........no it wasn't. Long boring speeches, the song we were meant to sing, we messed it up, our teachers made us rehearse 3 times the entrance in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">front</span> of the guests...huh?.... and a girl fainted, nobody knows why. Our teachers kept yelling at us to behave, seriously our parents know how we really are, no need to pull this act of robots. For us students who our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">GPAs</span> are above 90% we got medals instead of honor students scarfs as usual, as if we won a football match. I like football but still.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But all in all it was nice, everyone needs a dose of drama from time to time. Some teachers and students cried (I was not one of them), all newspapers and magazines were there, they took pictures of us as if we were Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in person. A storm of lighting and thunder hit me, I know my luck, my picture will look like crap, I bet one eye is closed and the other only half open, classic.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVchy3iSxUK3-4ezDuZjpiZVpj8Ywh2cK8uKV68aQT5iSJZTn9vbawOtAtUlA7lN_MkdnfsdG8mHYcKw8dpBNNmNylrgZ61O9rA1Os6MU9Aq3kQgWkNU-XrtE3FGQikoPrW-UW4eHntd8/s1600-h/P1180310.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVchy3iSxUK3-4ezDuZjpiZVpj8Ywh2cK8uKV68aQT5iSJZTn9vbawOtAtUlA7lN_MkdnfsdG8mHYcKw8dpBNNmNylrgZ61O9rA1Os6MU9Aq3kQgWkNU-XrtE3FGQikoPrW-UW4eHntd8/s320/P1180310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345402871007575586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">My uniform and graduation robe.</span><br /></div></div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQYAxU0YBwYLb3kmQxxSSKAoxnVaZhacAZkKgGLSb_bw7BKD7HWmfa1HAPO0bnLHCnmqVa-QuyAUdGxiLMmJBS_xfA9FjAOdtYWZaVJHqcXRyUS006fFqLt-EbmnEhBLvx2ylbl0ypug/s1600-h/P1180349.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQYAxU0YBwYLb3kmQxxSSKAoxnVaZhacAZkKgGLSb_bw7BKD7HWmfa1HAPO0bnLHCnmqVa-QuyAUdGxiLMmJBS_xfA9FjAOdtYWZaVJHqcXRyUS006fFqLt-EbmnEhBLvx2ylbl0ypug/s320/P1180349.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345404919351290178" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-89211655904464538602009-06-07T12:49:00.009+01:002009-06-07T14:56:40.987+01:00MuSiCI was going through my iTunes today, so I decided I will share with you my all time favorite songs:<br />1. I Hope You Dance by Ronan Keating.<br />2. Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls.<br />3. Every Breath You Take by The Police.<br />4. What About Now by Chris Daughtry.<br />5. Goodbye My Lover by James Blunt.<br />6. How To Save A Life by The Fray.<br />7. Wonderful World by James Morrison.<br />8. One by U2 ft. Mary J. Blige.<br />9. Let Me Sign By Robert Pattinson.<br />10. Please Don't Stop The Rain by James Morrison. (My current obsesstion)<br />11. Angels By Robbie Williams.<br />12. Complicated by Avril Lavgine.<br />13. Dear Mr. President by Pink.<br /><br />I also love some German songs:<br />1. Regen Und Meer by Juli.<br />2. Führ Mich Ans Licht by Xavier Naidoo.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I hate all Arab songs but there are a very few exceptions, for example "Kalimat" by Majida Al-Roomie but hey the lyrics are wrttien by Nizar Al-Qabani, he himself is an execption, a lot of people don't like him, "he is too daring" but this is what I like most about him.</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I also like Rockstar by Nickelback, it's not from my favorites songs but the lyrics are great, and it's fun to sing along. Well, it's fun for me not the people who are sitting close enough to hear. I also like some Rnb songs but they are not good enough to be in my favorite songs list.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is my iPod that I broke, but it is still working, good, because I am addicted to it. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWIbPUILK2jR_G6jsuKbLGPFjTfAeup2kF5Q0Xvj_SGDjOoKsEU44yLGleVA8Ode_u0-CRc7c8gVHI9RCVworsIBbOn7AQHaqFwU2m58RREwxZCHL1k2XUYIGOKRWQdEE2Re2qVil-pM/s320/P1180306.JPG" /><br /></div>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-4688762878748951982009-06-03T22:03:00.004+01:002009-06-04T10:08:48.629+01:00Always Late<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3h0JJ3bKYVSUVhrN8bQLyI38_PoWMY43oFtA83w7CzWbj_iBlDt8O0gDEHLZhwhgibzTt5XGXtfBW-EtqxbA4A3T_GER6FHXtZijmECIHj_DeAPsfVCkxhyUOl7eFi9n0TxQIvNtLUL8/s1600-h/clock-10-15_33489_md.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3h0JJ3bKYVSUVhrN8bQLyI38_PoWMY43oFtA83w7CzWbj_iBlDt8O0gDEHLZhwhgibzTt5XGXtfBW-EtqxbA4A3T_GER6FHXtZijmECIHj_DeAPsfVCkxhyUOl7eFi9n0TxQIvNtLUL8/s200/clock-10-15_33489_md.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343214953286896194" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">You know what's annoying, people being extra late. I don't mean 5 minutes late, I mean like only 2 hours late. In Bahrain it's the most normal thing ever, like breathing normal. When you invite people over and say 3 p.m., they usually show up at 3:30 or 3:45. It drives me crazy. It looks like people think it is rude to come over on time, they think it looks like their being pushy or desperate. But, the thing is I invited you over, and when I say 3 I mean 3, and I mean it exactly 3. Ok, I don't mind 5 minutes later or even 10 but not ages.</span><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">So what happened today was, that our school forced 600 girls to get out of their beds at 7 a.m (on our second day of holidays) to be at school at 8 a.m for the graduation party/ceremony rehearsal. They warned each and every one of us to be there at 8 a.m, so we show up at 8 but guess what rehearsal started at 10:15. Yes, unbelievable. </span></span></div>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-70234931979749764422009-06-02T00:29:00.009+01:002009-06-02T13:39:23.793+01:00I will not be put in a box<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0emma1oKVmQcS09psf57yAtXTQCVDPw5BB5QyATfAIUQlDjnHRMc6Mm8jmzkkCqF6uHN4No9KzfnhyphenhyphenLSXtFcxhdYf_MRg7Dy0wVTml9EUa19RbhBEcxiM8JvI6rsVchoV1tfvryZQgk/s1600-h/cardboard%2520box%25201.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 221px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0emma1oKVmQcS09psf57yAtXTQCVDPw5BB5QyATfAIUQlDjnHRMc6Mm8jmzkkCqF6uHN4No9KzfnhyphenhyphenLSXtFcxhdYf_MRg7Dy0wVTml9EUa19RbhBEcxiM8JvI6rsVchoV1tfvryZQgk/s320/cardboard%2520box%25201.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342505660311688194" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">People hate the unknown so to make it easy for themselves they put people into categories to deal with them. No matter with which kind of group they are dealing with. In small communities there are the cool people, jocks, nerds, geeks, freaks and so on.</span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In bigger communities there are low class, average and high class. Talking about the world there are Western, Arabs, English, Black, White, Muslim, Christian, Jew, Hindu, Asian, European, African, American etc, etc…. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></div><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Each group, category or whatever you want to call them behave in a cretin way, and they expect the members of their own group to behave in that way. And they expect people from other groups to stick to behaving in their own way. </span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">But I am not going to be put in a little sample glass with a label on it, neither by Arabs nor any other people. </span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(Please mind, that most of these supposed to be behaviors come from both Arabs and none Arabs, see which one you thought doesn’t fit to a typical Muslim Arab girl). Why can’t I be a Muslim Arab girl that rides a bike? Why can’t I be a Muslim Arab girl that travels abroad to study? Why can’t I be a Muslim Arab girl that wears jeans to go out? Why can’t I be a Muslim Arab girl that gets married after the age of 24? Why can’t I be a Muslim Arab girl that does martial arts? Why can’t I be a Muslim Arab girl that is thought of as a terrorist? Why can’t I be a Muslim Arab girl that travels alone? Why can’t I be a Muslim Arab girl that goes out all by herself? Why can’t I be a Muslim Arab girl that listens to western music? Why can’t I be a Muslim Arab girl that thinks Robert Pattinson looks good? Why can’t I be a Muslim Arab girl that isn’t thought of as oppressed? Why can’t I be a Muslim Arab girl that likes dance moves like in “step up” the movie? Why can’t I be a Muslim Arab girl that rides a motor bike?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">I bet when you saw a Muslim Arab girl that does, thinks, likes all those things, you would stare and think of it as odd and I bet you that you would have liked it more if she would have stuck </span>to what you think as normal for her. </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-16427064799374339412009-06-01T21:50:00.007+01:002009-06-07T15:00:19.471+01:00Done With School<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBmzOWRmrU75z5LeAaqqKAR2Q3FVDVSMyM0HsczjaRD1QLjNNCZwdwgkwpPh3LaI_BTjlzB7tOvYb2Q1zvanXsGxkr4_a6_TTt_2JwzJz17KROBkxH0uzG1ZH0fBaCMltGwezWwluiT4/s1600-h/415645220_d262ada05c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBmzOWRmrU75z5LeAaqqKAR2Q3FVDVSMyM0HsczjaRD1QLjNNCZwdwgkwpPh3LaI_BTjlzB7tOvYb2Q1zvanXsGxkr4_a6_TTt_2JwzJz17KROBkxH0uzG1ZH0fBaCMltGwezWwluiT4/s320/415645220_d262ada05c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342487069566772738" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify; font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Hey I'm back, it has been for ever since I wrote anything. I was really busy with my final exams, which I finished today. So, I am done with school for life. I am so happy, yea it sounds very cliché but its true. You should see all my friends nicknames on msn, it is hilarious. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The weird part is I feel like I should be feeling much more than I am feeling right now, maybe because it didn't hit me yet, or maybe this is how I just feel. I will get rid of all my school books, papers, revision sheets, etc etc... maybe I will get it then. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I felt like I had to do something today to mark this day, so my friend & I cut our hair. But it wasn't me who actually cut my hair, don't worry, we went to a hair saloon which some of our friends said is supposedly so good. The result I don't really like my hair cut. Not that I hate it either. But I am in a that good mood that it will not break that easily. Plus I wear a hijab (head scarf) so bad hair days aren't that bad. One of the Hijabs pros. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The weather is extremely hot, like boiling hot, I think I will ask my school friends to come over to swim, something like a pool graduation pre-party. Our actual graduation party is next Monday 8th of June. Where we get to throw our graduation caps, yay. I bet there will be a lot of tears, which freaks me out, but there is a good chance that I will be joining that group. But our school is coming up with even crappier rules at the end of the year than at the beginning, so our school declared that no cameras are allowed at the graduation party, WHAT? But mine will be there 100%. I can't leave my camera, its like breaking up with it, and I love my camera. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span">P.S: I don't mind a little something for graduation like an iPhone maybe (a little message at mom & dad). OK, OK graduation and 18th birthday gift which is only in 4 months :P</span></div>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-21299559141807317582009-05-08T11:25:00.001+01:002009-05-08T11:25:40.950+01:00An Art To Express<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdhKsV63IuB-htCTAAJZXggJafLxF0vIgy2rJfeeMmkCrORcGgpmrbgaJIKDFl-XdKtstsKoW_hgapypzaG6fuf-E-UOhgpBR05p6njadyAlxdOY92u6te2aPF9XbkigxJTrQg5N4lvI/s1600-h/frida_kahlo_tree_of_hope_1946.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdhKsV63IuB-htCTAAJZXggJafLxF0vIgy2rJfeeMmkCrORcGgpmrbgaJIKDFl-XdKtstsKoW_hgapypzaG6fuf-E-UOhgpBR05p6njadyAlxdOY92u6te2aPF9XbkigxJTrQg5N4lvI/s320/frida_kahlo_tree_of_hope_1946.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332386127986686866" border="0" /></a>I was never really interested in the Art of drawing but last week in German class I had to describe a picture so my teacher showed me some drawings of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Frida</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kahlo</span>, a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Mexican</span> artist, who is known for drawing herself. She has suffered a lot in life, she was in a bad bus accident, so she had to wear a back cast for years. Also her husband was cheating on her with a lot of different woman. All those things play a big role in her drawing.<br /><br />I am not sure if I think her drawings are nice, but they are very meaning full and some drawing are very shocking. What I admire about her is that she has a very clear way of expressing herself, it shows her pain, her thoughts and her life. I am the kind of person who can not show that I am hurting or in pain because then I feel that I am weak. I am ashamed if I cry <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">in front</span> of people, because I see it as a weakness though I know it isn't but for some reason I am that way. I can't really explain it. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Frida's</span> drawings showed me something I can't to do which is express myself. I know it is funny that this comes from me, someone who writes a blog about herself which is expressing myself but I am really bad at it in real life.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9xG3I9mUDf83MY54p3rlA-8Kth-BlxoB_Dv4cL4Tpm2BvEBnwZ-thcomLDS9FKbVBEmsOnWUscaDouLXb8csohWTVwYgRnKc3rXKpDqNy3-H8kckqBclGHtbSL9uHpq58Bk99CKpExA/s1600-h/Frida_Kahlo_le_due_frida.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9xG3I9mUDf83MY54p3rlA-8Kth-BlxoB_Dv4cL4Tpm2BvEBnwZ-thcomLDS9FKbVBEmsOnWUscaDouLXb8csohWTVwYgRnKc3rXKpDqNy3-H8kckqBclGHtbSL9uHpq58Bk99CKpExA/s320/Frida_Kahlo_le_due_frida.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332385734930042194" border="0" /></a>This picture has the most effect on me though it's not the most moving drawing of hers, but I think I have this picture in mind because I can see myself in it. She is part <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Mexican</span> and part <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Spanish</span>, and in this picture she shows the two <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">frida's</span>, so I can relate to her feelings about this issue because there is in a freakish way, two <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Mariams</span>, an Arabic Mariam and a German Mariam. The Arabic Mariam is maybe more clear or dominant because I live in an Arabic country but there are somethings where German Mariam takes over. It's all just so twisted and I had big problems with this a few years ago, maybe <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">that's</span> the reason why I have this drawing on my mind.<br /></div>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-74557375436063384802009-05-07T13:00:00.001+01:002009-05-07T13:03:02.047+01:00Just My Luck<div style="text-align: justify;">Life is so unfair. I am going to act like a teenager right now. Wait a minute, I am a teenager, I can be a drama queen from time to time. So again, life is so unfair. I have been waiting for the summer holidays to start so I can start to take my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">divining</span> classes but now that the law have been changed I have to wait for my 18<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> birthday to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">actually</span> start my driving classes, but since my birthday is on the 27<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">September</span> I will not be able to do my driving <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">license</span> because at that time I will be at University in England. So, to do my driving license I will have to wait till next year. Just my luck.<br /><br />Only 15 years back just a few woman were driving here, now everyone is driving, allot of girls in my class are starting their driving classes next month.</div>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988196342121860342.post-73641426411733004802009-05-06T12:01:00.002+01:002009-05-06T12:05:04.758+01:00Some People Are Beyond Me<div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">A few days ago my mom told me a story she saw on German TV. It was about a 12 year old </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Palestinian</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> boy who was shoot dead in the head by an Israeli solider because he has mistaken him for a gunmen. The parents of the boy "Ahmed Al- </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Katib</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">" have given a gift to the people of </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Israel</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> and </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Palestine</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, and to peace by allowing their sons organs to be donated to save the lives of children on the Israeli side . The father said that he hoped the donation would send a message of peace to </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Israelis</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> and Palestinians.</span><br /><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Ahmed's organs have saved the lives of six people of different ages, including a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Druze</span> girl who got his heart, and two Israelis who received his lungs and liver. </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:verdana;" class="t13" >One of Ahmed's kidneys saved the life of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Mohammed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Kabua</span>, a Bedouin child who lives in Israel's southern Negev desert. </span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:verdana;" class="t13" >His kidney also saved <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Menuha</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Levinson</span>, the toddler daughter of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish family in Jerusalem. But her father's initial discomfort at the idea of an Arab donor shows the deep personal suspicion that stokes this conflict.</span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="t13" > </span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:verdana;" class="t13" ><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Yaakov</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Levinson</span> says shortly after his daughter's life-saving operation that he would would have preferred a Jewish donor and remarks that he would never allow his children to be friends with Arabs for fear of "bad influence". </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">This remark has struck me deeply, a father who has lost his son for nothing by their people has saved their little </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">daughter's</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> life, how can this man still say something like this? How can someone be so full of hate? This is beyond me.</span><br /><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">If such an act of kindness can not bring peace then what? what is there to do? </span></span></span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />This story has been filmed and it is called "The heart of <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Jenin</span>", a </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:verdana;" class="t13" >German-Israeli documentary film, shows the story of Ahmed, his father, and three of the five people who received the donated organs. </span></span> </div>Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04999844182367088747noreply@blogger.com0