If 2008 should end anyway;

If for everytime I think (of you) my heart should sing, I will have composed a symphony by now.
Here is a piece of a little something I wrote last year:

I have one father.
One mother,
One mind,
One soul,
One heart,
I have two bodies.

I have one God.
One firm thought,
One belief,
I have two entities.

The very different people that exist within our being, the existence we are; the one we take so recklessly for granted. We were born to find this world, the miracle it is, ready for us, when we, the helpless human beings we are, were never prepared for it. The surprises and the shocks, the ups and downs, the hopes and their destruction- the menthol-like iciness of birth.
A mother holds her child with care and pride, thinking I helped bring this like into the world, but does she ever think of how she would make this life ready to take this world with a confident heart and a mind that is sure, with a soul that believes?
Instead, we are left to conquer this world unassisted, alone, not in the cold meaning of the word, but rather the independent one. And by independence, I far from mean physical independence, for I (at twenty) am not yet physically independent from my parents, but I have mentally rebelled. I have rebelled.
This is not an invitation to rebel, though, nor is it a call to fight against parental authority, this is a call for change, and not for help, for I have found the one to save me, or rather, help me save myself. Not many of us need to be saved, and even less people need to be found, we are not lost, nor are we in a whirlwind of delusion. We are just distracted. The colorful world, and the bright lights, and the consumerism that has taken over our worlds; I want my coffee, and my book, and I want to achieve this worth-you-envy success when I grow up…all of our basic needs and our greatest aspirations; they have diverted us, and our focus, from the purpose, from our very first and the most defiantly important and longest of all quests we should seek in this life; who are we?

Who am I?
What do I want from this life?
What is my quest?
What am I looking for?
What impact do I want to have?

It leaves me in wonder; do we exist in a series of never ending questions? You answer one question, after so much pondering, nights of contemplation, days of failed attempts to meditate in the Cairo traffic and the thunderous pace of life, and you’re left with a part of the phenomenal creation you are, unveiled.

In our galaxy of a life, there’s always a star, worth of a whole constellation that was placed in your path to guide you. Yet sometimes, just sometimes, we overlook that wondrous star, shining with sincerity, only to come back to our senses, lucky enough to do that before we miss our chance, and hold this star high, regard it high, and treat it like the precious star it is. Because we all deserve to be guided, and we all deserve to answer the questions that bring us to the realization that our existence is remarkable. And that after all, neither of us is yet another face in the crowd.

Happy New Year Everyone!! 

Happy Holidays!

Have a very happy holiday season everyone, even though it is a bit Christmas-ly late..

Jeddah has been nice to me lately.
After having found out there were four fellow AIESECers currently in Jeddah (or rather Alumni, like myself), I met up and spent the day with them and it was actually so much fun!
Then the following day (which was yesterday), my sister got us invited to spend the day with a SAUDI ARABIAN friend of hers. It was actually my first time to meet a Saudi family; will give more details on that later on, nonetheless, it was fun.

I have been tagged by Erin Meagan of SeeYourVoice

The rules are :

1. Go to the 4th folder in your computer where you store your pictures.

2. Pick the 4th picture in that folder.

3. Explain the picture.

4. Tag 4 people to do the same!

The Picture: 

 

I apologize for the poor quality (my connection isn't helping me much)

The Explanation:

This picture was taken Summer of 2007 when my boyfriend and I first got together, in Alexandria, Egypt (this explains part of why I love the city so much). We were driving, and decided to stop and watch the sun setting into the very amazing Meditterenean. We placed the camera on the blocks of rocks behind us and voila!

edit:

Silly me was very excited by the fact that I go tagged, I forgot to tag four other people; so here it is:

1. Afiori
2. Hayek (because I know he has tons of amazing pictures)
3. Inside the Cabinet of Wonder
4. Sidenote:
   

Post 70: An Ode to Alexandria

Inspired by a book, a lot of people, a lot of love and a whole lot of homesickness.

Alexandria,
The city that never sleeps.
Alexandria,
The triumphant coast that never weeps.

A shore that has borne:
love and loss
Dreams; made and broken,
Alike it would toss.

Alexandria,
dampen my soul with your mist and moisture,
Shape my horizon,
Like your natives' curvy posture.

Evenings of purple;
setting the sun free
Calling for happiness;
Nights of unmatched glee.

Alexandria,
The city of wonder..
I grow hungry and fond,
exploring your every corner.

Alexandria,
the shore history holds dear,
ignorant of what you plan for,
yet, unable to associate you with fear.


P.S. I KNOW the scale is messed up and the sentences aren't broken in the right places...but, like everything else, writing is at it's prettiest when raw; untouched. And apologies for the lack of pictures; I am currently stranded on the desert-esque land of Saudi Arabia (no offense) and am obliged to deal with a very slow, primitive dial up connection.

Please do let me what you think!

Hiatus

I was going to make an update, then the internet decided to go all....slow on meand when I reloaded, the post got deleted.
So no I have decided that I won't post until I go back home; Cairo.
That should be on the 20th of December.
I miss my blog, and I am writing the entries as word documents for now because the internet connection we have here sucks.

be back in a while

I'm leaving today so I won't be updating for a good 4 days at least.
Jeddah is boring. Or maybe it's the fact that I don't have any friends here, I know no one here, so it's just my family and I.
I am sort of scared I'll never go back home. And leave all the people behind. Scary thought.
Anyway, I thought I would say goodbye - or rather, see you next week?

Bulleted Wednesday

• My Blog List was somehow deleted, so I am starting from scratch. Please do leave links to your blog or suggest some.
• Today is a very busy day: It is my little sister's 13th birthday! This is....freaky, by all means, because not only does it make me feel older, it also rubs it in, I don't think I remember how I was like at 13.
• We leave today to go visit my father in Jeddah.
• 
• Last night, I just broke in tears as Mohammed was leaving( reason: aforementioned bullet/point)
• I hate Egyptian press, I hate Egyptian lying...I hate how corrupt it all is. The person who murdered the girls is apparently born to very powerful, rich parents and so, now the murderer is miraculously a poor blue-collar worker who only wanted to rob them?
• Dark chocolate is love!

• 
  

  Fear less, hope more; Eat less, chew more; Whine less, breathe more; Talk less, say more; Love more, and all good things will be yours.
  Provérbio sueco

• 
  
  With every small decision, you change a heart; you change a world.
  — Duncan Sheik
   

• Check this! 

On a Brighter Note

Give it a though, or two.

A revolution only rises out of love. If you love a place enough, if you are devoted enough, you will make a revolution!

Isn't this true? So very true?

I'm leaving on Wednesday, and it has been possessing me; the thought: what if I never come back? I think of all the people I love, all the people I love and haven't told in a while...I think of leaving them behind with words and thoughts in my head that might remain unsaid. I love everyone that is close to me and I love my fellow bloggers.
I love things, too! I love books, and photographs and handwriting. I love found art, I love Moleskines. I love paper and pen. I love colors. I love music. I love being an older sister. And an eldest daughter and a grand daughter. I love how it soothes me when I hear my boyfriend sing. His voice has that amazing effect on me.
(Listen to the fourth song, same song but at the exact moment when I realized I love him!)

This a true moment of appreciation.

It is finally getting cold in Cairo! Now; the first of December.
Also, my best friend and I went out for sushi today; her treat (for a change haha); this is for you Mee: the Beatles quote.

Safe and Sound?

I am not trying to promote the wrong image of my country, nor am I trying to scare people; but this has to change, this has to be said.
Last week, two twenty-three year olds got KILLED. Killed not in an accident, this wasn't drunk driving, nor was it an overdose, they were brutally stabbed to death.
I don't care how they lived, who their friends were or what they did on a daily basis. I only care that this is not how two girls should die. This is not a matter of faith, my faith in God is endless, this is a matter of security, this is a matter of safety.
I didn't know them, but they were acquaintences of a friend of mine, and it's scary. It is scary to think that when you go to sleep at night, you could wake up missing a friend. Let alone that this friend got murdered; stabbed to death. What kind of man/woman would do that and for what freaking reason!!

I am sorry but my plans for pleaseant posts over the weekend got ruined. I will make nice posts, just not today.

Tuesday Resolution and more

I try not to update this too much. But I just had to do this today for idea-overflow reasons.
So I'll list the ideas first:

1. I was thinking of making one amazing post every Friday (since it's the weekend) and call it maybe "Extraordinary Friday".
2. Also, a one-sentence-entry; inspired by One Sentence.
3. How about a photo entry that would include pictures from here and here.

So anyway, I was taking to my sister today having overheard her talk about Sarah Maple; a very controversial artist, at least to us being Muslims. I cannot deny the fact that she is one great artist, for her very interesting ways of portraying the conflicts, inner and outer, that we face in 21st century societies. And how that, generally, affects our being "good Muslims" or "open-minded young women". It is pretty much a very hard equilibrium to reach since it involves not only a lot of compromises but also a multitude of challenges and tests imposed on us (Muslim girls/women) by the modern( westernized) society and being true to and representing our religion.

Now on to one of my favorite words (yes, I do have a list of favorite words); Paradigm. I first got acquainted with the magical word when I read the book "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens" when I was 15, and I've loved it eversince.
par·a·digm (pār'ə-dīm', -dĭm'):
   1. One that serves as a pattern or model.
   2. A set or list of all the inflectional forms of a word or of one of its grammatical categories: the paradigm of an irregular verb.

   3. A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them, especially in an intellectual discipline.

The word paradigm is associated with AIESEC to me; an AIESEC Video! Also this imitation of Figaro (I love you sami!) And that's me in the red top back in 2005, oh the days when I was SLIM!
Also, in AIESEC-themed nostalgia: Arthur

Time for a new Journaling Sunsets tradition! Tuesday Resolution! My resolution this week is to be nice to my mom. I am in so many ways like my mom, and we tend to have fun together, yet I suck at treating her the way she should be treated, so yeah...

Musical Inspiration

such a great song!

My weekend:

• Went to Alexandria; where I had to wear winter clothes for the first time this Autumn/Winter. I also got to spend some time with my boyfriend and my cousins.
• My mom BROKE one of the tires on her car..
• I ruined one of my molars, exposing the nerves...I don't know how I managed to do that but I have been living on painkillers for the past two days.

Some song lyrics I find inspiring:

• If it's a broken part, replace it
  If it’s a broken arm then brace it
  If it's a broken heart then face it  -Details in Fabric- Jason Mraz
• Look at the stars,
  Look how they shine for you,
  And everything you do,
  Yeah, they were all yellow. Yellow- Coldplay (I actually love the whole song!)
• I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
  They'll learn much more than I'll never know
  And I think to myself what a wonderful world
  Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world. What a Wonderful World- Louis Armstrong
• And rain falls angry on the tin roof
  As we lie awake in my bed.
  You're my survival, you're my living proof.
  My love is alive -- not dead.
  Tell me that we belong together.
  Dress it up with the trappings of love.
  I'll be captivated,
  I'll hang from your lips,
  Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above. I'll be-Edwin McCain

This font reminds me of my boyfriend! Wow, it really does, it's as if I am watching him type or talking to him online. Speaking of my boyfriend, something about him is bothering me and I can't seem to tell him...I don't know how to tell him; nicely.

My granduncle just emailed me. I love it when he does, he reminds me of my grandfather(my favorite person in the whole world...I know that he's in a better place though) also, I added my..err what do you call a person whose great grandmother is your great grandmother's twin(the twins were Austrian)? Well I found him on facebook, shows you how facebook is stalker-like and creepy like that lol


What songs inspire you?
What is it that you do to cure the flu? Natural remedies and such? I tried honey and ginger and it doesn't seem to work! (have been sick for a week). Also, do you have any writing prompts?

If-you can...

Love intensely. Write daily.Listen closely. Hug truly. Ask with curiosity of a child. Live warmly. Look scrutinizing-ly . Learn extravagantly. Mean it. Remember. Dream boundlessly.

Go on every date as if it were your first. Celebrate every birthday as if it were your 18th or 21st. Live festively! Celebrate! Appreciate the gift that is your life. You are an personification of a higher power. You are the creation of the divine

So the darling Maria-Thérèse tagged me to write 8 thing about myself and tag another 8 people; this is my first tag so I am very excited about it!!


Eight things about me: 

1. I am sadly very absent-minded; I tend to lose things alot: I have lost one of the two anklets my boyfriend bought me for our anniversary, my necklace that had my boyfriend's pendant, another pendant we bought one for each of us and a third pendant, and lastly my boyfriend's favorite cell phone which had survived six years with him.
2. I have 2 sisters, 1 brother and 16 cousins from my father's side, and two amazing THIRD cousins from my mom's.
3. I have an obsession with shoes ( I am a size 36 EUR), and another with books.
4. I have completely....mutated from a baby to an adult/teenager (also this is the longest my hair has been).
5. I love coffee, salmon sashimi and sunsets by the sea. Oh, and Moleskines and pens!
   
6. I have only started recently going to the gym( 2 months)! I love it!
7. I take unlimited pride in my heritage. Everything about Egypt and being Egyptian (Except for a few major/minor things here and there).
8. I have an activist inside of me. An aspiring writer. An aspiring social entrepreneur as well.
   

 Pictures (In order of the numbering above)

 

Me, my boyfriend and my bestfriend-- the necklace I lost.

 

Some family.

 

shoes..

--> 

So I tag:

Sara 

Hayek

Gala ( I hope she replies to that)

Sondos
Sami
Ok, three people remain, so if you randomly want to do this, go ahead, just leave a comment!

From "This Book Will Change Your Life"

Day 93:
Humility Day

• There is 1 chance in 140 trillion that the Earth should exist.
• There us 1 chance in 795 billion that life should have evolved on Earth.
• There is 1 chance in 89 billion that life should have evolved into mankind.
• There is 1 chance in 12 billion that mankind should have created the alphabet and thus civilization.
• There is 1 chance in 6 billion that your parents should ever have met and got together.
• There is 1 chance in 90 million that you should have been the lucky sperm that fertilized your mother's egg.
• Overall, you're pretty lucky to be here. Today remember that, and show some cosmic humility.

Just a thought that I loved! Remember that. Always remember that. You are one of a kind. You are one, not in a million, but in NINETY million! Appreciate that.

Can anyone recommend any similar books?

Beauty

And this could be one of my favorite poems/quotes ever.



It is a beautiful day!

• I have obviously been blog-surfing today (For the past couple of hours really), and oh, the amazing blogs! check them on the right side here-->

• I think I am catching a silly flu, and this is absolutely not the right time for it. Honestly, is it ever the right time to catch cold?

• Since it is Autumn, and I am definitely in need of a Spring reminder, or simply on an amazingly sunny winter day a flower crown would do anyone good! Make your own.

• You ask why I love Egypt?

I love her for the weather: the fact that it's almost December and I haven't, not even for once, put on a coat or a heavy jacket; everything I wear is mid-season like.

I love her for the Nile. Enough said.
I love her for Alexandria(Mediterranean). I love her for Sokhna (Red Sea).
I love her for the Old buildings; standing proudly alongside the new ones.

I ♥ home!

Labdien everyone!(thank you Flickr)

Last night was my very first parents' meeting ever, not that I liked it or anything...I just liked talking to my favorite student's mother! And the three hours just miraculously flew by, for me to find my cousins and aunt from Alexandria outside the school gates; such an amazing surprise!

Anyway, being dead tired I went home and slept, with a phone switched off.
Speaking of phones:

1. My K850i hs gone crazy; the sensors aren't working.
2. I took my boyfriend's beloved phone and lost it.
3. I broke the screen of yet another phone.

I present to you, ladies and gentlemen the Phone Curse!

No link-y link time:

• Save your blog.
  
• Write things down.
• Amazing pictures
  

On Learning and education:

• I also want to go to University of Helsinki. Has anyone been there to study? I know they're one of the best around. I want to do my graduate studies there.
• The Chinese language being the most widely spoken language in the world seems very interesting and curiosity provoking to me,so I intend on contacting the Chinese Cultural Center about the dates, times, and prices of learning Chinese.

Oh, and I love Maz Jobrani!







Oh and I love tinkerbell!

 

1. All You Need Is Faith and Trust...., 2. Tinkerbell, 3. Tinker Bell, 4. 228/365 days: capturing light

Uninspired

You know those times when you feel so intensely uninspired? I do!
I don't want to even go to work. This morning I woke up late and was supposed to drive my brother and sister to school to find that *surprise surprise* my car wouldn't even start! So I decided I won't even go to find out that they need me at school.

I wanted to go get my transcripts from Cairo University, but oh well, maybe that's what you get for not doing what you like and trying to like what you do. I have failed to do that. I am sorry.

I have the urge to act free. To act young. To act like a bird.

Beyond the Eye

When Waves Collide - Zoomed, originally uploaded by acastellano.

 

The Breaking of a Wave Cannot Explain the Whole Sea.

I find this quote amazing. It's like an eternally inspiring way of asking someone not to judge, of stopping yourself from judging, actually.
I have the urge but not the time to write.
I have the urge but not the inspiration to write.
I need to buy a Moleskine and a 2009 calander, I can't believe the year has almost come to an end. It has been a good year honestly.
Maybe next year I'll go to Amsterdam or Paris or Rome. I just want to travel as an adult.
Will everyone post their dream job/career? Mine is to be a social entrepreneur!
Now, to a picture of one of my favorite cities, and my second favorite sea (The Red Sea being my very favorite)

 

Picture by Hayek  Hayek

Last night

Define a state of shock.

My cousin has gone through a very serious one last night, leaving me in shock. I feel obliged to go to Alexandria and be there for her.

I want to leave my current job except that, there are a very few kids that I seriously adore
Example:

Faris!

Will post pictures of my new earrings and necklace which I bought from the amazing Eman ElBanna soon.
Eman

Congratulations

To everyone who has voted for Obama, you just made history!

I hope he's sincere and honest and true.
Being the first African-American President, he should have a lot of eyes watching him and a lot of pressure which I think he shouldn't give in to.

Autumn

Tan stockings, originally uploaded by athinas81.

Apart from the fact that I love the dress, the colors in this picture are very Autumn-like! On the other hand, this following picture was taken by the Red Sea on the first of November(during the AIESEC conference), also supposedly Autumn:

November Already

And I still leave the gym in half sleeved T-shirts!

On Sand:
Funny how I feel the sand against my feet and cringe. Or not. I didn't find it much of a problem last weekend to walk barefoot on the sand, unlike how I have always felt. I have always hated the sand touching my feet.

On the weather:
Cold nights are what I mostly miss, I miss snuggling up and endlessly, restlessly searching for a position where I am entirely warm.

On books:
I have been compulsively buying books lately, and haven't been reading as much. I think it is because of work. Currently, I am reading French Woman Don't Get Fat and so far, I love the book! Waiting in line are: The unbearable lightness of being, 1984, In the eye of the sun.

Anyway it's time to go to what has been hitting me as a tedious job this week. Then I go to the gym, hopefully!

Hey AIESEC?

What's up?
AIESEC Egypt is a mess.
...to be continued
edit:
So, I was in Ras Sudr for the past three days in an AIESEC conference. Three years ago, I had attended he exact same conference as a new member, this year, I did as an alumnus.
I miss AIESEC to be quite honest.
And it was mostly a trip of nostalgia, chilling and appreciation.
Nostalgia for the old times, and the old friends that were there over the weekend; Mai Daoud, Hisham and Abdo.. All those who joined AIESEC in 2005.
And today, watching the sunset, reading a book and just sitting on the couch with nothing to do; chilling!
As for the appreciation; one of the most important people in my life, Mohammed (aka Jimy) I met in AIESEC, way back in 05 (only that we got together 2 years later). And I shared a room with my bestfriend whom I greatly appreciate as well.
Maybe afterall, AIESEC Egypt is NOT a mess.
The MC is doing a great job. Also, the conference was relatively a success.

Autumn

It's chilly!
Officially so! I mean, even over the weekend, which I had spent in Alexandria(where it didn't rain), it rained! And it rained heavily for that matter.
First signs of winter: Blue fingertips. Yes, my circulation kind of sucks.
Anyway, on the 31st, I am supposed to be at Ras Sudr, attending an AIESEC conference, I'm kind of excited since it's Halloween and stuff. I was thinking of either going as Jackie Kennedy or a gypsy...or something..I might steal this idea as well.

I need to do hardcore working out this week, I have a wedding on the 5th (my cousin is getting married!) and I need to look amazing! It's from Mango, if I don't wear the leggings it would be..less cocktail-dress-esque right?
So, now I have two married cousins out of sixteen!

....

Sometimes the world becomes too much for you to take and you feel so faintly appreciated and everything is just...going wrong. It is this one long minute; when it all happens, that could ruin days.

It was that moment of anger, of fighting the guilt of not being there, replacing it with rage of being unappreciated.
It triggered it all.
It ruined it all.

There are also the moments when you're too arrogant to breakdown. Those moments when your ego fills you up, forbidding your mouth from letting the words out.
The words that would let it all out.
That would make it all alright.

Sometimes...you're just on the verge of falling apart. And you'd do anything for anyone to hold you through it- for someone to hold you through it. Yet you would do anything for no one to notice.

Morning!

1. Nothing Like The Morning Cup Of Coffee, 2. Day 279: Morning Coffee, 3. Morning coffee, 4. Morning Coffee, v.2

Just wanted to wish everyone a good cup of morning coffee!

Heading to work; I need to decide on which jib to keep soon...

Later people.

Chilling

Tonight is one of the very few chilled-out nights I've had lately. I feel like I haven't relaxed for a while, so I thought I would just sit back and stretch today.
I have been going to that school to help out this week, and I don't know if I like it. Well, it is definatly more productive and fulfiling than researching and reading the newspapers every morning for a job.
I've been going to the gym as well.

I don't know why I don't have much to say, I just don't feel inspired, I need something to muse upon; how about that?

1. Chalk bubbles 2, 2. Chalk, 3. chalk rainbow, 4. chalk street art

 Last week, I bought 1984, even though I haven't finished the eye of the sun nor did I finish another 4 or 5 books. I have no idea what is it that is wrong with me.

I mean, last night, I had spotted a parking space and by the time I reached it, someone else had parked there, guess what I did? I cried! Yes, actual, tearful crying.

Thursday Things

Allow me to give this a try; down at iCiNG this happens every week!

One of my favorite tings include that it's the weekend!

It's the NINETH! Jimy comes back today!

My spreadable cheese and Tabasco sandwiches =) yes, this is what I eat all day.

Buying the papers. And the fact that Yussuf Botros Ghaly is chairman/president/whatever of the IMFC!

this cupcake actually.

Well, last night there was this very unstructured argument between my friends and I. It was typically about how things are here. Home. Egypt.
Will update later today. Now I got to run.

For the Love of Home

Masri | My Egypt, originally uploaded by (mO)² - Photography.

I just love the fact that I am Egyptian!
Lately, I've been wanting to explore further the home that I belong to. Go visit the Gayer-Anderson museum and the neighbouring Ibn Toloon Masjid.

I think I found a JOB! I'll update further on that later...

Sunset

Sunset, originally uploaded by All Keeked Up.

Follow me on my Flickr!

Eid!

Such a great day!
Seriously! We left home at 5:30 am; me, my 2 sisters and my sister's best friend. Went to pick up my cousin- car broke down so we switched cars.
Went to the Masjid, and Oh MY GOD, seriously, you could feel the energy, the aura- nothing but positive, there was this happiness in the air. Met up with 3 of my cousins and my aunt- male cousin came to help me know what was wrong with the car. Fixed it!

me acting all bad-ass haha

It's just a happy day for me.
Driving peacefully in the MIRACLEOUSLY empty streets of Cairo, wind in my hair, glasses on, and my favorite of all flowers as an accessory.
I love today.
You could hear it in my voice.
I also brought breakfast home with me for the rest of my family.
I love today.

PS sorry for the fragmented post!

Muse

1. Greek Mythology: Any of the nine daughters of Mnemosyne and Zeus, each of whom presided over a different art or science.
2. A guiding spirit; a source of inspiration.
3. A poet.

Allow me to "muse" on the first meaning for a while, since I find this pretty interesting, let alone inspiring! The nine muses are according to Greek mythology the daughters of Zeus, the king of the Gods and Mnemosyne the goddess of memory. The muses are: (in the picture; Apollo and the 9 muses)

1. Calliope; the muse of epic poetry
2. Clio; the muse of history
3. Erato; muse of love poetry.
4. Euterpe; muse of lyrical poetry
5. Melpomene; muse of tragedy.
6. Polyhymnia; the muse of sacred song and eloquence
7. Terpsichore; the muse of choral song and dancing.
8. Thalia; muse of comedy.
9. Urania; the muse of astronomy.

Now, the second meaning, is what I would want to be my profession! I want to be a muse, is that too much to ask? I imagine it to be a job that would in less inspirational terms be called a "brainstorm-er" or "idea-generator" or something of that sort. But I choose to call it a muse! Remember that movie? Well, something of that sort, only a bit less opportunistic, ha ha. I find it really interesting that while talking to whoever it is about whatever it is, my mind drifts and I come up with all sorts of ideas, and I help them without taking any credit nor any compensation for the time wasted.

I don't mean that in a bad way, I do like helping people out, especially my friends, but then..you know!

Tell me what you think!

New Blog finds:

• http://wishwishwish.net/
• http://sallyjanevintage.blogspot.com/

I have been dreaming up a home

Ramadan is coming to an end, and for most Muslims, this is a time to reflect.
I take this opportunity to reflect on a lot of things, to meditate as I pray, to think in retrospect and decide things for myself.

I still haven't found a job, yet another month unemployed.

I'm rather on a journey of self-exploration, setting goals and objectives, changing up my bullet-in board, etc.

I need inspiration.

I need to move out! It was ever since I've visted the only married couple I know, I have been craving it; a space of my own. And, I am trying to put it all together, how I want my place to be. Deciding on an aura and a color theme, and a theme in general, keeping in mind that it has to be minimalist.

Boredom

So I was bored.

 

Gave myself some layers.

To Miss a Smile

I would rather keep this annonymous, but there's a smile I miss, a smile whose bearer is not absent, but rather distamt. Rather forgetting to smile.
No they're not frowning either, just not smiling.
Not smiling sincere enough.
Not smiling warm enough.

They had a smile that would make everything seem okay, no matter how bad of a day you're going through. A smile so bright, with eyes beaming with glee and a soul that glows. A smile that simply, and effortlessly makes you happy. Yes, at the sight of such a smile you can't help it! You're just instantaneously happy. (I promise!)

Because that's the person they are, originally; that's the person they used to be.

 

 Contagious Smile

Quarter Life Crisis?

A post by Gala at iCiNG today made me think things through. Is this what I am going through? Isn't it too early for me to actually go through a quarterlife crisis?
Is this why I am all depressed (and gaining weight because of it) and bored?

Maybe it is the waving-goodbye to all things familiar and the beginning of an entirely new phase of my life. As people in AIESEC call it: Taking responsibility! Instead of an income consumer I am now supposed to be an income generator, except that, for now, I am nothing but a financial burden- on my parents that is. (or that's what I like to call myself)
Instead of elementary, basic, educational learning, I am approaching a new type of learning...know-how.

But, no, I refuse to call any phase of my life a crisis, only then will I be self-forcing such a mindset: I am going through a crisis. In fact, life is a gift and you have no right whatsover label any phase "a crisis".

 

I love E.E.Cummings.

I especially like the last two lines.

Back to school

My BABY- uhm 7 year old- brother is a first grader as of next week. We're all excited buying him his school supplies..I bought him a Ben10 pencil case today and he's just as excited; asking me (being an experienced person when it comes to education..or so he thinks) which ruler will he need and the such.
It feels weird, not having any sort of school to go back to.
It's only sinking in now...I have graduated.
I am a graduate...err.. ok.

Web Finds:
Livestrong

I need to lose 10 kgs...wish me luck with that.
I have never had to lose this much weight. Never needed to, but things seem to have been getting out of hand.

Till tomorrow.
Enjoy your alone time before falling asleep at night.

Postcard

A postcard was posted yesterday on postsecret, that I happen to relate to more than anything in the world.

I look like my mother. I get random bouts of screaming and overreacting like my mother. My body looks like my mother.
I hate it.
I will not be my mother.
I am waiting for a job

Egyptian Rockslide

Two days ago, our mechanic who had the car at his garage in Doweiqa, home of at least 500,000 people, called us, telling us he wouldn't be able to bring the car back home "because a stone has fallen off the Muqqatam blocking the way up(and down)"

He said that at least five hundred people were killed. And that the rockslide has destroyed at least 60 houses. Now this may be a simple and not very well educated person, but I honestly trust his words more than what they say on the news. Egyptian transparency is very turbid in itself.
I was shocked that even Al Jazira said that the "death toll stands at 31"  - if so then why are the people so scared of the spread of disease?
Why haven't they cleared the way for the very impoverished people of Doweiqa and Mansheyet Nasser, given that they live way beyond the poverty line and that those are slums to begin with AND has been declared an unsafe area in 1994, fourteen years ago.

Our mechanic said that the boulder(s) is(are) as tall as our 13 story building and twice as wide, in news terminology: "The section of cliff that broke away is estimated at 60 metres wide by 15 metres long."
Geologists said that there is a threat of yet another rock slide, soon, and the authorities aren't doing much about the last one to begin with.They also said that this was no natural disaster, but rather the result of a faulty sewage system in the "stone area" of Muqqatam.

Rumor has it that a grant of 250,000 million dollars has been given to the Egyptian government (Bank of Abu Dhabi)  to build proper homes for the people of Doweiqa, and rumo also has it that some of the money has been used to build some veterinary hospital.

My heart goes out to Egypt. May we all find the security we deserve someday.

Pictures

Sources: me, AlJazeera, Kefaya

Passion?

Passion to desire is like a matchbox to fire.
It even rhymes.
Inspiration finds me at times when I have other things to do, but would rather do anything else-if that makes sense.
Passion to youth is like matches to a matchbox; they come together, there is no matchbox without its matches and no matches without their box.
And so, I choose to call youth the fountain of passion. It is natural that at our most youthful we are most passionate and only the passionate are capable of doing great things.
Only great things make you feel happy. Make you feel happy about yourself.

Link and Video time:

• For the love of sticky notes!

• I don't think I am as creative as I should be lately...so, I look at this: Lace and Flora.

• I found this site today: Site. and I think I am in love.

I am afraid that's it for today, I have a make-up exam on Tuesday and should be studying!
Until next time, please do show some love. And your thoughts on passion!

Lame Post

I found this.
I am being good to myself today and I'm studying for a change.
I hate how at times, I lose the will to start something...or how I lose it midway- halfway through doing something I tend to lose the enthusiasm.
I start out intensely enthusiastic then, poof...it all disappears into thing air.
Nothing.
I have an exam in 4 days.

Yesterday Mohammed and I had iftar at this pretty pretty place; "El Set Husneyya", in Dokki out of all things I loved the ceiling and the menu and the chandeliers hanging elegantly from the already amazingly elegant ceiling.
Then we went to what to me is a very nostalgic place; Maadi, where most of the fun I had as a child took place.
I love Maadi.

Day #2!!

It worked!
I haven't watched a lot of TV.
Mohammed and Sarah were over for iftar today and it just makes me happy. Also, my grandma came back from Alexandria!
Then we went to pray tarawih, then for a falouka ride; amazing.
The weather is just divine and it felt like floating...like we were literally floating by.
So tomorrow is day number two and I am going to give people stuff they need.
Please comment with what you'll be doing!

edit

Somehow today did not work out as planned. But I did work a bit on my productivity, I studied a bit.
“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” - Albert Einstein
Excuse me, Mr Einstein, I don't think I entirely agree. Making those around you happy only starts with you, yourself being happy. You should be happy in order to make those around you happy and in turn, radiate such an emotion.
At other times, it is the act of helping others itself that creates the happiness within you. In search for happiness you should certainly read Eat Pray Love you should do yoga and meditate. You should dedicate time to yourself. I call it You Time!
So yeah, please do eat, do pray and most entirely love.

Random Acts of Kindness

Thanks to Zen Habits. 
Since it's Ramadan, I thought that I(we) might as well be good to people and to ourselves. And so for the next 30 days I am going to randomly do kind things to people. Join me.
While giving out clothes and food, smile.
As you look yourself in the mirror, smile.
Starting up your car, smile.
Stuck in the crazy Cairo traffic, smile.
Smile.

Randomly help out a stranger. An old lady crossing the street. A short person standing in line behind you...
Be kind. Randomly.
Here's a list (Also thanks to ZenHabits)

Make someone happy today!

1. Smile.
2. Help them carry something.
3. Send a thank-you email.
4. Call just to see how they’re doing.
5. Pick them flowers.
6. Cook them a nice meal.
7. Tell a joke and laugh your butts off.
8. Clean.
9. Write a love letter to a loved one.
10. Give them a cherished book.
11. Bake cookies.
12. Praise them publicly.
13. Thank them for a job well done.
14. Listen.
15. Be there when they’re in need.
16. Give a free hug.
17. Spend time with them, having fun.
18. Do errands or chores for them.
19. Say I love you.
20. Help them get ahead.
21. Be proud of them.
22. Babysit if they need it.
23. House sit if they need it.
24. Buy them movie tickets.
25. Create a care package.
26. Coffee. Mmmm.
27. List the things you love about them.
28. Secretly leave them thank you notes.
29. Give a back rub when appropriate.
30. Deliver a nice lunch to them when they’re having a rough day.
31. Love them, completely.
32. Be happy yourself.

Consider this a 30 day challenge. Because the world is always good. It's only where you're standing that affects how you view it.

Day #1: Try to minimize the use of curse words. Thank everyone.

Comment with ideas. and join me!

Ramadan

 

 Ramadan Kareem everyone! (credit)

Have fun fasting during the summer ...errr...not!

We'll manage!

Oh, pass me by..

I have been contemplating a thought lately.
The thought has slipped my mind.
It has been replaced.
Two people. People I hold dear. Two people I cherish.
They have been contemplating time.
Late.
Forever.
(Notice the influence of "The God of Small Things" , by Arundhati Roy)
What more do we need to convince us of the fact that time is relative? Give me time, not necessarily space. I only need time. I need to go through this again, I need to study and try, I need to fail in order to succeed. In order to learn, I have to go through a series of trial and error attempts, until the error is minimized if not entirely eliminated.
I need time.
Time to remember. Time to forget.

Twenty-whaaat?

Twenty-One
واحد و عشرين
Yep yep! Je suis 21!
And;
 I have an amazing boyfriend. And mom. And dad. And sisters. And brother. And cousins. And best friends. And old friends. And new friends.
It doesn't count how many people actually showed up as much as it counts who!
Who. The friends. The people.
Who went out of their way.
Thank you, world.
Thank you, stars. Thank you, sky. Thank you, 26th of August.
Thank you, God.
One happy girl, one big blue world.
One legal Virgo!

This week

Is my Birthday week!
YAAAY!
So, I decided I'll do all things new:
New Hair! Honey blond highlights and no more A-line.
New riding skills! I can now park.
New spirits!

I decided to start studying. I started going to gym.


because I deserve it. Just that.

Come to think of it, we all deserve a treat every now and then. W e all deserve to be treated like royalty. And this is how I choose to treat myself this week; like royalty.
Maybe dump that old journal when you're not even halfway through and indulge in the delight of a new one.
Eat that butterscotch tart.
Drink that cup of hot chocolate.

Lately

On Monday I bought this amazing book by my favorite Egyptian female writer; Ahdaf Souief: book
I have read The Map of Love and fell in love with it instantly. At once. Just like that.

Mother-ly Issues:
My mom and I have the weirdest mother-daughter bond there could ever be. We fight endlessly and we hurt each other immensely, yet the next minute, you find us laughing and joking about stuff. It hurts to hurt her, especially when I'm snappy and crabby. Yet, I haven't been raised to be the one who apologizes and be all mushy about stuff, I tend to just change the subject and totally ignore it. Which is wrong.

Music:
Last night was this Scorpions tribute concert; Jimy and Osama of Salalem were guests. Jimy ♥ for one song; When the Smoke is Going Down and Osama on the guitar for this song and another. All in all, the concert was really good. And Jimy was even better =3

Cairo:
At the very center of Cairo lies The Shura council, Egypt's Parliament. On the 19th started a fire at around 5 pm on the second floor of what was a beautiful building spreading to the 3rd floor of the 3 story building which fire forces couldn't put of until around 7 am of the next day. Halls and archives were destroyed. Leaves me guessing the ways in which they would abuse tax payers to rebuild the place. I am only architecturally at loss.
Picture from here.

Day 365

If you could see the smile I had on my face last night! 12 am today actually...
We have been together for one year today, the first of many to come (InshAllah) and we went out to get me my anniversary gift; two amazing anklets! I've never owned an anklet before!
I'm so happy... So very happy! And I know Mohammed is happy too.
This leaves only one countdown; my birthday : 8 days to go.
I've been reading a lot of poetry lately
edit: 
It has been an amazing day. It has been one of the best days of a lifetime.
I even bought a new book. Had my favorite coffee. Spent it with my favorite person.
Then we met up with friends. Then my mom got pissed (as usual)

Anniversary in...Two Days!

1. flower from my love, 2. Your home is here, within my heart, 3. happy nappy, 4. love is love, 5. One summer, 6. 365: Day 221, LOVE THYSELF, 7. Wedding: Glenn & Wynette, 8. simple.special.life, 9. Sam and Reanne Engagement shoot

Finally

- an update.
As what might have been correctly assumed; I am home. And I have been busy ever since.
Also, now that my driving license is actually here, I drive around! All the time!
Last night I went to this jazz concert, and God was it amazing...seriously.
The PlayList:

1. Tenor Madness
2. Bright size life
3. Afro Blue
4. Land of the Leal
5. Body and Soul
6. 'Round Midnight
7. Goodbye Porkpie Hat (which I overwhelmingly liked)
8. 9 over Reggae (this too!)
9. Brazilian Like ( I had to leave here)
   
10. The Red One
11. How Insensitive
12. Windows
13. Silver Hollow
14. From Within
15. Impressions
16. Four on Six

On a totally different musical note, pun unintended, I've been listening and very much liking pretty.odd. by Panic at the Disco...
Tell me which songs to download!

Post started on August the 14th, completed on August the 16th.

Ube Cupcakes!

How I was introduced to "Ube":
My brother turned 7 on the 15th of last month.
My dad is a very friendly consultant of anesthesia, who works in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where most nurses are Filipino. Now. there's this one nurse, Yasmeen, who considers my dad the epitome of fatherhood and kindness, and her son's Godfather. Yasmeen, her husband and son asked my dad if they could come over for tea a day before my brother's birthday and brought Purple (ube) cake with them.

What is Ube? Ube means, in Tagalog, purple yam(s), I don't know if we get purple yams in Egypt, but they sell some sort of ube jam here at the Asian section at the supermarket, and you could easily find it in Asian supermarkets. They also sell it in powdered form.

Last night, I decided I would bake some, in cupcake form since it takes less to cook.

Ube Cupcakes Recipe:
Ingredients:
1 cup of unsalted butter (2 sticks)
2 cups of sugar
4 large eggs (I used 5 small)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2.5 cups of flour
1 cup milk
1 cup ube jam

I changed that a bit, i added more ube jam and a bit less sugar. I also used skimmed milk.

For the frosting:
250 grams of cream cheese
1/2 cup of butter
3 cups of sugar
1/2 cup ube jam

I changed this, too, a bit, added less butter and more ube, and so less sugar. Mix all that and you've got your cream cheese frosting.

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit which is about 170 Celsius.
• Sift flour, baking powder and salt and set aside
• In a different container; mix butter and sugar using a mixer until fluffy
• Add one egg at a time, and mix. Then add ube.
• Add flour mixture and milk, in intervals
• Fill your containers half to two-thirds full and place in the oven for about 20 minutes. The larger the container, the more it will take to bake. Bake till fork/toothpick comes out clean.

Now find your way and decorate your cupcakes. They didn't come out purple, but the icing is sort of a pastel purple, you could use violet food coloring.
If you can find purple yams, then boil and mash them and add them instead of using the jam/powder.
You could also use this:
Purple Yam Frosting

• 3 cups grated cooked purple yam (ube)
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 1/4 cup evaporated milk
• ½ cup butter
• about 1 ½ cups fresh milk

1. In a medium sauce pan, mix purple yam, sugar and evaporated milk and place in medium heat. Keep stirring.
2. Add butter in batches. Alternate with fresh milk. Keep mixing until desired consistency, for spreading or for piping. Remove from heat. Let cool.

Will add pictures later! I'm so proud of moi!

Mosaic!

1. Sara <3, 2. sashimi + beef teriyaki combo, 3. I ♡ PAINTING, 4. Purple rain, 5. Captain Jack Sparrow's Boats, 6. Foodstuff III // Cappuccino Flower, 7. Shakespeare & Co, 8. mm, carvel, 9. Editor, 10. Here comes the sun, 11. random pattern, 12. *Cinnamon Bokeh

Here´s how you do it...
type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr search, using only the first page, choose an image, copy and paste each of the URL’s into the mosaic maker (3 columns, 4 rows).

The questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you attend?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10.What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your Flickr name.

A tribute to: An Inspirational Home

I decided against blogging negatively and so, my last post as deleted.
I am not angry.
I am not angry.
I am not angry.
I found this site today and it sort of made me happy again: CUPCAKES!

Why I felt down:

1. I am not going home tomorrow (still stuck in Jeddah for booking mess ups)
2. I failed two subjects after having literally studied my eyes out of focus. One this term, and one last term.

How I got over it: 

1. Thinking about all the happy times in retrospect.
2. Collecting recipes.
3. All my other grades are good! A+, A, A, B, and the ...ermm F...this term.

Now, I am in serious need of inspiration, and back home, Cairo, there are a number of places that leave me inspired, endlessly.

1. Korba, Heliopolis. Just walking around Korba, down Baghdad street, with the sun shining. And when the weather is too hot stopping for raspberry and yogurt icecream, or Nutella icecream at Manderine Kwaidar. Also, Harris Cafe with their amazing pastas and salads. Great coffee! It's a tiny place with removable ceiling! Well, not literally, sometimes they open it and you can look directly at the sky. Then comes my most favored of all Cilantro Cafes;the Korba branch! For having welcomed me on weekday mornings and making my day for serving my "Cappuccino, tall, skimmed milk". What else is there to love about Korba? Starbucks! The sweetest of all Cairo's Starbucks branches! God, I miss Korba. And all the smiles, and laughs and tears this place has witnessed.
2. Zamalek. As you can tell, I have a thing for walking. Walking around Zamalek! 26th of July street and stopping at Diwan Bookstore*( where I get my Moleskines) which has such an intriguing aroma about it, with the wooden floors and interiors (I also have a thing for wooden interiors) and then after buying some goodies, stopping at the only nonsmoking Cilantro branch which also has amazing wooden interiors. Now this could be the only place in the world smaller than Harris, Korba. THE PLACE IS TINY! It's split in half, vertically. Nothing could cheer me up more than a walk around Zamalek, and stopping at random stores with hidden treasures and watching the Nile. Memories, oh, memories. Not forgetting to mention that, Zamalek is home of the Sawy Culturewheel.
3. Azhar Park (site) there is simply nothing more to say. This place is magical.
4. Falouka rides, The Nile. You need to experience that to know what it feels like. A great feeling that could be yet again intensified in the presence of good company.

Now, there's one more place left, yet I won't include that in the list since it is not in Cairo.
Alexandria.
"Mermaid of the Mediterranean", cruising down Alexandrian streets is like doing so a century ago, when pretty things mattered, when pretty things existed. And the view I get from our place there, too. A truly inspirational experience.

If you ever questioned why I love home so much, and why I am this home sick. Now that's why.
* their Heliopolis Branch is just as amazing, a lot bigger too.

Because I am angry

As much as I hate to admit it, as much as it is true:
I freaking hate Cairo University.
I failed two subjects because they chose to be assholes. Because my hell of a doctor decided not to give me my midterm marks, even though she said she would. To hell with it, seriously.

I freaking hate SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES TOO!  Because they won't find us seats to go back home. And I NEED to go home.
So now, I am not yet a graduate until i take the freaking make-ups and I am still stuck in Jeddah for another week.
Will update later

Holly Golightly

I have been reading Breakfast at Tiffany's and researching fashion for this article I had to write for an AIESEC magazine, so I have been a bit inspired; fashion-wise.
No, I haven't yet reached the point where I'm going to walk down the street sporting a tiara!But here's what I have put together:

First three pictures are courtesy of Pink Mascara, 4th is of Google. I know this is not a complete outfit, missing a bag and a string of pearls maybe. But! The amazing shade of nail polish brings this edge to the classic-ness of the dress.
It was only today that I realized that I could do anything, anything in the whole world, upon knowing someone I care for believes in me. Maybe knowing that someone does, I could change the world. I could, at least, change a single person's world. And that has been my all-time dream.
I think I miss Moleskines.
Give your face some exercise today; smile!

Homesickness is not cute

I can't think of a proper title for this entry. I can't say that I am in my best of moods, only then will I be lying. Well, lie to me and tell me the news I heard yesterday wasn't true. Tell me it wasn't true. Tell me hard work really does pay off. Tell me that you are rewarded in accordance with the level of effort you exert. Tell me this world is still perfect. Tell me that if you think positive, you get nothing but positive. Tell me I am not a drama queen.
On another note, I wrote this earlier:

I want to be a mermaid,

Tanning by the Mediterranean sea.

I want to be the pebbles,

playing with the Red sea waves.

I want to be the sun shining,

on Egyptian early mornings.

I want to be the moon watching,

over their late busy nights.

I sit here stranded,

on a land that is not mine.

A hundred planes have landed,

time hasn't come yet for mine.

I miss home,

and how she smiles at me.

I miss the sudden urges to get out of the house,

spending all the money I have,

with nothing to worry about.

I am sick of wonder.

Trying to picture how their days are spent,

when mine just creep by.

Sneaky and slow.

I am thirsty for Egyptian water (and WiFi)

Uncensored magazines and non-filtered websites

I am homesick. 

Please note that this wasn't in any way meant to be a poem, so no judging on schemes and such things, it is not a poem, just a series of broken sentences, because this seems to be how I tend to think. In fragments.
Oh, and check PostSecret! 

If anyone drops by, please leave a comment  ♥ (sorry about the heart I just had to)

Hippie Thoughts

I always get those random thoughts; I'll go hippie on my hair and grow i out. Which, I am currently doing.
I'll take up yoga, and I'm in the process of transferring myself into a humble yogi (ni).

Then the other day, on Thursday before we headed off to Medinah, it hit me:

Love is Light. White light.

Yes, love is light. White light desiccates into the seven colors of the rainbow. Love broken down, is a mix of all those complex emotions. Those of care, jealousy, tenderness, brother/sisterhood, belonging...etc. Think about it.
You do those so many things in the name of love, in the face of love. And when you come to think of it, whoever it is you love is so many things in one.

Medinah is a very spiritual place in itself, everything is so...white! And when you're inside al Masjid al Nabawi, when they open the rooftop, you can look into an incredibly clear sky. You can meditate, you can listen to this very silent sound beyond the crying babies, beyond the random women reciting the Quran. You become suddenly spiritual. Entirely.

Twentieth

I have one more twentieth of the month, one more while I am still twenty.
On the twenty-sixth of next month, I am turning twenty-one!
So, from the 21st of September, I am going to celebrate every 21st of each month in some special way. Life is too short to not celebrate.
Yesterday, I went book shopping and I bought five more titles to grace my book collection:

1. Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote
   
2. Long Walk to Freedom; Nelson Mandela's autobiography.
3. Love in the Present Times, Catherine Ryan Hyde (who also wrote Pay it Forward!)
4. Om Yoga Today, Cyndi Lee
5. Pilates Body Training

Well, I am currently away from home as you might know (that is if anyone reads this to begin with) so, even though I had planned on taking up yoga and Tai Chi this summer, I am, so far, unable to do that at a professional place i.e. the Dojo or somewhere similar.
Currently, the only sports I do are crunches and a little bit of stretches, also shopping and browsing the WWW! So, I am obviously planning on doing more.

Now, I have always been a fan of cooking, yet I won't claim myself a culinary master...I cooked today though, made some fried rice and I am still trying to figure out how to make Filipino Purple Cake. Here's how to make mixed fried rice!

• Prepare rice and cook: wash 1 cup of rice, and cook with an equal measure of water on LOW, VERY LOW HEAT.
• Fry an egg, set aside
• in a frying pan (a large one) cook spring onions and garlic in oil, then add carrots (I personally add frozen mixed vegetables),then lemon grass then add shrimps, squids and cubes of chicken breast and a cube of stock and the fried egg. cover. Until everything is cooked.
• Add rice to the fried mix and mix, mix mix.
• Voila!

Ok, so here's the deal, you can ignore adding the lemon grass, or use onions instead of spring onions, or use only shrimps, or only chicken... you can use canned chicken instead of chicken breasts... you know, be creative!

For old time's sake

Have I mentioned my hate towards this country? Or at least how much I hate the time wasted in vain here- just sitting there because there is entirely nothing to do?
Yes, I hate wasting time in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
I should be back home working in the laid back atmosphere of one of Egypt's most successful youth based magazines.
I should be enjoying the joyful Egyptian July sun.
I should have celebrated my boyfriend's 23rd birthday with him.
Instead, I am here.
So, in efforts to make my current reality a bit more...appealing, or a little less mortifying for that matter, I have:

1. Read "Girls of Riyadh", "Eat pray love" and "pay it forward" which all are great books and are highly recommended reads for that matter.
2. Watching a bit of TV for a change.
3. Missing Campus magazine and G mag like crazy.
4. Text messaging my fingers off.
   

Recap

The past two months have been, in a way hectic; exams, graduation research...etc.
My graduation research was about how banks could use risk management techniques to ensure profitable and successful provision of microfinance. i.e finance for the poor.
And *drum roll*
we got an A+
I'm so proud of us, we worked so hard, and it was certainly worth it. I finally made my parents proud, I finally proved it to myself, and to them that I haven't lost my brains. I still am smart. I still am intellectual. Yay!
Saudi Arabia, specifically Jeddah, is as usual eating out my summer, but this year we're more laid back, more relaxed. It's not stressful as always.
I miss Mohammed so much though...a huge part of me feels like I would and should rather be spending the summer with him, in Egypt. Yet, there's that other part of me that wants to be there for my dad and with my dad, he's going through a hard time, and I am being the good daughter.
Not that my dad is the venting type, which I have learned to be (venting saves you from hypertension) but he likes having his kids around.
Time is flying and I am undeniably approaching my officially adulthood. My 21st birthday is on the 26th of August. That in addition to the contemplative, retrospective mood KSA puts me in, I am thinking, I am thinking my life through.
And oh of what huge help has Zenhabits been.

Future, Future

Entrepreneurship: The ability to convert an idea or a prototype into a business that can sustain itself on internally generated cash flow

Social enterprise: Any organization, in any sector, that uses earned income strategies to pursue a double bottom line* or a triple bottom line, either alone (as a social sector business) or as part of a mixed revenue stream that includes charitable contributions and public sector subsidies.

Social entrepreneur: Any person, in any sector, who runs a social enterprise.

Social entrepreneurship: The art of simultaneously pursuing both a financial and a social return on investment (the double bottom line).

And I think to myself " this is who I want to be"

* being profitable on both the financial and social levels

....Bleh?

Because I love the sea.

Because I love the sun.

And the sky. And the stars.

Maybe this could be my next favorite thing to do. Going to Sokhna.

Have I mentioned I am in love with my new phone? And hating a new, home-grown book?

I have pretty much nothing to say...

Check this out: Mom's Food